A Guide To Daily Care And Maintenance Of Backyard Chickens

As I quickly learned, caring for chickens is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. It doesn’t require a huge time commitment, but it does require some daily attention and a bit of planning. And if you’re curious about exactly what you need to do on a daily, weekly, or seasonal basis, let’s discuss.

Chickens roaming freely near a rustic wooden coop in the golden light of early morning on a farm.

Key Takeaways

The daily care routine for backyard chickens involves gathering eggs, checking food and water, letting them out in the morning, and securing their coop at night.
The most time-consuming task is cleaning the coop, which is done periodically, and you’ll need someone to care for them when you’re away, but overall, you’ll spend just a few minutes each day tending to your flock.

1. The Daily Routine of Caring for Backyard Chickens

Taking care of these feathered cuties is a rewarding experience. But here’s the deal. Once you start raising chickens, it quickly becomes a part of your daily routine. All you need to do is follow a few daily tasks to keep your feathered friends in tip-top shape.

Here’s a breakdown of the daily tasks you’ll need to tackle:

Gathering Eggs Each Day

One of the best parts of keeping chickens is collecting fresh eggs every day. I love heading out to the coop in the morning to see what my hens have left for me. It’s like a little treasure hunt!

Now, the most important thing to remember is to collect eggs at least once a day. This helps keep them clean and prevents your hens from getting broody. So, where do you look for the eggs? Most hens lay their eggs in the nesting boxes, so that’s the first place to check.

A variety of chicken eggs in natural shades of brown and speckled patterns in a nest.

Checking and Refilling Food and Water Daily

Just like us, chickens need a constant supply of fresh food and water. I make it a habit to check their feed and water containers every morning when I let them out of the coop.

If you notice that the water looks dirty or the feeder is running low, take a few minutes to clean and refill them. It’s important to monitor your flock’s food and water consumption, as any changes can be a sign of health issues. Trust me, it’s a small but important task that will keep your flock healthy and happy.

Letting Chickens Out in the Morning and Securing the Coop at Night

If your chickens are free-range, you’ll need to let them out of the coop every morning and make sure they’re safely locked up again at night. This helps protect them from predators and makes sure they have a safe place to roost.

I like to let my chickens out first thing in the morning when I go to collect eggs and check their food and water. In the evening, I do a quick head count to make sure everyone is accounted for before closing up the coop for the night.

Trust me, these daily tasks quickly become second nature. They give you a chance to spend a little quality time with your chickens each day, and it’s also a great way to start and end your day on a positive note!

2. Weekly and Monthly Chicken Care Tasks

While daily care is important for keeping your chickens happy and healthy, there are some tasks that you’ll only need to do once a week or once a month. Remember that these tasks are just as important as the daily ones, but they require a bit more time and effort.

Cleaning the Chicken Coop Regularly

Cleaning the coop is probably the most time-consuming part of keeping chickens, but it’s crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. I aim to do a deep clean of the coop every 4-6 weeks, depending on the size of my flock and how quickly the bedding gets soiled.

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To clean the coop, I start by removing all the old bedding and any debris. Then, I scrub down the walls, roosts, and nest boxes with a mixture of water and vinegar. Once everything is clean and dry, I add fresh bedding and put everything back in place.

Inspecting Your Flock’s Health Weekly

Even if your chickens seem healthy and happy, it’s a good idea to do a quick health check once a week. This will help you catch any potential issues early on and prevent them from becoming more serious.

When I do my weekly health check, I look for signs of illness or injury, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or abnormal droppings. I also check for external parasites like mites or lice, and make sure each chicken’s eyes, beak, and feet look healthy.

Restocking Supplies Like Feed, Bedding, and Grit Monthly

To keep your chickens well-fed and comfortable, you’ll need to restock their supplies regularly. I like to do a monthly inventory of my feed, bedding, and grit to make sure I have enough to last until my next trip to the store.

When restocking, I always make sure to choose a high-quality feed that’s appropriate for my chickens’ age and laying status. I also look for bedding that’s absorbent and easy to clean, like pine shavings or straw. And don’t forget the grit! Chickens need grit to help them digest their food properly.

A man in a backyard garden near a pink chicken coop on a foggy morning, with free-range chickens foraging in the foreground.

3. Seasonal Considerations in Backyard Chicken Care

As the seasons change, so do the needs of your backyard chickens. Whether you’re dealing with the cold of winter or the heat of summer, it’s important to make sure your chickens have everything they need to stay comfortable and healthy.

Preparing the Coop for Winter Weather

As the temperature starts to drop, it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your chicken coop. The first step is to make sure the coop is well-insulated and draft-free. You can do this by adding extra bedding, covering windows with plastic, and sealing any gaps or cracks.

Another great tip is adding a straw or hay layer to the run area to give your chickens somewhere dry to stand when the ground is wet or snowy. And if it gets really cold, you can even add a heat lamp to the coop to keep my chickens warm.

