Welcome to Your Guide to Caring for Chickens!

Raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience for any backyard flock owner. Here are some key things to keep in mind when caring for your feathered friends:

• Housing: Chickens need a safe and secure coop to protect them from predators and inclement weather. The coop should have adequate ventilation, roosting bars, nesting boxes, and easy access for cleaning. Allow at least 2-4 square feet per chicken inside the coop. The outdoor run should have at least 10 square feet per bird.
  
  

• Feeding: Chickens need access to a complete feed that provides protein, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins/minerals. They enjoy scratch grains, vegetable scraps, and insects too. Provide fresh water daily.
  
  

• Health: Check chickens routinely for signs of illness or injury. Look for parasites, limping, open wounds, discharge from eyes/nose, changes in appetite, etc. Consult a vet if needed.
  
  

• Egg Collecting: Collect eggs 1-2 times daily. Discard any cracked/dirty eggs. Store collected eggs in cartons in the refrigerator.

• Cleaning: Clean the coop weekly by removing all bedding material and droppings. Disinfect surfaces and add new litter. Having clean housing is crucial to chicken health.
  
  

• Safety: Use secure latches on doors, wire mesh for fencing, and keep chickens safe from predators. Supervise free-ranging. Keep hazardous objects like sharp tools out of reach.
  
  

• Socializing: Spend time with your flock daily so they become accustomed to human contact. Chickens are quite intelligent and can be tamed through patience and care.
  
  

We hope this beginner's guide gives you a helpful overview of what it takes to keep chickens happily and healthily! Let us know if you have any other questions - we're always glad to help fellow chicken enthusiasts. Please explore the rest of our website to learn more about your feathered friends. Thank you for choosing us as your go-to chicken care resource.