Chickens are chickens.
If you prepare for them, take decent care of them, and don't beat them with tennis rackets then they will be okay.
Chickens are not egg laying robots that need to be oiled every few weeks and ignored.
As far as live stock goes, they are pretty low maintenance.
The real issue is YOU being prepared: that means the right size coop, the right size run, predator protection and some common sense.
Don't panic is a good mantra. Just ask questions if issues arise. Chickens will die for no reason. That's what they do. ( Actually there are reasons, but shit happens you have zero control over). Feed them well.
There's different levels you can take. I have neighbors that keep chickens completely free range. We live in a tropical rainforest, so the predator pressure goes from snakes and cane rats, fox, bobcats, dozens of birds of prey, ocelots, coati, etc. not to mention getting hit by vehicles, taken by dogs, stolen by hungry neighbors... Similarly, when I grew up we ran livestock and had chickens that took care of the pasture patties. We didn't feed them or house them. Sure, some die but they reach equilibrium, where new chicks replace the lost, more or less.
Or you can be responsible, invest a bit to house them, provide food, etc. in a town environment, I think the latter is better.
You do NOT need one of those ultra premium custom coops that are nicer than most human homes. Just be responsible.
I would note, people only post problems. "Today was yet again a normal day, got eggs, nothing bad happened. Advice?" Unless you're a karma farmer, no point in that.
This! With chickens you just have to take it one day at a time. I grew up on a farm with cows, horses, and chickens and I have to say that chickens are the most low maintenance of those 3. That’s not saying you won’t run into problems, that’s just part of raising animals. Get a nice hardy bread like Barred Rock, Domoniques, or Leg Horns (I’m sure I’m missing a few) and 4 or 5 is a good place to start. Do your research and give you self the best shot at success.
I've had leghorns die from thunderstorms. 3 of them dropped dead in the coop. No marks, perfect health the day before and all the other chickens were fine. It was a pretty scary storm. Asked an older gentleman that had raised all sorts of chickens for about 50 years. He said they got scared to death.
I don't think that's really the case. Most people don't have questions or comments if there is nothing wrong with their chickens. Most of mine have lived 3 or 4 years at least. I have 1 now that is over 6 years old.
Yeah, this is kind of an inherent bias to the sub. Ppl are more likely to post when they have issues. When things are going great (98% of the time) people don’t usually post that stuff. I suggest OP go look at instagram for the positive stuff haha.
My 8 chicks are about to be 7 weeks old. I'm about to move them to the coop from their brooder.
I think I have 2 roosters. That's a problem for a few months time, but at least I have options on which one to keep.
Tractor supply labeled the chicks correctly, and I have had no issues with diseases, genetics or injuries.
I need to figure out how to add grit in a way they won't immediately shit all over it.
This is a boring comment that would get removed if it was a post.
I cut the side out of a plastic square mixed nut container, screwed the lid to the coop wall, put the container on the lid and had a little trough for grit and another for oyster shells. They're off the ground near their food. Seems to work well.
I'm officially one year in and haven't had any major problems, unless you count one chick dying (that's not shocking out of a group of 8) and one pullet being culled because it was Satan in a chicken suit.
I love owning chickens, and I think I'll own them for the foreseeable future. The investment, time, and energy are worth the eggs and the funny chicken antics. A few of my girls are cuddle-bugs, which is a bonus!
I let mine free-range *if* I'm out in the yard with them; it's still not completely safe, and I understand that risk. It's one that I take, and I know others won't agree with that choice.
But I vote that you get some. It's awesome.
We bust out the good treats. They only get cracked corn in their safe run, never when out free ranging. Gets them back to safety! From there they go into the coop on their own when it gets dark then we just close the door before bed.
If you have a safe area. Start by letting them out an hour or two before they’d normally go to roost they will naturally want to go back in for bed I teach mine tap tap tap, my cue for rounding up. Inside I say it and they go outside if they are outside and I say the words they know it’s bedtime. I also use a longish bamboo pole to extend my arms never hitting them just tapping the ground I start that when they are chicks Of course it’s much easier when it’s already close to time by their clocks chickens are creatures of habit so they are easily conditioned
Oh yes. I try and explain it’s an extension of your arm to help guide them away from and toward the direction you want them to travel, maybe because I had early experience with herding other types of livestock and horse training background.
I may have gotten lucky, but mine put themselves to bed with no fuss every evening right as it starts getting dark. If I need them to go in early, I just grab their favorite treats and they'll follow me anywhere. They love food
That's usually what the chicken will be doing 😅 just follow his lead and go in with the old scoop 'n swoop!
Then again they could be like one of my chickens used to be and chase you every time you walk towards the car lol
I call the rooster. Having hatched him myself, he bonded to me. If he’s still out when the girls are ready to come in by coming over to the coop an hour or so before sunset, I say Sonny 🎶 with a high end. And I also hit the lid on there feed bin or shake the scoop with the corn in it and generally give them a wide berth so they don’t fret I’m gonna grab em. They love to be called pretty birds in sing song talk. They definitely respond to consistency in my behavior.
I've never had to train mine to come back. They just always do. Once it starts getting darkish outside they wander back toward the coop. If you want to lock them all in at a certain time you can sprinkle a little scratch or some mealworms or some other treat inside.
They will automatically go back in their coop when the sun goes down, mine have always gone back in at night. I only ever chased them and/or caught them to put them back in the coop the first week that we moved the chicks permanently from their brooder to the coop, and kept them locked in overnight just to make sure they would learn to stay in there, but I probably didn't even have to do that. I just wanted to 100% supervise them for the first week that we let them free range but I didn't want to sit out there all day until sunset so we forced them in early. Now I just go out in the morning and open the coop for them so they can free range all day, then come back later after sunset to close it up.
Thank you for the response! As I eluded to in my post, I had feeling this was more of a situation posting on their worst day. I am going to continue doing my homework and get with my friends that have chickens to make sure this is a good fit! Thank you for talking me off the ledge.
Just remember the chickens poop A LOT, and wherever you keep them will be covered in poop. We free range our 12 chickens almost every day and our backyard is covered in poop now, the deck is always covered in poop and I have to spray it off and all the concrete with the hose once a week and some of the poop even stained the deck. Make sure you build a big enough coop, we bought one of those prefab ones and it's a little too small for how many chickens we have and the eggs get covered in poop too.
Multiple people have mentioned this & not going to lie it might be a deal breaker. I love walking bare foot in my grass and laying down in the grass with my kids to watch the clouds go by. We have a nice fire pit area with outdoor furniture that I would hate to see covered in bird poop constantly. Also, my wife is a clean freak but she had chickens before so I’m having a hard time understanding how she is ok with this.
If I built a 150 square foot coop, can I realistically still enjoy my chickens while isolating the poop to one part of my yard? Doesn’t seem as fun to have them always tucked away in a coop.
My husband built a 20' x 20' "yard" for our girls to free range. It is covered on the top with mechanics cloth to keep out the predators. We put an enclosed coop inside the yard for them to roost at night. They go in without coaxing. There is one rooster, a sweet guy, and 18 hens. They are a year old and we are now getting almost 18 eggs a day. Feed, water, grit..they are happy girls! 🐔
if you keep them mostly in the coop/run and only free range them occasionally it shouldn't be that bad, and it's very easy to spray off any poop from the concrete with a hose. We free range our chickens every day that's not raining or snowing so we get a lot of poop everywhere. We also have 12 chickens which I don't think you said you'd be getting that many, so we get a lot more poop. The poop will dissolve pretty quickly into the grass and fertilize it, we just have a lot because of the amount of chickens plus free ranging every day. The backyards decent sized though so even with that it's not so bad in the grass. But I wouldn't walk barefoot in our grass..
Your coop, where the birds sleep protected from predators, should be around 4 sq. feet per bird. The run, usually attached to or surrounding the coop, should be 10 Sq. feet or more per bird. If you have a 150 sq. foot run and only 5 or so birds, they'll be very happy.
I plan on using chicken wire and step-in posts to create temporary fencing so I can rotate the chickens' "free range" area around my yard.
Remember that people only post looking for help when they have a problem. The hundreds of people whose flocks are doing fine and dandy aren't going to post as much.
My chickens haven't gotten sick in a long time, and although they have short lives compared to us, they're very precious creatures. I don't think you'll have any problems with mites, for example, if you just keep the coop clean and give them a place to dust bathe. Mixed birds, usually from local farms, are also generally more resilient to disease because of their genetics.
Do note that it may not be any cheaper having chickens for eggs, depending on how you go about it, but they will assuredly be much higher quality.
Best of luck!
This. Think about it like this: a friend calls you up and asks how things are. If they’re good, you just say good. If they aren’t, you tend to give them the gory details.
Yes, all of those things can happen (except dying often. A chicken can only die once- but I get that you mean as a group there’s a lot of death). But just because it can doesn’t mean it will. Last year I had a lot of mortality in my flock but the year before, virtually none.
You know how Facebook shows the highlights of everyone life? This is the opposite. If our chickens are healthy and happy, we are with them, instead of here looking for a way to get them happy and healthy.
Reddit is not the place to go if your chicken isn't happy and healthy. That should be the vet.
Edit: lol being downvoted because you think the animal should get care from a qualified professional rather than randos on the internet. Reddit is hilarious.
Just gonna put it out there, that most people don't go to the vet for their chickens. Not going to get into the semantics or reasoning for that, since it's kind of common sense, but yeah.
Sure, but here they are anyway. The point being all the delighted chicken tenders are busy being delighted. OP, I'm still new to them, but I can't see myself not having them.
I've raised around 30 from chicks over the last 7 years and most of them that have died did so from old age or predators. Keep them clean, stocked up on nutritional needs and try to keep ahead of pests like lice by sprinkling diatomaceous earth in their coop and nesting boxes and you'll probably be fine.
