Egg production
How many eggs does a chicken lay per year?
The yearly count by breed, and how age and season change it over a hen life.
GUIDES
Backyard chicken guides
Straight answers on feed costs, breeds, and what keeping chickens really costs.
Getting started
What do you need to start raising chickens?
The complete beginner checklist, from coop to birds, before your first chickens arrive.
Read the guide →
Beginner breeds
Best egg-laying breeds for beginners
Friendly, hardy, productive breeds that are hard to get wrong, with a guide to each.
Startup cost
Backyard chicken startup cost breakdown
What it really costs to get started, itemized, from budget to premium.
Coop planning
How big should a chicken coop be?
Coop, run, roost, and nesting space per bird, and what happens if it is too small.
Space per bird
How many square feet per chicken?
The per-bird space rule for coop and run, adjusted for confinement and breed.
Flock size
How many chickens for a family of 4?
Why 5 to 7 hens is the usual answer, and how to size it for your household.
Egg production
How many eggs does a chicken lay per week?
What to expect per week, by breed, and the things that raise or lower it.
Save money
How to save money on chicken feed
Ten proven ways to cut your feed bill, roughly in order of how much they save.
Feed planning
How long does a bag of chicken feed last?
How to work out how long a bag lasts for your flock, and how to stretch it.
Feed cost
How much does it cost to feed chickens?
The real monthly cost per hen and per flock, and the five things that change it.
Feed chart
Chicken feeding chart by age
What to feed and how much at every stage from day-old chick to laying hen.
Cost guide
Is raising chickens cheaper than buying eggs?
The honest answer depends on your setup. Here's how to work out your real numbers.
Budget guide
The real cost of raising backyard chickens
Startup costs, ongoing feed, and the expenses first-time keepers usually forget.
Feed types
Layer feed vs. starter feed vs. grower feed
What each feed type is for, and exactly when to switch your flock.
Feed basics
How much feed does a chicken eat per day?
The baseline numbers, and the four factors that actually move them.
Breed guide
Cheapest chicken breeds to raise
Why some breeds cost noticeably less to feed than others.