So wife thinks it would be fun to have chickens in the backyard. Now I backyard is not huge so it would be 4-6 birds at the most


Any ideas on how much this little endeavor is going to cost me?

$20-30 for the birds. Are you going to buy or build the coop? $6-7 a month in feed.

How big a yard? do you want grass? And what Payne said

We have 6 birds, coop is 8x4x8. Depends on how many bells and whistles you want. Probably have $700 in mine, not counting all the stuff you have to "chicken proof".

Havent decided build vs buy....would prefer to build

I am debating between a stationary coop or a moveable one...leaning towards stationary

what do you mean chicken proof?

I am partially worried about my lab helping himself to one

You could build one a lot cheaper then the coops I've seen in stores/online. Check out the backyard chicken website, you'll find plenty of coop designs. Have a plan on keeping the snakes and raccoons out of the coop.

If a chicken can eat it, get on it, in it, over it...it will. They are fun to have though, especially with kids. We eat eggs every day and still end up giving a bunch away.

Go with an open air, dirt floor / deep litter method. NO SMELL and no poop to deal with. I use all our leaves for the litter and get great compost in return. I can't say enough about how easy it makes raising chickens.

So what kind of chickens for eggs, do they need a male

Only need a rooster to make chickens.

We've got Rhode Island reds, Buff orpingtons, and Silver Wyendots. All have been great egg producers although the eggs are between medium and large. Different breeds for larger eggs. All three breeds are very docile and the kids are constantly carrying them around and playing with them.

You don't need a rooster. My dad swears the eggs taste better if you have a rooster and they produce more frequently. Not sure I buy that.