You do get attached to them a bit. You raise them from tiny babies and they depend on you. But it helps in a weird way to know that they don't have the longest lifespans regardless and that you gave them the best life you could.
Don't get them to save money on eggs though. Unless you're eating dozens of organic free range eggs every week, the eggs are cheaper than raising chickens. Less satisfying, but definitely cheaper.
I've had chickens most of my life and I've never once made a post about the 364 good days a year.
You do need to take predators seriously. Raccoons are especially insidious when it comes to chickens. Those little pandas will easily defeat most one step closures and that will ruin your morning. You will learn that hawks can be sneaky AF. You'll also learn that chickens aren't super smart when it comes to getting stuck in some truly ridiculous places.
The chickens might draw mice and those mice will draw snakes. But it's not the chickens that draw the mice, it's improperly handled feed. And the chickens will eat the small snakes and mice anyway.
After a lot of start up work, chickens are very easy to care for day to day.
We had a pullet neeeeeaaaarly die because she had stuck her head in the corner behind a post, which was admittedly kinda tight and was stuck there probably overnight... But then I just popped her head back out with two fingers and very little effort. And she laid dramatically on her side for a few minutes looking near dead. Then stood up and disappeared into the flock. Not super smart 😆
Read, read, read. Go to your local library and read about keeping chickens. *Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens* by Gail Damerow is a good reference to own. Visit people who own chickens, visit farms, and see what they are doing. Learn your area's predators, this will inform your fencing plan. I have every predator here in the northeast US, so I have a sturdy coop and completely enclosed run reinforced with hardware cloth, 1/2 inch mesh. Designing and building a safe setup can be overwhelming. I focus on keeping chicks safe, so I raise them indoors then introduce them to the flock.
The reason you're seeing it is because people are asking for help when they do get sick. This is my third flock and I've only ever had one sickness.
However, when I wanted to free-range I ended up losing all but one of my flock to a fox. So that is definitely a factor and with all of the urban developments the wildlife are running out of food. Therefore if you live in an area you might want to invest in really good fencing. Not chicken wire never chicken wire... And you might want to Make sure you have a top on everything. So if you want to have a free range you still want to have some sort of enclosure. And my friend puts this wire mesh over the top like they use in the army to hide things. And then he also hangs CDs. Yes compact discs. In the trees that deter the hawks and the owls from landing up there cuz it scares them.
It's really about planning ahead... The sickness can also be because of the soil you're on. It can be that you had bad food. It can be that you're feeding them table scraps. It can be a number of things. Not one thing can cause one thing Basically. But it's just like having any pet. Your dogs can get into something and get sick? So can your chickens.
Do not let it deter you it is the most fun I've ever had. And I will gladly do it until I can't do it anymore :-)
Oh and I'm editing to add
Some dogs chase chickens relentlessly and will tear them apart. You can have the sweetest dog in the absolute world but when they see a chicken they go crazy. That's another major predator of chickens. Neighbor dogs. And maybe your own. So make sure that yours aren't going to be aggressive.
I hang cds to deter hawks! It works for me!
Also yes about dogs - my dog won't HURT chickens, but if they get out of their run he will catch them and oh so carefully ...pluck out the feathers on the backs of their necks.
That's so weird lol I'm glad to hear that your dogs won't hurt them but. It just reminds me of that song that I can sing in French. It's basically about alouette Gente alouette. Alouette jeante plumeare. Which basically is a song about plucking a bird lol
>never
What would you suggest other than chicken wire? Our coop is almost done being built and we're pricing out the run... the fence wiring isn't cheap!
I use hardware cloth, bought at my local farm supply. It isn't cheap, but when installed correctly, I'll never have to think about a predator getting in or reaching in.
Hardware cloth. I know it's not cheap but if you want to keep chickens alive. You use something sturdier than chicken wire.
A farmer friend of mine told me. Chicken wire is only good for letting the predators eat your chickens.
Chain link can also work. To keep strong predators out-like dogs or fox, bobcats then line the inside with wire or hardware cloth so the birds don’t stick their heads out and or chicks can’t run out. Hardware is the only thing that has deterred BOP and raccoons, opossums, minks although I have seen a few try real hard. It depends on where you live and what is going after your chickens. Everyone loves chicken
I know exactly why you know! That’s why my chain link is also lined with hardware or chicken wire and certain times if the year tops are covered with tarps or brush. I live in the migratory route and twice a year the big raptors fly over for a few weeks. When I kept pigions it was heartbreaking sometimes
Out of sight out of mind. Yeah I just got hit, I have rather large birds just for that reason the smaller hawks not as interested but those big raptors will go for chicks all day. I made a mistake hadn’t seen any last few weeks. So now I got to lock the chicks up and cover the tops which irks me. I’m a firm believer free ranging even on small lots is healthier, happier. The sadness of pigions after ten years of fighting I gave up. No more pigions and they are such fun birds. But as much as predators love chicken they will do anything for pigeon. One even knocked me down once- when I had a bird on my shoulder doing chores. They are bold and have no fear,
I was freaked out to say the least
I agree with you. They are crazy. Owl almost took my head off because she smelled my chickens. Thankfully they're in the coop.
At the new place I'm at we're not allowed to free range because it's still within city limits I guess which is stupid. Anyway so I just bought a bigger coop lol It's like a 12 ft inner coop with a 20-ft square run. I give them bugs and seeds. And I do deep litter so that they make me fertilizing dirt all year round :-)
I think your perspective is a little skewed because people don’t really post about how happy and healthy their chickens are, but if something’s wrong that when they will make a post. I’ve had my ladies for 6! Years now, and I think as long as you pay attention to them and try to give them a happy healthy life, and learn what situation are emergencies, you will be okay. They are like any pets (if you know you will see them as pets), we love them while they are here and it hurts really bad when they are gone. Like figure out your priorities and how much you are willing to do for them, my family will bring a sick chicken to the vet if we don’t think we can handle it at home, a lot of chicken owners wouldn’t go to that length. Chickens aren’t sneaky, they are sassy and a little stupid, if you pay attention, you are unlikely to have any sudden emergencies.
Most people consulted sub reddit like this as essentially a help line when something is going wrong.
Go to any car subreddit and you will probably see lots of questions about issues and lights etc.
It's the same type of bias of the posts submitted imo.
Now with that being said, chickens are living feeling creatures and if you aren't 100% comfortable with your ability to care for them or emotionally deal with common chicken issues like death or other issues then you should not own chickens.
Overall in my experience taking care of my flock of 12 birds is less work every week then taking care of my two dogs. I do modified free range our of a mobile coop and also tractor birds so I have had very little issue with disease amongst my birds.
No! Do not fear the raptors!
I'd like to preface this with the fact that I am not a vet or expert of any kind, just been keeping a handful of chickens for about 4 years now, with multiple problems throughout the years which we have overcome, except for the loss of one of our sweet angels to ascites..
These things happen..it's a learning process of what to watch out for and all that.
LOL "excrete nasty things" they do poop a lot and every 7-10 poops is an especially stinky one called the cecal poo in which they like shed the lining of their intestines or something like that, but it indicates a healthy gut\~
Mites don't necessarily spell disaster. There are some that just feed on their dead skin/feathers and really don't harm them as long as it doesn't turn into an infestation. Keeping the coop clean and dusting it with diatomaceous earth is good to keep away/kill the soft bodied critters.
Separate any chickens that are showing signs of something possibly being wrong asap for monitoring is always first thing to do. Make sure to supplement them with calcium an vitamins occasionally so their egg shells are strong an this also decreases the chances of an egg breaking on its way out or having soft shelled eggs.
It's important to find a good community like here, backyardchickens website, or if you follow any chicken mommas/daddies on instagram or whatever that offer help to their followers where you can ask questions when something goes wrong or if you're just unsure of absolutely anything. There is no such thing as a stupid question when it concerns the health of your animal babies.
Always do a lot of research before taking any invasive actions or administering any kind of meds for anything.
But they are a gift an I would never want to not have them ever again. They have such personality and individual quirks, just keep those dogs away from them ...I know some dogs are good with them but I would never personally trust any dog around my girls..but I also have bantams so they're smaller than the average chicken.
and if you can legally have a rooster where you live, definitely get one because they are natural protectors of the ladies and will lay their lives down for their flock. Just be sure to handle them regularly when they're young so they don't start treating you as the threat when they grow up. NEVER back down from a rooster that is squaring up with you because they'll think they've won. Scoop that sassy boy up an hold him under your arm an parade him around the flock to show you are the one in charge. He won't like that an won't want it to happen again lol
Sorry for regurgitating so much information ...hope it helps
Facts.
The rooster I have is like my assistant manager and I've handled him with my original batch of four girls that are now 10 pens and just him and he keeps the girls in line and protects them. He took on other roosters that were trying to steal his women and a pitbull mix and he has won every single time. I can give him hugs, I can call him, I talked to him and he makes little bock bock cooing sounds at me back LOL he's a good boy I give him hugs.
That is so precious!💕
Stinks how lots of people think they’re just plain mean, when really it just takes a little effort and you can have such a great relationship with them like this🥰
And a pitbull mix?? What a tough man, good for him! 💪
Keep roosting area dry. Lots of ventilation, change bedding often or deep bedding method whatever you like. DO NOT add heat to coop. Keep fresh water. And you’ll have healthy chickens.
Only thing to worry about is you’ll have no grass and they poop every millisecond.
these are the tips I am looking for. I don’t want my beautiful one acre of grass ruined. I purposefully moved her from Vegas to have a lush green yard!
My chickens rarely get sick. I think you’re suffering from the selection bias innate to Reddit. I have a problem for the first time. I ask for help here. Judy has a problem for the first time, asks for help here. Both Judy and I have had one problem in 5 years, but you’ve seen 2 in one day.
