Raising chickens at home may sound overwhelming, but it will be fun and easy as long as you love what you’re doing. Before anything else, research the local ordinance and regulations that may be involved in raising chickens in your area. Some places, especially in urban residential areas, may prohibit roosters. Follow any requirements needed in the practice and consider the restrictions that it may entail. Raise chicken breeds that are only suitable for your environment. If noise is a major concern, do not raise roosters and grow hens instead. 

Rearing chicks and chickens

Keep the chicks in a warm dry cage with a heat lamp as they get cold easily. Make sure to put enough wood shavings as bedding, water, and feed for the young chicks to survive. Change their water, feed, and bedding daily. Since chicks are still sensitive to the climate, regularly check if they feel cold or hot, which you can tell if they gather under the lamp or they go as far as they can reach to be away from the heat. Once they outgrow the size of their cage, move them to a larger area. By that time, they will be more tolerant to cooler climates.

If you're raising chickens in your backyard, prepare a warm and dry coop with nest boxes and straw where hens can lay eggs. They must have a chicken run with protection from any predators so they can freely roam and peck at the ground. Regularly change their water and straw to prevent the coop from smelling bad. Do not forget to supply the chickens with feed. If you have a garden, you may demarcate the chicken section by installing a fence to stop your chickens from pecking around. Aside from egg supply, you can use and add properly prepared chicken manure to your compost, which will help you save on fertilizers.  

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