Raising chickens has been a staple practice of homesteads large and small for thousands of years. Our beautiful birds give us so much, from scratching and fertilizing the ground as they move across the property, to delivering that perfect unit of food called the egg.

In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn dive deep into the art and science (and love) of egg-laying chickens. This is one of the topics they get the most questions about, so take a break from the garden for a bit and tune in to this mini masterclass on raising chickens for eggs!

In this Episode:

How they’re feeling as springtime gets into full swing
Two perfect springtime projects
The particular vegetable Josh is doubling down on
Question of the week: Can I can using an Instapot?
What chicken breeds you should start with
The difference between meat breeds and egg-laying breeds
Why you shouldn’t try for dual purposes in breeds
The “high-production” egg-laying breeds
Choosing the best chickens for your environment
Where to buy quality chicks
Should you incubate, buy chicks, or buy adult chickens?
What a beginner should buy
Managing the cost of raising chickens
How to take care of day-old chicks
How many eggs you can expect each day
Chicken coops 101
How much room your chickens will need to range
The importance of nesting boxes and the roost
Should you let your chickens free-range?
How to feed your chickens for maximum health

Resources:

Sponsor: MadeOn Skin Care (Use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off!)
Video: Canning Safety 101
5 Pressure Canning Mistakes
The Abundant Pantry: Canning

How would you like to come get a personal farm tour from me and Josh? Every year, we invite a small group of people to our homestead for a tour, and when you grab your tickets you get an exclusive invite to our private farm-to-table dinner! This year's event is coming up on July 25th, but we only have a few tickets left. Go ahead right now and save your spot!

Raising Chickens for Eggs