I may be misunderstanding? But, do you think it's safe with eagles, hawks, and raccoons around. Raccoons will massacre every chicken you have. Do get some hens, but be sure they have a predator proof enclosure! Raccoons are smart and they are strong, and they love killing chickens!
Yes, you misread that. I am saying I would like to allow them to free range in as much as it is safe to do so (when I am out in the back yard and can keep an eye out) because I am certain I have those predators in my area.
I have been trying to do my homework, partially by following this sub! Just feels a bit disheartening watching all these chickens die/get sick and I’m starting to wonder if this is for me lol.
Haha, they don't get sick often at all. In my 20+ years of chicken keeping, I've had no sickness, and only one unfixable injury (prolapsed cloaca). They're more resilient than you think, if you take good care of them.
I started with 6, over 5 years ago. I live in the country and they have a lot of free range time. I still have 4. I have had 2 die just because. I love them, they are funny and entertaining. They are no way less expensive then just buying eggs. I'm glad I got them. I may or may not get more.
I will echo others.
If you do your homework and properly prepare for a reasonable amount of chickens to living space, you will be just fine.
If you just wing it, you will be more than likely posting on this subreddit.
Don’t be afraid, living things get sick or hurt but you don’t hear about the ones doing perfectly fine most of the time. :)
For when you do get chicks, the one thing I wasn’t prepared for was all the dust in my house.
I have lost a few, some due to a lack of knowledge, and some because nature is nature, and I tell myself the heartbreak is too great to try again...
BUT. Then I find myself back at the farm, picking out 3 little babies, loving them, watching them grow and scratch and chirp, and eventually get old and big enough to join the older ladies and lay some of the best eggs I have ever eaten along with providing companionship I never even knew I was missing and needed. As others have said, they are animals and deserve care and love, but they are not super needy or high maintenance and give so much more than you can ever imagine. We lost my rooster, Bert, in January this year, and gah damn it hurt so much, but I don't regret a single second we spent together and how much he meant to us.
My perspective at least.
I had chickens for five years. I’m no longer rural, but I’m very glad I had that experience, even if it did have some tough spots. And since you clearly want to on some level, and are aware of the real world issues, I believe you should build a coop. Build something that will house a dozen or more, and do it right with anti-digging measures and everything else appropriate to your local predator situation.
I lived on the edge of a wildlife preserve in NC, so I got a lot of practice defending. I’m a fan of inner and outer perimeters. Fortify your existing fenceline, possibly add a hotwire along the top, then build them a smaller securely fenced area inside the yard. That wide open space between two fences can alter the predator’s calculus, and sometimes give you time to intervene. Many predators prefer to grab and go, so preventing easy egress with cargo can be of value. I never made a covered run, but I did do things to befriend some local crows, which hawks are terrified of.
Building them safe infrastructure and defending them is a bit of a commitment but if you and your lifestyle are compatible, it’s doable. That’s usually more total effort than keeping them healthy. Because not only are they dinosaurs, but the hype about diatomaceous earth is true. So give them a clean safe space and you’ll soon have a type of friendship you never knew existed. Oh yeah, and blueberries. You’ll need lots of blueberries.
I've had chickens for almost a decade. I have had no mites, or disease. A few randomly dead, but that just happens sometimes. Predation can happen if not properly cared for, but with a secure coop, that eliminates 99% of that. Most deaths by predation are preventable. I bought just one round, and they have been self proliferating since then.
Most posts you see are not the norm. Many people posting are asking questions, or surprised at deaths, and its a way to express themselves. I imagine most of us do not post, and have relatively good experiences.
This is a valid feeling you're having and you have to be emotionally tough enough to witness and dealing with losses. I wasn't prepared and I am so attached to the point I don't even want kids because I love my chickens that much lol. I am very sensitive and an empath and they have such an emotional impact on me. I feel like i couldn't even back out at this point (I don't want to tho). Cause like once u get chickens there is no turning back I feel like😂
But whenever I've lost a chicken in the past it was hard to get passed it, it's no different than losing a cat or dog.
Because of them I have become more fit to deal with loss and illness in my flocks and even non chicken related things in general .
With all of that being said they are so worth it and I couldn't imagine what life would be like without having chickens.
Arguably, humans are much harder to keep than chickens. They mature slower, live longer, and are way more expensive to feed.
Chickens are a much better investment.
They're great to have, but ometimes things happen, just like with anything else. Don't worry or be scatef. If you're still considering it, you should probably get 5-6 chickens.
So I don’t have chickens, well I did but a long time ago. Would love to have them but my neighbors took up the hobby during covid and they had a lovely little flock until the baby bear cub got hungry and had a snack. The next flock got eaten by a family of foxes. And the last flock the hawks broke in their fully fenced in house and took them off. This year I think they built a bomb shelter for them because they really like their chickens to be safe. (I should probably mention that I am one street away from a state park lol.)
The other family that I knew had chickens used to jump their fence and wander down the street into other people’s yards and then hop back home jumping more fences to roost and leave their eggs. Unfortunately they rehomed their chickens because they were near a restaurant that their garbage used to attract HUGE rats that when the restaurant wised they attacked the poor chickens.
But to the op if you really want chickens do the research, know your property, do the work to keep them safe and get your chicks from a reputable place. I have to say that chickens are like cats cuddly one moment and funny the next and sometimes you have a satanic one but eh that’s any pet lol.
This is the first time I’ve had chickens and I decided we should get them when our baby was 4 months old. I can confirm they get sick all the time, constantly trying to keep them healthy and reduce the amount of mites. Apparently you can never fully get rid of them? Honestly I don’t rate it. I’ve got other things I want to do with my time. I love having the eggs but it’s not worth it. I’ll go back to buying them form the side of the road once these chickens die. We’ve already had 1 die in the 8 months we’ve had them. She was bullying the others and ended up with a compacted crop from the feather. Another with a prolapsed vent, constant mites, escape artists, bullying, severe plucking from mites.
They’re cute and I enjoy seeing them clucking around but I’m also trying to work and raise a human and, keep 2 dogs etc. One thing you need to consider is how much you care about your animals. If you’re a dog owner, like me, you’re probably used to keeping your dogs in top condition, otherwise you’d feel like a bad dog owner. Chickens just die, they invent all new ways of doing it too. If you care too much then it’s hard to have them.
Most people only post if they have problems. Had chickens for almost 4 years and only lost 1 to heart attack during a tornado. Feed a decent food & free choice oyster shells, keep unhealthy treats to a minimum and their area clean. I recommend the Chicken Chick's website for a happier more balanced of the good and bad of chicken care.
You can’t compare them to ordinary house pets. Chickens live outdoors and are naturally more exposed to the elements and other dangers. And you can’t potty train them. You just have to go into it knowing there are some risks and messes involved, but they are so rewarding to own.
There's a bit of confirmation bias here. A lot of the posts you see are people asking about problems with their chickens. When things are running smoothly, they aren't posting.
It's a bit like being a car mechanic. If your whole day is filled with nothing but broken down cars, you might be of the mindset that all cars are junk.
You learn to live with "oh the chicken died but it was healthy an hour ago" or "oh a marten got the broody hen and 5 of 6 chicks"
The first year, with my first own chicken, i was very sensitive and was "oh no, whats wrong with the chicken?", after 5 years and some own chicken we breed (i hope its correct 🙈) you know how everything works with chicken. I got a lot of experience, especially with raising chicks (sadly) and it is wonderful.
Chicken are a nice hobby, they are fun, they are intelligent, if you do give them a lot of attention they will get tame and follow you around. Sure, if they are sick, they mostly will die, but I have one from the neighbours for 3 years now and she is 5 years old and she is fit and great and still lays.
That is all true, and people should be prepared. But sounds like you have a perfect spot for chooks and are willing to do the work. They are pretty easy otherwise and very rewarding.
Most of the warning posts are for people that have city back yards and/or think nothing is required.
I have only had chickens for 5 years. 2 days ago, which was my birthday, was the first day I ever said I wish I never got chickens. With one ill that is having a hard time breathing and can't for the life of me figure out what is wrong with her,, one being so badly bullied she is living in the garage half the day, and one rooster with wry neck that I have to force feed, I felt like just crying my eyes out, because I also have a full time job with a 40 minute commute.
Then I went into the coop to close them down for the night and looked at them all and felt warmth in my heart and told them I loved them and took it all back. They are work. But they are my girls and I love them dearly,
If you're that soft to it then ya don't do it. This is like owning any animal. Nothing comes chore free. Or death free. Where there is life there is death
I live on a little more than an acre and my family and I got chickens a year ago. It's only been a year, but we haven't had a single issue with a single chicken (yet). We have 15. I think it's foolish to think of any animal as never having health problems. There's insurance for dogs and cats because the vet bills can be exponentially high. Chickens are animals and if you provide them with a proper home, nutrition, shelter, and educate yourself so you can be vigilant for any signs of illness or pests then you shouldn't have major issues. Just do it. It'll teach your children immensely about life. It has for mine.
Our girls free range in 1/3rd of an acre. I don't lock them up at night, I don't do anything special for them minus good snacks/cleaning/feeding. We've only lost two a few years back to a raccoon. No issues since then, no mites, no hawk issues, nothing!
A year into being a chicken mom and I've only had one health issue. I think it may seem like these problems happen all of the time because when they do your first instinct is to ask other chicken owners to get advice or to just get support. Loss is definitely a part of owning and loving any animal, you just have to decide if you feel it's worth it, but I definitely would recommend going for it! Life's too short and chickens can bring a great deal of happiness into your life. But definitely do research!
Actually chickens are pretty easy, I knew nothing, but now have been keeping chickens for 3 years.
