I have seven wonderful backyard chickens, but I don’t think I truly appreciated them until last week, when my mom told me the local Costco was no longer selling eggs.
With bird flu causing a nationwide egg shortage, many stores have been forced to either raise egg prices or stop selling them altogether. For me and my backyard flock, that’s not a problem; I’ve been getting four eggs a day this winter, and that will increase to about six a day in the spring and summer.
If you’ve been considering getting backyard chickens, here’s some of what I’ve learned in my three years as a proud chicken owner.
Do you need a chicken license in Utah?
Depending on where you live, you’ll actually need a license in order to keep backyard chickens. I have a residential chicken license from my city, which cost $5 and only took a few minutes to apply for.
Each city will have different laws about how many chickens you can have, whether you can sell eggs and what kind of coop or enclosure you need. Most residential areas will allow for a small flock of chickens as long as they remain in an enclosed space, and most outlaw roosters because of the noise.
If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, it’s also worth checking that the chickens won’t violate any regulations.
What do you need to raise chickens?
After you’ve confirmed that you can legally keep chickens in your backyard, you can decide whether you want to buy laying hens or raise chicks. I personally vote for the latter, because I think baby chicks are adorable, but there are pros and cons either way.
Chicks tend to be cheaper — mine cost about $5 each, while a grown, laying hen generally runs between $20 to $50. However, when you buy chicks, you also have to buy a heat lamp and a bin to keep them in while they grow, as they won’t be ready for an outdoor coop until they’re about six weeks old (as long as the weather is mild). Additionally, you won’t get eggs from them until they’re about 18 weeks old.
The first thing you’ll need when your chickens are grown is a solid coop. You can buy these online, at farm supply stores — such as C-A-L Ranch, Tractor Supply or IFA Country Store — or from online marketplaces, and you can find a range of styles and sizes. They don’t need to be huge, but for each chicken, you should have about four square feet of coop space and eight square feet of run space.
A coop is a raised structure lined with bedding where the chickens sleep and lay eggs. Most coops have a connected run, which is an enclosed space with bare ground where you can place food and water. The chickens can also move around here, which makes them happy and healthy. As long as the coop itself is dry, well-insulated, draft-free and ventilated, chickens should be comfortable even in freezing temperatures.
I found a small chicken coop and run on Facebook Marketplace when I started out with four chickens, and when I added three more, they graduated to a larger coop. My chickens have plenty of room in their run, but I still let them out to peck at the grass every once in a while.
Chickens also need plenty of food and water, but most feeders and founts only need to be refilled once or twice a week. You can buy chicken feed from your local farm supply store in bulk. If your chicks are still young, they’ll need starter feed, and they can graduate to layer feed when they’ve reached the hen stage, around 18 weeks.
You can also cut down on chicken feed by using up your own food waste. Chickens love pretty much everything, although there are some foods they shouldn’t eat, like apple seeds, onions and citrus fruit.
Chickens are fairly low maintenance. They need to be checked on about once a day to gather eggs, do a light clean of the coop, and make sure the water and food is full, but they’re pretty self-sufficient otherwise.
What is the best time to get chickens?
If you’re starting with chicks, springtime is generally the best time to purchase them. You can raise them in a small enclosure with a heat lamp indoors for the first few weeks, and by the time they’re big enough for a coop, the weather has warmed enough for them to remain outside.
Where can you buy chickens in Utah?
Most farm supply stores will sell chicks during the spring, but you can also go to a local chicken hatchery like Chase Hatchery. Some local farms and ranches, like Cross E Ranch, will sell baby chicks at the end of their spring festivals, so keep an eye out for that as well.
If you want to buy a grown laying hen, KSL Classifieds is always a good place to look, but there are some local retailers, such as Sun Spring Ranch.
You’ll notice that different breeds of chickens are available at each of these retailers. Each breed has a different temperament, egg production and temperature tolerance, so do your research and pick the best ones for you. My seven chickens are all different breeds, but my Rhode Island Red is my favorite — she’s the friendliest and lays almost daily, even in the winter.
Most hatcheries will try to only sell female chicks, but males can fall through the cracks and surprise you. One of my first chicks surprised us all when it started crowing around three months — turns out, we actually had a rooster, which my city does not allow. Most chick suppliers won’t take back a rooster because of the concern of bird flu and other viruses, so I found a farm to take him in.
Are chickens right for you?
If you just want chickens because eggs are expensive, consider that chickens are an investment. You have to buy supplies and food, and you do have to take time out of your day to care for them. However, if you’re willing to put in some money and effort, you will be rewarded with some of the cutest, funniest pets around — and delicious, fresh eggs.