They're a lot more simple than we thought would be my first tip.

-We are 1 year in. Got a small coop and bought five baby chicks (had them check for hens). We had them under a heat light bulb, with water and feed for a few weeks.

-after a few weeks we moved them outside, still with feed

-5 months in they started laying, we did nothing

-ISA Browns seem to be the best layers and friendliest (one egg a day per chicken)

-we give them some grain feed ($30-50 a month) and kitchen scraps. Have heard of others that give leftovers from garden and litchen scraos without grain

-everything wants to eat them (hawks, owl, foxes) so they free range when we are outside only

-THEY ARE WAY MORE FUN THAN WE THOUGHT. LIKE FRIENDLY, TINY RAPTORS