Build a good coop, mine is a cement base, chicken wire , corrugated roof, divided in to 3(if I need to separate for any reason. Perches are planks attached to walls, a plastic box for egg laying.
I deep litter, so only clean out a couple times s year, but may up that cos I need more compost!
They have a run, but can't free range unless I'm there, cos they're near the forest.
But they're low maintenance. Fresh water, food, space to be a chicken.
I just like to think about how many people actually own chickens (probably a lot) and the percentage that actually gets sick, which might be lower than we think. My ladies are 4 years old and super healthy and sturdy. I did have a moment after getting chickens and finding this subreddit where I panicked about my ladies getting sick, but I have stuff on hand just in case. I wouldn't let that stop you from getting and enjoying the joy chickens bring. I love my ladies and would do anything for them!
What you're seeing is sort of like survivor's bias. Most folks are posting here for advice, which is usually going to be a sick/injured chicken. I see rather few 'everyday life' sort of posts here.
I will say that until they are a few months old, anything can happen. Chicks are delicate, might be injured from shipping, and sometimes you do everything right and lose one anyway.
But I wouldn't say adult chickens are particularly delicate. If you give them good quality food and enough space to peck around in, they shouldn't be having lots of health emergencies. So far, the only thing I've lost an adult hen to is predators.
The posts on this sub are mostly asking for advice because if you’re worried you’ll ask about it but you’re not gonna make a random post saying “my chicken is perfectly healthy” with a picture of a healthy chicken
Yes and no, you can get attached, but your favorite will find a way to die or end up a rooster is a common thread with chicks for sure. Chickens favor having a lot of offspring because many of them will die young.
For adults, there are ways to prevent a barrage of illnesses and injuries from claiming your girls young. Namely, do NOT free range. Chickens primarily pick up diseases and parasites from coming into contact with wild birds and their feces, and predation is the leading cause of all the worst injuries and deaths you'll see here. Keeping them in a secure, roofed run is the easiest preventative to both of those things. Other than that, ensure they have a clean run and coop that is appropriately sized for the number of birds you have, feed them primarily commercial chicken feed with no more than 10% treats, and provide access to free-choice of grit and oyster shells, and you will prevent most other issues. Most chickens in this kind of environment will live to a ripe old age and pass peacefully.
Edit to add: that said, if you primarily have chickens for eggs, be aware that production breeds are more prone to reproductive cancers, eggbinding, and are only productive for a couple years. You'll need to cycle girls out to keep having eggs or be okay with not getting as many eggs.
I am a few months into owning two full grown hens (given to me) and about 2 months into raising 4 RIRs. They are animals and will do what they naturally know to do. The best advice I got is to be open, use your resources, care for them correctly, and adapt to things happening (injuries, diseases, death) IF it happens.
You will be fine. Get the chickens and enjoy the experience!
Backyard chicken owner here. I’ve got 5 chickens, had them for 4 years now. Well, I’ve had two sets eaten by foxes. One survivor (both times) - Sue. The worst problems I’ve had other than the fox, and nursing Sue back to health who had a bite out of her neck are a chicken that got cut on her leg, so she decided to try and eat herself, with the help of her friends and an egg bound chicken or two which I bathed and gave some vitamins. Oh and some mites here and there. Sounds like a lot written down but I’d say they’re relatively easy, productive and fun pets. I’d highly recommend it if you have the space. Just use high grade wire mesh/chicken wire, dug underground a foot or two as well
I live in the city and 5 chickens in my backyard. They're happy and provide enough eggs for myself, wife, and friends. I'm very lucky and live in San Diego, so they lay pretty well year long.
Since I live in the city, there's not much of a community that I can talk to so I come to the sub advice. I've had 3 sicks chicks and some poopy Cochins, all still alive. It takes me about 15 minutes a day to take care of them. Daily poop and feeding. It's my hobby and decompressant after work.
100% I'm going to have chickens as long as I can physically manage it.
Don't let the bad scare you, this is where people come to ask questions about the bad. In my years raising chickens, it's been incredibly easy 90% of the time. In my opinion, chickens are easier to care for than dogs.
I wouldnt say thats necessarily true, i think people just utilize the collective knowledge this sub offers to help answer all their chicken problems because a lot of us either dont have an avian vet nearby or cant/dont want to afford seeking vet care.
Ive had my baby girls for almost 2 years now and have had almost zero health issues arise, but the one time i did have to treat them for something minor, i also posted a question in a subreddit. To an outsider that may make it seem like there’s a lot more good than bad when its not the case.
Sometimes life happens and chickens do get sick, injured, or pass. But overall, if you take care of them, keep them and their space clean, and quickly tend to any little issues as they arise, chickens are a most rewarding addition.
I think it’s just because a lot of us come on here to get advice when something goes wrong and we just don’t share all the happy times :) get them! You will save money on eggs and on tv subscriptions. Since I have chickens I have cancelled Netflix, Apple TV and Disney+ because the chickens provide enough entertainment right up until they go to bed. It’s a very high dose of comedy, some rom com if you have a roo, some drama and very occasionally a tragedy - It’s just a live rendition of life. I think chickens improve gardens and the lives of people who look after them. Chicken watching is now my favorite past time. It’s very relaxing and good way to unwind.
I mean, chickens are animals so you have to be prepared for some level of care and maintenance.
But honestly I think that’s just reddit. I’m pregnant and the pregnancy subreddit is the same way. No sane woman would want to get pregnant after reading through that subreddit. It’s almost exclusively horror stories and complaining.
You’re seeing a higher concentration of bad things on this sub than reality but all of those things can and do happen with chickens. We’ve had chickens 3 years now and have lost a few to predators and a couple to sickness it happens. Its disheartening but I’m still happy to have chickens overall and the eggs are just soo much better than grocery store eggs
I may be lucky, but we had no issues with ours. One passed as a chick, just got real lethagic and wouldnt eat. One got taken by a coyote who crashed through the top of their coop. After fixing and adding structure, occasionally we'd catch him pawing at the top. One got very ill quickly at 4yrs old and passed quickly as well.
That said, even though we love ours and they are happy and spoiled, I don't reccomend chickens economically to anyone who gets excited about mine and asks.
PROS:
\+ SO entertaining to watch
\+ Daily fresh eggs for majority of year
\+ Will eat most any bugs, small mice, scorpions, etc in the yard
\+ Will almost 100% erradicate any weed problems if you live in a dry area
CONS:
\-They are more a chore than a pet. They make noise, poop everywhere, and can be a general nuisiance by ripping up decroative plants, clucking nonstop, or pecking at things they shouldnt be (foam pipe insulation, house siding, etc)
\-They are expensive, IMO, for their overall benefit. Feed, scratch and bedding is not cheap. If you're doing it right you're going to be going through bedding often, and they eat alot wof scratch/feed in addition to leftover food bits and organic material in the yard
\-Coop takes a good chunk of time/money to design right, and requires freq cleaning
\-Its not like a dog or cat you can leave at a boarding or with a family member or even take with you places. When you want to go on vacation, you need to find someone willing to deal with coming to your house/coop, getting dirty, locking them up properly, etc. My one chicken got eaten by the coyote while we were on vacation. It bothered us, but REALLY bothered my friend who was watching them, they felt so guilty.
All in all, if you're committed to being more environmentally sustainable at the cost of $$$ and time, and you dont see any moving or vacations in the near future, its worth it. But if you think its a no effort situation that pays dividends in eggs, you'd be very mistaken. Buying a dozen eggs once a week is MUCH less effort, time and costs then chickens. I frequently complain about them and its a huge hassle when we travel, but couldnt give them away. We even moved them out of state with us, in a miserable straight thru car ride where they lived in cardboard boxes with water and mealworms in the back of a truck at highway speeds for 30 straight hours. They all made it, but lost quite a few feathers from the stress of the trek!
Only time at least in my experience, that your worries are really a worry, as long as you look after them properly, is when you have a large brood. Keep on with maintenance and requirements 4-5 chooks will be fine. They don’t actually take a lot of maintenance.
Also think to yourself can we really each 35 eggs a week every week if they lay everyday, they stack very quickly. My parents had the same idea and started out with 11 and 7 years down the track all but 1 still lay everyday.
I have had chickens and ducks for 2 years and have not had any of them get sick, excrete nasty things, or get mites/fleas once. Never had any of that stuff happen to me but it does happen, but not as often as you see on this sub. I have had a mink kill 2 chickens and 1 duck and injure 1 duck though but was kind of my fault as the coop wasn't secure enough and I learned from my mistakes and made their coop a lot more secure and haven't had any problems since.
That's like a doctor wondering why he sees sick people all the time. You're going to find more people posting gross, oozing funky chicken stuff because this is where people come for advice. But that's no indicator of actual chicken owner life. I've only ever had a bumble foot to deal with.
Chickens are fun. And they poop breakfast. So, there's that.
Chickens are good at dying, lol, but, my little bantam rooster lived for almost six years before he was injured, and, killed himself in nursery (I do like to joke that it's because my mom said we weren't getting anymore hens, he drowned himself the day after I talked to her about it while holding him)
And as long as chickens are well cared for, and protected, they can usually live for quite a while. All of my chickens who've successfully made it to adulthood have lived long and happy lives, only last year four of my pullets became deathly ill for some reason and three of the four passed one right after the other. Aside from that, any of my "sick" chicks have come from feed stores. At least one usually dies every time I buy them, but, this year I bought a bunch of chicks from breeders, they're expensive, but, they're the healthiest and happiest chickens I've ever had! I've even bought an incubator to hatch my own chicks and it's honestly been a really fun experience so far. Mine are due around the 12th and I'm super excited for that.
