Raising Backyard Chickens

Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to their drinking water at least once a week.

Feed your chickens kitchen scraps, grass cuttings, veggie scraps, and fruits as often as possible.

Avoid feeding your chickens coconuts once they start laying eggs. Excess fat will decrease egg size.

Chicks are sold as day-old (newly hatched) or several days old chicks. Once hatched, they are ready to be fed and consume water. Chicks should be placed in a tote with a lid that is lined with mesh wire to protect from predators.

For at least the first three weeks, feed your chicks a chick starter feed. After that, you can switch to a broiler feed up to 18 weeks old. After week five, move your chicks to their coop. Keep your chicken coop simple. Designs and tutorials can be found online via YouTube or Pinterest.