
Adding chickens to your life is a fun, healthy and a rewarding experience.
If you've never been around or have had chickens before, no worries. At first there will be a small learning curve but it's simple and easy raising chickens. Researching and learning is fun and great but having chickens and working with them everyday helps with the learning curve the most.
I love raising chickens and have been enjoying it for almost twenty years. Now that my kids are older; they have taken over the responsibility of tending to the chickens. We tend to keep as many as 20 to 5o birds off and on throughout the year. My favorites to raise have been Lavender Orpington's; for their sweet domineer and Gold or Sliver Laced Wyandotts for their hardness. With both breeds we have seen a gentle personality as they grow and age and and both breeds have been able handle the cold winters we have here in the Appalachian mountains.
For us our chickens temperament has depended on the breed we choose, how often we are around them and socialize with them throughout there youth. Chickens can grow up to be more like pets or be just another addition to your growing livestock.

Once you've made your mind up to start raising chickens, get all the basic equipment and supplies from the start before purchasing your chicks. No need to run around last minute trying to figure out where you'll little chicks will be staying, keeping them warm, feed and watered.
Been there and done that! It was a crazy experience, I was so unprepared that it's laughable now.
So, if you do live in the country side, odds are you can raise chickens and all sorts of livestock. But if you live in or within the city limits you may have restrictions that limit what types of livestock or pets you may have. And some communities may have restrictions as well as HOA fees. If you do live in a suburb/community, I'd double check on what you can do before you decide to start your own little flock of chickens.
When trying to find the right breed of chicken, I recommend starting out with the bread that works with your area and one you fancy! It's more fun raising what you like!
Note, Some chicken breads don't do well in cold weather or hot weather and then you have breads that acclimate to both and work with any conditions. Most suppliers who sell chicks have information on what type of conditions breeds do the best in.
Now lets go into the basics before you acquire your chicks.
You'll need to have all the basics of what you’ll need at first....
If you don't have a hen house yet, you'll need an area to keep your new chicks! Chick brooder might be an option.
Pine bedding (DO NOT USE CEDAR BEDDING for chicks or hens! - Not good for their respiratory systems.)
Some Website you can find the perfect breed of chicken that suits your life!
Purchase already hatched chicks from a reputable supplier like Hoover's Hatchery , Tractor Supply or Murray McMurray and supplies needed to keep your chickens happy and healthy.
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Temperature Guidelines to keep your chicks warm.
This is a commonly suggested temps chart for day old chicks. This formula is what the brooder temps should be kept at from week one, reducing every week by five degrees until the brooder temp. equals the ambient room temp.
Week 1 (90-95°F)
Week 2 (85°F)
Week 3 (80°F)
Week 4 (75°F)
Week 5 (70°F)
Week 6 (65 °F)
This is a guideline; the behavior of your chicks is a much better indicator of their actual comfort level. If they are too warm they will not stay under the lamp. If they are really cold they will cuddle real tightly under the lamp, instead of a relaxed laying position.
More about raising chicks and chickens to come!
