Chicken Chat

Consider what the chickens will be doing in their run.  Chickens love to free range with the ability to scratch through the grass and soil for weeds and bugs, providing both a treat and exercise. A run is meant to help them forage and dust bathe while adventuring outside within the protection of an enclosure.

Take a Bath

This is an area that they will naturally dig down to the dirt and use the sand particles to help rid themselves of bugs and prune themselves.  We like to use sand with a dust bath mix in to help deter common soft bodied insects.   

Foraging

Below is information on animal zoning information by city. Contact the city you live in to confirm latest updates.

If you would like 1:1 support, we offer personalized consulting appointments. When you come to our family farm, we can help guide you into the best backyard flock that fits your family. How many chickens should you get? There are a few considerations about the number of chickens to start with. If you live in a city, there may be ordinates that limit the quantity of chickens you may care for. When thinking about raising chickens right, space cures so many health and flock behavior problems. Birds will need more space when it is hot outside to avoid aggression and bulling each other. Most box store coops give more than enough nesting areas, however, can frequently lack roost bar space. This can be solved by adding an additional roost bar. Ensure your coop has 1 nesting box per 3 hens. Chickens will share their nesting boxes with each other as long as …

Healthy chickens are active, alert, frequently eating/drinking, will take periods of dust bathing, sunbathing, and resting. It is considered abnormal, if a chicken looks lethargic, has a hunched stance, hides from the others, loss of appetite, pale comb or waddles, unusual droppings, decrease in egg production, lays abnormal eggs, or not active as normal. Immediately separate any member not appearing to behave normal from the rest of the flock for closer observation. Once separated offer a cup of warm water with 1 tablespoon molasses mixed in.

Health Check 1: Water Consumption.

Will the chicken drink on its’ own?

If so, continue with health check 2.

If not, gently dip the lower beak into the water to encourage taking a couple sips being careful not to drown upper nostrils. If successful in encouraging taking a ship, continue to Health Check 2. If not, the chicken may be too far gone to…

Temperature / Shelter

Temperature is vital to the survival of small chicks. They will need a heat source and a breeze barrier to help stabilize their environment. Monitor temperature with a thermometer at the level of the chicks. Chicks that huddle under a lamp are too cold. Chicks that sprawl along the brooder guard are too hot. Chicks happily milling around all portions of the brooder area are comfortable.

Brooding area should be 95°F for the first few days. Slowly acclimate your chicks to a cooler temperature by reducing each week:

Acclimate your chicks by reducing temperature weekly:

95°F for chicks 0 - 1 week old