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

Homestead Kitchen Membership enrollment is now open! Just in time for an Herbal Oil & Salves challenge. Spend six weeks stocking your herbal medicine cabinet. This only happens a few times a year, now is your chance to get access to our classes, guided Challenges, AND special Homesteading Family events. Learn more!