đŁ Raising Chickens for Eggs and Meat: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started
Estimated Reading Time: 4 min read
Keywords: raising backyard chickens, how to raise chickens for eggs, meat chickens vs egg chickens, beginner chicken coop tips, urban chicken farming
Chickens are the MVPs of the modern homestead.
They give you food (eggs, meat), fertilize your garden, eat your scraps, and even help with pest control. Plusâtheyâre hilarious to watch.
Whether you’re after fresh eggs, home-raised meat, or a mix of both, chickens can absolutely fit into your small-space setup.
Why Chickens? (Besides the Obvious)
- Eggs every day (with happy hens)
- Meat birds raised your wayâwith care and intention
- Free fertilizer (aka poop) for your garden
- Compost helpersâtheyâll tear through food scraps
- Educational & fun for kids
And yes, they have serious personality. Chickens are quirky little dinosaurs in feathers.
Egg Chickens vs. Meat Chickens: Whatâs the Difference?
đ„ Egg Layers
- Live 2â5 years (some longer!)
- Lay daily or every other day (varies by breed)
- Need nesting boxes and cozy coops
Top beginner breeds: Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, Leghorns, Buff Orpingtons
đ Meat Birds
- Grow fastâready in 6â12 weeks
- Often less active (bred for growth, not longevity)
- Require more feed in a shorter time
Common types: Cornish Cross, Red Rangers
đ Dual-purpose breeds do both!
- Good layers with enough size for small meat harvests
- Great for small or first-time flocks
What Youâll Need to Get Started
- Coop with roosts and nesting boxes
- Secure run for outside access
- Feeder and waterer
- Bedding (pine shavings work well)
- Grit and calcium (for digestion and eggshells)
đĄ Pro Tip: Plan 2â4 sq ft per chicken inside the coop, and 8â10 sq ft per bird in the run.
Daily Chicken Care (Itâs Simpler Than You Think)
- Feed & water every day
- Collect eggs
- Check for health issues (especially feet and eyes)
- Clean coop weekly or spot-clean as needed
- Change bedding regularly
Give them dust baths (a big pan of dry dirt or sand)âtheyâll do the rest!
Raising Meat Birds: Things to Know
- These birds grow fast. Processing is typically at 8â10 weeks.
- Youâll need to decide if youâll process them yourself or use a local facility.
- It’s not easy emotionallyâbut many homesteaders say it’s meaningful and empowering.
Always follow local regulationsâmeat processing is subject to different rules than egg sales.
Vocabulary Corner
- Layer: A chicken raised for egg production.
- Broiler: A chicken raised for meat.
- Dual-Purpose: A breed good for both eggs and meat.
- Coop: The indoor shelter where chickens sleep and lay.
- Run: A secure outdoor area where chickens can roam.
- Grit: Small stones chickens eat to help digest food.
- Cull: Removing a bird from the flock (often due to health or productivity).
- Dust Bath: Chickensâ natural way to clean themselves and prevent mites.
Final Thoughts
Chickens are the homesteaderâs best-kept secret. Whether youâre in the city or the country, a flock of 3â6 birds can feed your family, teach your kids, and bring unexpected joy to your daily routine.
They give you food. They give you fertilizer. And if youâre luckyâtheyâll even let you name them something ridiculous.