Time Management and chickens

[deepbluesea]

It's excellent that you're thinking it through before you get chickens. I think that's a sign that you'll be able to raise them well. People on here give good advice and really want to help--isn't that kinda awesome?

 

[aart]

It's excellent that you're thinking it through before you get chickens.

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[Toothpick]

I’ve learned that chickens require as much or as little time as you can invest. But they do require your time. There have been weeks that I’ve been so busy all I could do was throw some food in the run once a day and see ya later!

I really think that YOU are the only one that can answer if you have enough time. Unless they are completely free range they will not take care of themselves. You’ll have to feed and water them, and clean their coop. You can get feeders and waters that will last for a week or more. And then depending on your coop clean it once a week. Or if you have a larger coop once every few months or more.

But honestly, I beleive that part of the fun of owning chickens is taking care of them. Being around them. Getting to know their personalities. And the chickens getting to know you. If I only had time to feed and water them I wouldn’t have them. It’s not fun when pet ownership becomes a chore.

I’d say I spend about 2.5 hours every week between feeding, watering, and cleaning the coop. 15 minutes every day feeding and making sure they have water. 30 minutes a week cleaning the coop. But throughout the week I hang out and observe them. Or I’m thinking of ideas to make their life more comfortable. Or my life taking care of them easier. Researching stuff and playing around here on Back Yard Chickens. Who knows how much time that adds up to.

 

[Dr.Dale]

Make a five gallon waterer with horizontal nipples and a no waste feeder

Do you have links or photos of these two things?

 

[blackdog043]

Link for the feeder below. For the waterer, order horizontal poultry nipples from Amazon. You will need an 11/32 drill bit to make a hole, then just screw them in by hand, leaving 2 - 3 threads exposed. I use a five gallon bucket with a gamma lid.(easy off & on)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXUAD0K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...lon-25-feed-bucket-feeder-for-about-3.834227/

 

[Dr.Dale]

Thanks, that is great!

 

[jthornton]

Mine is set to close at sunset, by time. My chickens are in at least 1/2 hour before sunset.

In case of a straggler and knowing chickens can't see at night I set mine to close at dusk. I know for a fact that chickens can and will move about after sunset. My rooster left his dog house and followed me up the driveway after sunset and very close to dusk (he was being punished for being a bad boy) found him on the hand rail over looking the chicken yard the next morning on the camera. Oh and his is a much better boy now.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Thank you for all your advice! It sounds like if I plan everything well, I should be able to have a modest amount of hens. I think I kept thinking that the days I get home at 3 was a little too early to wish them a good morning so I'd have to go to sleep for a bit then get up and feed them then go back to sleep. But I see the most important part is making my run predator proof. Thank you.

If your run and coop is predator proof no need for a pop door just let them come and go as they want.

JT

 

[lohrn4]

no reason you cannot have them if your get your coop up secure it before you get them if your wanting 3 or 4 amazon is now offering coops that do not too bad and they have runs all made of hardware cloth.. it is wonderful your giving such concerns about weather you should or not Welcome to Backyard Chickens

Greetings and welcome to BYC! So glad you joined us. There's a wealth of info, knowledge and experience shared in the multitude of threads. Browse around and see what interesting stuff you can find. By all means post away when the desire strikes you, especially if you have questions (provide as much detail/info as possible and pictures truly help)... With all the great folks here, generally someone will respond in no time at all. Please make yourself at home!

I see absolutely no reason why you can't have and enjoy some back yard chickens. First though, you need to be sure they are allowed where you live. You don't need the law coming down on you. Since most of the time, you are working nights, you can feed before leaving and again in the morning when you get home. There are lots of ideas here for large container feeders and waterers where you wouldn't even need to do this daily aside from wellness checks.

Second, as stated above, you need to have a really secure area; coop and run, where they will be safe while you're away. The #1 killer of chickens and other small livestock is dogs... strays, your neighbor's, and YOURS! You need to make sure the enclosure you put around the coop ad run is secure enough to prevent this and other predators (remember, some dig and some like weasels can fit through a quarter sized hole) from getting to them.

The coop should be large enough to provide ~4 square feet of space per bird. Make allowances for larger if you'll feed and water inside unless these items are suspended up off the floor. They should also have a minimum of 10 square feet per bird in the run. more in both spaces is always better if you can do it. Coop placement, orientation, ventilation, and ease of access for you are important issues and there's lots of info here about all those issues.

Oh, if you haven't done so already, PLEASE put at least your general location in your profile. It could be very important if/when you ask for or offer help or advice. You know, climate issues and such. To add it, mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes.

Just curious. I included my general location in my personal details which, I assume carries over to where it should be but when looking at a post I've made it doesn't seem evident. Where do you guys "see" this info?

 

[Kusanar]

Just curious. I included my general location in my personal details which, I assume carries over to where it should be but when looking at a post I've made it doesn't seem evident. Where do you guys "see" this info?

Look at your last post, it's on the left under your picture. If you are on a phone, turn it sideways so it is wider than tall and it should show.