Chickens need the right housing, nutrition, health care, and enrichment to keep them happy, healthy, and productive throughout their lives. Although most backyard owners are well-meaning, most of the medical and behavioural problems we commonly treat in backyard flocks happen because the birds are not receiving the proper conditions and care for their life stage. Work through the sections below to make sure your birds are set up for success.
Housing & Environment
Choose the right size, style, location, and features for your coop and run to make sure your birds have a comfortable, clean, and low-stress environment.
Make sure your birds are getting a complete and balanced diet with access to clean water, grit, and calcium supplementation to meet their nutritional needs.
Have a plan in place for preventing disease that includes regular health checks, biosecurity, parasite control, and keeping a close eye out for signs of infectious disease.
Provide your chickens with a variety of opportunities to safely interact with other animals, people, and objects in their environment to keep their active minds engaged.
Protect your family against pathogens that can spread between birds and people as well as other risks from eating contaminated eggs or getting physical injuries from sharp beaks and nails.