Would add a few things:
1) Take time to pick up your chicken poop inspect it for worms and blood. Then take action immediately, if needed.
2) Get informed on things like "Lash Eggs", vent gleet, soft shelled eggs, bumble foot, water belly, Coccidia, worms, mites, etc. and how to address those issues - see article for how to be prepared with a first aid kit. I really love manuka honey in the kit!
That said... get educated but don't fret. For example, I read that lash egg is almost always fatal. This caused me incredible grief when my favorite hen gifted me with a very large lash egg. Three months later my hen is doing great and back to laying more beautiful eggs than ever. I pampered her and treated her lash egg with herbs (oregano big time). Be a renaissance chicken mama and learn from online forums such as Backyard Chickens, but be smart about what you read.
3) Befriend your chickens early on as that makes it so much easier when you have to get personal with them - for example, they will trust you when you have to clean their butt and treat for vent gleet (a lot easier to do on a friendly hen than on one who is scared to death of you).
4) Pe prepared to separate a hen that is ill - keep a large box, dog crate, large feed bin on hand - it's a lot harder to scrounge this up in the moment.
5) find a way to elevate your chicken water to keep it clean and be prepared to change out the water often (clean your waterer with soap and water versus just rinsing it to reduce mold and bacteria). Even elevated, we clean our water sources up to three times a day in summer heat - no one likes to drink hot water when it's hot, so best to keep it in the shade.
6) stick with a feed that works well for you and/or hens - changing your main feed is stressful to your hens - don't follow the sales for cheapest feed as that will cost you and your chickens in the long run (pun).
7) Get educated on what NOT to feed your hens - no citrus, no onions or onion derivatives, no raw green potatoes, no raw peanuts, etc. There are so many lists online of "bad foods for chickens" for you to review. If your chicks are not ready for grit they should only get chick starter as they will not be able to digest greens and other things that require grit to digest (chick grit is smaller than chicken grit).
8) Be prepared to have your heart completely absorbed in your hens as they are the most fun, interesting, smart, and baffling pets I have ever had. At the same time, they have likely saved me thousands in therapy as there is no way to come out of a run without a big smile on your face (unless you are dealing with a sick hen and then it's not a great day). Here's to your happy, healthy flock!
1) Take time to pick up your chicken poop inspect it for worms and blood. Then take action immediately, if needed.
2) Get informed on things like "Lash Eggs", vent gleet, soft shelled eggs, bumble foot, water belly, Coccidia, worms, mites, etc. and how to address those issues - see article for how to be prepared with a first aid kit. I really love manuka honey in the kit!
That said... get educated but don't fret. For example, I read that lash egg is almost always fatal. This caused me incredible grief when my favorite hen gifted me with a very large lash egg. Three months later my hen is doing great and back to laying more beautiful eggs than ever. I pampered her and treated her lash egg with herbs (oregano big time). Be a renaissance chicken mama and learn from online forums such as Backyard Chickens, but be smart about what you read.
3) Befriend your chickens early on as that makes it so much easier when you have to get personal with them - for example, they will trust you when you have to clean their butt and treat for vent gleet (a lot easier to do on a friendly hen than on one who is scared to death of you).
4) Pe prepared to separate a hen that is ill - keep a large box, dog crate, large feed bin on hand - it's a lot harder to scrounge this up in the moment.
5) find a way to elevate your chicken water to keep it clean and be prepared to change out the water often (clean your waterer with soap and water versus just rinsing it to reduce mold and bacteria). Even elevated, we clean our water sources up to three times a day in summer heat - no one likes to drink hot water when it's hot, so best to keep it in the shade.
6) stick with a feed that works well for you and/or hens - changing your main feed is stressful to your hens - don't follow the sales for cheapest feed as that will cost you and your chickens in the long run (pun).
7) Get educated on what NOT to feed your hens - no citrus, no onions or onion derivatives, no raw green potatoes, no raw peanuts, etc. There are so many lists online of "bad foods for chickens" for you to review. If your chicks are not ready for grit they should only get chick starter as they will not be able to digest greens and other things that require grit to digest (chick grit is smaller than chicken grit).
8) Be prepared to have your heart completely absorbed in your hens as they are the most fun, interesting, smart, and baffling pets I have ever had. At the same time, they have likely saved me thousands in therapy as there is no way to come out of a run without a big smile on your face (unless you are dealing with a sick hen and then it's not a great day). Here's to your happy, healthy flock!
