The First Flock Checklist: Everything You Need Before Your Pullets Come Home

Getting your first flock is one of the most rewarding things you can do — but showing up unprepared on pickup day is a stressful way to start. This checklist covers everything you need to have in place before your pullets arrive so day one goes smoothly.

Before You Order Pullets

• ☐ Check local ordinances — Confirm chickens are allowed in your municipality. Many areas have limits on flock size and prohibit roosters.
• ☐ Decide on flock size — Start small. 3–6 hens is ideal for most beginners. You can always add more later.
• ☐ Choose your breed — For beginners focused on egg production, Golden Comets are hard to beat. See our Breed Comparison Guide for more options.
• ☐ Plan your coop location — Good drainage, morning sun, afternoon shade, and easy access for cleaning and egg collection.

The Coop

• ☐ 4 square feet of coop space per hen minimum (more is always better)
• ☐ 10 square feet of run space per hen minimum
• ☐ Nest boxes — One box per 3–4 hens. Dimensions: 12" x 12" x 12" minimum.
• ☐ Roosts — 2–4 inches wide, set higher than nest boxes. 8–10 inches of roost space per hen.
• ☐ Ventilation — Vents at the top of the coop, above roost height. Essential year-round.
• ☐ Predator-proofing — Hardware cloth (not chicken wire) on all openings. Bury or apron the run perimeter to prevent digging. Secure latches on all doors.
• ☐ Bedding — 4–6 inches of pine shavings on the coop floor and in nest boxes.
• ☐ Easy access door — A pop door for the hens and a human-sized door for cleaning and egg collection.

Equipment

• ☐ Feeder — Enough capacity for your flock size. Hanging feeders keep feed cleaner than ground-level options.
• ☐ Waterer — At least 1 gallon per 4 hens. More in summer. Consider a nipple waterer for cleanliness.
• ☐ Oyster shell dispenser — A small separate container for free-choice calcium supplementation.
• ☐ Grit dispenser — If hens have access to anything other than commercial feed, they need grit to digest it.
• ☐ Egg basket or cartons — You'll need somewhere to put those eggs.
• ☐ Coop cleaning tools — A dedicated small rake, shovel, and bucket make cleaning much easier.

Feed & Supplements

• ☐ Layer feed — A quality 16–18% protein layer pellet or crumble. Have at least a 50 lb bag on hand before pickup day.
• ☐ Oyster shell — Free-choice calcium for strong eggshells. Keep it available at all times.
• ☐ Grit — Insoluble grit (granite or flint) for digestion if hens will eat anything other than commercial feed.
• ☐ Electrolytes — Sav-A-Chick or similar. Useful for the first few days after transport and during heat waves.

Health & First Aid

• ☐ Poultry wound spray — Vetericyn Plus is the gold standard. Keep it on hand.
• ☐ Blu-Kote — Antiseptic spray that also hides wounds from flock-mates (chickens are attracted to red).
• ☐ Nitrile gloves — For handling sick birds or cleaning wounds.
• ☐ Food-grade diatomaceous earth — Dust in nest boxes and coop corners to deter mites.
• ☐ Know your nearest poultry vet — Find one before you need one. Not all vets see chickens.

Transport

• ☐ Transport container — A ventilated cardboard box, pet carrier, or purpose-built poultry crate. One bird per square foot of floor space minimum.
• ☐ Bedding in the carrier — A thin layer of pine shavings or straw for comfort and traction.
• ☐ Keep it dark and calm — Darkness reduces stress during transport. Cover the carrier with a light cloth if needed.

Day One Checklist

• ☐ Fill feeders and waterers before birds arrive
• ☐ Add electrolytes to water for the first 2–3 days
• ☐ Place birds directly into the coop (not the run) and close them in for the first 24–48 hours so they learn where home is
• ☐ Check on them after a few hours — make sure everyone is eating, drinking, and settling in
• ☐ Resist the urge to handle them constantly on day one — let them decompress

You're Ready

If you've checked everything on this list, you're more prepared than most first-time chicken keepers. The learning curve is real, but it's also short — within a few weeks you'll have a routine and wonder why you waited so long to start.

Our ready-to-lay Golden Comet pullets are available for seasonal pickup at Stafford Hill Farms. They're vaccinated, farm-raised, and ready to get to work. Check our current availability and pickup schedule on the pullets page.