For the MINIMALISTS - those who think less is more in chicken keeping - Please help

[3KillerBs]

Right, so I wasn't clear on this either - if they will dig their own bath area or I need to provide something. I had leftover pavers so I made them an area and it's not a big deal to grab a bag of peat moss. But very good to know that if it doesn't work out, they'll do their thing.

Do you do anything special to prevent lice and mites?

Mine dig the dustbaths wherever they choose -- moving them around at different times for whatever reasons seem good to a chicken's mind.

I do nothing special to prevent parasites and have not had any issues.

Some areas seem to have this problem more than others. While wild birds overfly my run and I have very occasionally had a bird get into my coop, there is very little close contact between my flock and wild birds.

If I were to get an infestation I will treat it with a poultry dust that contains permethrin according to the directions. I don't believe in treating problems I don't have because I do worry about building up resistance in the pests.

 

[KyCoop]

Did you get your first aide kit put together?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I included a photo of the feed and the ingredients. It is a crumble, I believe. So I probably don't need separate grit to offer? That would be great.

If that feed is their sole ration, if that feed is all they eat, no they do not need grit. If they eat anything that needs to be ground up, things like grass, vegetation, bugs, or grains, then they need grit. I like for mine to have grit in case a random bug crawls or flies into their area.

They definitely have access to dirt, as their run is dirt. It's not really rocky though.

I cannot see and feel your dirt. I don't know if it has rock in it. I don't know if you need to provide access to grit or not. Grit is fairly inexpensive.

Chickens are usually able to regulate how much grit or calcium they need. If you mix calcium supplements, grit, and feed all together or just mix any two of them you take their ability to regulate how much they get away from them.

If you provide grit you can offer it in a separate container or just scatter it on the ground.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I haven’t kept up on everything so apologies if you are all sorted on this.
I provide grit, oyster shell and egg shells in separate containers available for whoever wants it.
Grit serves the function of teeth - tearing up the food in their gizzard. Mine get most of what they need from the dirt - but just in case I bought one bag of grit about four years ago! I also get one back of smaller grit for chicks if you have newly hatched chicks they will want that.
Oyster shell and eggshell both provide calcium. Mine love egg shells and mostly ignore the oyster shell.

I have a dust bath area I provide and I sometimes add sand or wood ash to it. Sometimes they use that area and sometimes they just dig a hole in some random place.

Hope that helps.

Okay, I get it. Grit: they need at any age. Shells: they need when they start laying. Both: they will consume if they need it. Do you have a suggestion of which grit to buy?

Some people have said to throw the grit in the run. Is there a reason you prefer to give it in a container instead?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Did you get your first aide kit put together?

GREAT point. I have not thought about this. I have been using homeopathy for years on my family, friends, and cats. It works really well for animals. I suppose I would start with this method unless you have some suggestions?

What are your thoughts?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

If that feed is their sole ration, if that feed is all they eat, no they do not need grit. If they eat anything that needs to be ground up, things like grass, vegetation, bugs, or grains, then they need grit. I like for mine to have grit in case a random bug crawls or flies into their area.

They will definitely be eating table scraps, grass, bugs, treats, etc. So I will be sure to provide the grit. Do you have a certain brand you like? Thanks a lot for helping me prepare for the grit situation.

I cannot see and feel your dirt. I don't know if it has rock in it. I don't know if you need to provide access to grit or not. Grit is fairly inexpensive.

Chickens are usually able to regulate how much grit or calcium they need. If you mix calcium supplements, grit, and feed all together or just mix any two of them you take their ability to regulate how much they get away from them.

Totally understand. I want to be able to "track" what they're eating so I should separate. Got it! Do you think I need to protect the grit and shells from bugs and critters? In other words, can I keep it in the run, open, and ongoingly?

If you provide grit you can offer it in a separate container or just scatter it on the ground.

Perfect, thanks

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I do nothing special to prevent parasites and have not had any issues.

Excellent. Fingers crossed.

If I were to get an infestation I will treat it with a poultry dust that contains permethrin according to the directions. I don't believe in treating problems I don't have because I do worry about building up resistance in the pests.

That makes sense. I really hope we don't get any bugs. It sounds like a tedious process to get rid of them.

 

[BastyPutt]

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 
  
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),

Repecka Illustrates Coop Ventilation

Question on these guidelines I have left on here
(one is not relevant to OP's situation, and Ill start a new thread for the question if needed)

- 4 Square Feet - If you have free range chickens that come into the coop ONLY to roost at night, is this still something youd think is a requirement? Assuming they NEVER use the coop for shelter from weather, etc.

- 1 Linear Foot - These were the guidelines we initially followed, then reduced this to 8" or so in the winter only. We did this because it gets extremely cold here. We found that a majority of the chickens tend to huddle, with a few outliers doing their own thing. By removing roosts in the winter and changing to a deep litter method, we have eliminated nearly all cold related ailments over the past few years. You can actually see where the chickens are roosting in the coop because the snow will melt over that portion after a fresh snowfall. In the summer of course, we add the roosts back and switch to sand.

 

[RoyalChick]

Okay, I get it. Grit: they need at any age. Shells: they need when they start laying. Both: they will consume if they need it. Do you have a suggestion of which grit to buy?

Some people have said to throw the grit in the run. Is there a reason you prefer to give it in a container instead?

You got it!
Partly I put it in separate containers because I have cute containers that make a ‘grit buffet’ - I like how they stop by the buffet in their way to bed each night.

Here is my buffet line. The first in the left is for eggshells but I hadn’t added them when I took the picture. They are the most popular item on the buffet menu!

 

[KyCoop]

You don't need a lot in your kit. But you do need some hen healer or some kind of blue ointment in case of a wound. I also keep corn starch to stop bleeding. A few packets of electrolytes, some corid and B12 liquid. A dog kennel and pee pads. A couple of old towels. A syringe for giving water and medicine.
Those are just the things I've used in the last 3 yrs.