P3624

Poultry Beginnings: Raise Your Own Backyard Chickens

For years, many folks have found maintaining a small flock of backyard chickens a very rewarding experience and an excellent venture for the small or part-time farmer. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous additional people, both urban and rural, ventured into the backyard chicken world—so much so that mail-order hatcheries could not keep up with orders during the spring of 2020.

While raising your own meat and eggs may seem like a good idea, understand that there are stones in the road. It is probably cheaper (and less work) to buy them from the store than to produce it yourself at home. But if you are determined to start a backyard flock, it is important that you start planning early, do some homework, and make informed decisions. And always remember that Extension is here to help you!

Download the PDF for the full publication. 

Publication 3624 (POD-08-25)

Reviewed by Jessica Wells, PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor, Poultry Science. Written by Tom Tabler, PhD, former Extension Professor, Poultry Science; Jonathan R. Moyle, PhD, Extension Poultry Specialist, University of Maryland Extension; Jennifer Rhodes, Principal Agent, Queen Anne’s County, University of Maryland Extension; Shawna L. Weimer, PhD, Poultry Extension Assistant Professor, University of Maryland; and Jonathan Moon, Extension Instructor, Poultry Science.