Chickens are one of the most low-maintenance farm animals you can own. As long as you are providing the essentials, they’ll be happy to crank out those eggs. We all know the basics that are needed – like most animals, they require food, water, shelter, and space. However, we have invested in other items that have made raising chickens infinitely easier.
Brooder
While we have owned chickens for years, we are just getting established when it comes to diversifying our flock. So far, we have bought three different batches of chicks this year.
Keeping chicks away from your older flock is a necessity. Not only do chickens need to be given time to adjust to any changes but they will literally peck chicks to death if they are in the same coop. The pecking order is a perfect example of Darwinism but does not actually serve your homestead when it comes to raising new babies.
We have consistently used our brooder and it has long ago paid for itself. By taking a storage tub, cutting a square out of the lid, and stapling hardware cloth to the top, we created a secure area for our chicks to grow.
Brooder heating plate
We have all heard horror stories about the dangers of heat lamps. In fact, our original coop had the floor burnt out where the previous owners had used a heat lamp and caught it on fire. When we first researched raising chicks, we were adamant that a heat lamp was not an option.
After combing the internet, we discovered brooder heating plates and will never go back. The heat plate stimulates a hen keeping her chicks warm. The stand sits with the metal facing the ground and warms to approximately 125 degrees. The legs are even adjustable to accommodate your chick’s growth and there are options to buy several different sizes depending on your needs.
We cannot stress the value of having a heating plate. While the up-front cost is a little high, there is so much peace of minding knowing that it is not a fire hazard.
Apple cider vinegar
We were able to avoid pasty butt until our last batch of chicks where it struck our roosters with a vengeance. It got to the point where it felt as though we were constantly checking on them and wiping their bottoms.
Pasty butt is where the droppings harden on the vent which blocks them from defecating. This can be deadly when it goes unchecked and builds up in a chick’s system.
Eventually, the problem resolved itself, but we observed a notable difference after we started putting apple cider vinegar in their water each day. Apple cider vinegar can help with respiratory as well as gut health. We use one tablespoon per gallon of water and noticed that it appeared to lessen the instances of pastry butt with consistent use.
Chicken tractor
Having a primary coop is great if you free range. But, if you really want to get the most out of having a flock, a chicken tractor is a must. We easily made ours out of a bent cattle panels, lumber, and tin for around $200.
Using a chicken tractor can serve a dual purpose. We can now isolate any chickens if they appear sick to keep them from infecting the rest of the flock. It also gives us the option of moving our chickens where they can fertilize that space.
Egg skelter
For the longest time we would just use old egg cartons to store our fresh eggs on the counter. This worked, but it was hard to remember where the oldest eggs where and we used them haphazardly.
An egg skelter helped solve this issue. The older eggs roll to the bottom while the newest eggs can be placed on the top.
Pine shavings
We use the deep litter method in our coop which not on helps keep our chickens clean but creates great compost! In order to use this method, you put a layer of litter down on the floor and continually add more. Our preferred litter is pine shavings.
Using pine shavings is inexpensive, keeps the smell down, and adds nutrients back into the soil. It also means you only really have to clean out your coop a few times a year, which is a win-win in our book.
Roosting bars
Chickens instinctively seek to roost as it makes them feel secure and protects them from potential predators. Roosting bars need to be away from any walls and have at least 12 inches of space for each bird. Chickens will use the bars as an opportunity to share warmth on cold nights.
A roosting bar can be almost anything. You can use boards, ladders, tree limbs, or broomsticks. You should avoid any plastic piping as it is slippery and make sure the material you use has no splinters or sharp edges.
Nesting boxes
When a chicken starts laying, they will lay anywhere. This can lead to a nasty surprise later down the line when you run into a rotten egg. The easiest way to keep this from happening is to provide nesting boxes for your flock.
You will need at least one box for every three laying hens and, every few days, you will want to make sure there is clean bedding so that you don’t get soiled eggs. We have found the plastic nesting boxes that you can get from any farm supply store the best ones to use. Not only are they durable but they are also easy to clean and require no drying time.
Locks
We are firm advocates that, for a secure chicken coop, you need more than one lock. Unfortunately, we learned the hard way that if the wood you use to build your chicken coop has any give, an animal can force their way in and massacre your flock.
An easy fix was to add a lock to the bottom. This reinforced the door and added a little assurance that our coop was a safe home for our chickens.
Feed container
There is absolutely nothing wrong with just using the sack your feed came in for storage. However, there will be a time where you leave it out and it gets rained on. Or, you will find a hole in the bottom because a mouse has chewed through.
Once we open a bag, we immediately pour it in a plastic bucket with a secure top. We can place this by the coop for convenience sake. We also know that it won’t be eaten by rodents and is watertight.
Motion sensor light
When we first moved into our house, we noticed that we handily had a motion sensor light by our garage. It was a happy accident that we built our coop by it.
Not only does the light help us see when we are out by the coop after dark, but it is also an additional safety measure as it works as our alarm system. We have watched it scare raccoons off. It has helped spotlight stray dogs on our property. There really are no drawbacks to having one and if you can find a solar light you don’t even have to worry about electricity.
Egg basket
Carrying eggs in your hand is all well and good when you have a few chickens laying. If you have more than three, you will quickly find yourself overwhelmed with the amount of eggs you are getting.
Unless you are a fan of multiple trips, an egg basket is necessary. We use a wire basket, but you can literally use anything you have around the house. We’ve seen people use buckets, totes, bowls… as long as it’s big enough any container will do.
Our list of chicken essentials
Chickens are a great starter animal as they basically take care of themselves. They are inexpensive, intelligent, and have a host of benefits from providing eggs to eating pests in your yard.
There are different products that will add value to your chicken adventure. The list above is certainly not exclusive but are things we wished we had when we were first starting out.
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