Hi, We will be taking over a small flock of 4 laying hens from downsizing relatives. I am new to chicken keeping, so could I get a critique of my planned care routine. Daily: Morning: Let chickens out of coop into run Check food and water levels Clean poop off dropping boards Check for any issues/injuries with flock Afternoon: Let out of run and free range in backyard Evening: Back in coop for night Check water (using external water with chicken nipples into run)and feed levels Weekly: Change bedding in coop and nest boxes Rake up soil in run Clean any poop Clean waterer and feeder Monthly: Deep clean coop, run and feeder/waterer Thanks!
Sounds excellent, but I like to give the coop a sweep for droppings every day just to keep things nice! Also, sometime in the afternoon or after, I like to give my ladies a treat such as oats, but don't treat them in the morning so they eat layers' pellets and get a balanced diet before supplemental feed.
I don't keep food out 24/7. I think you wind up feeding a lot of rodents. So when I close up for the night, I check the feed bowl, I want it mostly empty, but not really bare. If there is a lot of feed, I feed less the next day, if it is empty, I feed a bit more. The amount of feed changes as the seasons change. Wasted food, is wasted money, keeping the feed edible and not feeding it to the rodents can make a big difference over time. Mrs K
You're very organized and that should serve you well. Your hens will have a good home and they will provide you with lots of fresh eggs, making the effort well worth it. The only suggestion I have is to recommend you consider fermenting your feed. This is an efficient way to maximize feed with practically zero waste, and there will be no food left at the end of the day to tempt rodents to move in. Fermented feed also has natural probiotics and will help to boost the health of your hens, prolonging their laying years. I currently have hens seven and eight years old still laying. Go over to the Feed and Watering your Flock forum to find the thread on how to ferment feed. It's very easy to do. Each chicken will consume approximately half a cup of fermented feed per day. My chickens get fed twice a day, first thing in the morning and then again in mid afternoon so their crops are full at bedtime. You will also need to provide oyster shell separate from their feed to meet their calcium needs if you haven't thought of it already.
Welcome to BYC!! Sounds like a great start! How you handle the poop, cleaning, and feed/water may depend on your coop setup and some personal preferences. You'll find some of the routine might need to change as you get some experience, so just stay flexible and have fun. Best of cLuck!!
Very good point. ...it's great to have a plan to start, but it's important not to get so focused on the plan that you become blind to changes that may make things better. This is certainly a jumping off point, and as you get into the first weeks/months you can adjust as you figure out what is or isn't working out
