Backyard Chicken Guides

Straightforward, sourced answers to the questions new flock keepers actually ask.

• Chicken Egg Incubation, Day by DayA day-by-day guide to incubating chicken eggs over 21 days: temperature, humidity, when to candle, lockdown on day 18, and hatch day.
• How Much Does It Cost to Keep Chickens Per Month?Real monthly costs of keeping backyard chickens, itemized: feed, bedding, and extras, plus the one-time setup most guides leave out.
• Do Backyard Chickens Actually Save Money on Eggs?Whether backyard chickens save money on eggs, the real break-even math, and when a flock costs more than the grocery store.
• Do Chickens Need a Rooster to Lay Eggs?No, hens lay eggs without a rooster. Here is what a rooster actually does, when you need one, and the pros and cons of keeping one.
• How Long Does a 50 lb Bag of Chicken Feed Last?How long a bag of chicken feed lasts by flock size, with a quick table for 3 to 12 hens and the math behind it.
• How Many Chickens Do You Need for a Dozen Eggs a Week?How many hens it takes to get a dozen eggs a week, by breed and season, with a simple table and the reasoning behind it.
• How Many Chickens Do You Need for a Family of 4 (and 6)?How many hens a family of 4 or 6 needs for eggs, based on real egg consumption and seasonal laying, with a simple table.
• How Many Nesting Boxes Per Chicken?How many nesting boxes you need per chicken, the standard rule, box size, and why hens share boxes anyway.
• How to Keep Chickens Laying Through WinterWhy hens slow down in winter and how to keep eggs coming: supplemental light, nutrition, water, and a draft-free coop, plus when to let hens rest.
• Why Did My Chickens Stop Laying Eggs? 8 Common ReasonsThe eight most common reasons backyard chickens stop laying eggs, from short winter days and molting to stress, age, and diet, and how to fix each.