Backyard chicken coops are becoming a popular trend in suburban and urban areas. The benefits of raising your own chickens are plentiful. So if you're interested in raising chickens, you may be wondering, where do I start? Well, there's more involved than just some chicken wire or hardware cloth.
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For your first coop, a good rule of thumb is to make sure you figure out how much space you'll need for your free-range chickens or laying hens. To help you get going with your backyard chicken coop, here are a few of the necessary items you'll need to get up and running.
1. Prevue 465 Red Barn Chicken Coop
Get yourself a coop that feels inviting and looks nice in your yard. This one from Prevue is aesthetically pleasing and functional. You can pick your favorite coop design based on your style and make sure it's enough square feet to fit all your chickens. You can also make sure there's a protective chicken door to make their home predator-proof. Get this coop for $280.06.
2. Harris Farms Plastic Poultry Drinker
This poultry drinker is essential for keeping chickens hydrated and well fed. The easy-to-fill and easy-to-clean dispenser can rest or hang on the floor of the coop. The durable fountain is molded from long-life plastic and accommodates up to 32 poultry to game chicks. It's available now for $6.90.
3. Precision Pet Excelsior Nesting Pads
Nesting pads are a must-have for your chickens in the nest boxes. These pads provide cleaner, fresher eggs by absorbing moisture. This decreases the chances of the eggs breaking and assists with quicker egg gathering and encourages chickens to lay inside the nesting box. You can get these for $19.99.
4. Precision Pet Chicken Treat Ball
Once you gather your chickens, you want to make sure they feel safe and at home. Fill this treat ball with veggies for snack time. The attached bell provides entertainment while the feeder stimulates the chicken's need to forage. Clip this to the coop and keep your chickens full and happy. This treat ball is available for $8.18.
5. Happy Hen Treats Ceramic Nest Eggs
Once you've got your system going, your chickens might still feel uneasy so you need to make them comfortable for optimal egg production. These nest eggs are used to encourage egg laying in the nesting box and it prevents chickens from pecking or eating the eggs. These come in a pack of two and are only $2.07.
This post was originally published on April 25, 2017.
