So what is the typical day like?

[congdon476]

Ok- so what is your typical "chicken" day like? In other words, when do you usually start your chicken stuff? After coffee, before coffee? When do you open up the hen house, check feeders/water, etc.? When do you close up shop for the day? I can read all day about what to feed my hens, what sort of housing they need.. but what seems to be the typical day for pet hens and their owners?

 

[dgeter]

I'm curious to hear replies to this one as well

 

[Katy]

I was raised that the animals were taken care of before we ate breakfast. I don't go out in the dark (unless we're calving) like my dad always did, but as soon as it's light enough I'm out the door to open them up and check feeders and this time of year give them unfrozen water. I get up early enough that I've got time to drink my morning pepsi before I go out!!

 

[andehens]

well, after my coffee, I take my three babies (3 months old) that spend the night in a dog crate, put them in the pen that is next to the hens, get food and water for everybody and that is it for the day for them, except to go out and check for eggs, or take them treats, or enjoy their antics and I just generally like looking at them, and at the end of the day, the babies go back to their dog crate and the big girls go to their roost.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

The animals eat before I sit down to coffee.
It is simply easier that way. I can go out and feed donkeys and chickens, turn out the free rangers, come back to the house, go back out to toss the morning treats out, then come inside, take my medications, and have a cup of coffee out on the deck (if it's nice) or in the dining room looking out at them while they scratch around the yard.

A few of the hens will come up on the porch to have coffee with me (well, they don't get coffee, but they want some

) and the others just wander all over looking for wild treats.

It's a good way to start the day.

Evenings, I will go out to feed donkeys, then try to get across to the girls that it is time to go inside for the day. Usually they comply - depends on how nice it is outside. If the don't go in when I want them to, they will go in when it gets dark, so I go back out and close the coop, then. I turn off lights later - usually about 9 PM.

In between, I go out periodically to check on them, and have a chat, gather eggs often all day long, or if I find something too old in the fridge that I know they can have.

Oh, also in the morning, between my coffee and their breakfast, I have to feed the chickens that are inside

(and the button quail).

Hopefully soon I won't have that many chickens inside - although, I did just order 15 dellies from Cackle....

 

[FunnyFarmer]

I found I had to go out and feed critters before I sat down with my coffee or it might be an hour and a half or two hours after I got up before I got outside. So--I roll out of bed, into my muck boots (muck boots & pjs are a funny sight--especially when topped with a rain poncho!) and out to the barn to feed horses & donkeys, and then to the chicken house to give scratch to the chickens. My son feeds them laying mash as one of his morning chores (before breakfast). I let them out in the yard to free-range around noon or one-ish. I close the chicken house back up sometime around dusk or after dark when everybody is inside roosting.

 

[cmom]

I work the graveyard shift. I do my chores in the morning when I get home from work. I let the chicken out into their yard and check the waterers and feeders. Make sure the electric fence in active. I check it with a meter. I go in fix some breakfast and sit for a little while then go to bed. I get up around 4pm and go out and check the birds and collect the eggs then go in and do my household chores. About 6 pm I go out and give everyone their evening treats and close up the coops and turn the fence off. Then go in make dinner and get on my computer or watch a little TV until it's time to get ready for work. I usually go online during my "lunch" at work which is around 2 or 3am.

 

[chookchick]

My husband is an early riser and he lets the hens out as soon as it is light

he also gives them scratch.
I'm a slow riser these days.

My son checks for eggs on the way out the door to the bus.
I give them greens or weeds or whatever before I leave for work.
My son checks for eggs on the way home from school.
If I'm not home yet, my son locks them into the coop.

 

[Matt A NC]

I wake up a little while before daylight and watch a little news. Once it is light enough out, I head out to open the houses. I take a bucket of mixed feed and a couple jugs of water if needed. As I open each house I stick my head in and ask how everyone is. Depending on the time of year and who's day it is for play time, some lots are left open and some are shut back after the food is set out. I make sure all waterers are at least half full as well.

When I am home, I check on everyone every couple hours and collect any eggs. If I leave for any amount of time I check them first as soon as I get here.

About an hour before night I go around and refill any feeders that need it. During the winter they get extra corn in their supper mix.

As the older gals start going up, I walk the rest into their lots and close the gates. I do the nightly head count then. A little later most/all will be up and I start shutting houses. All houses are closed up because of possible predators and uncovered lots. I also check in the houses and make sure no one gets left on the ground and move anyone that is pecking on someone.

All feeders are either covered or picked up. I leave no food out, Rats are a pain to have to get rid of. I also take note of any waterers that will need a refill the next morning.

The morning routine usually takes 15-30 minutes. The close-up takes 20-40 minutes.

Matt

 

[Chicken Woman]

I get up and fix DH and DS their breakfast as it is still dark and cold now days. I head out there around 830 and fill feeders. Give fresh water. Rake the floor and turn a bit.
I let the girls out if they will come out in the snow. (some will some won't).
I collect eggs , and give them oatmeal with black sunflower seeds and scratch.
Then I go to check for eggs around noon so they won't freeze.
Again around 4 I go out and check for eggs, feed some greens and a can of corn (when it;s cold) and close them up for the night with kisses.