Can Chicken Keeping Really Be Easy?

[Lavender and CJ]

Our first year with chickens has been so complicated, despite everyone telling us it would be easy and how low maintenance chickens are. I knew it would come with its challenges, but definitely not as many as we’ve faced. Is there such thing as a flock that just gets along? Am I guaranteed to have troubles? I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts before I might consider another flock.

 

[Immensely_Confused]

What sorts of problems have you been having in particular? If it's social- whether they get along or not- really, that depends on a lot of factors; their breed, the amount of space you're giving them, enrichment, the hen/roo ratio, health, their individual personalities, etc. It might change with a different flock, or it might not. Every flock is different, and environmental factors play a big part.
I've noticed my flock gets more 'antsy' and bicker more when we have too many roos, or it gets crowded, or if they didn't have enough new enrichment. And, based on breed or personality, some chickens are just more rude, which can make the flock, as a whole, a bit more 'uptight'.

 

[Saaniya]

it’s easy till they catch any infection
in my journey a lot of lessons i take
because no vet checks them you have to treat them on your own and it’s heartbreaking to see them sick
they are most adorable pets
and i am highly attached to my kids
chicken keeping is best for stress management until they fall sick

 

[Lavender and CJ]

We do not have any roosters and we provide enrichment, an 80 square feet run for 5 chickens, and they are all healthy. We have had relentless feather picking issues due to a separation when they were chicks. I just want to know if I get an all new flock of chickens some day, would those chickens get along with each other happily if I did everything ‘right’?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of your set up? What type of enrichment do you give them? Do you just have one breed or an assortment of breeds?

As with all living things there's no guarantee. Even a flock that gets along will have minor squabbles and occasionally bigger fights, especially with any changes that reset or upset the pecking order.

 

[chickengr]

We do not have any roosters and we provide enrichment, an 80 square feet run for 5 chickens, and they are all healthy. We have had relentless feather picking issues due to a separation when they were chicks. I just want to know if I get an all new flock of chickens some day, would those chickens get along with each other happily if I did everything ‘right’?

I only once had a flock without roo. never again. hens behaved like teenage girls out of control. as soon as I got a roo they calmed down.

some people do keep all hen flocks. it might depend on breed. I had a mixed breed flock.

 

[Loving my girls]

I only once had a flock without roo. never again. hens behaved like teenage girls out of control. as soon as I got a roo they calmed down.

some people do keep all hen flocks. it might depend on breed. I had a mixed breed flock.

I have never had a roo although I have a lot, and I mean a lot, of space.
I tend to keep away from any ‘skittish’ breeds such as leghorns (sorry guys but they do have a reputation) and they all seem to get on.
Touch wood

 

[Shadrach]

"Can Chicken Keeping Really Be Easy?"​

No.
The idea that keeping chickens is easy is a myth promoted by those with a commercial, or political interest.
It's the same for any creature when one keeps more than one or two. A dog is relatively easy. Keep 10 dogs and it's a different story.
Obviously the more chickens one has the more problems one is likely to face. It's not just the expense, it's the logistics if one is going to provide humane keeping conditions and not mimic the conditions of the commercial egg and meat producers.
This doesn't mean it isn't a worthwhile undertaking but a more realistic view from the media would help reduce some of the unrealistic expectations of those who are new to chicken keeping.

 

[Lavender and CJ]

We have a variety of breeds—an Australorp, Orpington, Wyandottes, and Brahmas. We hang a head of cabbage for them to pick at, as well as give them flock block and several roosting bars. I can get pictures of our setup later today. Unfortunately, we live in the city and cannot have a rooster.
I never thought it would be easy, I’ve had other animals before and know that’s never the case. I didn’t think that there would be so many issues based on hearing our neighbors experiences with their flocks, as their chickens all got along well. We kept having injuries to the point of drawing blood from them picking at each others feathers and having to do first aid, then reintroducing them back to the flock, then someone started picking at another chicken. These issues are constant and have been going on for several months. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, because I love these chickens and I’m trying to do my best. We have tried Pinless Peepers for two rounds, taking bully chickens out of the flock, and everything else I can think of, and the feather picking still persists.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We do not have any roosters and we provide enrichment, an 80 square feet run for 5 chickens, and they are all healthy. We have had relentless feather picking issues due to a separation when they were chicks. I just want to know if I get an all new flock of chickens some day, would those chickens get along with each other happily if I did everything ‘right’?

I can't give you guarantees about behaviors of living animals. They each have their own personality and each flock has its own dynamics. Easy is in the eye of the beholder. I consider mine easy but that does not mean there are not times things can get a little unraveled.

It sounds like your only issue is feather picking. That can be a learned behavior and it sounds like yours learned it. I don't understand how a separation caused it but if you say so.

If you get rid of those 5 and start totally over will you have the same issue? I don't know, I don't give guarantees, but I'd think your chances of the new ones becoming feather pickers to be very low.