kickin' it with chickens 101

[Redfarrah]

Lessons I learned about managing a flock since November... Some things I'd do different, and some things i'll never do again.

#1 Chickens are addicting

if you buy "only a few" or a few "just for eggs" I think you will find your curiosity will lead you to more chickens.
remember that chickens require plenty of food and water and a safe place to run, if you're going to trudge through the snow and mud to feed and water them
do you really want trudge for just 5 or 6 chickens?

#2 Chicken feed and water will NOT provide everything your chicken needs. they need plenty of love, fresh air, sunshine, and medicine.

#3 Chickens are farm animals don't expect to find a vet that will give them shots, or care for their health, you're better off reading here on BYC to find a cure for your ailing bird.

with those said, from my own personal experiences here's what I've learned.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind to own chickens, I'd run out and buy some Tylan, some natural wormer, oyster shells, and QUALITY food, feeders and water fountains.
Notice the plurals.. if you have a sick chicken it will need it's own food and water dispensers.

Insist on Tylan... do not buy the powdered whatever "mycin" drugs they didn't work for me. Also don't wait to see if your sick chicken will get better, if it's sick it needs medicine and the faster you dispense it, the faster it will get better. If it doesn't get better in 4 or 5 days, Cull it. If you don't cull it, and you have older chickens... they will cull it for you, and that's not a pretty sight.

I would read the label of contents on the feed bag myself, and never let a sales person sell me layer crumble for young chickens, this mistake cost me a young roo...

Be careful of the wormer medicine you use, some will render your eggs unfit to eat. I prefer the natural wormguard plus with flax seed.

I feed oyster shell mixed in their food for scratch and healthy egg shells.

Find an old trash can with a tight fitting lid to mix the feed and additives this makes feeding easier, make sure the feed is dry, throw away any feed that smells foul or moldy.

I would not buy started birds from another farm to mix in with my birds, Not during winter months anyway... maybe in spring/summer where the birds could stay separated for at least 30 days and would have more room to live and play, this mistake cost me a young pullet.

I would build a chicken coop with a door big enough for a human to walk in.

First coop...

I still use it but, making plans for an improved style.

I would keep a watchful eye for predators, I still haven't found my missing bird.

I started with 6 added 6 more and lost 3. I have 9 in the coop and pray one of them is a rooster so I can share incubator lessons !

 

[gsim]

I began in June, 2009. I would do the following differently:

Smaller flock. I ordered 24. At replacement time this will be halved and my kids may have to make other arrangements for their eggs.

Galvanized steel poop boards (currently OSB with linoleum glued over that)

Larger run. I built a run that is 1,900-2,000 sq ft. I would do 3,000 or better if I had it to do over.



If I had a different location and land layout, I would locate my coop between two plots of land that I wanted to till and plant for crops. I would alternate year by year and one plot would be for crops and the other plot would be the chicken run for that year.

Planned improvements:

Am planting a mulberry tree or bush in my run for live chook treats.

Am planting 4 or 5 cherry tomato plants in my run for summertime chook treats.

Possible redworm farm inside of chicken run for chook treats.

 

[Brickman House]

Ditto on the whole vet thing. I'd love to have the option of taking my flock to a quality avian vet whenever there's a problem, but avian vets are scarce in my area and the money's not there even if they were available.


That said, here's what I've found are indispensable items for the chicken medicine cabinet-- costs maybe $20 for the entire lot:

1/ Tylan injectible antibiotic and syringes : if 3/4 cc in the breast muscle once a day for three days doesn't cure it, cull it.

2/ Blu Kote antiseptic spray: stains like crazy, but seals and dries any wound through ANYTHING-- snow, rain, mud, you name it.

3/ Needle and thread: for stitching up an injured bird, or occasionally removing splinters from feet and what not.

4/ Human triple antibiotic ointment from the drugstore: says it can't be used for eyes, but I've found nothing better for clearing the occasional chicken eye infection than a dab of this in the eye twice a day for a few days.

5/ Bactine antiseptic wash from the drugstore: nothing better for flushing cuts and gashes for stitching, and the lidocaine helps with pain, so they don't get so stressed out.


If these five things can't save the chicken, then in my experience, it can't be saved. We've lost chickens to unknown causes (they've just dropped dead for no apparent reason), and have had injuries I couldn't fix (a dislocated leg), but honestly, I've been able to work little miracles (at least they were to me!) with just the above five things.


Also couldn't agree more with the idea of quality food, fresh water, free choice calcium, and lots of room to move around. . . makes for a happy flock!