What is your daily routine?

[Pugsabi]

I've only had my flock of six for a week and I'm curious as to how everyone takes care of their birds. I change out their water and make sure they have food. I do a head count and make sure the coop is still okay. Am I supposed to look for mites everyday? Check their crops everyday? Etc.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I fill the feeds, throw out scratch, which allows me to look at everyone, than I change all waters out in the morning. That's about it for daily. I than throw out a bit more scratch in the afternoon. I only get a closer look at birds if necessary as I have currently over 100. So my daily scratch allows me to see if anyone is looking unwell. I clean as necessary.

 

[BantyChooks]

I refill pools and waterers if needed, give them 1 gal of food twice a day (which makes them go hungry a bit---this is just for summer when they're free range, they get all they want in winter) and grab a random bird every few days to check for lice. I have never done crop checks and can't see why that would possibly be needed. Sometimes I do a more thorough check which involves treating scaly leg mites if needed and catching the skittish birds to check them over too. Other than that, I just stand by the door as they come out every morning and if any bird is slow to come out, I check them. Oh, and watching for bumblefoot isn't a bad idea.

You probably don't have to do much at all since your flock is new. After a while, you might want to check poop now and then for worms and check for mites/lice. If you start 'clean' it'll be a while (usually) before the baddies catch up to you.

I also take 5 minutes or so now and then to watch flock dynamics and make sure that the juvenile birds are getting allowed near the feed and water too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My basic daily routine:

Take care of food and water in the morning when I let them out.

Collect eggs and take care of the food and water after supper when I take the kitchen wastes to the compost pile.

At dark, lock them up for the night.

That's basically it for a daily routine, whether there are chicks with the adults or not. When I let them out in the morning I watch how they act but don't physically grab any to check. Same at night when I lock them up.

I probably check for mites or lice once a month at most. I've never found any so it's not a high priority for me. I've never done a crop check. If one is acting funny I'll know it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ahhhh the summer routine.....

5am put out wet feed, change all the waters, spread some scratch, check my brahmas crops, check crooked beaks crop, and let them out for the day.
Around 3pm refill waters with fresh cold water.
Look for anyone struggling with the heat.

9pm close the coop doors, do a head count, check crop on crooked beak, check a few for bumbles, check same few for mites, gather eggs and turn the light off.

I keep a close watch on my brahmas crops as one is pendulous. I keep a watch on crooked beak as her beak is crooked.
Checking a few every day means I am basically checking everyone at least once a week.

I clean up poo as needed.

 

[Chickassan]

I get my feed ready the night before put it in a big coffee can and set it on the counter. 6:30 Grab the can go outside to fill the bowls left on porch.I top off the water. Go open the run and the right side of the coop where the rooster and old biddies sleep. Go open the left side where this years babies, the low hen and my Diva hen sleep. Say mornin chickens! Its a new chicken day! Visually check everybody at the breakfast bowls. Lunch, top off food and water do a head count and gather eggs. Top off again around 6ish. 8:25 Wait for chickens to roost, do head count, make sure my Diva has her own roost. Check coop for anything that dosen't belong critters,eggs etc. Lock up right side, lock up run, lock up left side. Say goodnight chickens, see ya in the mornin. Put bowls on porch. Rain,snow or shine all this must happen....they've turned me into a robot.

 

[The Widow Flanagan]

Alaska is full beautiful and plentiful>chix and ducks. Morning, turn on hose and open coop doors. Out come 5 chickens and one rooster! Wash out fresh water bowls and fill, , even if it rains. because 6 ducks like me fussing, open feed locker and start throwing! Catfood for ducks, corn/grain scratch and egg crumbles for chix and dried Mealy Worms for all. Finish my newspaper and coffee. They all free-range throughout the day, which is 22 hours right now! However, chix go to roost at around 7:30P and I put them to bed. Yes, I sing to them and they coo and whisper. Then feed Ducks just like morning and then crack a beer and hang out in the Midnight Sun!

 

[robinwhiskers]

Typically in the mornings I'll put more feed in the feeder if needed, I'll do their water every day or two, usually later in the day I'll collect eggs when everyone has laid...I train my chicken so usually we'll train first thing in the morning and usually I'm in the coop in the afternoon hanging out with them, often times training...besides the morning visit I'll visit loosely other times throughout the day.

 

[Kessel23]

Main flock:
I wake up around 7, go feed and water the birds, let them out of the run for the day, fill up the duck pools, and check up on everyone. I leave to work at 9, come back at 11 or 12, check up on everyone then go take care of other stuff for a few hours, then come back out at 4 to feed and water and check up on everyone, then come out at 9 to shut everyone in and empty the duck pools.
Meat birds:
I wake up around 7, go feed and water the birds, move the chicken tractors to fresh grass, and check up on everyone. leave for work at 9, come back at 11 or 12, check up on everyone, refill water, move chicken tractor to fresh grass, and then go take care of other stuff for a few hours. I come back out at 4 to refill food and then come back out at 9 to check up on everyone, and refill the water.

A lot of cleaning stuff is thrown in throughout the week.

 

[$pent_Hens]

Great question, I am following all the responses as I have only had my birds for one week. Like you I can get held over at work, so learning an efficient routine is key. Good luck with your flock.