Backyard chickens have become one of the most popular small-scale additions to Oklahoma properties — whether you're after fresh eggs, a 4-H project, or just enjoy keeping them. If you're just getting started, here's the practical rundown we walk new chicken owners through at our Oklahoma stores.
Check Your City or County Rules First
Before buying a single chick, check your local ordinances. Rules vary significantly across the OKC metro — some cities allow hens but not roosters, some have flock size limits, and some have coop placement and setback requirements. This is the step people skip most often and regret later.
Starting with Chicks vs. Started Pullets
You have two main starting points:
- Day-old chicks — less expensive, but require a brooder setup with a heat source, and it'll be several months before they lay eggs
- Started pullets (typically 8-20 weeks old) — cost more upfront but skip the brooding stage and get you to egg-laying age faster
For first-time chicken owners, started pullets are often the easier entry point since you skip the most fragile early stage.
What Chicks Need in the First Few Weeks
If you're starting with day-old chicks, you'll need:
- A draft-free brooder box or container
- A heat lamp or brooder plate, keeping the area around 95°F for the first week, then reducing by about 5°F per week
- Chick-specific starter feed with appropriate protein levels for growth
- Fresh water available at all times, with a chick-safe waterer to prevent drowning
- Pine shaving bedding, not cedar, which can be harmful to chicks' respiratory systems
Coop Basics for Oklahoma's Climate
Oklahoma's combination of hot summers, occasional severe winter cold, and strong wind events means your coop setup matters more here than in milder climates:
- Ventilation — critical in summer heat; chickens handle cold much better than they handle heat and humidity
- Shade — especially important during Oklahoma summer; chickens can struggle badly in direct sun and high heat
- Predator-proofing — hardware cloth (not chicken wire, which predators can tear through) on all openings, and a secure latch system; Oklahoma has no shortage of raccoons, possums, and hawks
- Wind protection — solid walls on at least two sides to block prevailing wind, particularly important during winter cold snaps
Feeding as They Grow
Feed needs change as your flock matures:
- 0-8 weeks: chick starter feed
- 8-18 weeks: grower feed
- 18+ weeks (laying age): layer feed with added calcium for strong eggshells
We carry starter, grower, and layer feed from Purina, Nutrena, Kalmbach, and Big V at all four of our Oklahoma locations.
When to Expect Eggs
Most breeds start laying between 18 and 24 weeks of age, though this varies by breed and the time of year — chicks hatched in spring tend to start laying closer to that 18-week mark, while fall-hatched chicks may take a bit longer due to shortening daylight.
Where to Get Chicken Feed and Supplies in Oklahoma
We carry a full lineup of chicken feed and supplies at all four Cook Feed & Outdoor locations — Oklahoma City, Yukon, Norman, and Remington Park. Browse our chicken feed collection and chicken supplies online, or stop in and ask our staff for help getting your flock started.