What are the must haves to keep chickens healthy?

[LivingFate]

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That won't be an issue, I don't plan on getting anything else until I get another or bigger coop. There is ample room for the amount we have now.

 

[Akane]

If we're talking must have then poultry feed for the correct age, water, and in most places shelter would be it. What they'd be healthier with: oyster shell for layers and plenty of space with a definite shelter. What they'd be happier and probably healthier with: scratch or other grains, access to the outdoors, food scraps and treats, with treats or grains they need grit (if they only get poultry feed I don't think you have to give grit), and straw to stay warm and scratch around in. Then there's all sorts of things you could have on hand for emergencies.

Scratch is thrown out on the ground for them to entertain themselves digging and pecking at. It's a treat for entertainment and corn is thought to help keep them warm. That's debateable but a full crop at night definitely does help.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Chickens can live on commercial chicken feed alone, as their diet. If you want them to be healthier and their eggs to be healthier for you to eat, then I'd give them some green feed. Dark green leafy plants to eat. The same things that are good for us to eat, to be healthier. For long term health, I think it's one of the best things you can do for your chickens.

Spinach, chard, kale, anything like that is really good for them and the chickens love it. Some greens grow well in hot weather and some in cold, even with a bit of snow. Chard grows well in cool and hot weather, so I'm especially fond of that here. Kale grows huge and is one of the most cold hardy. They also like different grasses. They'll actually eat a wide variety of plant leaves. They'll also eat most fruits and vegetables. Every year, we find out about more good things that fruits and vegetables contain. A grain based diet gives our bodies an unhealthy essential fatty acid balance, as well as animals, chickens and their eggs. Providing fresh leafy greens, helps with that.

I also provide more sunflower seed during molts.

If you can provide any access to insects for their diet, that's also very good for them.

 

[hensonly]

I think all the "neccessaries" have been covered, but like any living creature more complex than an amoeba, chickens also need mental stimulation. There are those who argue that a chicken isn't a whole lot smarter than an amoeba, but we won't get into that!!

Free range birds provide most of their own entertainment, but I have too many predators around (including some of my own dogs!), so mine have to stay contained for their own safety. This means I have to get inventive, and it's been a lot of fun, devising "hen-tertainment".

My run is also dirt, with deep litter (pine shavings) in the house. But we had a lot of rain here last week and their dust-bathing holes filled up with water, and the whole run was mud. This led to very dirty eggs, as their feet were still filthy when they got to the nest and walked over the eggs that were already laid...so I got some sand and filled in the holes (it drains very well) and then I raked up a whole lot of leaves and bark from around the wood pile and covered the run floor with it. They had a ball digging and scratching around, and found some bugs hiding in the bark. The drawback to leaves is that they break down so fast, but I plan to rake some more today for the girls to play in. Such fun for them!