What to know when Getting a Chicken by ES

If you are looking for a new pet to get, then chickens may be perfect for you! They lay eggs, don’t require much work, and can be very quiet! They are quickly becoming more popular in suburban backyards. If you want to know which breed to get, I would recommend reading one of my other essays: Which Chicken is Best For You? But once you know which breed to get, you’ll need to know how to take care of them.

As a chicken owner myself, I have some experience. Wherever you go to get your chickens, they will probably tell you how to care for them but if you want to know ahead of time, I can help you. Chickens don’t cost very much to care for. The chickens themselves can cost between $3-$30 depending on on a few things such as age and breed. A 50-pound bag of chicken food costs about $20. It would feed your full-grown chicken for about 33 weeks. To feed 6 chickens for a year, it costs $220.

A water container and a food container cost about $5 each. It’s good to refill their food and water almost every day. For a group of chickens, you should probably refill their food and water every day. I personally refill my chickens' water using our hose but you can use tap water, or just about any other source of clean drinking water you have access to.

The average price of a chicken coop in America is $650 though, they can cost between $300-$2,000. You will also need to put bedding on the bottom of their coop. I use pine shavings, a popular choice and low in cost. You only have to change their bedding every 6 months. Their feces are good for the soil in your backyard or garden. Letting them walk around your yard is okay, as long as you check on them occasionally. You should always make sure they have access to clean water and good food.

If you choose to get hens, they will lay a lot of eggs. You should dedicate a basket to collecting their eggs. If you are interested in getting chickens, I would heavily recommend doing so. They make great family pets or personal pets. If you would like to know more about which breed to get and more, check out my other essays. Thank you for reading!