Here, we will simplify your job by giving you guidelines on basic chicken care at home. In addition, we have split this manual into daily, monthly, and biannual maintenance sections for easy digestion.

Daily Care for Chicken at Home

Like humans, birds have fundamental needs crucial to their flourishing. When one of these factors is out of whack, their performance and output plummet. Some of these factors include

Correct feeding

Adult chickens may require twice daily feedings, while chicks may require three times daily feedings. Overfeeding or underfeeding can negatively affect performance, so give them the right amount.

Clean Water

Chickens won't drink from a dirty water source, so change the water regularly. Poops, housing materials, feeds, and human waste can easily contaminate the water, so you should change it at least twice a day. Your birds are more likely to contract parasites, bacteria, and protozoan diseases from drinking tainted water.

Clean Equipment

Be sure to regularly clean the equipment you use to feed and water your birds. As a result, ensure you wipe down all apparatuses with a damp sponge and some dish detergent before each use.

Careful Monitoring

Birds wear their emotions on their feathers. When healthy, they exhibit vivacious, playful behavior. However, when they aren't feeling well, they experience depression, stop eating and continue to starve themselves. As a result, please pay close attention to the behavior of your birds whenever you visit them.

Don't Sleep on the Eggs

You want fresh eggs, so gather the eggs. Retrieve the eggs as soon as possible after they're laid. You could turn the picking of eggs into a three-time-a-day chore, which reduces the potential for contamination and damage from cracks.

It's also possible that your birds will peck the eggs if they're left out for too long, a behavior that becomes psychological if it happens frequently enough. You could be putting those precious eggs at risk!

Monthly Care for Backyard Chickens

Like regular maintenance, these duties are essential to the health and productivity of your birds. They are more time-consuming but manageable for a monthly project.

Water Storage Maintenance

Water storage tanks harbor biofilms that can contaminate the water and render it undrinkable if not regularly inspected and cleaned. As a result, effective disinfectants should be used. Using a bleach solution of 1:10 (one part bleach to ten parts water) has proven effective. Once you've removed all the old water, clean the tank with detergent and warm water, scrub the inside and outside, and rinse thoroughly to eliminate any remaining Sodium Hypochlorite.

Ensure A Rich Nutrition

Birds' nutrition determines their output. For this reason, when your birds suffer from malnutrition and must choose between staying alive and making eggs, they will decide to stay alive, which means less output for you and your family.

Consequently, monitoring and, if necessary, stock feeds are essential. Keep an eye on the date on the feeds you stock, and only buy a little at a time. There's a risk that they'll go bad before their time if you do that.

Double-Check the Bedding

It should come as no surprise to learn that feed and feces can find their way into the crevices of beddings. Removing them regularly may be difficult and stressful; however, doing so would help the birds.

As a result, a weekly comprehensive check is advised. To ensure your birds are comfortable, consider purchasing new bedding if the old ones are worn out.

Inspect the Nest Box

Being clean is quite appealing to birds, so you'll find more laying in tidy settings. If your birds aren't moving into a new box every month, monthly cleaning of the nest box should suffice.

A Clean nest box could help prevent the eggs' contamination and encourage your chickens' protective behavior, increasing egg production.

Biannual Care for Backyard Chickens

In caring for chickens at home, methods such as these are considered standard operating procedures and should be carried out at least twice a year. These methods include:

Thorough bi-annual cleaning of the coop

During a thorough cleaning, it is necessary to temporarily relocate the birds and any associated housing and feeding equipment. Then, use a solution of sodium hypochlorite and water (1 part sodium hypochlorite to 10 parts water) to sanitize the coop. Before letting the chickens back in, ensure the enclosure is completely dry.

Plan for Winter

Having a plan for the upcoming winter is important because birds cannot survive in extremely cold or hot temperatures. That's why you must get ready for the harsh winter ahead. It's time to prepare a heating system.

While it may be tempting, there are better ideas than heating your coup. An extended-use water heater or lighting solution is adequate. A safe place to roost is also highly beneficial.

Plan For Your Chicken While You're Away

If you've ever wanted to travel but have had the difficult decision of leaving your beloved backyard chickens behind, it would interest you to know that you can employ the services of professional caregivers for your chickens.

It's a great way to ensure that your chickens stay safe and healthy while you're away. Here are just a few reasons why placing your backyard chickens in the care of professionals is the right thing to do:

Professional Care

Chicken care professionals will provide the best possible care for your chickens while you're away. They have the experience and expertise to provide the highest level of medical care, and they will be able to recognize and address any health issues that may arise.

Disease Prevention

By placing your chickens in the care of a qualified professional, you can rest assured that any potential disease issues will be dealt with promptly. This can help reduce the risk of a severe epidemic occurring while you're away.

Diet and Nutrition

A professional caretaker will know their way around feeding your chickens and will be able to implement your predetermined diet regime effectively. They will help ensure your chickens stay healthy and strong in your absence.

Peace of Mind

Finally, the most significant benefit of placing your chickens under the supervision of a caregiver while you travel is knowing that their needs are being met and their safety is assured.

Being healthy is the key to productivity!

Managing chickens on a small scale at home cannot be reduced to a single, all-encompassing strategy; however, developing a routine can help ensure that all that needs to be done is done correctly and in a timely fashion.

Also, whenever you need to break this routine due to a business trip or vacation, remember you can always hire professional services to step in and do a great job.

For more helpful tips on how to care for your backyard chickens, and to hire a professional pet care provider for your backyard chickens in Greenville, SC, kindly contact us here.