Biddy Birdbrains: The Chickens Saga Begins

For years I promised my daughters that when we had the capability, we’d get chickens. As we settle into our Natura Microfarm, I decided this would finally be the spring to take the plunge. Just in time for K’s birthday, I received four Golden Comet biddies.

I’ve wanted my own poultry for so long that this was really years in the planning. My master gardener grandfather has given me books, magazines, and news articles about chicken raising for the last decade, so I had a good idea of what to expect. I have friends who have chickens, I’ve been around them, and I had the second-hand experience to make sure I was fully informed. There are several steps I took and several more I would recommend for anyone who has never been around or raised chickens before.

Step Zero – Do Your Research

Chickens are not a cute Easter present or a random pet for your kids. Before you make the decision, do some research into the time, effort, and money required. Learn the difference between biddies and pullets. Decide if you want meat producers or egg layers, and get an idea about the lifespan of the various breeds. Chickens can be incredibly rewarding, but they can also take work. Know what you’re getting yourself into before you make the jump.

Step One – Check Your Ordinances

Before anything else, make sure you can legally house your birds. Check HoA regulations, city ordinances, and county regulations to ensure getting your biddies won’t cost you big time later. Most of this information can be easily found via online search, or you can call your local departments. A lot of times local agricultural departments will also be able to tell you. It really depends on where you are, but you should know within a few clicks or phone calls what your local rules are. Check for breed restrictions, quantity (many buyers have a minimum purchase amount, but you’ll want a “flock” anyway), and if you want a rooster, make sure that’s allowed too.

Step Two – Prep Your Biddy Housing

Most biddies are shipped or picked up within a few days of hatching. They still require an external heat source and are (in my opinion) a lot messier than fully-grown hens. I recommend keeping them isolated; while you can put them in your coop, I kept mine in a large plastic storage bin (sans lid!) while small. This ensures they stay together, remain near the heat, and afford some extra protection while they are small. They can be transitioned out as they grow. Make sure you have a heat lamp and a thermometer in place; you don’t want them too cold or hot.

Make sure you have plenty of fresh bedding (pine shavings usually or dried cut grass) because you’ll be doing changes often to avoid stinks. You’ll also need to have a plan for the removal of the messy bedding: for us that meant I increased the compost plot.

Have plenty of water ready: non-tap water for city dwellers. Avoid chlorinated water or anything treated with chemicals. I use rain water because I have cistern capabilities set up. Biddies love to make messes in the water… I don’t know what it is but it seems to be universal and you don’t want them drinking their own waste, so changes will happen often.

You’ll also need food (of course). Some people opt to make their own chick feed, while some opt to purchase from a feed store. I recommend premade food for first-timers; it’s one less thing to stress about getting right. Biddies eat more as they grow, of course, but about one bag of chick feed should cover four biddies until they’re able to transition off “baby food.” I’ll be posting my recipes for homemade feed soon.

Step Three – Prep Your Family

I repeat this because it is so important: Chickens are not a cutesy, one-time present. If you get chickens for your children, make sure they know what to expect. Littles are prone to squeezing, hugging, or chasing biddes: all are recipes for a quick death. Tell your kids what to expect. Youtube videos, trips to a farm, etc. are great ways to “show them” before they have them.

I also made sure that the girls would recognize the work involved in raising chickens. There are “chores” related to the care and upkeep of our birds. As participating members of the family, they are expected to be part of the raising of our biddies.

Get Used to the New Normal

Like any addition to the family or the farm, chickens take some getting used to. But once they (and you!) have acclimated, they can be a wonderful addition to the homestead. We certainly are loving our little girls:

What are you adding to your farms this spring? Leave a comment below or hit me up on socials!

Love,