Calculators
Working tools that answer one specific question. No "sign up to see results." No upsell paywall.
Real Gear Reviews
The cheap option is usually fine. When it isn't, this site says so. Reviews include real cost-of-ownership math, not "5 stars on Amazon" reasoning.
Why this page exists
Most backyard chicken content online is either pure influencer fluff or 47-step "ultimate beginner guides" written by someone who has never collected an egg at 6am in February. This site is run by a person in Wilmington, Delaware who keeps a small flock.
The math here matches what's actually happening in real coops in real Mid-Atlantic weather, not theoretical "feed conversion ratio" tables from feed companies. Real coops have molts. Real winters drop egg production 60%. Real flocks have a hen who eats more than she should. The calculators account for all that.
Gear actually worth buying
Smart eBay searches we'd start with ourselves. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales through these links; the price you pay is the same whether you use them or go direct to eBay. Full disclosure.
Brooder heat lampA reliable heat source matters more than almost anything else in the first 3 weeks. Infrared bulb or radiant panel — both work.
Gravity feeder & watererHanging feeders reduce waste and keep bedding out of the feed. Get one sized for your flock count.
Pine shavings (coop bedding)Deep litter on pine shavings is the lowest-effort, lowest-odor floor system for small backyard flocks.
Chick starter feedHigh-protein (18–20%) starter crumble for the first 8 weeks. Medicated or not is your call; both work fine.
Hardware cloth (predator proofing)Chicken wire stops chickens in; hardware cloth stops predators out. Half-inch galvanized is the minimum for weasels and raccoons.