Keeping Chickens: Daily Chicken Care

Establishing a Proper Routine is the Key to Making your Daily Chicken Care Simple & Effective

Taking care of your new chickens on a daily basis is very simple and as long as you keep on top of your chicken care routine it shouldn't take more than a few minutes each day. Chickens have only very basic needs which is one of the reasons they are so attractive as a low maintenance pet and as a hobby in general.

Nonetheless, as basic as their needs may be, there are some simple chores and tasks which must be carried out daily as part of your chicken care routine in order to maintain an orderly and healthy chicken coop and keep your hens productive.

Establishing a routine early on in your hobby and sticking to it is the key to keeping your workload light and maintaining a flock of happy, healthy chickens.

Take a few minutes every day to carry out these simple tasks:

• Make sure that feeding and drinking utensils are clean and in good condition. 
• Make sure the drinkers and feeders contain clean, fresh water and food and top them up as necessary. 
• Collect any eggs that have been laid, store them with the blunt end upwards and refrigerate to keep them as fresh as possible until they are eaten. 
• When you leave the coop, observe your chickens for a few minutes and make sure they look active and healthy and are behaving and feeding normally with no signs of injury, illness or stress.
• Check the structure of the chicken coop for signs of interference from predators.
• If necessary, make any repairs needed to the coop immediately, don't put this off until tomorrow as the predators wont give up until they get inside.
• Lock the chicken coop at night. If your chickens are roaming free in the yard then you must make sure to lock them safely into the coop at night once they have all returned to roost. This is essential in keeping them safe from predators. If you are inclined to forget or your routine doesn't allow then you should consider installing an automatic closer on the door of the chicken coop.

The daily chicken care routine shouldn't be anymore complicated than this. If at times you cant stick to your usual routine then don't worry too much, just make sure they have plenty of food and water and try and stick as closely as possible to your routine as often as you can. A good chicken care routine will keep maintenance to a minimum and is best for your chickens health in general.

It's not out of the question to leave your chickens alone if you are out of town for a few days as long as they are in a secure chicken coop and are provided with adequate food and fresh water. automatic feeders and drinkers are particularly useful for a situation like this as they can store enough for a few days without the contents being depleted or soiled by the chickens.

The eggs they lay in your absence will be just as fresh and edible when you return so you can collect and use them as normal.

If you plan on spending more than a few days away it is essential that you arrange for someone to check on your chickens regularly and tend to their basic needs.

Keep in mind also that your chicken care requirements will change slightly according to the seasons. For instance, the drinking water will freeze in winter and overheat in summer so you will need to take appropriate steps as necessary.

Chicken care tips for summer:

• Provide your chickens with adequate shade to escape from the heat of the sun.
• Make sure your chickens have an ample supply of fresh, clean drinking water at all times.
• Watch for signs that your chickens are laying less eggs as this is a sure sign of dehydration and heat exhaustion. If the egg yield decreases, take steps to keep your chickens cool and wait for normal egg production to resume.

Chicken care tips for winter:

• Make sure the chickens drinking water doesn't freeze. In very cold climates it will be necessary to check the water several times a day. If you have an electrical supply to your chicken coop it is a good idea to install a warmer under the water dish or hopper to prevent icing and ensure a constant supply of water.
• Make sure your chicken coop isn't exposed to the worst of the elements and if possible, consider adding some insulation to help the chickens preserve their own body heat.
• In extreme cold your chickens may suffer frostbite to the comb and wattles. This can be prevented by applying petroleum jelly to these areas at least once every few days.