It is my favorite time when I spend the entire day in my chicken coop, holding and playing with my chickens.
My family and I are keeping the tradition of raising chickens. I have a small flock of backyard chickens.
My home country is in South Asia, with different chicken breeds.
When raising chicken breeds appropriate for the climate, the climate can play a significant role in success or failure.
My list of chicken breeds is long and includes Rhode Island Reds, Aseel, Kadaknath (Similar to the Ayam Cemani breed), Australorp, and Sonali.
This article is about my daily routine and keeping my chickens healthy.
As a pharmacist, I can conveniently manage my profession and my chickens simultaneously, since the pharmacy is close to my home.
I manage my chickens this way each day.
A Day in My Chicken Coop: My Daily Routine for Raising Healthy Chickens
Raising backyard chickens is challenging but very satisfying for me. It’s a routine that requires dedication, care, and a keen understanding of the needs of my flock.
My everyday activities include taking care of the chickens that I sustain.
From sunrise to sunset, I am on duty to ensure their good health and that the environment and care I provide them are top-notch.
In this article, I will share my daily routine in my chicken coop, highlighting the steps I take to nurture my chickens and maintain their health and safety.
Early Morning: The Start of a Day in My Chicken Coop
I get up at 5 a.m., get dressed, and head to the chicken coop in a few minutes.
First, I let the chickens out of their coops. My chickens immediately started their day after I opened the doors.
Watching them rush into the backyard is always an incredible sight. They have been waiting, and it is always a beautiful sight for them to run out of the backyard.
We give the chickens an hour to roam freely, allowing them to naturally scratch the earth for insects and exercise.
Foraging is essential for their health in the morning. During this time, they can find more mineral food, which is also one of their favorites. It is excellent for their nutrition and mental stimulation.
During this period, I did not interfere; instead, I just let them be chickens, which means they behaved naturally.
Breakfast and Treat Time
Once the chickens have fetched their fill of foraging, I briefly return to the house for a quick breakfast. After that, I return to the coop to give them some special treats.
There are different treats. It may be sunflower seeds, grains, or mealworms, but I always make sure they are nutrient-rich.
I rarely use this time to feed them only; it is also a time for building trust in my flock.
By giving my chickens treats, I can connect with them, examine their health, and watch their behavior.
When they finish their treats, those chickens look for more food. Despite having plenty of treats, they still love the idea of foraging for food.
I firmly believe that allowing chickens the freedom to engage in their natural behaviors is crucial for their overall happiness and well-being.
Special Care for Chicks and Injured Ones in My Chicken Coop
I also look after other animals, including free-range chickens, newly hatched chicks, and injured chickens.
We keep the birds separated in different, enclosed coops and provide them with extra care.
To ensure proper growth while naturally brooding indoors, baby chicks need careful monitoring of their vitamin and mineral intake.
I choose a high-protein diet supplemented with non-amyloid vitamins and vitamin C to boost their health and strength.
I also take some time to check the injured chickens. I make sure everyone gets the care they need, whether it’s a minor injury or something more serious, such as an infection.
I give them protein-packed food to speed up healing, and I monitor their progress regularly.
Collecting Eggs in Backyard Chicken Coop
Having met the need for tending the chicks and injured chickens, I further take collecting the eggs.
My laying hens are hybrids that produce many eggs, so egg collection is a daily activity.
First, I carefully check all the hen nesting boxes to ensure I don’t miss any eggs.
I am very fond of this practice because it shows the love and care I put into my chickens’ breeding.
I also keep an eye on the health of my egg-laying chickens during the egg collection process.
I observe how they move, as such observations help me detect any stress or disease in them. Good health means productivity.
Regular Monitoring and Security
From dawn to dusk, I observe the chickens regularly. I check them every 2-3 hours to see if they are comfortable and secure.
I have heightened the fence in my backyard to keep my flock safe from predators.
Besides, I use CCTV cameras to monitor my surroundings through my phone. So I don’t have to worry; I can always check on my chickens no matter where I am.
It is the first point on my security list. A higher fence keeps foxes and raccoons from the coop part.
I also rely on CCTV cameras to detect unusual activity. I will know it immediately and can act fast.
Dust Baths and Parasite Prevention
Dust bathing is a proper way for hens to clean themselves and remove parasites from their feathers. So, I give them ash and sand in that selected area.
I burn dry leaves to collect the ash, which I then mix with sand to make the perfect dust bath.
Chickens like to spend time on this activity as it not only makes them clean but also their natural behaviors are being supported.
If I see signs of parasites like lice or mites, I add anti-lice and mite powder to the dust bath mixture.
Therefore, their good health is maintained because the chickens eliminate dangerous pests.
Caring for Broody Hens in My Chicken Coop
Every day, I check on my broody hens. During the day, these hens sit on eggs, so I feed them everything they need in their nesting boxes.
I bring food and keep water close to theirs so they do not have to leave their eggs while eating or drinking.
The broody hens are more concerned with the eggs they are incubating than foraging and eating.
I ensure their health through proper care and am always around to see if they remain healthy during this period.
Afternoon Foraging and Kitchen Scraps
Afternoon comes and I allow my chickens to forage again. The birds are ready to begin their second foraging session, having digested their breakfast.
They forage through grass leaves, picking insects from the soil, and searching the surrounding area for food.
Along with their feed and daily treats of worms and cracked corn, I also supplement my chickens’ feed with kitchen scraps, such as vegetable peels and other leftovers, which they enjoy.
These entities get to live on a different assortment of food, and hence the food at our place gets less and there is less waste.
The simplest way? I feed them my kitchen scraps; they gobble up veggie peels and leftovers.
The leftovers served frequently add a variety to their diet and help shrink food waste.
They forage in the yard and eat any leftover food scraps dropped by our family.
Guarding Dogs: Protecting My Backyard Chickens
For the safety of my chickens, I also raise farm guarding dogs, such as Dobermans and German Shepherds.
It is very essential to have a Doberman and a German Shepherd dog. They guard and keep my flocks safe from local predators.
To protect my chickens from night predators, I deploy my guard dogs around the coops as night falls.
Their sharp instincts and protective nature make me feel peace knowing they safeguard the chickens.
Evening Check and Locking Up the Coop
Before nightfall, I conduct a last check to confirm that all chickens have returned to their coops.
When counting the chickens, I look around the fenced area while standing to ensure I do not miss anyone.
Some of my pullets and cockerels fly across the fence, and it is during this headcount that one cannot miss a crucial spot.
The most precious of my free-range chickens roost in the mango trees at the back of the garden, near the hallway. They settle down just after sunset, especially when the trees are fruiting.
I am cautious around predators like stray dogs, bobcats, and cobras. Stray dogs are dominant and dangerous in the area, and bobcats hunt smaller birds or baby chicks.
Cobras are the major problem that kills baby chicks and the broody hen.
Before bed, I check all the chicken flocks are inside the coop. Then I lock the door.
The Final Steps of The Day in My Chicken Coop
After closing the coops, I return home feeling content that my chickens are safe, secure, and well cared for.
My daily routine is sometimes tiring, but it is also very rewarding. I made my backyard a place where my chickens have everything they could need.
This way, as long as I follow the schedule, I save my chickens from predators, nourish them well, and keep them smiling.
I love their company, the feeling of caring for them, and their amazing fresh eggs!
The work in a day in my chicken coop is ongoing, but when it’s completed, the rewards outweigh the efforts.
