Best Practices for Backyard Chickens is Not Necessarily Common Sense
- Donna Weekes
- Apr 13
- 6 min read
Raising backyard chickens can be an incredibly rewarding endeavor, not just for the fresh eggs but for the joy these feathered pets bring to our lives. However, while many might think that caring for chickens is just common sense, the truth is that there are many best practices and tricks that often fly under the radar.
Understanding Chicken Behavior
One of the keys to successfully raising happy and healthy chickens lies in understanding their behavior. Chickens are social animals, and their mood can significantly affect their productivity.
Consider providing ample space for them to roam freely. A cramped coop can result in stress, pecking, and aggression, while a spacious environment encourages natural behaviors and reduces conflict among the flock.
Additionally, chickens have a pecking order—a hierarchy that determines social standing. Observing this behavior not only helps you understand your flock dynamics but allows you to monitor for any signs of bullying or stress.
Proper Nutrition is Essential
When thinking about feeding chickens, people often assume that grains and scraps are enough. However, this simplistic approach can lead to nutrient deficiencies and health issues down the line.
The image of grandma scattering cracked corn in the backyard wasn't a best practice. If those chickens weren't productive, they became dinner guests.
Instead, consider a well-rounded diet that includes a high-quality layer feed and calcium sources such as oyster shells. The right nutrition not only supports egg production but also enhances the overall health of your birds.
The Importance of Water Quality
Just like any other living being, clean and fresh water is crucial for chickens. It's a common misconception that chickens can drink from any source.
Unclean or stagnant water can cause numerous health problems, such as bacterial infections. To avoid this, regularly replace their water each day, or think about purchasing a
poultry nipple drinker, which remains clean at all times because light cannot enter to encourage algae growth. It is also equipped with an insulating heat element and a detachable cord to maintain coolness in the summer and prevent freezing during the colder months.
Designing the Ideal Coop
Building a coop might seem like a straightforward task, but there are many design aspects that require thoughtful consideration.
Proper circulation is vital for the health of your flock. Ensuring adequate airflow during the summer can help keep your flock comfortable on warm nights. Installing windows on all four sides of the chicken coop will benefit the chickens as they sleep. Having enough windows can be crucial for their survival on a hot summer night. Consider installing an industrial fan to enhance airflow. The industrial fan features an enclosed motor, preventing dust from new feather regrowth from damaging the motor.
Ventilation is often misunderstood; large commercial poultry operations with thousands of birds require ventilation for air exchange. However, our small backyard flocks are not confined to their coops all the time. The pop doors are open, allowing air to flow in.
In addition to circulation, proper litter is essential. Sand will provide the ease of cleaning while also keeping moisture low and reducing odors. Regular cleaning paramount to maintain hygiene, which reduces the risk of pests and diseases.
We provide a product that helps naturally repel odors that attract insects including flies, mosquitoes, ticks and mites from the poultry environment. It also has a pleasant scent and is used in the coop, roosts and nesting boxes. Can be applied to chickens and their feathers everyday as well.
The use of droppings boards under roosts and the aid of a drywall taping knife will help with the cleaning routine which is more efficient than the traditional litters which require mucking out on a regular basis.
During the cold winter months, they need an enclosed run with a roof to shield them from the elements. Using contractor's plastic to wrap the run will offer a windbreak, ensuring they can stay warm comfortably.
Utilizing sand as litter and contractor's plastic to keep it dry will provide comfort to your flock and simplify management in the winter months.
Keeping Predators at Bay
Many new chicken owners underestimate the threat of predators. Raccoons, foxes, and even neighborhood dogs can pose serious risks to your flock.
To safeguard your chickens, ensure that your coop is securely locked at night and that all openings are secured with hardware cloth rather than chicken wire, which can be easily breached.
Health Monitoring is Key
Routine health checks are often overlooked, yet they are critical for catching potential issues early. Look for changes in behavior, appetite, or physical appearance.
Regularly inspect your flock for signs of parasites, respiratory problems, or injuries. Establishing a simple daily or weekly routine to monitor their well-being can save you time and trouble later on.
If your flock happens to get an infestation of mites or lice, we provide Elector PSP as a treatment. With no egg withdrawal and only one treatment needed, it is very effective.
Upon inspection, if caught early enough, we also have a product available to help boost your chickens immune system, helps to reduce coughing and prevents respiratory diseases and promotes antioxidants.
It helps to maintain moisture balance in nose, throat and lungs.
Enrichment and Mental Stimulation
Chickens are intelligent creatures that require mental stimulation to prevent boredom, which can lead to destructive behaviors.
Provide them with opportunities to forage—consider placing plastic cage cups around the perimeter walls of the chicken run to spread out the feed to lessen conflicts with the pecking order. (Make sure you empty them at the end of the day as to not attract rodents.)
Cut small holes in a gatorade bottle, fill with their chicken feed and watch them kick it around like a soccer ball.
Use a large dog food bowl and fill it with their chicken feed, add water and make a porridge type consistency and watch them gobble it up.
Enrichment not only keeps them entertained but also promotes their natural foraging instincts.
Furthermore, introducing varied roosting locations can give chickens a sense of safety and promote natural behavior, as they enjoy perching at different heights throughout the day.
Understanding Egg Production
Egg production can be impacted by many factors, including age, breed, and season. New chicken owners may expect a steady supply of eggs year-round, but this varies greatly.
In winter, for instance, decreased daylight significantly affects laying. Consider using supplemental light during the darker months, but do so cautiously to avoid stressing your chickens. Add the light early in the morning instead of at night as to assure they are not caught off the roost when the lights go out.
Providing additional lighting will not deplete a hen's supply of eggs. A chick is born with thousands of ova and would not exhaust them even if she lived for many years and laid an egg daily.
Make sure you offer oyster shells in a separate dish 24/7. The hens that need it will regulate their own calcium intake.
We provide a eggshell supplement, added to their drinking water, 1 teaspoon a week is all they need to provide hard shells. If your hens are currently laying soft/ cracked shells/or are have leg issues, you can add 1 teaspoon to the drinking water for 3 consecutive days.
The benefits of Chick' N Egg:
supports musculoskeletal integrity
promotes a healthy eggshell structure
A source of calcium and vitamin D
Understanding the natural cycle of your chickens can help set realistic expectations and ensure you keep your flock happy and productive.
Conclusion
This species historically, was not kept as pets but kept as livestock. These animals are unusual pets and differ from cats and dogs. There are not veterinarians available to care for them if they become obese. Chickens are not weighed annually by the vet to inform you about their weigh issues. (You can not tell a chicken is over weight by looking at them)
it's essential to know how to maintain chickens' health by providing appropriate nutrition and a healthy environment.
Caring for backyard chickens is not just an exercise in raising poultry; it involves understanding their unique needs and behaviors, optimizing their environment, and ensuring their health and happiness.
By adopting these confident best practices, you can transform your backyard into a thriving oasis for your feathered pets. Remember, what seems like common sense to one may be an eye-opener for another.
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