We’ve Added to Our Family: Welcoming Chickens Back to Our Colonial Homestead!
It has been three years since we last had chickens roaming our backyard and fresh eggs on our counter. Trying to put into words how I feel about reintroducing chickens to our little homestead will never quite capture the excitement and joy this brings!
Why Did We Stop Raising Chickens?
Life has a way of shifting our focus and priorities. In 2014, we welcomed our first flock of hens, and by 2016, I launched my art business. These two passions complemented each other beautifully—my hens inspired many of my early paintings. However, as my business grew, my time for tending to the chickens and garden dwindled. My husband, after long workdays, took on the responsibility, but as our flock naturally dwindled over time, we made the difficult decision to find a new home for the last few hens rather than invest in rebuilding our worn-out coop.
Finding Balance Again
Over the past year, I’ve shared my journey of self-reflection. I reached a point of burnout, feeling uninspired and even resenting my art practice. Stepping away from my business for a time helped me reset with new boundaries and goals. One of those boundaries? Not letting my love of art take me away from other joys like family, gardening, and yes—raising chickens again!
There’s room for everything that brings you happiness when you create balance and set boundaries. So, when I picked up my new little chicks, I found myself holding back tears. It felt like I was reconnecting with a part of my life that I had dearly missed. Ever since bringing these babies home, I’ve been absolutely giddy—and can you blame me? Just look at all this cuteness!
Starting Fresh: Building a Chick Brooder on a Budget
Since we’re starting from scratch with this new flock, we needed a brooder, coop, and feeders. We initially used a small tub (17”x24”), but within a week, the chicks outgrew it. So, we built a budget-friendly brooder to last until they transition into their coop (which we still need to build!). Here’s how you can make one too:
Supplies:
Chick kit (includes heat lamp, bulb, food, water, and grit feeders)
Thermometer (to maintain proper heat levels)
Poultry shavings (for bedding)
Probiotics (to add to water)
3/4” dowel rods (for roosting bars)
Scrap wood or trim pieces
Four rubber bands
Hardware cloth (for ventilation)
Cutting tools & drill
Large 50+ gallon Rubbermaid-style tub (approx. 2’x4’)
Instructions:
Prepare the Lid: Mark and cut a window opening in the lid, ensuring enough space for the heat lamp to warm the brooder.
Attach Hardware Cloth: Cut a piece larger than the opening, then sandwich it between two sets of trim pieces. Secure with screws.
Secure the Lid Window: Use additional trim pieces on the inside of the lid to sandwich the hardware cloth securely in place.
Install Roosting Bars: Measure the width of your tub, add two inches, and cut your dowel rods accordingly. Drill holes on opposite sides of the tub to insert the rods. Secure them by twisting rubber bands at each end to prevent movement.
Clean & Set Up: Clean the tub with white vinegar. Add shavings, place feeders and water on one end, and secure the thermometer inside. Position the heat lamp over the window to maintain the right temperature.
Temperature Guide:
Week 1: Maintain 95°F
Lower by 5°F per week until reaching 70°F, when chicks should be fully feathered and ready for their coop (at least 6 weeks of age. If your temps are still dropping at night, bringing them back to the brooder may be best).
Raising chickens again has already brought so much joy back into our lives. I’m thrilled to share this journey with you and can’t wait to see what the future holds for our little flock!
Happy Hens, Happy Life!
Beverly