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Should You Get Chicks This Year? A Down-Home Guide to Deciding

Every spring, the feed stores start filling up with those irresistible little bundles of fluff—chirping away in their warm brooders, just waiting for someone to take them home. Raising chickens in the backyard is a very popular hobby these days. If you’re anything like me, you stand there for a good long while, watching them scurry around, imagining fresh eggs on the breakfast table, and thinking, Well, maybe this is the year I finally do it. Chickens are easy.

But before you come home with a box of peeping babies and a heart full of good intentions, let’s sit a spell and think this through. Spoiler alert: Nothing is as easy as it looks

The Dream vs. The Reality

Now, don’t get me wrong—I love chickens. They bring a little farmstead magic to a backyard, they keep the bugs down, and there’s nothing like gathering warm eggs from the nest box in the morning. But raising chicks ain’t all sunshine and scrambled eggs.

For the first several weeks, those little fuzzballs need heat, protection, and constant care. They don’t just magically turn into hardy, independent hens overnight. You’ll be cleaning up chick mess (oh, the dust!), refilling waterers that they will poop in, and worrying if they’re warm enough, too warm, or pecking each other too much.

Then, of course, there’s the coop situation. Got one? Great. Need to build one? Better start sketching plans and pricing out lumber. You can buy a ready-made coop, but they won’t come cheap! And don’t forget about predators—raccoons, hawks, and neighborhood dogs all think chickens are nature’s best snack. Your coop needs to protect from them all!

Why You Should Take the Plunge

If you’ve got the space, the time, and the willingness to fuss over them like a mother hen (because you are their mother hen), chicks can be a wonderful addition to your life. They bring joy, entertainment, and eggs—eventually. If you’ve got kids, they’ll love learning about responsibility and farm-to-table food.

And let’s be honest—few things are cuter than watching a full-grown hen waddle around the yard, happily pecking at the ground like she owns the place. (Spoiler: She does.)

Reasons to Hold Off (for Now)

If you’re in a busy season of life, don’t have a secure setup, or aren’t ready to deal with chicken-related heartbreak (because yes, sometimes chicks don’t make it), it might be wise to wait another year. Chickens can live a good 5-10 years—so it’s not just a seasonal hobby, it’s a long-term commitment.

The Final Peck on the Matter

If your heart says yes and your homestead (or backyard) is ready, then by all means, grab those chicks and start your chicken-raising journey. But if the idea of brooding, coop-building, and predator-proofing makes you want to lie down for a nap, there’s no shame in waiting. Those baby chicks will be at the feed store next year, too. Maybe just make a chicken friend!

Check out the “Chick” List, if you are ready to take the plunge!

You can also find more information at BackyardChickens.com about different breeds, the best egg layers, illnesses and pretty much anything else!