For my birthday (last January), I came home and, to my surprise, was gifted my lifelong dream of chicken supplies to raise chickens!
Fast forward to March, my family and I went to our local Tractor Supply and picked out a total of six chickens! We purchased two Leghorn Chickens (white), two Ameraucana (brown), and two Black Sex Link (black).
It took about five months for the chickens to begin laying eggs. Now we average about five to six eggs a day, which means that ALL of the hens are laying! We’ve got beautiful speckled, green, brown, blue, and white eggs in our backyard.
Benefits of Raising Chickens Alongside Children
I’m a firm believer in the benefits of raising children with animals. Taking care of animals truly helps kids learn the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control).
Plus, with our current economy, it can be hard for moms to have hobbies to share with their kids and their communities. So I make sure my girls are 100% involved in the adventures of raising chickens! Through this, my children have experienced the amazing joy of friendships with animals. My girls help with feeding the chickens, tossing them treats (Mealworm time!), and collecting their eggs.
Over the last year, I have come to learn that chickens are pretty easy pets to keep, but boy do they tug at our heartstrings! These chickens have become a part of our family and the best part is that they are FULL of individual personalities. They can entertain for hours!
The Basics Needed to Raise Chickens
Chickens are the most affordable, fun, and sustainable pets to have! It is so easy to become more self-sustainable and utilize more of your own backyard.
If you have an interest in chickens, you should first check with your HOA and your city limits on raising chickens in your area before you delve into the chicken-keeping business! You can check the SC Code of Laws before making this big decision.
1. Chicken Coop
A chicken coop is a house for your chickens! It’s an indoor space containing roosts where they go to sleep, and nesting boxes for them to lay their eggs. Chicken coops are typically made from wood, metal, or plastic. It should be completely closed at night to protect the chickens from nocturnal predators.
There are many affordable options out there, we ordered ours from Amazon! This one fits six chickens comfortably at night.
2. Fenced-in Chicken Run
A chicken run is the fenced or enclosed outdoor space you provide for your chickens, attached to the chicken coop. During the day, the chickens can roam around in the chicken run, safe from predators. They can sunbathe or dust bathe, forage in grass, and scratch in the dirt.
3. Clean Water
You can purchase an automatic water feeder for the chickens, or simply keep a fresh bowl out for them.
4. Feed
Chicks need starter feed until they are eight weeks old. This type of feed should be filled with complete proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to establish and support their bone health and immunity. When the hens get to be about 16+ weeks old, switch them to layer feed.
You can purchase chicken feed online, at Tractor Supply stores (in Ravenel, Summerville, Awendaw, and Moncks Corner), or other local small businesses listed below.
The Tractor Supply store is one of the best resources I’ve utilized as the store clerks are all very well-versed in all things chicken-related! When in doubt, I call Tractor Supply and ask for the chicken specialist or just show up at the store and someone is always able to guide me.
5. Treats (Mealworms)
Mealworms are a great added supplement for chickens, especially in hot summer months and extreme cold months! They are high in protein, fats, essential amino acids, and vitamins. Aim to give each chicken a small handful, about 10-15 mealworms, per day.
It’s a Framily Affair
Our neighbor friends come over to help feed and take care of the chickens too. Introducing our flock to others has helped the chickens remain friendly, calm, and overall just loving! Since we do get a lot of eggs, we share them with our neighbors, friends, and family. The consensus is that the eggs are DELICIOUS!
If you ever thought about raising chickens I will say GO for it! You probably buy eggs from the grocery store, but once you taste a backyard egg you won’t want to go back. I am all about simplifying life and teaching our girls about caring for animals. In return, we receive love and nourishment — lessons to my girls I pray will last a lifetime.
And that saying about being a chicken lady? Well, let’s just say I sip out of my chicken mug often, I give updates to my co-workers about what the chickens are up to, and yes, I may say too many chick puns a bit too often.
