It’s feeling like springtime here lately. And in my family, we have been waiting patiently for this time of the year. And it’s not due to the budding trees or the warmth of the sun on our winter skin, although that is definitely a welcomed addition to our largely indoor lives right now.
It’s because of the chickens. Folks, the chicks are here. Well, not exactly here.
But they’re coming.
Keeping backyard chickens is one of the easiest and most rewarding experiences an urban homesteader can have. First, you have a box of cute little balls of fluff and in a few more months, you have fresh omelets made from your own eggs. And in between, you spread some mulch, keep an eye out for rulebreakers, do a little coop-keeping, and enjoy watching and listening to their little personalities emerge as they scratch and cluck around in their yards.
In Alabama, there are many places to get chicks. Craigslist has them. Facebook has many local groups dedicated to raising chickens and most users sell their chicks. Tractor Supply Company also gets chicks in the Spring, although you have to be vigilant, calling every day to check and see if they’ve arrived; a sales associate with the Chelsea area Tractor Supply store informed me that they will sell out within hours. And there are various hatcheries online that you can order from and they will be shipped to your local post office for pickup. This last option is what we are planning to do.
from different breeds.
So, what do you need to start raising chickens?
First, check your local city ordinances to make sure chickens are allowed in your neighborhood. The cities of Birmingham and Homewood are linked here.
Second, grab some books! Learn all you can about the different breeds. There are chickens that lay white or brown eggs, but also breeds that lay eggs that are olive green or blue! And they all taste the same, so it’s really just preference. Some breeds are profound layers; some aren’t. And some are cold hardy, while others do well in warmer climates. And there are other ideas to consider, such as creating a chicken brooder to keep the chicks warm while they’re young and setting up a critter-proof enclosure.
We learned so much by visiting our library when we began our chicken keeping adventure. Homewood Library has books on raising chickens, as well as building coops and creating a safe and healthy environment for them. And there are many more materials available to library card holders within the JCLC cooperative. Here are a few favorites at Homewood.
Wisdom for Hen Keepers by Chris Graham 
Creating Your Backyard Farm by Nicki Trench 
Once Upon a Flock by Lauren Scheuer 
Practical Projects for Self-Sufficiency
by Chris Peterson and Philip Schmidt
So, here we go! I’ve ordered our chicks. We’ve chosen a sweet tempered, hardy egg laying breed: the Marans. From past experience, 6-7 chickens keep us in enough eggs to occasionally share with friends and neighbors. Over the next few weeks, I’ll get our brooder ready and set up a space for their arrival. Then, it’s time to build a coop and an enclosure. I’ll keep posting updates and list the resources I’ve used along the way.
Ameraucana chickens will lay beautiful, blue-green eggs.