Top Tips for Raising Chickens
Taking Care
Free Advice from the Pros
Keeping chickens, especially egg-laying ones, can be very rewarding and fun.
It is one of the first things I wanted to do when we bought our land.
Food Security at its best. A vegetable garden and chickens connect us strongly to the food we eat. And the complete circle of table/garden scraps to eggs and fertilizer.
Chickens require constant care even if it is minimal. They can live up to 10 years so there is a commitment on your part to provide the few simple things that they need. But they will reward you in so many ways.
Things to Note
First they need a safe environment, and usually a run is best for most people. We have acreage so we let them run free. Our land is too big for our small flock so little damage is done to the flower and vegetable gardens. A small cost in my opinion. But most prefer chickens kept in a run. They will pick this clean and need to be provided with additional greens, most likely kitchen and garden scraps. Runs can also be set up to protect them from above too (Ravens, eagles hawks and owls love chicken as much as we do). But we have two friendly dogs who keep our yards safe for the chickens. Consider hanging cabbage and “roost swings” for interest in the run.
Next a coup is needed. It should be large enough that if necessary they can spend a day inside. It should have nesting boxes and a roost where they can sleep. And lastly it should be strong enough and secure enough that predators can’t get in, when you are busy with your life or quietly sleeping ( a preferred time to attempt entry). Lastly keep in mind ventilation, very important in the summer and a way to close it up in the coldest of winter days. Consider a “droppings board”, a shelf about a foot under the roost. Use 2 X 4 as support beams and Joist Hanger fittings to make removal should you ever need to. The shelf can be particle board or firm plastic cut to fit and covered in shavings. It makes cleaning super easy, so make sure the boards are under 4 feet in length.
Remember more space in coop and run is better. Many problems can occur from overcrowding, including aggression.
Food:
Along with the chicken feed you buy. Ensure they have access to calcium and grit. If they are free range, they find the grit they need on their own. They need grit to process the food they eat. Oyster shells are a great source of calcium. I buy the ground up oyster shell and put it in a dish near their food, so they can access it when needed.
Water is one of the most important. Fresh and clean. In the winter you may need a water heater to prevent freezing, but I just bring out water with me each morning and replace the one that froze over night. Simplest solution for our west coast climate. If you are in a colder climate, a heater may make more sense to you.
Lastly a chicken first aid kit is wise to have on hand. Chickens do not let on they are sick, as they become targets for predators and other chickens. You likely won’t know they are sick until they are very sick. You should plan an isolation room for both sick and new chickens (if they arrive sick, you don’t want them infecting your entire flock). Vetericyn spray should be on hand before you need it. And used for any open wounds or sores. These will heal much quicker than left to their own. If you prefer, Antibiotic cream such as Neosporin, but use sparingly and only as needed. For anti mite prevention, I use Permethrin dust for treatment of infestations and Diatomaceous Earth for prevention (this is a contentious subject), but I sprinkle some on the floor when I clean their coop. For egg bound hens, I use an Espom salt bath -2 cups in Luke warm water, no higher that their chest and let her sit in it for five minutes. Vetrap is also great to have on hand. It sticks only to itself, not the chicken so it is easy to remove. Can be used to secure a bandage and is critical for straddle leg (if treated quickly saves the chick). I find 2” best, but the width will need to be cut for chicks. Nutri-drench is a great immune booster for those not well, don’t eat or generally not well.
Chickens generally require very little care. If you provide a safe coop, a place to run, fresh drinking water and food you will find them an easy and fun addition to your family
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