Chicken keeping looks rustic and relaxing until it all goes sideways from missing one basic detail.

There’s a fine line between cozy cottagecore and full-on barnyard chaos. Backyard chickens sound like a no-brainer until your coop turns into a disease incubator and your hens stop laying altogether. But here’s the good news—chickens don’t actually need much. Just the right things, done consistently, and they’ll basically handle the rest. So if you’re already picturing your first egg haul, this list will keep you from making rookie mistakes.