Farm & Flock Chicken Checklist
Chicken Keeper
Farm & Flock— presented by Chicken Whisperer Magazine ®
Starter Guide
What Every Beginner Backyard Flock Needs
By Maggie MacHale
If you’ re new to raising chickens or homesteading in general, it can be hard to know where to even begin. A quick search online doesn’ t always help either, since everyone seems to have a different opinion( and sometimes a different agenda behind it).
This checklist keeps things simple. It cuts through the noise and gives you the basics you actually need to feel confident caring for your flock, without the overwhelm or conflicting advice.
Shelter
Coops
Whether it ' s a repurposed backyard shed, a do-it-yourself building or a pre-built chicken coop, the structure you use needs to be dry, secure and well-ventilated. According to Roots and Refuge, it should provide at least three to four square feet per bird and allow easy access for cleaning, such as a walk-in design or doors.
Provide high-level vents to supply fresh air and remove moisture or ammonia. Offer proper bedding to absorb waste, such as pine shavings, straw or sand.
Roosts
Chickens prefer to sleep off the ground. Roots and Refuge also suggests providing 10 to 12 inches of roosting space for each bird and positioning the roost higher than the nesting boxes. Chickens cling with their toes, so roosts should be flat with slightly rounded corners on the front and back. Commonly used materials include two-by-four lumber, tree branches, wooden closet poles, ladder roosts and natural branch structures.
Nesting Boxes
A nesting box should be dark, private and dry, with soft, clean bedding and a 3- to 4-inch lip to prevent eggs from rolling out. Suggested sizes range from 12 by 12 by 12 inches to 14 by 14 by 14 inches.
Runs Chicken runs prevent your flock from damaging your garden while still allowing for natural behaviors. They also provide exercise and fresh air, improving hen health. Use galvanized mesh and a minimum of 6.5 square feet space per chicken. Provide sun and wind protection and ensure the roof fully covers the run.
Safety
Keeping your chickens secure and out of reach of potential predators is vital for your flock. Use hardware cloth, not chicken wire, to cover all coop openings. Bury fencing at least 10 to 12 inches into the ground and add a perimeter apron extending outward to deter digging predators. Coops should be elevated 8 to 12 inches or have concrete and paver flooring to make it impenetrable.
Use carabiners, locking eye hooks, padlocks and other two-step latches on all doors, nesting boxes and vents. Raccoons are smarter than you think.
Galvanized mesh around your run will protect against climbing predators and birds of prey.
22 AcreageLife June 2026 AcreageLife. com