Another important thing to consider during the winter season is ensuring that your chickens have access to fresh, unfrozen water. I use a heated water bowl to keep the water from freezing, and I check it daily to make sure it’s working properly.

A red and green weathered chicken coop in a frosty field at dawn with a fox standing in the foreground.

Providing Shade and Cool Water in Summer Heat

It’s not just the cold that we have to worry about—the heat can be tough on our chickens, too. So don’t forget that to protect them from the heat in summer.

One thing I like to do is add some extra shade structures to my chicken run. Think tarps, umbrellas, or anything else that can provide a nice shady spot for your chickens to chill out in. They’ll love having a place to escape the sun and relax in the cool shade.

Key Tip:

If it gets really hot, add some ice cubes to their water or give them a shallow pan of water to stand in and cool off. And on the hottest days, let them out to free-range in the cooler parts of the day, like early morning or late evening.

4. Handling Time Away: Chicken Care When You Travel

As much as we love our backyard chickens, there may be times when we need to leave them in someone else’s care. Whether it’s for a vacation or a work trip, it’s important to make sure our chickens are in good hands while we’re away. After all, we want to come back to happy and healthy chickens, right?

So how do we do that? Here’s how:

Finding a Reliable Chicken Sitter

The first step in preparing for time away is finding a reliable chicken sitter. This could be a friend, neighbor, or family member who is comfortable with chickens and willing to take on the responsibility.

When choosing a chicken sitter, you want to find someone who is dependable and has experience with animals. You can also have them over for a little “training session” before you leave to show them the ropes and answer any questions they may have.

If you can’t find someone you know to watch your chickens, you can also look for a professional pet sitter who has experience with chickens. Just be sure to do your research and choose someone who comes highly recommended.

Preparing Detailed Care Instructions

Once you’ve found a reliable chicken sitter, the next step is to prepare detailed care instructions that’ll help your sitter keep your chickens happy and healthy while you’re away.

Start by making a list of daily tasks, like feeding, watering, and egg collection. Be sure to include specific instructions for each task, like how much feed to give and where to find the supplies they’ll need.

Next, make a list of any special considerations, such as medications or supplements that your sitter needs to administer or any health concerns that they need to keep an eye out for. If you have any specific routines or preferences, like letting your chickens out to free-range at certain times of day, make sure to include those too.

A chicken strolling on a driveway with a white fence and lush greenery along a country road.

It’s also important to let your sitter know what to do in an emergency. Make sure they know how to reach you if anything goes wrong.

By finding a reliable chicken sitter and preparing detailed care instructions, you can enjoy your time away, knowing your chickens are in good hands. And who knows, you may even come home to a few extra eggs in the nesting box!

How much time does it take to care for backyard chickens each day?

Caring for backyard chickens doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment, but it does require some daily attention. On average, I spend about 10-15 minutes per day on chicken chores, like feeding, watering, and egg collection.

Of course, this can vary depending on the size of your flock and the setup of your coop and run. But in general, if you have a small backyard flock, you can expect to spend just a few minutes each day tending to their needs.

What daily tasks are required for keeping chickens?

The daily tasks required for keeping chickens are pretty simple. The most important things are to make sure they have plenty of fresh food and water and to collect any eggs they’ve laid.

I like to start my day by letting my chickens out of the coop and checking their feed and water containers. If anything needs to be refilled or cleaned, I take care of that right away. Then, I do a quick check of the nesting boxes to see if there are any eggs to collect.

In the evening, I do another quick check to make sure everyone is accounted for and that the coop is secure for the night. And that’s all there is to it!

How often do you need to clean a chicken coop?

The frequency of coop cleaning can vary depending on the size of your flock and the type of bedding you use, but in general, I recommend doing a deep clean 1-2 times a year

In between deep cleans, I like to do a quick “spot clean” every week or so, just changing out some of the bedding, cleaning their food and water dispensers, and making sure the nesting boxes are nice and fluffy.

When it’s time for a deep clean, I remove all the old bedding, scrub down the walls and floors, and let everything dry completely before adding fresh bedding. It’s a bit of a chore, but it’s so worth it for a pleasant environment for me and them.

More on Chicken Eggs:

Here are essential resources to help you know more about eggs:

With these valuable insights and practical tips, I hope you’re now well-equipped to take care of your chicken eggs.

They’re Worth the Trouble

Caring for backyard chickens may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of collecting fresh eggs from your hens or watching them scratch and peck happily in the yard.

Sure, there are daily chores and occasional messes to clean up, but the rewards of keeping chickens far outweigh the effort. Not only do you get to enjoy delicious, nutritious eggs, but you also get to form a special bond with your chickens.

I’ve had my share of challenges as a chicken keeper, from dealing with broody hens to protecting my flock from predators. But through it all, I’ve learned so much about these amazing animals and have gained a deeper appreciation for the food on my plate.

So, if you’re thinking about starting your own flock, I say go for it! It’s a fun and rewarding hobby that’s sure to bring a little extra joy to your life.

How Much Care Chickens Need to Stay Happy (Everyday and Seasonal Tasks)