https://drive.google.com/file/d/13CEd0zMnTmIfnxXHslP1DsOEYso3OEv7/view?usp=sharing

If you don’t have the skills or want to build it yourself just remember to get one that is easy to

clean out at waist height. If I were to buy one, I would purchase one that is made of plastic.

Plastic coops are easy to clean and naturally mite resistant. Here is one to consider.

https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/eglu-cube-large-chicken-coop-with-runs/

An automatic door is a must have to your set up. You can program it to open when the sun

comes out and closes when the sun goes down using a photo eye. Chickens naturally hide when

it gets dark so you don't let them out or pack them up in the evening. They will do it on their

own. Here is the one I use.

https://www.omlet.us/smart-automatic-chicken-coop-door-opener/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=404899116&gbraid=0AAAAAD8sH4j2YiHjN6sHVrgTcBD7LS2oI&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9ceAgkUxBMlMAeCJSmmfV7svxxTtX83juolIZNjRoGhEvZT1w5BS4bsaAuqrEALw_wcB

Feed and Water

For reference I have 6 full size chickens and during egg season I go through around 2 50 pound

bags of feed a month. During the off egg season I go through 1. The feeder I use is the

Grandpa feeder.

https://grandpasfeeders.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorTAdLP9v3D8Ox2oqd8sn9f47XUgyfQwL5gmRuWvAn_X7kBwhwF

I use this feeder because open feeders attract rats and they end up eating all the feed. This

The feeder takes a little learning curve for the chickens, but they figure it out. The large feeder only

needs to be filled once a week to feed 6 chickens. The waterer that I use is this one.

https://www.chewy.com/farm-innovators-heated-poultry/dp/279944?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22434286072&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22424245605&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V38ydo24FhzR3ygCF2lMxbQF&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9ccyegfffiaJPLSJfGvgqsUF3nacMedYwIRyhjARF8-4rqqI7beqErUaAip0EALw_wcB

I use 2 of them for six chickens and change the water weekly. I like it because it has a warmer

for the winter and the nipple system keeps the water from getting dirty. I also like to give them

some extra snacks every day like fruit and vegetable scraps and meal worms. These are treats

and should not be the main food for them. Adult chickens should have access to oyster shells

which gives them additional calcium for egg production and for digestion.

Flies and Rats Management

The grandpa feeder goes a long way to keep rats away. The only other thing rats are after is

the waste. I usually clean the yard and the coop once a week to keep them away. To combat

the rats about once every few months I look for rat holes around my yard and the neighbors

yard. When I find them I cover the holes and put a bunch of dry ice in the hole. The dry ice fills

the cavity with CO2, sinks to the bottom, and smothers them. Flies can be managed in a variety

of ways. When you design the yard try to not have all of the run in direct sunlight. Cleaning the

A yard once a week in the summer is a must. I also use fly predators once a month and animal

safe lime after a good sweep.

https://www.spalding-labs.com/fly-predators?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=fly_predators((GAds)(cp=FlyPredators)(ag=Exact)(kw=fly%20predators))&affiliate-key=GASRC&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1163388463&gbraid=0AAAAAD_toMi57ENwLlI5fGE3rC23tOFNx&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9cfOHz7_SQ7s9IlnynhHE9Mqxj1jguUvIY5yhFOuAFzD-2fjb1RVHY8aAiZKEALw_wcB

https://firstsaturdaylime.com/

Yard Construction

You should give them as much room as you can, but understand that they will destroy anything

in that space. They like to dig and explore anything they can get their beaks on. You should

add enrichment like roosts and toys so they have stuff to do. I like to section off different parts

of my yard for them, linking them with a chicken fence tunnel for access.

https://www.vevor.com/metal-chicken-coop-c_10940/vevor-chicken-tunnels-118-1-x-28-x-24-2-inch-lxwxh-chicken-tunnels-for-yard-portable-chicken-tunnels-for-outside-easy-installation-chicken-coop-run-suitable-for-chickens-ducks-rabbits-p_010135080498?adp=gmc&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=21856097459&ad_group=168308318046&ad_id=719231127347&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21856097459&gbraid=0AAAAACq8bLXdlo0dPbGSACsDaRNU09Sj1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9cfzZLpucNqJ0tRKwq3Ef71qogGAKifPyAg-ypD11zG53CYAQqZjxYgaApdbEALw_wcB

It creates different safe places for them to hang out and gives me space to have a garden and

manage what they have access to. Be aware of predators in your area and fence them

accordingly. They like to have a safe place to hang out. You also want to have a space for

them to dust bath. I add food grade diatomaceous earth to their dirt bath to help kill parasites

about once a month.

https://www.amazon.com/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-10/dp/B00025H2PY/ref=sr_1_6_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ax_C02TTeVcq5CP1ZjNYhXE9Lz7yyOY2VYiDGlAwllfg7D05lWTXfeAlLXp3CjIYOLWz04xZ39srs3EJqSTFb_ZjNxyrl2suCkKHGh0scc-D9zMMvlFRA9E9tmgNnAf2_9_pyUgWNA_16o1QGVFB7e8N4AuJK_sFowBoVYy3VDgQ8YYWVf-781LTHR1o6zDe9d-UXfmA87QnuJ5tp2At7IMlIw0tsUop_L83b2ztHqYBUB4AQvXll0R6kYfijQ7bmSz2TuEt4TycGjP40Vumx09E6FLQARg3wdescTkVpPw.IggBSFX9Y2UCLY70qguD4OizHW1e585fCsdU_jazAhY&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694358414379&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9021723&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=13120646842707286865--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13120646842707286865&hvtargid=kwd-312893164759&hydadcr=24657_13626628&keywords=diatomaceous-earth&mcid=6fd32864ae793e23915f09bb892a15ab&qid=1758288339&sr=8-6

General

Don’t get overwhelmed, chicken keeping is very low maintenance once you have a set up. I

spend about 20 to 30 minutes a week maintaining them. They are self-sufficient, funny, and

often affectionate creatures. During egg season I get about 2 and half dozen fresh eggs a week

from 6 chickens (older hens). You will not save money by keeping chickens, but they are worth

keeping for many other reasons. Understanding where your food is coming from and

companionship just to name a few. They can be great with kids, they don’t need to be walked

and you can go on vacation and not need to board them. There are also lots of different kinds

of chickens with different feathers and egg colors. Let me know if you have any other questions.