Hi Everyone! I'm new to PPG but loving that I found it! I've been wanting start a little chicken coop in the backyard for a while now but my husband is worried that it will be too time consuming for me. We have a huge grassy backyard and after having fresh eggs from the farmers market that's all I ever want to eat again. Can someone who owns chickens give me a run down of their daily/weekly "chores"? I'm curious if this is something I can do.Also, we have two dogs, they are sweet little guys, curious if other people allow their dogs to "co-exist" with the chickens.
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It's not too time consuming. I find it very relaxing to watch the chickens, and I feed them twice a day which is just putting a scoop of food in their dish, make sure they have fresh water etc. They make excellent loving pets and you are rewarded with eggs! How many other pets can actually provide you with love AND something to eat?
dan straight > KrissypinkJanuary 12, 2009 at 3:00pm
i have 18 hens, i had a feeder modified to be weater proof ,so i feed them about every 3 days and i only fill the feeder half full, i have a 5 gallon and a 3 gallon water can set up one in their pen and one in the back yard set up on a cement block so they can stand up and reach the water, i leave the pen open now that the dogs are used to them and they have free run of the back yard all day. i gather eggs about 3 times a day. my coop is set up with roosts and 6 nest boxes.to feed and water it takes me about 20 minutes a week, and clean out coop about once a week about another 20 minutes. i also have some rabbits and they take me about 10 minutes a day
Feed/water and check on them twice a day (5 minutes each time) Clean the coop and refresh their straw if needed once a week 30 minutes (4 chickens make a lot of poop when they get older, so start a compost pile to take advantage). I also let them out to free range when I get home from work and they let themselves back in the coop at dusk. I close the gate, then done. I have had mine for about 5 months and they are really pretty low maintenance. The only thing I would worry about is if you travel a lot and don't have a willing chicken sitter. You have to check them at least once a day to make sure they have clean water and food. I found that if you feed them scratch in their coop they kick up all the straw and dirt into their water. So I would suggest only putting their food in the coop and putting scratch out when they free range to keep the junk out of the water. They are great pets and fun to watch.My kids love to take care of them too. My 5 year old does most of the feeding and reminds me to clean the coop, so if he can do it....
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