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If you're thinking about getting a few chickens, you probably should just do it.
Not only are they entertaining, but they eat your garbage (food waste, weeds from the garden, etc) and turn it into eggs and compost.
Not only are they entertaining, but they eat your garbage (food waste, weeds from the garden, etc) and turn it into eggs and compost.
They're also super easy to care for.
They need food, water, and shelter.
For shelter, give them a coop that (1) keeps predators out, and (2) keeps them dry. Everything else is a detail.
Can be a shed or an old packing crate or even a recycled playhouse like these ones.
They need food, water, and shelter.
For shelter, give them a coop that (1) keeps predators out, and (2) keeps them dry. Everything else is a detail.
Can be a shed or an old packing crate or even a recycled playhouse like these ones.
The three most frequent chores are:
1) cleaning water
2) cleaning/replacing food
3) letting them out into the run in the morning and closing them up for the night.
But you can drastically cut down on these to make chickens way less work and more convenient.
1) cleaning water
2) cleaning/replacing food
3) letting them out into the run in the morning and closing them up for the night.
But you can drastically cut down on these to make chickens way less work and more convenient.
Water.
If you leave any water out chickens will foul it (pun not intended) within minutes.
Even the gravity-fed waterers you see at the feed store get dirty in a hurry.
What you want (what we all want, really) are nipples.
If you leave any water out chickens will foul it (pun not intended) within minutes.
Even the gravity-fed waterers you see at the feed store get dirty in a hurry.
What you want (what we all want, really) are nipples.
Sorry. Had to.
This is the 5gal bucket in our run.
Those red jobs are the nipples. They cost less than a dollar.
Screwed into holes in the bucket.
When a bird pecks the metal knob it releases a little water into the scoop.
Water stays clean 5 gallons at a time.
This is the 5gal bucket in our run.
Those red jobs are the nipples. They cost less than a dollar.
Screwed into holes in the bucket.
When a bird pecks the metal knob it releases a little water into the scoop.
Water stays clean 5 gallons at a time.
There are nipples intended to be mounted on the bottom of a hanging bucket (or pipe).
I strongly prefer the horizontal mount nipples above because they leak less and all sizes of bird can use them (you don't have to have them at a specific height to be accessible)
I strongly prefer the horizontal mount nipples above because they leak less and all sizes of bird can use them (you don't have to have them at a specific height to be accessible)
Food.
Chickens toss their food around like drunk guys at a strip club toss ones.
It goes everywhere and is never a good use of your money.
So make a feeder that stops them from throwing their food.
When I did this I cut my feed bill in half, no exaggeration.
Chickens toss their food around like drunk guys at a strip club toss ones.
It goes everywhere and is never a good use of your money.
So make a feeder that stops them from throwing their food.
When I did this I cut my feed bill in half, no exaggeration.
This is the food bucket. Another 5 gallon with a screw-top lid.
That's a 90-degree pvc elbow going in and down into the food.
The chickens reach their heads in and can get a beakful, but when they toss the food it stays mostly contained.
It gravity-feeds until it's empty
That's a 90-degree pvc elbow going in and down into the food.
The chickens reach their heads in and can get a beakful, but when they toss the food it stays mostly contained.
It gravity-feeds until it's empty
They'll also eat a LOT of your food scraps. Pretty much anything. Even chicken.
Funny enough, they ADORE scrambled eggs.
This is the spot we toss all our compost. They eat what they want and break down what they don't.
Funny enough, they ADORE scrambled eggs.
This is the spot we toss all our compost. They eat what they want and break down what they don't.
Locking up and letting out.
Sometimes I don't want to HAVE to be home at sunset to close the birds in.
Occasionally the kids let us sleep in a bit and I don't want to get up at sunrise to let them out.
And sometimes there's so much going on I'd rather not add another task
Sometimes I don't want to HAVE to be home at sunset to close the birds in.
Occasionally the kids let us sleep in a bit and I don't want to get up at sunrise to let them out.
And sometimes there's so much going on I'd rather not add another task
Solution: automatic door opener.
There are a few brands. They all work.
Sun comes up, light sensor opens the door. It gets dark, door closes.
Chickens will put themselves to bed in their coop by themselves. They just know.
Our auto door from inside and out:
There are a few brands. They all work.
Sun comes up, light sensor opens the door. It gets dark, door closes.
Chickens will put themselves to bed in their coop by themselves. They just know.
Our auto door from inside and out:
Those three things save me 90% of the effort of raising healthy chooks:
Gravity feeder with pvc anti-toss feature,
horizontal nipples,
and an automatic door
Gravity feeder with pvc anti-toss feature,
horizontal nipples,
and an automatic door
Happy to share advice on coop design (easy cleaning, minimum work, space requirements, etc) or backyard-friendly breed recommendations anyone is interested.
I'm not an expert, just a guy who's made lots of mistakes already.
I'm not an expert, just a guy who's made lots of mistakes already.