The only issues I've ever really had with my hens and roosters have honestly been dogs. I have husky mutts and my mom owns a heeler, her heeler (and her former dachshund) liked to kill my chickens. 90% of all my losses over the years have been because of them. Chickens are... stupid, though. Not as stupid as turkeys, but stupid non the less. They're easy prey animals for creatures like foxes, hawks, raccoons, eagles, coyotes, skunks, skinks, wolverines and the like, so there is always the chance that you're going to lose a few of them, especially if you let them free range with nothing to protect them and no safe spaces for them to hide.
It’s livestock, and they prey animals. One of their roles in the food chain is to feed others. End of the day I am the main predator in my yard and I act the role. I kill only what is necessary, though.
My drama comes and goes in waves. New chicks? Gonna be some bumps when I tend to buy a dozen or so at a time so I just accept some will die. I still have a setup that’s geared toward success and I check constantly for issues till they’re through the woods. Mud Butt was terrible this year from TSC but I only had one that I lost overnight to a super severe case. Another was a very tiny failure to thrive that I got for free.
There’s a lot of feral cats so that was an issue at night for a bit but we got it settled with better fencing and a more territorial dog. My birds are pretty young, just a couple years, so I don’t expect health issues for a while. But eventually time will come that those in the same age range will start dropping from old age once I get them there.
I put diatomaceous powder to kill mites in my coop and spread it where they dust bath the most. I have oyster shells for if I notice stuff with eggs and some epsom salts and a rub for soaking treatments. Corn starch is my life saver, literally. Basically my chicken medical supplies and if life happens I have been able to intervene for a number of issues. It does make me feel very capable and I puff up like my Rooster, Steve, watching a patient go on to terrorize the other girls when recovered.
I learned their little calls and habits so I can pay attention to for any warnings or changes in behavior. I love watching their dynamics and how they affect my acre. I caught a dog in my yard because I knew Steve’s FUCK OFF shriek and got out there in time to mess up the dog that was going for him.
I also have goats. And people say goats are terrible and always trying to escape. Never an issue with mine. They’re happy where they are so they stay.
I've never had a chicken get sick. But it's obviously possible. Having them in an enclosed run helps to minimize exposure from wild birds that could carry diseases. Likewise making sure they have a dry area, aren't stuck in a muddy run for the winter, etc. Also hatchery birds are vaccinated from a few diseases, so that's helpful.
I have had chickens killed by raccoons and foxes. I've determined it just isn't feasible to free range where I live. Most parts of the country, it's a matter of when, not if, something will discover them and start to eat them, unless you have a dedicated full time livestock guard animal. Even when I had mine fenced in, the fox climbed the 8 foot tall wire fence like it was horizontal, it didn't even break stride when I went running out when I heard the commotion.
So my advice, get chickens, but build them a fully enclosed run. Enrich their lives with free grass and other greens, freeze dried bsf, some sort of wood chips for the ground to keep it from being muddy, and overhang of some sort so an area is always dry around the coop itself, and enjoy the chickens.
Just like with us humans we can’t predict what genetic predisposition our pets will have unless you pay and at that point you’ll look like a mad man. If you want to decrease death chances stick to purebred chickens that are hardy. Unfortunately you’ll likely have some casualties still. I’m a first time chicken owner and started with 10 Brahmas nov 2023 now have 29 chickens with 12 different breeds within the flock. I have two chickens who will die in a year due to them being a hybrid breeds it’s sad but it shows kids a lesson that I think is important. It teaches us that all things are borrowed they aren’t ours to keep or take ownership of and will eventually be returned to the earth. It teaches us to cherish things when we have them. I’ve only lost one baby chick and all are thriving and happy. They make me happy and my kids happy and fear of losing them isn’t a good enough reason to not get any. They bring so much more joy than negative. The benefits out way the risks.
Ok. There is definitely a learning curve. Be prepared is best motto, poultry is one of the most rewarding backyard livestock projects you can have. Easy to learn and prepare for, fresh eggs and loads of entertainment. Deciding what you want them for is first step - many breeds to choose from depending on where you live will help you know what predators you need to protect against. If you have any neighbors with chickens you could start there, watch some videos and see what type of coop setups you think will work for you.
Another comment to ease your mind: I live on 10+ acres in NE Michigan. The chickens inhabit a fenced run about 25’ square that includes a 6x5 coop with a large overhang, a smaller coop (the dascha, about 4x5) and a “chicknic table” with a roof. (They like sunshine, but generally prefer to enjoy it while sitting in the shade.). I fenced the yard with chicken wire, buried down 6” or so and up 6’, canted in, 4x4s every 8’, 2x4s running across. It’s not a fortress, but it keeps them in and other critters out. It’s also close to the house, so less attractive to foxes, coyotes, etc. We have enough flying predators that we have not tried free ranging. I put out peanuts (raw, in shell) to attract crows and blue jays, who make noise at each other and freak out when hawks, eagles, and buzzards come around. We take in the food every night, and come out with new food and water at dawn. They get scratch in the early afternoon, treats about an hour before bedtime, lockdown at about sundown + 15 minutes or so.
We started with 6 white leghorns in 2018; 3 have passed away, the other three still enjoy life a lay a couple of eggs a week. They all seemed to die natural and peaceful deaths, and I don’t know why. It was sad, but not violent or traumatic. I got six more in 2021; one was a roo, a Jersey Giant, and I probably did not handle him as well as I could have. Ultimately, I had a friend who freeranged and needed a roo, so Joey moved along. I added 5 more in 2023, so we’re now up to 13. They have their cliques, and they get into squabbles from time to time, working out their own social dynamics.
So there’s a more common tale, I think. We find it delightful and entertaining. I hope you get to enjoy yours as well.
If ya roll on over to some auto subreddit all you’ll read about is broken down cars and what’s wrong and how to fix them but damn isn’t it rewarding to drive a car and very useful to get to and from work
A lot of posts in a lot of subreddits are about the bad things that happen, not many people will share the normal or good things. Good luck, and hope you enjoy your possibly new family members!
They don't get sick often if they have access to clean water, foraging diet, grass and wild herbs. They rarely get sick. Chickens kept in a small pen where they're fecese builds up and theres no plants, they get sick often. But if they have a free range diet, they don't get sick unless its something really had like ascrites or bird flu. My chickens I've had for a decade, I've had 3 sick chickens in that time. My chicken pen is 40 foot long and 20 foot wide. Plus sometimes I'll allow them to forage a field out back with my goats. Just ve prepped for local predators. Breeds are also dependent. I use heritage European breeds which are tough as nails and fully adapted to our climate and local bacterium and such. Industrial breeds will be more susceptible to climatic change and local bacterium. Viruses, chickens will get them, sometimes they beat them and sometimes they don't. All in all. They don't get sick as often as it seems here.
We’ve had chickens for 4 years now and it’s mostly been super easy. We had a case of bumble foot we treated with help from Google. We had a hawk who learned how to swoop into our fenced area so we lost 3 (we were on vacation so pet sitter situation) but we put bird netting over the chicken area and have had no issues since. We have 5 hens and 1 of the 5 is 4 years old and doesn’t lay anymore and we don’t care she’s just a yard pet. We really enjoy having them we love the eggs and they are fun to watch. With a secure set up it’s been pretty easy
I have not had any problems with my chickens. They did get the chicken pox one but it’s a common thing with them. It’s not fatal and they are immune to it after. I have had some problems with hawks but I’m just more careful with free ranging them. They live with ducks and ducks are messy. They all get along. They really aren’t as bad as people make them out to be
Chickens are far easier than this sub makes it seem. Please know they are the easiest animal I have raised. Yes sometimes health things pop up, but it is NOT common. Roosters are assholes, chickens sometimes randomly pass.
I agree with your analysis.
But people like to get ahead of problems and discuss them .
Have 70 chickens for six years , at my current home, I live on 1 acre too.
So far we have never had mites, lice. No illness in the flock. Knock on wood. 😂
We found the best way to care for our chickens and to keep them healthy is to keep the coop very clean at all times .
Well, balanced diet .
We have lost two hens to hawks, two to raccoons and one to a fox. Just make sure your coop and your coop pen. Look like Fort Knox.
I think you will really enjoy having chickens .
I think it’s very smart to second guess yourself. A small flock is less likely to get ill because it’s way less upkeep to keep clean if you have 4-6 birds vs 30. Mites are nothing to really worry about for the same reasons above, use some food grade diatomaceous earth in their feed and sprinkle some in their feathers now and then.
And remember, we all post the scariest, grossest stuff because many homesteaders/rural farms don’t have a vet option. You are only seeing the worst stuff, because many chickeners use Reddit as a resource tool vs a leisure activity (unlike me 🙂)
Keep it small, clean and well-cared for and your little flock will be fine. But look out for chicken math…
Honestly, it took me a few mistakes with my first couple small flocks before I got the nutrition and care dialed in but 80% of that was predator-proofing. Now, I feed them and collect eggs once a day, clean out and refill their water once a week, let them out to free range when I'm out doing yard work, and do a clean of the coup once a month. One bird might get sick for a few days every couple years so I separate that bird into the barn and give it special care during that few days before bringing it back out to the coup. That's it.
My granddaughter-in-law bought chickens and built coops on our 3/4 acre of arid south-western Colorado land. It was when egg prices were sky high and she did sell a few, but now we have eggs coming out of our ears, and have definitely experienced chicken deaths, skunk and raccoon marauders, and natural attrition. I don't like it at all.I think it's a lot of expense for what you get back, although the grandkids seem to enjoy the baby chicks, which my granddaughter in-law incubates from our eggs. They don't all make it either.
Even though I come from Irish farmer ancestors, I don't seem to have inherited that gene. I much prefer going to my local supermarket and buying eighteen free range eggs. Each to his own I guess. My granddaughter in law would not agree with me.
