Backyard Chickens | Small Property Living

A rooster and hen behind the wire-mesh wall of a grassy run

№ 01 ·Backyard Chickens

Best Chicken Coop With Run

Chicken coops with a run, from budget wood combos to a walk-in with a bolt-on run, plus a wipe-clean plastic coop you add a run to. Honest bird counts for each.

By Tom Bennett · Jun 17 →

Small flock of hens spread across a shaded backyard near their coop

№ 02 ·Backyard Chickens

Best Heated Chicken Waterer for Winter

The best heated chicken waterers for winter. Closed nipple drinkers from 60 to 250 watts, and a heated base that reuses the drinker you already own.

By Tom Bennett · Jun 17 →

A hen standing just inside the wire mesh wall of a backyard chicken coop

№ 03 ·Backyard Chickens

Best Automatic Chicken Coop Doors

The best automatic chicken coop doors compared. Battery, solar, and cold-weather picks with honest pros and cons, plus how to choose the right one for your coop.

By Tom Bennett · Jun 16 →

№ 04 ·Backyard Chickens

Best Chicken Feeders and Waterers

Best chicken feeders and waterers compared. Treadle, gravity, heated, and nipple systems with honest pros and cons.

By Tom Bennett · May 1 →

A rustic wooden chicken coop with a ramp standing in a green garden

№ 05 ·Backyard Chickens

Best Chicken Coops for Beginners

The best beginner chicken coops compared. Budget to premium options with honest advice on what cheap coops get wrong.

By Tom Bennett · Apr 30 →

№ 06 ·Backyard Chickens

Best Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds for a Small Flock

Six steady layers that make sense in a 3-4 hen backyard flock, with the temperament tradeoffs the breed lists skip.

Beginner Moderate

By Tom Bennett · Jul 29 →

№ 07 ·Backyard Chickens

Chicken Grit vs Oyster Shell: Why Hens Need Both

Grit grinds food in the gizzard. Oyster shell supplies calcium. Layers need separate, free-choice access to both.

Beginner Low

By Tom Bennett · Jul 29 →

Hens standing in straw bedding inside a coop

№ 08 ·Backyard Chickens

Deep Litter Method for a Small Chicken Coop

A practical deep-litter routine for small coops, including bedding, moisture control, wood floors, and safe compost aging.

Intermediate Low

By Tom Bennett · Jul 29 →

№ 09 ·Backyard Chickens

How Many Nesting Boxes Per Chicken?

One box per 3-4 hens is enough, even when every hen insists on using the same favorite.

Beginner Low to Moderate

By Tom Bennett · Jul 29 →

№ 10 ·Backyard Chickens

How to Insulate a Chicken Coop for Winter

Keep the coop dry and draft-free, not airtight. High ventilation prevents the moisture that puts combs and feet at risk.

Intermediate Low to Moderate

By Tom Bennett · Jul 29 →

Baby chicks standing together in a brooder

№ 11 ·Backyard Chickens

How Many Chickens Should a Beginner Start With?

Why 3-4 hens is the sweet spot and what to actually expect as a beginner

Beginner Moderate to High

By Tom Bennett · Mar 19 →

№ 12 ·Backyard Chickens

Chicken Run Ideas for Small Yards

Run designs that keep chickens happy and contained in a small backyard

Intermediate Moderate

By Tom Bennett · Feb 5 →

№ 13 ·Backyard Chickens

Can You Have Chickens in Town? A Regulations Guide

How to figure out if you can legally keep chickens where you live

Beginner Free

By Tom Bennett · Jan 22 →

Hens foraging on grass beside a wooden coop

№ 14 ·Backyard Chickens

Best Chicken Coop Setup for 4 Hens

Everything you need in a coop for 4 hens, from space to predator proofing

Intermediate Moderate to High

By Tom Bennett · Dec 11 →

№ 15 ·Backyard Chickens

How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter Without Electricity

How to winter backyard chickens without electricity or a heat lamp, using deep litter, ventilation, roost design, and freeze-proof watering tricks.

By Tom Bennett · Jun 16 →

№ 16 ·Backyard Chickens

Are Backyard Chickens Worth It? The Real Cost of a Small Suburban Flock

Startup vs ongoing vs eggs-saved for a 4-hen flock, plus the hidden costs and time nobody mentions before they buy chicks.

By Tom Bennett · Jun 3 →