Spring Chicken Essentials
Bringing home your first batch of fluffy new chicks can be an exciting experience, full of the promise of fresh eggs. But whether you’re a sustainable living advocate, a homesteader at heart, or a novice backyard chicken enthusiast, raising chickens is a responsibility that requires proper planning and the right tools. With spring here, it’s a great time to prepare, and here are my Spring Chicken Essentials (plus my best kept secret) you’ll be glad you invested in.
My entry to chicken keeping was not by personal choice. At the time, we had a farm and it was Spring. Many teachers were doing projects with baby chickens in their classrooms. We received a couple phone calls asking if we’d home the baby chicks once the class projects were over. And before I knew it, I had four baby chicks. Hello Chicken Keepers!
If you keep chickens you’ll find your flock just seems to multiply. You start to admire the different breeds for their egg colors and soon find you have your own favorite breeds.
The most chickens I’ve had at one time was about 25 and now we are down to just six; mostly the Rhode Island Red breed.
I thoroughly enjoy having them; they’re chicken manure and all (it will be everywhere). Beware.
All kidding aside, it’s like with any animal they’re a responsibility and one that I’d definitely give thorough consideration to before jumping in. After caring for chickens for over a decade now, here are my top three must have items. I’ve tried all the doors, feeders, and nesting boxes you can imagine. I’ve always come back to a few simple things which make life with chickens a whole lot easier.
1) Automatic Coop Door
An automatic coop door might not be the first item on your mind when considering your chicken-keeping essentials, but it’s a game-changer. The primary benefits are security and convenience. Coop doors that open and close on a timer or with the help of light sensors keep your chickens safe from predators that may be lurking when dusk falls, and they save you the chore of always being there to close up for the night or get up in the morning, earlier than you’d like. I spent years without an automatic coop door. The cost felt frivalous. But after ten years without, I decided to finally invest in one. It allowed me to go on vacation and find someone to just feed and water. I no longer needed to find someone who could open and close the coop door daily at the perfect time. It has been the single best purchase I’ve made and I wish I would have done it years ago.
- Security Blanket for Your Flock
It’s essential to ensure your chickens are locked safely inside their coop every night. Automatic coop doors offer peace of mind — they act as a reliable “guardian angel” of the coop. Backyard chickens can fall prey to a surprisingly wide variety of nighttime predators, including raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and even owls. Even in my suburban backyard, in the middle of a neighborhood, I’ve lost hens at dusk to coyotes. An automated door effectively seals the coop when it’s most needed, safeguarding your precious flock.
- The Ultimate Convenience
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s easy to sometimes forget about sunset and your chickens’ bedtime. An automatic coop door means you don’t have to schedule your evenings around the poultry schedule. Once it’s set up, it operates seamlessly, letting you enjoy your time without the worry of a flock left in harm’s way. You will want to check on it every once in awhile to make sure it’s working properly. I chose an electric version that requires a plug and have found it shorted and needing to be reset.
- Tips for Installation
When choosing and installing an automatic coop door, consider the number and size of your chickens, the breeds (some are more prone to staying out late), and your local predator threats. Lithium batteries tend to last longer in these systems, particularly in cold weather. Or make sure you have adequate electric near by if yours requires an outlet.
Farmlite Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener – Found Here on Amazon
2) Elevated Feeders and Waterers – Cleanliness and Health
Starting with a solid foundation of health and cleanliness from day one is critical for your baby chicks. Elevated feeders and waterers are excellent tools to keep their food and water clean, as they won’t be as easily soiled or scratched around by the chickens.
- Keeping Things Tidy
Chickens are not renowned for their table manners and are prone to kicking up bedding, dust, dirt, you name it, into their food and water. I have found that Elevated food and water containers make a good choice. They ensure your chickens always have access to clean water and feed.
- Health and Hygiene
Clean water is essential for chicks’ health, especially during the brooding stage when they are particularly vulnerable. Proper hydration supports growth and can help prevent diseases. Elevated waterers minimize the likelihood of accidental spills and keep the water free from droppings and dirt. Similarly, elevated feeders reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.
