chicken tractors, which are a more spacious wire pen that can be moved around on fresh grass. Depending on how much land you have access to, a coop can also be designed with wire or net fencing to limit area in which they may roam, especially if you have neighbors or don't want them leaving a certain area. Chickens can fly, but not for long distances. Fences to contain chickens in a small area may also need to have a covering over the top that will not only prevent chickens from going over fences, but also prevent hawks from making an easy meal out of them.

Chickens will need feeders and a water source. These may be purchased or handmade as well. Water should be kept as clean as possible, so having a water container for chickens or a bucket that is covered at the top will prevent chickens from getting manure in from the top. Handmade feeders may be constructed from five-gallon buckets with holes drilled at the bottom and chicken nipples placed in the holes. The needed supplies may be purchased at most feed and supply stores.

Some types of chickens are more productive than others. Most young pullets mature and begin to lay eggs between four and six months old. Hens will then lay an egg every one to three days, even if a rooster is not present. Eggs produced without roosters only differ in that they will not hatch if incubated because they were not fertilized.

Chickens need to be purchased from a reliable source that is free from disease. There are many diseases that are contagious between chickens (and some wild migratory birds). While rare, a few of these diseases may even be transmitted to humans, so it is very important to buy from sources that maintain standards to keep their flocks healthy.

The most common source is large commercial hatcheries. These hatcheries can be found online. Most will allow you to select which breeds you prefer and give information on individual types, as well as let you select if you want exclusively female or both male and female birds. You may check with the individual hatchery you select, but most will vaccinate newly hatched chicks and mail the chicks to you at three days old. If you decide to buy chicks or adult hens from a local producer, you want to buy directly from them and make sure their flock is certified under the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). This is a national program that tests and monitors for diseases such as Salmonella spp, Mycoplasma spp, and Avian Influenza. (After your flock is established, you can contact your state Department of Agriculture if you would like to participate in the program as well.) You may also ask about vaccination status of their flock, although vaccines must be purchased in large quantities, so many small producers choose not to vaccinate.

If you decide to buy chicks or adult hens from a local producer, you want to buy directly from them and make sure their flock is certified under the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). This is a national program that tests and monitors for diseases such as Salmonella spp, Mycoplasma spp, and Avian Influenza. (After your flock is established, you can contact your state Department of Agriculture if you would like to participate in the program as well.) You may also ask about vaccination status of their flock, although vaccines must be purchased in large quantities, so many small producers choose not to vaccinate.

It is highly discouraged to buy chickens from any local sales or “swaps.” Many small sales have high volumes of birds coming from many different locations with unknown disease status. The bacteria may spread from bird to bird or be in the environment at that sale location. Even buying one bird that was exposed at the sale may cause a disease outbreak when taken home to a healthy flock.

Hens should have a fresh and clean water source at all times. For feed, it is recommended to buy a commercial feed that has been designed and properly balanced for laying hens. Most of these feeds will contain 16-18% protein and will be balanced by licensed nutritionists to supply the calcium and nutrients needed for the hen's metabolic needs for producing the eggs and shells. If other feeds are desired, contact a nutritionist first for recommendations.

As chickens reach maturity and begin laying eggs, nesting boxes should be prepared by adding a layer of straw for comfort and preventing eggs from