New to raising chickens – what essential supplies and equipment do I need?

[Gardeal]

 

[Cloverfluff]

I started with a small coop (2-4 chickens, lean towards 2) (size dependent on flock) before finding a chicken tractor that allowed me more chickens (up to 8-12, with free-rangers). I also purchased an additional run (not required unless you don't want/can't have free range) Single feed and waterer to start.

 

[Cloverfluff]

How many have you started with and what ages are they currently?

 

[Gardeal]

I started with a small coop (2-4 chickens, lean towards 2) (size dependent on flock) before finding a chicken tractor that allowed me more chickens (up to 8-12, with free-rangers). I also purchased an additional run (not required unless you don't want/can't have free range) Single feed and waterer to start.

thank you

 

[kattabelly]

You've posted this in the 'raising baby chicks' forum but the title of your post says chickens, so I'm not quite sure what age birds you're asking about.

Chickens basically need food, water, and some kind of shelter from the weather and predators. Depending on where you live, at its most basic that could look like maybe dumping some food out on the ground and letting them drink from a stream and roost in a tree. Lots of people do more than that but it's difficult to make specific suggestions without knowing more details like your location, climate and how you plan on keeping your chickens.

Baby chicks need the same things, plus some type of heat source if they aren't being raised by a hen or in a very warm climate, and better protection from the weather, predators and other dangers until they get older and are more able to look after themselves.

 

[BDutch]

?

What is your own perfect picture?
How many chickens?
What breeds would you like to obtain?
Interested in longevity or max eggs?
Where do you live?
How big is your garden?
How much money do you want to spend?
Are you handy enough to build a coop?
Any known predators where you live (including dogs).
How hot/cold min max?
Can you keep a rooster?
Etc…

 

[BDutch]

I started in the spring (2014) with 4 , 6 week old chicks. So they didn’t need extra heat anymore.
I had a small chicken coop that was used for rabbits before. So i only could keep small bantams if i wanted to use this coop.
I had bad luck / was stupid enough to buy from a hobbyist who sold me sick chicks , cockerels for pullets. After some deaths, buying more chicks and returning roosters to swop them for new chicks, i finally got 3 pullets and one cockerel who could stay until the next spring. He gave me/my broodies enough fertile eggs to hatch my own chicks. I couldn’t keep the rooster because the neighbours complained and its not allowed to keep roosters if people get annoyed.

I wouldn’t recommend others to start the way I did. But I am glad I still have one of my first years survivors and 2 chicks from the year after.

 

[theoldchick]

 

[saysfaa]

In order of hierarchy of needs (like Maslow's hierarchy of needs):

• Air (not as flippant as it looks*)
• Variable warmth if baby chickens**
• Water, a water bowl or waterer
• Food, a feed bowl or feeder
• Grit
• Space
• Other flock members
• Shelter from predators***
• Shelter from weather***
• A roost
• A nesting place
• A bathing area
• Shells (such as oyster or eggshells) on the side
• Bedding or litter
• Medicines as needed, if needed
• Storage containers for feed.

Arguably optional:

• A person to check on them twice daily. Maybe a little less often.
• Clutter in their space
• Different food than their main diet****
• Storage containers and/or spaces for water, bedding/litter, calcium, grit
• Marbles to put in waterer for chicks
• Wooden or ceramic egg or golf ball or such
• A system for records. Notebook or phone or whatever.

Definitely optional:

• Poop board
• Poop scooper(s) - kitty litter size and/or shovel or scoop shovel
• Tarp or wheel barrow or such
• Dust mask, broom (whisk and/or bigger
• Egg carrier (pail or basket or apron or...)

* Enough airflow to carry moisture and ammonia away, as well as providing oxygen

** They need a way to warm up as needed. It doesn't have to be a heat light or heat plate although those work also. They also need a cooler area.

*** the order of these two could flip depending on local conditions

**** such as a bit extra protein during molt if their main food has minimal protein. Or something fresh if their main food is pellets. Or whatever trace minerals are missing in the ground if their main food is pasture.

Do you want butchering supplies and equipment too?

Do you want biosecurity supplies and equipment too? This depends on your risk level and risk tolerance. Living in a desert will have a lower risk of bird flu than living under the main migratory flyways, for example.