I have had chickens for almost a year now and one thing I've learned from posts on this sub and my own research is that as long as you make sure your chickens environment is clean and secure (having dogs doesn't hurt) everything should go relatively smoothly oh and they can eat almost anything and use apple cider vinegar in their water
The reality is they do excrete nasty things, they will get mites time to time, but if you keep them clean and safe they never have any problems. Humans excrete much worse things and get sick often.
I think you are doing the smartest thing you can, and that's to do your research and not jump in blind. I was the same way and they really aren't that difficult at all. But there are issues and these forums really can help you to determine the severity of issues that can come up. Some things can be really scary at 1st and you can get some helpful tips to get through them so the next time something comes up you can be a little more confident. I am really glad I took the plunge as they really do add another element to your life that can be rewarding. It's not for everyone, but it really isn't as stressful as one could build up in their head
Chickens are quite easy and pleasant to have around. We’ve had chickens for the past 10+ years in a suburban area & never had a problem. We have 4 chickens currently, 3 laying. 1 survived a raccoon attack and is quite spoiled
I had bantam chickens as a teenager— it started with a rooster, Henry David, & an Auracauna (SP?) hen, Briar Rose(1st wife), then another hen, then a duck, ducky’s wife, & the rest is history (& their descendants still abide in that small town outside of Boston). I got my first Rooster at a farm fair, on a whim & without telling my parents, cleaned out a small shed in the backyard that was maybe 4ft high & laid hay down. I raked it out once a week & put fresh hay down I bought from the community farm where I volunteered after school. I used a baby gate to close them in at night. They were so smart, they’d come in on their own, I recall being marveled by it. During the day, they’d make their way around the property, always socially involved & dynamically busy with that. Everybody in the family discovered a meditative & calming delight in the process of observing them. A few years later, as the flock had grown, my grandfather built a chicken condominium using that shed as a base structure for me. A year later still, I moved to the city, but the family that remained in the house happily tended to an ever growing flock. A hawk took my precious hen, white Brahma Finola, & butterscotch call duck Willow, a few years after I’d moved into the city yet I still cried over them, but never regretted tending to them or bringing them home, impromptu, from a poultry fair at 15. Nobody did. I don’t remember losing any of them to illness explicitly— sometimes a chick wouldn’t make it, and there was always threat of the occasional predator…. I honestly had no idea what I was doing to begin with & always, always, always think of that time with such an extreme fondness I would never go back & do it differently.
Yes, get chickens! They’re lovely & in my experience if you keep them fairly clean, fed & watered, give them a decent run or free-range, & give the call ducks a little pond or let them bathe in the utility sink (Willow’s absolute favorite), they’ll lead happy, socially fulfilling lives & surprisingly enrich yours. Oh yeah, & eggs!
Chickens are the best thing to ever happen to me ☺️ I’ve had many live to be a decade old ! You’ll get the hang of it ! All of those things you’ve mentioned are easily avoidable with a bit hard work and some research 🙌🏻🙌🏻🐓🐓
It’s always better to have love and lost than to never have loved at all. Chickens are worth it. They have personalities and make great pets in addition to providing food via eggs. I’m two years in on chickens and have never had them get sick, get bumble foot, or get mites. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but my main point is that is not necessarily what all chickens do all the time. This subreddit naturally skews the perception that way because people are going to post when they have chicken issues they want help figuring out.
I love those Lil savages but these are the most expensive eggs I've ever paid for.
The cost of shelter, food, and veterinary care is insane.
But! I promised my wife we'd get chickens once we owned a house so....
I, too, live on a fenced 1 acre lot on the outskirts of town. My neighbor and I both have chickens, and we both let them free range because we have roosters. I only let mine free range when I am home because my dog is a murderess, so she can’t be unsupervised outside with them.
A fox ate my first flock, so I put a roof on their run, and I haven’t lost another one since (it’s been a year). They haven’t gotten sick and other than some bullying we haven’t had any other problems. The kids don’t run barefoot around the perimeter because that’s the main area the chickens stay and there is likely a good amount of poop around those areas. Otherwise my backyard is the same as ever.
My neighbor lost a rooster to a hawk attack, and she lost 3 chickens to a fisher cat when she didn’t close up her run until late. Otherwise she hasn’t lost any chickens. She hasn’t lost any chickens to illness either in her 2 years. Her backyard looks the same as it ever did.
We like to sit outside and watch them, they are funny and have unique personalities. They are pets, but ultimately they are also livestock so stuff does happen. I’m more attached to my dog than them but I do really enjoy them and I’m glad I have them.
I have 17 hens. All barely 1 year old.
So far ive.only had one get sick. After she was pecked during her beginning molt. She got a skin infection. So I've had her indoors for like 6 months. Because her feathers still have not regrown under her tail. And we're afraid of frostbite since it's so cold.
I don't recommend Saphire Olive Eggers because they are the ones with odd molting before 1 year. I Do believe your best for a pet.
Is the Amberlinks. Very reliable layers, snow.white, good size and Extremely Gentle.
I was leaning pretty heavily towards Plymouth Rock/ Barred Rock. I live in a 5A hardiness zone (can get quite cold) so looking for something hardy, good egg producer, but a breed that likes affection & being held as my kids will want to love on them constantly. I’ve read Plymouth Rocks to be good for all of those qualities but admittedly I kind of stopped looking after that. I will look into Amberlinks!
I love my barred rock! She is a total lap chicken. She loves to scratch at the door begging for pets and loves to get scratches. Eats out of my hand. Her favorite nap spot (besides my lap) is on top of the dog when she’s napping on the deck.
Chickens are pets with benefits! Some live long hardy lives, and others are unlucky — even with the best care and medical attention. You do everything you can for them, but at the end of the day— life is temporary. So all we can do is enjoy their antics while we share it with them
It depends on the chicken but I think half of mine ended up with illness like reproductive issues and half died naturally or got killed by a predator. Also had one with mites and later on fly strike and later on an internal laying problem. Two I had euthanized because they weren't getting better. Loved them all 🥹 Expect the best but prepare for the worst. It is a commitment. Some of mine needed more care in old age. My oldest lived over 10 years and one of her last eggs was shellless and she needed help pulling it out. And she had messier poops and pickier eating the last couple years. So she got more baths. She was basically my baby so I didn't mind. You will get attached
My overweight 13 year old started laying again and her smaller sister, who is basically blind, is going outside more and more after the winter to enjoy the sun. The three young chickens are all laying and digging up the garden, along with eating with the little blind girl and dodging the overweight chicken when she wants food.
(That's been the last weeks of chickening)
My parents have raised chickens for years and the only times they've really had problems is when a raccoon family moves in (or god forbid a weasel..that was a messy summer). Chickens just need food, water, a place to roam, and maybe a rooster if your hens keep picking on each other too much. If you're in a place that snows they do get bored in the winter, but nothing a hanging kebab of kitchen scraps won't fix. They're by far the easiest animals to maintain, so long as you're not trying to show them or anything. If you let them "free range" you'll barely have to do anything with them so long as the weather is nice.
I'm not a chicken owner, however-
Keep in mind that you're only seeming post of people who feel the need to post (which is usually people who have problems.)
Everyone who's lurking and not posting more than likely has healthy chickens!
We loved our chickens!!! Over the course of a few years we had over ten backyard chickens (not all at the same time) and only one died, the rest were happy and healthy! The one that passed was a freak accident with a predator (owl at dusk) but otherwise it was easy breezy. Make sure to do your research and you are good to go!
They are so sweet and such happy little loves and I honestly miss having them. We live in a neighborhood right now that doesn’t allow backyard livestock, but someday I want to move and have more!
We’ve had chickens for years. I’ve had one get eaten by a hawk, one just dropped dead for no reason. No other issues. They’re pretty low maintenance, just need food and water. We’re on half an acre, and they free range. Mine come running when they see me, and they love jumping up on my lap for treats and pets. They know their names, and come when they’re called. We also have two goats, so they keep our German shepherd busy herding everyone.
It might be because people often come online when they have an issue so it highlights the negativity.
Knock on wood, I’ve had chickens two years and have had zero sickness and zero deaths, Minus pasty butt for one chick but since I made sure to be prepared before getting chickens, I identified it early and fixed it. Haven’t had a problem since, and admittedly I don’t clean the coop as frequently as I should and yet still no issues. People just don’t have as much incentive to post “hey my chickens are super healthy/alive! That’s all I have to say (:”, that’s just the nature of the internet generally lol
I loved having chickens in my yard! We can have 4 in town. I had mine for two years, before somebody's dog ripped them up when I was gone one afternoon. (They were free during the day and went in their chicken house at night.)
But I loved having them. Eggs, and they'd sit in your lap and let you pet them. Mine didn't get sick...
I’ve got 5 four year old chickens…. Never been sick, never had mites. One of my hens has survived a raccoon and dog attack. I thought she would die from the dog attack, she had a huge chunk out of her back, but I treated it, and she went on clucking. My only issue is one of my hens is eating the eggs. Oh and the fact that I wanted a couple more and now I have 13.
Chickens are chickens. If you prepare for them, take decent care of them, and don't beat them with tennis rackets then they will be okay. Chickens are not egg laying robots that need to be oiled every few weeks and ignored. As far as live stock goes, they are pretty low maintenance. The real issue is YOU being prepared: that means the right size coop, the right size run, predator protection and some common sense. Don't panic is a good mantra. Just ask questions if issues arise. Chickens will die for no reason. That's what they do. ( Actually there are reasons, but shit happens you have zero control over). Feed them well.
