What to do when you bring your new backyard chickens home

After much consideration, you’re finally ready to buy a flock of feathered friends. Have you decided on the breeds of chickens you want? If so, it’s time to buy them from a reputable breeder.

There’s more to chicken care than just putting your new chickens in their new coop with food and water.  They require - and deserve - care and attention regarding their food, bedding, shelter, behaviour, health, parasite management and overall care.

So let's dive in.

How to transport your new chickens and thing to consider when bringing them home

• Take the same care when transporting chickens as you would for any other pet
• Never transport chickens in feed bags or a car boot of a sedan – this is both cruel and illegal
• You can transport your chickens in a cardboard box (with large air holes cut in the side) or in a standard pet carrier
• Place a handful of wood shavings in the bottom of the box to help keep it dry and reduce smells
• Do not overcrowd your birds, as they can quickly overheat and become stressed
• Be mindful of the weather — transport in cool weather; opt for early mornings if you’re collecting them in summer
• When you get the birds home, put them straight into their coop so that they can find their way around it before venturing outside

What to buy or build for backyard chickens

• Chicken coop or house
• A perch
• Nesting boxes
• Chicken feeder
• Chicken feed
• Chicken drinker
• A dog crate, rabbit cage, or similar for separating new or sick chickens
• Bedding (or litter) if required in the coop or run
• Vitamins such as Solaminovit, heat & stress supplements, and the best probiotic for chickens
• Gauze and small vet wrap bandages
• Puppy training pads for use in a sick pen
• Dog nail clippers for overgrown nails
• Chlorhexidine 2% solution for cleaning wounds
• Shell grit
• Chicken Coach Feather & Skin Poultry Powder, or Pestene or a similar product for treating mites and lice
• Worming treatment such as Flubenol
• A copy of the book The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow

A checklist of things to do

For optimum backyard chickens health, follow this list:

Daily

• Collect eggs
• Feed grain and greens
• Check supply of clean water
• Chickens naturally go inside and onto their perch at nightfall - lock them in unless the chicken coop is in a safely enclosed predator proof run
• Check over birds and ensure none are broody or looking sick

Twice a Week

• Top up shell grit

Once a Week

• At night, go out to the chicken house with a small torch or use the flashlight on your phone. Run the light along your chickens’ perch. If you see anything crawling, you likely have red mite!
• Scoop up any manure from under their perch (as required). The perch area should never smell.

Monthly

• After dark, when your chickens have perched for the evening, feel the chickens’ breast bones to ensure none are rapidly losing weight or have a hard crop (between their throat and breastbone)
• Check your chickens’ vents for signs of lice or mites
• How do their legs look? Are the scales on their legs smooth, or do you need to treat for scaly leg mite?
• Replace nesting box material.

Twice Yearly

• Remove all litter/bedding from the coop. Wash down surfaces with hot soapy water and white vinegar. Replace with fresh bedding/litter.

Visit my blog page for more ideas on caring for your new flock. Also, I’d love to hear how your feathered friends have settled in. Drop a comment below, tag me on Instagram or Facebook, or send me an email - elise@chickencoach.com. 

Want your chickens to be the healthiest and happiest they can be? I offer backyard chicken workshops, online programs, phone coaching, and in-person support to families, schools, and free-range egg farmers. Visit my online shop for natural, tried-and-tested poultry supplies in Australia.

Grab my free guide, The First 8 Steps To Naturally Healthy & Happy Backyard Chickens now!