Do you want to add chickens to your homestead this year? Get prepared by reading up on chicken keeping basics. They are such easy animals to own and act like the gateway into homesteading. Grab yourself a chicken and let’s go.
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Chicken Math is For Real
Last year I told my husband that I wanted enough chickens to provide eggs for our family. Realistically that would be 3 or 4 hens. So of course we hatched 2 rounds of eggs in the spring and another this fall. Bringing our total up to 12 birds and mostly roosters. So when you see the jokes about chicken math, it’s a real thing. Once we get rid of the roosters, there will be more room for hens. So logically I’ll be going to the farm store this spring. And who knows, perhaps I could slip in a duck or perhaps a cow.
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Chicken Keeping Basics: Food
Chickens are not difficult to feed. There are lots of complete feeds that have everything they need to stay alive and healthy. We feed our birds an organic mix from Scratch & Peck. They also get a healthy dose of table scraps.
Since chickens do not have teeth they will need grit. It comes in various sizes for each life stage. Toss it in a bowl and they will peck at it as needed.
Our birds also get the occasional treat. Mealworms and grubs are their favorite.
For more guidance on feeding your chickens, check out my post called Feed Your Chickens.
Chicken Keeping Basics: Water
Water is pretty straight forward. We prefer to use a hanging bucket with poultry nipples. This keeps the water clean and we can provide enough of it to last several days.
During the summer the water will need to be replaced frequently. Chickens will not drink water that is warmer than their body temperature.
During the winter, you will do best to have a heated water bucket. This will keep it from freezing.
I’ll add a splash of apple cider vinegar when I fill up the water bucket. It helps keep them from getting sick.
Chicken Keeping Basics: Shelter
There are a few options when it comes to shelter for your chickens. You can provide a stationary coop with a run or free range or a mobile chicken tractor. No matter what you decide, they will need the same basic things.
The hens will need a place to lay their eggs. The general rule of thumb is one nesting box for every 4 birds. These will need bedding or nesting mats. The nesting boxes should be sheltered from the weather.
The sheltered coop area needs plenty of space for the birds. Generally it is 4 square feet per bird. Make sure to have roosts up high for them to sleep on.
The chickens also need outdoor space. Some people choose to free range their birds. This means that they can roam free. If you pick this option make sure that you have some sort of predator protection and a way to keep them out of areas like the garden or flower beds. A fenced in run is an alternative. Each bird needs about 8 square feet of space in the run. We like our mobile chicken tractor, so that the birds are on new grass each day while still protected from predators.
Chickens keep themselves clean by taking dust baths. Provide a pan with a mix of dirt, sand, diatomaceous earth, wood ash, and the optional herbs.
The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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