Chickens generally make a good pet. They are easy to keep and it doesn’t cost a fortune to keep them happy and healthy.
This being said, there are some must-have supplies that every poultry breeder should have to make sure their chickens stay healthy and active.
Chicken Feeders
Chicken feeders come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and styles. You can get a plastic, painted, tripod, galvanised or treadle feeder for your chickens. Keep in mind that investing in hanging feeders is an easy way of making sure that the chicken feed never mixes with poop or shavings. They also help in keeping your birds from roosting on the feed. According to the general rule, 4 feeders or a trough space of about 300” is good for 100 birds.
Drinkers
Drinkers are just as important as the feeders. Your birds should have access to water at all times, especially on hotter days. Poultry drinkers usually come in 3 different types. They can be plastic, galvanised or painted. When it comes to drinkers, the rule of the book is to aim for 96” of trough per 100 birds.
Feed
Feed plays an important role in keeping your chicken healthy. Different types of commercial feed are readily available in the market. They may slightly differ in the ingredients and nutrients. Keep in mind that the correct type of feed for your chickens mainly depends on their age. For example, in the first few weeks, it is advisable to keep chicks only on the chick starters. On the other hand, laying hens enjoy layer rations having a high amount of calcium and phosphorus.
Scratch
Chickens love to enjoy special treats every once in a while and scratch is their absolute favourite! It is a mixture of various grains including corns, oats rye and wheat. Want to see your chickens go crazy? Simply throw a few handfuls of scratch on the ground. Your flock will scratch through it with their feet and eat every last bit of it!
Bedding for Coop
Chickens enjoy warm and cozy coops, so make sure you place plenty of bedding in their coops. You can use straw, hay and pine shaving as the bedding. Some people believe that using pine shavings as the bedding for coop can help keep insects and lice at bay.
Keep in mind that chicken poop also works well as bedding. It is a good idea to let poop and shavings buildup in the coop in the summer and fall because, in winters, this composting material can help keep your chicken coops naturally warm.
Heat Lamps and Bulbs
Light and heat are the two most important factors when it comes to rearing chickens. In winters, chickens can stop laying eggs due to the shortened days and the lack of light. On the other hand, cold temperatures can make your flock sick and lazy. Therefore, it is important to make sure your chickens always get an adequate amount of heat and light. An easy way to deal with this problem is to install supplemental heat lamps and light bulbs.
With these supplies, you can a have a healthy flock and unlimited supply of fresh eggs!