- DIY Solutions for the Start
You don’t need to break the bank here. Early chicken-raising days are often DIY-centric for many owners. Simple tasks like placing feed on a sturdy box or cinder block can serve as a temporary but effective elevated feeder. Just make sure to adjust the height as the chicks grow, keeping their food and water easily accessible but also clean and efficient.
- My choice on feeders & waterers
As I mentioned, I’ve tried just about every kind you can think of. But I’ve landed on the Royal Rooster Brand which I found on Amazon. I use both the feeder and waterer. Even though hold more than a days worth of feed and water for my flock, I still check them daily. Living in Florida, we have a very humid climate, and the feed can become compacted due to the moist air. I just shake the feeding holes where the crumble comes out to ensure it can flow and is not clumping.
Royal Rooster Feeder & Waterer – Found Here on Amazon
3) Nesting Boxes with Exterior Access and Pads
Nesting boxes are where your chickens will lay their eggs (until they decide they find somewhere better). And they should be designed with both the chicken and the human caretaker in mind. You want a setup that provides comfort for the hens, ease for egg collection, and cleanliness to keep the nesting area pleasant and problem-free.
Our first chicken coop was an engineering nightmare. It was cute, using my kids old playhouse but I had to crawl into the space to collect the eggs. I quickly re-engineered the nesting boxes to be accessible from the exterior of the coop.
- Comfort and Privacy
Hens need a spot that’s comfortable and private—a secluded nest that sets the stage for
laying eggs. Traditional boxes work well, but the innovation of elevated boxes with an exterior egg-collecting door (so you don’t have to step into the coop and disturb the hens) are a great upgrade. Liners or pads provide a sanitary and cozy environment for your broody hens. Living in Florida, I’ve positioned my nesting boxes to be under cover and in the shade.
- Simplifying Egg Collection
An exterior access door to the nesting box or just installing nesting boxes on the outside of the coop is the way to go, avoiding the need to disrupt the coop to gather eggs. It also keeps the interior cleaner, as bedding and bedding materials usually stay put. Plus, it makes it dead easy to collect eggs without any intrusion to the hens or the need to brave the coop, which can become dirty and poopy quicker than you’d imagine.
- Maintenance and Freshness
Nesting pads can be simple as a pile of straw or as designed as fluffy wood shavings. They play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness and freshness. Replace soiled bedding regularly and clean the boxes once a week to prevent the accumulation of bacteria. A healthy coop is a happy coop, and it all begins with a clean, inviting nesting area. I use these because I can add them once soiled, to my compost pile, and purchase more easily on Amazon. They last longer than expected and I always freshen with a little Zen Coop and/or herbs.
Nesting Boxes – Found Here on Amazon
Nesting Herbs – Found Here on Amazon
Nesting Pads – Found Here on Amazon
Bonus – My Best-Kept Chicken Keeping Tool
Taking care of chickens involves dealing with various challenges. My own flock has encountered predators, endured molting, suffered from injuries like a poked eye on fencing, dealt with old age, and required veterinary attention. Throughout these experiences, I’ve consistently needed a convenient and safe place to provide care for my chickens, ensuring they have access to food, water, and protection from predators.
My most frequently used tool for this purpose is a metal wire dog crate. I line the bottom with pine shavings for bedding and hang Royal Rooster feeders and waterers inside, just above the ground. Cleaning is easy thanks to the removable plastic tray at the bottom, and the crate is relatively simple to move.
Depending on the specific needs of the isolated chicken, I may place the crate on my patio without covering the top, as is the case when weather isn’t a concern. However, currently, I have an older hen who’s distancing herself from the flock. At night, she voluntarily retreats to the dog crate instead of the coop. I position the crate near the coop and cover the top and sides with a tarp to shield her from the elements.
I hope these top three and BONUS must-have items give you a good start into backyard chicken keeping. Happy nesting!
Once your hens are happy and laying you’ll want to be sure to check that your eggs are fresh! I have a quick guide on the blog – Found here!
Ready to start eating those eggs?? Here’s an easy way to hard boil your eggs with a no-fail easy peel – Linked Here!
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