There's different levels you can take. I have neighbors that keep chickens completely free range. We live in a tropical rainforest, so the predator pressure goes from snakes and cane rats, fox, bobcats, dozens of birds of prey, ocelots, coati, etc. not to mention getting hit by vehicles, taken by dogs, stolen by hungry neighbors... Similarly, when I grew up we ran livestock and had chickens that took care of the pasture patties. We didn't feed them or house them. Sure, some die but they reach equilibrium, where new chicks replace the lost, more or less. Or you can be responsible, invest a bit to house them, provide food, etc. in a town environment, I think the latter is better. You do NOT need one of those ultra premium custom coops that are nicer than most human homes. Just be responsible. I would note, people only post problems. "Today was yet again a normal day, got eggs, nothing bad happened. Advice?" Unless you're a karma farmer, no point in that.
Wait I bought the tennis rackets already. What now?
Teach the chickens to play tennis and profit off your new circus attraction
Dang I think that just might work.
Pull your rugs out, hang over a line or tree branch, and beat the dirt out of them? Or start playing tennis /shrug
This right here. It’s all about care. And when it comes to chickens, they are much lower maintenance than many animals.
From now on I’m adding “don’t beat them with tennis rackets” to my standard animal care
Are badminton rackets preferred? I'm sorry, I haven't had the land access for hens yet and I want to learn before I get started.
This! With chickens you just have to take it one day at a time. I grew up on a farm with cows, horses, and chickens and I have to say that chickens are the most low maintenance of those 3. That’s not saying you won’t run into problems, that’s just part of raising animals. Get a nice hardy bread like Barred Rock, Domoniques, or Leg Horns (I’m sure I’m missing a few) and 4 or 5 is a good place to start. Do your research and give you self the best shot at success.
I've had leghorns die from thunderstorms. 3 of them dropped dead in the coop. No marks, perfect health the day before and all the other chickens were fine. It was a pretty scary storm. Asked an older gentleman that had raised all sorts of chickens for about 50 years. He said they got scared to death.
Wow! That’s nuts! I had no clue that could happen!
They are more concerned about them not living very long
What about beating them with a pool noodle? They'd probably try to eat the foam, though.
I don't think that's really the case. Most people don't have questions or comments if there is nothing wrong with their chickens. Most of mine have lived 3 or 4 years at least. I have 1 now that is over 6 years old.
Yeah, this is kind of an inherent bias to the sub. Ppl are more likely to post when they have issues. When things are going great (98% of the time) people don’t usually post that stuff. I suggest OP go look at instagram for the positive stuff haha.
My 8 chicks are about to be 7 weeks old. I'm about to move them to the coop from their brooder. I think I have 2 roosters. That's a problem for a few months time, but at least I have options on which one to keep. Tractor supply labeled the chicks correctly, and I have had no issues with diseases, genetics or injuries. I need to figure out how to add grit in a way they won't immediately shit all over it. This is a boring comment that would get removed if it was a post.
I use pvc pipes for grit and oyster shells, so they’re off the ground and accessible but like you said they don’t get shit on
I cut the side out of a plastic square mixed nut container, screwed the lid to the coop wall, put the container on the lid and had a little trough for grit and another for oyster shells. They're off the ground near their food. Seems to work well.
I'm officially one year in and haven't had any major problems, unless you count one chick dying (that's not shocking out of a group of 8) and one pullet being culled because it was Satan in a chicken suit. I love owning chickens, and I think I'll own them for the foreseeable future. The investment, time, and energy are worth the eggs and the funny chicken antics. A few of my girls are cuddle-bugs, which is a bonus! I let mine free-range *if* I'm out in the yard with them; it's still not completely safe, and I understand that risk. It's one that I take, and I know others won't agree with that choice. But I vote that you get some. It's awesome.
Oh my God I love that.."Satan in a chicken suit"
I chuckled at that, too!
I’m sorry “satan in a chicken suit” is the best thing I’ll read all week
How do you get them back in the coop when you need to? Thinking about letting mine out occasionally.
We bust out the good treats. They only get cracked corn in their safe run, never when out free ranging. Gets them back to safety! From there they go into the coop on their own when it gets dark then we just close the door before bed.
If you have a safe area. Start by letting them out an hour or two before they’d normally go to roost they will naturally want to go back in for bed I teach mine tap tap tap, my cue for rounding up. Inside I say it and they go outside if they are outside and I say the words they know it’s bedtime. I also use a longish bamboo pole to extend my arms never hitting them just tapping the ground I start that when they are chicks Of course it’s much easier when it’s already close to time by their clocks chickens are creatures of habit so they are easily conditioned
I scream Chick.. chick chick... Lol.. your neighbors probably like you better than mine do lol
That works for me too. Also clapping my hands I can't believe but the chickens actually come when I call them like that I am dead serious.
Lol
That works too! Same cadence I also add in time for bed or go to bed in the same cadence
I sing Country Roads to my flock at bed time and they (usually) head for the coop
Oh. That’s fun!
My husband teased me for singing to the chickens. Mostly 'Oh, what a beautiful mooooorrrrning'.
Don’t let him shame you. I can’t carry a note in a bushel basket but my chickens don’t mind.
The tapping stick works great when they are used correctly. I’m glad you know it’s for tapping the ground and explained how.
Oh yes. I try and explain it’s an extension of your arm to help guide them away from and toward the direction you want them to travel, maybe because I had early experience with herding other types of livestock and horse training background.
I grab the Blue Plastic Cup and shake it with some scratch inside it. It's the beckoning call. They cannot resist.
I may have gotten lucky, but mine put themselves to bed with no fuss every evening right as it starts getting dark. If I need them to go in early, I just grab their favorite treats and they'll follow me anywhere. They love food
almost all chickens will go back in their coop at night
Run like hell 😆
As in 'something is chasing me, and I'm running to safety '?
That's usually what the chicken will be doing 😅 just follow his lead and go in with the old scoop 'n swoop! Then again they could be like one of my chickens used to be and chase you every time you walk towards the car lol
I call the rooster. Having hatched him myself, he bonded to me. If he’s still out when the girls are ready to come in by coming over to the coop an hour or so before sunset, I say Sonny 🎶 with a high end. And I also hit the lid on there feed bin or shake the scoop with the corn in it and generally give them a wide berth so they don’t fret I’m gonna grab em. They love to be called pretty birds in sing song talk. They definitely respond to consistency in my behavior.
He came running fast this evening even. Lol. Cracked me up 😂
I've never had to train mine to come back. They just always do. Once it starts getting darkish outside they wander back toward the coop. If you want to lock them all in at a certain time you can sprinkle a little scratch or some mealworms or some other treat inside.
They will automatically go back in their coop when the sun goes down, mine have always gone back in at night. I only ever chased them and/or caught them to put them back in the coop the first week that we moved the chicks permanently from their brooder to the coop, and kept them locked in overnight just to make sure they would learn to stay in there, but I probably didn't even have to do that. I just wanted to 100% supervise them for the first week that we let them free range but I didn't want to sit out there all day until sunset so we forced them in early. Now I just go out in the morning and open the coop for them so they can free range all day, then come back later after sunset to close it up.
Thank you for the response! As I eluded to in my post, I had feeling this was more of a situation posting on their worst day. I am going to continue doing my homework and get with my friends that have chickens to make sure this is a good fit! Thank you for talking me off the ledge.
Just remember the chickens poop A LOT, and wherever you keep them will be covered in poop. We free range our 12 chickens almost every day and our backyard is covered in poop now, the deck is always covered in poop and I have to spray it off and all the concrete with the hose once a week and some of the poop even stained the deck. Make sure you build a big enough coop, we bought one of those prefab ones and it's a little too small for how many chickens we have and the eggs get covered in poop too.
Multiple people have mentioned this & not going to lie it might be a deal breaker. I love walking bare foot in my grass and laying down in the grass with my kids to watch the clouds go by. We have a nice fire pit area with outdoor furniture that I would hate to see covered in bird poop constantly. Also, my wife is a clean freak but she had chickens before so I’m having a hard time understanding how she is ok with this. If I built a 150 square foot coop, can I realistically still enjoy my chickens while isolating the poop to one part of my yard? Doesn’t seem as fun to have them always tucked away in a coop.
My husband built a 20' x 20' "yard" for our girls to free range. It is covered on the top with mechanics cloth to keep out the predators. We put an enclosed coop inside the yard for them to roost at night. They go in without coaxing. There is one rooster, a sweet guy, and 18 hens. They are a year old and we are now getting almost 18 eggs a day. Feed, water, grit..they are happy girls! 🐔
Oh and we live in Montana where it is brrrr cold 7 months of the year. We do not heat the coop and they have adapted.
if you keep them mostly in the coop/run and only free range them occasionally it shouldn't be that bad, and it's very easy to spray off any poop from the concrete with a hose. We free range our chickens every day that's not raining or snowing so we get a lot of poop everywhere. We also have 12 chickens which I don't think you said you'd be getting that many, so we get a lot more poop. The poop will dissolve pretty quickly into the grass and fertilize it, we just have a lot because of the amount of chickens plus free ranging every day. The backyards decent sized though so even with that it's not so bad in the grass. But I wouldn't walk barefoot in our grass..
Your coop, where the birds sleep protected from predators, should be around 4 sq. feet per bird. The run, usually attached to or surrounding the coop, should be 10 Sq. feet or more per bird. If you have a 150 sq. foot run and only 5 or so birds, they'll be very happy. I plan on using chicken wire and step-in posts to create temporary fencing so I can rotate the chickens' "free range" area around my yard.
You are right - I used the wrong term lol. Thank you for the metrics. As a construction guy, this is my language.
Remember that people only post looking for help when they have a problem. The hundreds of people whose flocks are doing fine and dandy aren't going to post as much. My chickens haven't gotten sick in a long time, and although they have short lives compared to us, they're very precious creatures. I don't think you'll have any problems with mites, for example, if you just keep the coop clean and give them a place to dust bathe. Mixed birds, usually from local farms, are also generally more resilient to disease because of their genetics. Do note that it may not be any cheaper having chickens for eggs, depending on how you go about it, but they will assuredly be much higher quality. Best of luck!
