Preparing for your first chickens | Forum
Member admin
Jun 17 '16
Chicken keeping requires a little preparation and commitment in order to keep healthy and happy chickens. It is important to be well prepared before you purchase your chickens. Keeping chickens can be a big commitment and you will need to have everything ready. There are many things to consider before making the decision to purchase chickens, such as do you have sufficient space and are there any legal issues that would prevent you for keeping chickens?
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Member admin
Jun 17 '16
Housing
Chickens need housing so that they have somewhere to sleep at night and somewhere to shelter from the sun and the rain. Depending upon how many chickens you are looking to keep, yuo will need to ensure that you have a suitably sized chicken coop for them.
Chicken coops come in a variety of sizes and can be bought either readymade or requiring some construction. You may also wish to build your own chicken coop. Chicken coops can vary in price significantly, and there are many designs available. the main ingredients for your chicken coop are nest boxes, perches, and a light.
Member admin
Jun 17 '16
Feeders and Drinkers
Chicken feeders and drinkers come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Drinkers can come in sizes from one to four gallons for example, and the choice of sizes would be dependent upon how many chickens you are looking at keeping. A large drinkers however does not mean that your chickens will require less management or reduced duties. Feeders and drinkers should be changed on a daily basis (twice daily or more often) such that your chickens always have a fresh supply of food and drink. Chickens need plenty of water, with larger chickens needing more water. Filling the drinkers with a minimum of half a pint per bird and allowing extra for evaporation in sunny weather should be sufficient. If you find your feeders and drinkers empty then look to increase the amount you leave for your chickens. Chickens require a nutritious diet (correct feeding and clean water.).
Chicken feeders and drinkers come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Drinkers can come in sizes from one to four gallons for example, and the choice of sizes would be dependent upon how many chickens you are looking at keeping. A large drinkers however does not mean that your chickens will require less management or reduced duties. Feeders and drinkers should be changed on a daily basis (twice daily or more often) such that your chickens always have a fresh supply of food and drink. Chickens need plenty of water, with larger chickens needing more water. Filling the drinkers with a minimum of half a pint per bird and allowing extra for evaporation in sunny weather should be sufficient. If you find your feeders and drinkers empty then look to increase the amount you leave for your chickens. Chickens require a nutritious diet (correct feeding and clean water.).
Member admin
Jun 17 '16
Nest Boxes
Nest boxes are very important for chickens and can also vary significantly in price. Nest boxes need to be inviting for your chickens, and needs to be kept clean and well bedded to minimise soiling of the eggs. You will need to provide at least one nest box for every two to three chickens and each nest box should be approximately one square foot. This size is important as any smaller and the chicken begins to feel too cramped and any bigger
Member admin
Jun 17 '16
Perches
At night chickens need to perch and require a perching space of around a foot per chicken. Some chickens enjoy snuggling up close to each other, whereas other chicken breeds enjoy plenty of space between each of them. Perches should be cleaned on a weekly basis as a minimum to help promote healthy chickens. Special attention needs to be taken to the cleanliness of the perch to reduce the chances of any illnesses or injuries that they may sustain. The chicken perch needs to be high enough off the ground to avoid draught (around 1 foot) but should be low enough for them to leap onto from the floor. Your chickens should also be able to easily get down from the perch.
Member admin
Jun 17 '16
Bedding
There are various types of bedding materials available for chickens, including shavings, wood chip, hay, straw and shredded paper.
Shredded paper is often not advised as it can become soiled quickly and hardens when wet. Shredded paper however can be a cheap alternative for a bedding material.
Hay is little use for a bedding material but is good for nest boxes. Hay has poor drainage properties and does not provide good scratching material for your chickens.
Straw has better drainage than hay and is a good material for your chickens to scratch around in. Straw also makes good litter for the floor of the chicken coop.
