Farm & Flock— presented by Chicken Whisperer Magazine Sponsored Content from Purina Farms

“ I started with goats and thought, if I can manage goats, I can manage chickens,” Shelby says.“ And I really wanted my own eggs.”

At the time, eggs locally were nearing $ 9 a dozen. But Shelby quickly realized her flock offered more than grocery savings. Raising chickens became another way to build a balanced livestock system on the farm.

Today, Shelby keeps a small flock that free-ranges alongside goats, cattle and dogs. Over time, she has learned that consistent egg production starts long before hens ever lay their first egg.

Starting out strong

Like many first-time chicken owners, Shelby began by focusing on the basics. From the moment her chicks arrived in the mail, she concentrated on creating a healthy environment and providing the right nutrition to support early growth. Shelby started her chicks on a complete chick starter designed to support the rapid development birds experience in their first weeks of life.

“ I started them off with the Purina ® Start & Grow ® feed and with electrolytes and probiotics in their water,” Shelby says.

Starter feeds help make feeding less complicated because they are formulated with balanced protein and amino acids to support muscle development, feather growth and skeletal strength during the chick stage. For Shelby, keeping feeding simple helped remove uncertainty during those early weeks.“ I like keeping things simple,” she says.“ Less is more.”

Learning the rhythm of raising chicks

As Shelby’ s chicks grew, she quickly discovered that raising chickens is as much about observation as it is about routine.

Within weeks, the birds were suddenly twice the size of the tiny chicks she first unpacked from their shipping box. Their personalities also began to emerge.

“ If you spend a lot of time with your chickens, you realize they all have little personalities,” Shelby says.

During these early months, Shelby focused on maintaining consistency: clean bedding, fresh water and steady access to feed. Simple management practices helped minimize stress as the birds grew and feathered out.

She also learned that many lessons come through experience.

“ I think a big thing with chickens is you learn through trial and error,” she says.

One example is temperature management in the brooder. If chicks huddle together, they may be too cold. If they spread out away from the heat source, they may be too warm.

Learning to read these behaviors helped Shelby adjust conditions quickly and keep her chicks comfortable during their earliest weeks.

Transitioning to laying hens

One of the most exciting milestones for backyard chicken owners can be the start of egg production.

“ When they reach around 18 weeks is when they start laying,” Shelby says.

At this stage, Shelby transitions her birds from chick starter feed to Purina ® Layena ® layer feed.

Rather than switching feeds abruptly, she introduces the new ration gradually by mixing the two feeds together over several days.

“ I usually mix the chick feed and the layer feed together until the starter feed runs out,” she explains.“ It’ s a really easy process.”

Layer feeds differ from starter feeds primarily in calcium content. Hens require higher calcium levels to support strong eggshell formation once they begin laying.

8 AcreageLife May 2026 AcreageLife. com