Things that Surprised Us about Keeping Chickens

Things that Surprised Us about Keeping Chickens

Author: Homesteading Family February 7, 2026 Duration: 33:29
Everyday Homesteading
LeisureArtsEducationGardenHome

Thinking about keeping backyard egg-laying chickens, but not sure where to begin? In today’s episode, we walk through the essential checklist every new chicken keeper should know.

We cover:
• What to think about before bringing chickens home
• Coop setup and space requirements
• Feeding, water, and daily care routines
• How to successfully raise chicks in their first few weeks
• Biosecurity basics and avoiding common pitfalls
• Planning for seasonal egg production

Whether this is your first flock or you’re brushing up on best practices, this episode gives you a clear, practical foundation so you can raise healthy, happy chickens.

- Read more on the blog and get your free printable checklist:
https://homesteadingfamily.com/raising-backyard-egg-laying-chickens/

- Printable Quick-Start Chicken Keeping Checklist: https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/pl/2148743214

- Check out the monthly chicken articles inside the Homestead Kitchen Magazine: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcast-hkm

- Thanks to Grubbly Farms, the sponsor of this podcast episode. If you'd like to give Grubbly a try, use coupon code "HOMESTEADING30" for 30% off your order! https://homesteadingfamily.com/grubbly-farms-fb

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:38 - Chit Chat
5:38 - Grubbly Farms
7:18 - Main Topic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

You know that every month, we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 subscribers? Each issue has seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, practical homesteading tips, and traditional wisdom from seasoned homesteaders. This magazine equips you to thrive on your homestead, whether you’re in the city, a suburban neighborhood, or on 40 acres. Subscribe today for just $9 a month.


There’s a quiet revolution happening in backyards and on small plots of land, where people are choosing to grow and preserve their own food despite busy modern lives. Everyday Homesteading, from the Homesteading Family, speaks directly to that reality. It’s for anyone who feels the pull toward self-sufficiency but is short on time, sorting through the noise to find what’s genuinely practical. This podcast focuses on methods that are tried and true, saving you from wasting effort and resources on well-meaning but unproven advice. You’ll hear honest conversations about fitting homesteading tasks into a realistic schedule-think five to ten hours a week-transforming that dream of a full pantry into a manageable weekly rhythm. Episodes delve into the nitty-gritty of growing food, cooking from scratch, and preserving your harvest, all with an eye on efficiency. The tone is less about achieving perfection and more about building confidence through simple, actionable steps. Tune in for a sense of community and grounded wisdom that makes the homesteading journey feel possible, starting right where you are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 278

Official website RSS
instagramyoutube
Everyday Homesteading
Podcast Episodes
Start Saving Seeds (Without a College Degree) Beginner Seed Saving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:08
Seed-saving is a homesteading skill that takes time and practice. Many feel intimidated and overwhelmed with what can feel like endless information on the topic, but with this seed saving for beginners guide, you can sta…
Simple Summer Herbal Remedies to Make Now to Be Ready for Summer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:41
With summer comes scrapes, burns, stings and bites. Let's prepare our herbal medicine cabinets now so we're armed and ready for the season! In this episode, I'm sharing three of my go-to remedies for the summer, includin…
10 Surprising Foods I Freeze Dry (and 1 I’ll Never Try Again) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:46
If you're on the fence about buying a freeze dryer, these 10 surprising foods you can freeze dry may convince you to make that purchase. What foods can you freeze dry? Let us share our favorites with you! For links to th…
Secrets to Building a Thriving Homestead (with Justin Rhodes) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:03
Justin Rhodes joined Josh in this episode of the Pantry Chat to discuss recovery on the homestead after Hurricane Helene and homestead builds, which happen to be the topic of his new book. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE ABOUT US!WE…
Composting in Spring! How to Rev Up Your Garden to Abundance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:55
Compost is key to supercharging your garden soil, and whether you purchase it or make food scraps, manure, worm, or mushroom compost, you need to know how to use compost to get the most out of this black gold.For more in…

«123456789...28»