Raising Backyard Chickens 101: Why Is This a Growing Global Trend?

Growing up, I regularly heard stories from my mama about the chickens her family raised, both for eggs and for their Friday night dinner each week. From America to Australia, raising chickens at home has grown in popularity in recent years. But why is this old-fashioned idea, born no doubt out of my immigrant ancestors’ need to save money on family groceries, becoming so popular again?

I actually have several friends in my corner of Suburbia, USA who’ve raised chickens for a little over a decade now, and both are diehard fans of their backyard chicken flocks. When I told them I was planning to publish a post about the popularity of chickens for the backyard, they had TONS to say about how much they (and their families) have gained over the years from this fun hobby.

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Why Is Raising Chickens At Home So Popular?

For many US-based families, COVID supply-chain disruptions spurred a greater desire to have more control over our own food supply (this is when I took over our backyard veggie garden from my husband, who was busy trying to learn how to teach over Zoom #funtimes). But in the past few years, soaring egg prices in the United States due to soaring rates of avian flu have given this hobby’s growth another helping hand. (Remember those $9-$11/dozen egg prices? I sure do!)

Thanks to these trends, the number of American families owning chickens grew 28% from 2023 to early 2025, when it reached 11 million households. And again, it’s not just the United States; some 11% of Australian households were raising chickens by that same year.

Both my friends Carrie and June have been raising chickens in their suburban backyards for over a decade now, and both were more than happy to share their experiences (and their photos!) with me as I worked on this post.

Benefits of Raising Chickens at Home

When I asked my friends why they’d first started raising chickens, their answers were strikingly similar. Though both have high schoolers and college students now, each family started when their children were closer to preschool age. June, a vet, first got started with chickens because a coworker had some, kept saying how awesome they were and that she needed some, and gave her a flock of chicks to start with.

Carrie’s family started raising chickens after she watched one of her preschooler’s classes hatched chicks, and saw all the fun the kids had watching and waiting. Both my friends quickly listed off all the benefits of having backyard chickens as a family pet project (no pun intended):

Raising Healthy Families through Family Healthy Eating

First and foremost, both Carrie and June cited the health benefits of having a fresh, local, healthy source of eggs to feed their growing families. In this way, their families predated those who’ve only taken up chicken-raising in the past few years, because of food-chain disruptions due to the COVID pandemic and, more recently, avian flu. For many people, the main benefit of raising chickens is the fresh eggs you get every morning – especially since you can cook them in several different ways. 

While both my friends appreciated the fresh source of free eggs, they both focused on the flavor and health benefits of homegrown eggs. Both noted the poor conditions, high doses of antibiotics and hormones, and generally unhappy and overcrowded lives of the chickens that produce nearly all the eggs we see in supermarkets.

Each of them has taught her children throughout their lives about how much happier and healthier their home-grown chickens are, which leads to healthier eggs for their families to eat. As June put it, “Healthier chickens equals healthier eggs.” Carrie added, “I know [my] chickens are happy and healthy,” adding “I know I can eat raw cookie dough if I want and not worry about illness!” (Definite bonus if you ask me!)

And best of all, healthy backyard chickens lay eggs multiple times a week, meaning a constant supply for their families of richer-tasting, fresh backyard eggs for all their family’s needs.

Green Parenting through Chicken Raising

Besides the fact that having their own source of eggs means healthier food for their families, both Carrie and June also mentioned the many other environmental benefits of raising chickens at home.

From an environmental perspective, chickens can help reduce household waste. Their manure can also be composted and used in garden beds. And even better, if you don’t already compost your food waste, chickens are a great way to dispose of your kitchen scraps. As Carrie put it, “They eat my food scraps so it’s like recycling.”

Even better, chickens can help with insect control and yard pests, which cuts down on the temptation to use chemicals around your yard. Chickens LOVE chasing and eating insects, and digging up grubs.

Finally, raising chickens – even if you only eat the eggs, not also (as when my mama grew up) the meat – helps your children connect with where their food comes from. If you want to raise an eco-conscious child, there’s nothing better than giving them tangible understanding of the fact that food doesn’t simply appear in your fridge or pantry shelf.

Which leads to the next benefit of raising your own chickens at home as a family project:

Backyard Chickens as a Learning Experience

Raising chickens is also a great learning opportunity for kids because it’s a good way to get them excited about nature. Just as with any pets, chickens require regular care, and you can use these tasks to help teach your children responsibility and dependability.

 

As with any pets, feeding and watering your flock and collecting their eggs are small but important daily tasks that teach them responsibility and build their confidence. The fact that you get fresh eggs as a reward for your efforts is a definite bonus; June’s kids “love to go out and see what eggs are waiting in the chicken coop!”

But that’s only the beginning of the fun (and the learning!). As my kids did with their first pet gerbil during the pandemic, Carrie’s kids used to have engineering fun with their chickens: “We used to build the chicks ‘houses’ and mazes out of [Duplo blocks]. It was hours of entertainment, once I could see that the toddlers were’t going to accidendally smush the chicks.” One of those “toddlers,” who’s now in her high school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, is currently raising her own flock of laying chickens, which will ultimately lead toward her earning a special FFA certification.

And perhaps most surprising to those of us who don’t own chickens, both June and Carrie’s families consider their chickens to be beloved pets. In both my friends’ cases, their kids grew up handling and playing with their chickens; June’s daughter Carly would put them on the swing, send them down the slide, and chase them around the yard. June added that their chickens will come when called and eat out of your hand, adding that they’re “like little puppies” because each bird (and each breed) has its own personality.

Is It Easy to Keep Chickens in a Suburban Backyard?

A common concern many people have is how easy it is to keep chickens in suburban backyards. But knowledgeable preparation is a prerequisite before bringing any animal home. And with the right preparation, backyard chickens can fit comfortably into a standard suburban block.

