Daily Chicken Care Tasks
These are the basic of chicken care that needed to be tended to every day:
Refresh the water: Chickens need to drink about a pint of fresh water per chicken each day. Because they don’t like dirty water, they can become dehydrated quickly. Shavings, straw, and poop can get in the water throughout the day. Consuming feces from other chickens may lead to worms. Refresh the water daily, especially if you notice any debris or sliminess in the container. Clean water bowls and containers: Use dish soap and water for regular cleanings, and rinse well before refilling. You can also use chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach as needed to sanitize the water container, as long as you rinse it thoroughly. Feed the chickens: You can free-feed your chickens with a large hanging feeder, adding the chicken feed as needed. Or you can feed them a set amount each day. Collect eggs: Collecting eggs daily ensures that they are as clean as possible. It also minimizes cracked eggs and maximizes freshness. Observe the chickens: Spend some time with the flock, observing the chickens to make sure they are healthy. Active, alert chickens with bright eyes and smooth feathers are a good sign.
Monthly Chicken Care Tasks
Manage the bedding: How you do this depends on the litter method you are using. For flocks that only have a small area, typically change the bedding in the coop at least monthly. But flocks in larger spaces can use the deep litter method. For this method, begin with 3 to 4 inches of bedding. Each month (or when droppings build up), add more bedding until you have 6 inches or more. Then, remove all the bedding twice a year and start over. Or you can compost chicken litter for use in the garden because it is rich in nitrogen. Freshen the nest boxes: When the bedding in the nest box becomes soiled with poop or broken eggs, pull out the dirty parts and put in fresh bedding material. This helps to keep your hens laying in the nest boxes, and it makes the job of cleaning eggs easier. Sanitize the waterers: At least monthly, give the water containers a deep clean. Sanitize them with your choice of solution; the simplest is 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Then, scrub the waterers with dish soap and warm water, and rinse well to remove any remaining bleach and soap before refilling with fresh water.
Semi-Yearly Chicken Care Tasks
Deep clean and sanitize the coop: Once or twice a year, remove everything from the coop and wash down all surfaces with 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. You should also do this in between flocks or if a member of your flock comes down with a contagious disease. Some people favor a sprinkling of diatomaceous earth in the coop to cut down on mites and keep the hens healthy. Get food-grade diatomaceous earth, and don’t worry if the hens eat a little bit; it is perfectly safe for them. Prepare for the winter: To take care of chickens in the winter, make sure your hens are ready for cold winter weather. Get heaters for your waterers if necessary. Consider whether you want to use a light (to mimic daylight) to keep your hens laying in the winter. Also, make sure you have roosting space for everyone; this is how hens stay warm. But you should not heat your chicken coop.
