‘They are a labor of love’: homesteading expert warns of difficulties of raising your own chickens

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Many in Southern Colorado may be having trouble finding eggs on the shelves of their favorite grocery store.

It's due to a new law set to go into effect in January 2025. HB20-1343 mandates that all egg-laying hens must be housed in open environments, which has lead to a shortage of eggs.

When eggs were scarce in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, many turned to raising their own chickens, something a homesteading expert now warns against.

Allison Buckley owns Buckley's Homesteading Supply in Old Colorado City. She said a temporary shortage of eggs is not a reason to raise your own chickens.

"They're wonderful, they have more personality than any person ever expects but they are a labor of love, they are something that's going to be have to taken care of," she said.

Buckley said chickens are an investment, requiring space, at least four square feet of coop space for every bird, and a coop that can keep out predators.

"The raccoons around here would love to eat your chickens so you're going to lose your chickens if you don't invest in a sturdy, quality coop," she said.

In addition, she said chickens aren't always going to lay eggs.

"They don't give you eggs until they are five or six months old, and then after that, they only lay well for the first two to three years so after that point, you're stuck with pets that aren't going to be giving you eggs," she said.

Buckley said if you're concerned about egg shortages, you can always go straight to the source.

"Before you think about investing in becoming chicken owners and going into the big end, look into your local farmers," she said. "There are a lot of agricultural resources in our area, support your local farmers."