First off, you DON’T need a huge yard. In fact, a secure coop and a small run can house a few hens quite comfortably. (“Secure” is key; I remember well when June’s first flock was destroyed pre-pandemic by a fox or raccoon or some other predator, and how devastated she and Carly were.) Well-designed chicken coops for small backyards will maximize space while keeping hens safe and protected from weather and predators. When choosing or building a coop, make sure yours shelters them from rain and strong sun, provides a nesting space for laying eggs, and gives them room to move around during the day.

And as with any pets, you’ll need to change their water daily and give them quality feed, keep their coop clean, and watch for signs of disrepair. This last part is especially important if you want to prevent predators killing your chickens.

Before you set your heart on chicken-raising at home, you’ll need to check your local government offices so you know any local ordinances that might affect your plans. Depending on where you live, you may need a permit for more than (say) five chickens, or there may be local rules about how far your coop needs to be from boundary lines.

What Does It Cost to Start a Backyard Chicken Coop?

The cost of setting up backyard chickens really depends on how simple or elaborate you want your arrangement to be. For any setup, the coop (which can range from hundreds to a couple thousand dollars if you buy one instead of DIYing), feeders, drinkers and bedding are the main upfront expenses. You will also, of course, need to purchase hens from a reputable source.

You can view a range of chicken coops here, for ideas to get you started. As you can see, chicken coops come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and designs, to fit pretty much any budget or yard type!

And don’t forget about the ongoing costs. Typically, this includes feed, bedding and occasional maintenance. Thankfully, chickens are generally hardy animals, and serious health issues are uncommon when they’re well cared for. Laying hens will even adapt to fluctuating temperatures outdoors better than you might expect, from hot summers to cold winters. 

How to Get Started With Backyard Chickens

If you’re ready to explore how to build a backyard chicken coop, a good place to start is by researching breeds suited to your local climate. Some breeds tolerate heat better. Others are well known for their consistent egg production. You should also consider whether you want chickens mainly for their eggs (laying hens) or also, as with my mama’s family growing up, for meat (dual-purpose chickens). It’s important to take the time to pick the right breed for your needs (more on this below).

One of your biggest upfront costs will be the coop you choose for your flock. There are plenty of videos to help you get started if you want to DIY, and plenty of ready-made options you can buy online. The most important characteristics of a good coop, besides being secure from potential predators, is that it will fit in your yard and include both adequate airflow and enough shade from the sun.

And just as with any other new pet, be sure to set up feeders and water containers before you bring your hens home. This will help them settle into their new environment and get down to the business of laying eggs more quickly.

Breeds of Backyard Chickens: How to Choose

Before you get started, you’ll want to do some research on which breed(s) of chickens will work best for your needs. This includes the climate you live in (hot, cold, or widely varying), whether you want chickens mainly for eggs or for both eggs and meat, and what temperament you’re looking for.

When I asked my friends about their favorite breeds of chickens for raising at home, they both had a ton to say. Here’s a quick rundown of some of their thoughts.

Some of their fave choices:

• Speckled Sussex: June’s fave breed to raise; they’re “very independent, nice, and good layers.”
• Barred Rock: The first breed Carrie raised, and what she plans to get again for her next flock. They’re “very sweet, calm, hardy in cold,” and lay medium-brown eggs.
• Cochins: Another favorite of June’s; she described cochins as “fancy, fat, and fluffy” but noted that they can get very defensive of their eggs when they start laying.
• Prairie Bluebell: Carrie described these as “super fun, pretty petite hens that lay aqua eggs. The eggs make me smile but the chickens” – she paused – “Love to climb trees, [but are] flighty, and dumb as rocks.”

Other breeds they’ve tried:

• Orpingtons: Carrie calls Orpingtons “the golden retriever of chickens,” adding that they are “very fluffy” but not the smartest birds. “Also, they hate snow; picture having to carry them from their coop to the play pen – only they loathe being carried! Flap their giant wings right in your face!”
• Rhode Island Reds: Although they’re known as reliable layers, June called these “the biggest bullies,” adding, “there’s a reason [people refer to] a pecking order!”
• Brown/White Leghorns: According to Carrie, these chickens are “flightier” and “not great with people,” but she likes this breed anyway because they’re “solid daily egg layers.”
• Polish: While their fluffy head feathers and sweet nature makes Polish chickens both fun to look at and kid-friendly, June noted that these are not the brightest birds out there, adding that if their head feathers get too long and you don’t trim them, the birds will walk right into walls because they can’t see where they’re going!
• Olive Eggers and Easter Eggers: These aren’t actual distinct breeds but are hybrids. As hybrids, they tend to give lots of different-colored eggs even from the same bird; that’s the plus side. On the potential downside, as Carrie noted of her experience with olive eggers, “I’ve had really great ones, and I’ve had really crummy personality ones – always a surprise what you’ll get!”

Is Raising Backyard Chickens Right for Your Family?

At the end of the day, only you can decide if raising backyard chickens is right for your family. The hardest parts, according to Carrie and June, were getting used to the smell, and getting used to saying goodbye when a chicken’s laying days were over. (#chickenhack: As for the smell, Carrie said she plans to scoop out several layers of her existing chicken run when she starts her new flock this spring, and replace the layers with construction sand. Because sand is a dessicant and will thus dry out the chicken droppings, she’s heard that this is a great hack to cut down on both smell and maintenance.)

That said, if you have the space for a coop and the willingness to build a daily routine, chickens can be a rewarding addition to your family. They’ll give you a plentiful supply of food, help you to reduce food waste, serve as pest control, and become beloved members of your family that provide endless hours of entertainment. As Carrie put it, chickens “are freaking hilarious!”

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