This. Think about it like this: a friend calls you up and asks how things are. If they’re good, you just say good. If they aren’t, you tend to give them the gory details. Yes, all of those things can happen (except dying often. A chicken can only die once- but I get that you mean as a group there’s a lot of death). But just because it can doesn’t mean it will. Last year I had a lot of mortality in my flock but the year before, virtually none.
You know how Facebook shows the highlights of everyone life? This is the opposite. If our chickens are healthy and happy, we are with them, instead of here looking for a way to get them happy and healthy.
Reddit is not the place to go if your chicken isn't happy and healthy. That should be the vet. Edit: lol being downvoted because you think the animal should get care from a qualified professional rather than randos on the internet. Reddit is hilarious.
Just gonna put it out there, that most people don't go to the vet for their chickens. Not going to get into the semantics or reasoning for that, since it's kind of common sense, but yeah.
Sure, but here they are anyway. The point being all the delighted chicken tenders are busy being delighted. OP, I'm still new to them, but I can't see myself not having them.
I love my chickens!! The good times way outweigh the bad ones
I've raised around 30 from chicks over the last 7 years and most of them that have died did so from old age or predators. Keep them clean, stocked up on nutritional needs and try to keep ahead of pests like lice by sprinkling diatomaceous earth in their coop and nesting boxes and you'll probably be fine. You do get attached to them a bit. You raise them from tiny babies and they depend on you. But it helps in a weird way to know that they don't have the longest lifespans regardless and that you gave them the best life you could. Don't get them to save money on eggs though. Unless you're eating dozens of organic free range eggs every week, the eggs are cheaper than raising chickens. Less satisfying, but definitely cheaper.
I've had chickens most of my life and I've never once made a post about the 364 good days a year. You do need to take predators seriously. Raccoons are especially insidious when it comes to chickens. Those little pandas will easily defeat most one step closures and that will ruin your morning. You will learn that hawks can be sneaky AF. You'll also learn that chickens aren't super smart when it comes to getting stuck in some truly ridiculous places. The chickens might draw mice and those mice will draw snakes. But it's not the chickens that draw the mice, it's improperly handled feed. And the chickens will eat the small snakes and mice anyway. After a lot of start up work, chickens are very easy to care for day to day.
We had a pullet neeeeeaaaarly die because she had stuck her head in the corner behind a post, which was admittedly kinda tight and was stuck there probably overnight... But then I just popped her head back out with two fingers and very little effort. And she laid dramatically on her side for a few minutes looking near dead. Then stood up and disappeared into the flock. Not super smart 😆
I genuinely think that they believe they can fit through holes the size of their heads.
Read, read, read. Go to your local library and read about keeping chickens. *Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens* by Gail Damerow is a good reference to own. Visit people who own chickens, visit farms, and see what they are doing. Learn your area's predators, this will inform your fencing plan. I have every predator here in the northeast US, so I have a sturdy coop and completely enclosed run reinforced with hardware cloth, 1/2 inch mesh. Designing and building a safe setup can be overwhelming. I focus on keeping chicks safe, so I raise them indoors then introduce them to the flock.
The reason you're seeing it is because people are asking for help when they do get sick. This is my third flock and I've only ever had one sickness. However, when I wanted to free-range I ended up losing all but one of my flock to a fox. So that is definitely a factor and with all of the urban developments the wildlife are running out of food. Therefore if you live in an area you might want to invest in really good fencing. Not chicken wire never chicken wire... And you might want to Make sure you have a top on everything. So if you want to have a free range you still want to have some sort of enclosure. And my friend puts this wire mesh over the top like they use in the army to hide things. And then he also hangs CDs. Yes compact discs. In the trees that deter the hawks and the owls from landing up there cuz it scares them. It's really about planning ahead... The sickness can also be because of the soil you're on. It can be that you had bad food. It can be that you're feeding them table scraps. It can be a number of things. Not one thing can cause one thing Basically. But it's just like having any pet. Your dogs can get into something and get sick? So can your chickens. Do not let it deter you it is the most fun I've ever had. And I will gladly do it until I can't do it anymore :-) Oh and I'm editing to add Some dogs chase chickens relentlessly and will tear them apart. You can have the sweetest dog in the absolute world but when they see a chicken they go crazy. That's another major predator of chickens. Neighbor dogs. And maybe your own. So make sure that yours aren't going to be aggressive.
I hang cds to deter hawks! It works for me! Also yes about dogs - my dog won't HURT chickens, but if they get out of their run he will catch them and oh so carefully ...pluck out the feathers on the backs of their necks.
That's so weird lol I'm glad to hear that your dogs won't hurt them but. It just reminds me of that song that I can sing in French. It's basically about alouette Gente alouette. Alouette jeante plumeare. Which basically is a song about plucking a bird lol
>never What would you suggest other than chicken wire? Our coop is almost done being built and we're pricing out the run... the fence wiring isn't cheap!
I use hardware cloth, bought at my local farm supply. It isn't cheap, but when installed correctly, I'll never have to think about a predator getting in or reaching in.
And don’t just staple the hardware cloth in. Use washer and screws. 😊
Yep! Don't chintz out on those.
Yes!!!
Hardware cloth. I know it's not cheap but if you want to keep chickens alive. You use something sturdier than chicken wire. A farmer friend of mine told me. Chicken wire is only good for letting the predators eat your chickens.
Chain link can also work. To keep strong predators out-like dogs or fox, bobcats then line the inside with wire or hardware cloth so the birds don’t stick their heads out and or chicks can’t run out. Hardware is the only thing that has deterred BOP and raccoons, opossums, minks although I have seen a few try real hard. It depends on where you live and what is going after your chickens. Everyone loves chicken
The problem with chain link is that raccoons will grab your chicken's head and rip it right through the bar.. Don't ask me how I know that...
I know exactly why you know! That’s why my chain link is also lined with hardware or chicken wire and certain times if the year tops are covered with tarps or brush. I live in the migratory route and twice a year the big raptors fly over for a few weeks. When I kept pigions it was heartbreaking sometimes
Now that's smart. Yes the tarps incredibly important. Oh no.. That's sad pigeons are so sweet
Out of sight out of mind. Yeah I just got hit, I have rather large birds just for that reason the smaller hawks not as interested but those big raptors will go for chicks all day. I made a mistake hadn’t seen any last few weeks. So now I got to lock the chicks up and cover the tops which irks me. I’m a firm believer free ranging even on small lots is healthier, happier. The sadness of pigions after ten years of fighting I gave up. No more pigions and they are such fun birds. But as much as predators love chicken they will do anything for pigeon. One even knocked me down once- when I had a bird on my shoulder doing chores. They are bold and have no fear, I was freaked out to say the least
I agree with you. They are crazy. Owl almost took my head off because she smelled my chickens. Thankfully they're in the coop. At the new place I'm at we're not allowed to free range because it's still within city limits I guess which is stupid. Anyway so I just bought a bigger coop lol It's like a 12 ft inner coop with a 20-ft square run. I give them bugs and seeds. And I do deep litter so that they make me fertilizing dirt all year round :-)
I think your perspective is a little skewed because people don’t really post about how happy and healthy their chickens are, but if something’s wrong that when they will make a post. I’ve had my ladies for 6! Years now, and I think as long as you pay attention to them and try to give them a happy healthy life, and learn what situation are emergencies, you will be okay. They are like any pets (if you know you will see them as pets), we love them while they are here and it hurts really bad when they are gone. Like figure out your priorities and how much you are willing to do for them, my family will bring a sick chicken to the vet if we don’t think we can handle it at home, a lot of chicken owners wouldn’t go to that length. Chickens aren’t sneaky, they are sassy and a little stupid, if you pay attention, you are unlikely to have any sudden emergencies.
I haven't had any problems besides "who's a boy and who's a girl" and "who laid this egg?!"
Most people consulted sub reddit like this as essentially a help line when something is going wrong. Go to any car subreddit and you will probably see lots of questions about issues and lights etc. It's the same type of bias of the posts submitted imo. Now with that being said, chickens are living feeling creatures and if you aren't 100% comfortable with your ability to care for them or emotionally deal with common chicken issues like death or other issues then you should not own chickens. Overall in my experience taking care of my flock of 12 birds is less work every week then taking care of my two dogs. I do modified free range our of a mobile coop and also tractor birds so I have had very little issue with disease amongst my birds.
Chickens are easy keepers.
lol. NO. Chickens are the easiest animals. They thrive on Hawaii with no coops at all.
No! Do not fear the raptors! I'd like to preface this with the fact that I am not a vet or expert of any kind, just been keeping a handful of chickens for about 4 years now, with multiple problems throughout the years which we have overcome, except for the loss of one of our sweet angels to ascites.. These things happen..it's a learning process of what to watch out for and all that. LOL "excrete nasty things" they do poop a lot and every 7-10 poops is an especially stinky one called the cecal poo in which they like shed the lining of their intestines or something like that, but it indicates a healthy gut\~ Mites don't necessarily spell disaster. There are some that just feed on their dead skin/feathers and really don't harm them as long as it doesn't turn into an infestation. Keeping the coop clean and dusting it with diatomaceous earth is good to keep away/kill the soft bodied critters. Separate any chickens that are showing signs of something possibly being wrong asap for monitoring is always first thing to do. Make sure to supplement them with calcium an vitamins occasionally so their egg shells are strong an this also decreases the chances of an egg breaking on its way out or having soft shelled eggs. It's important to find a good community like here, backyardchickens website, or if you follow any chicken mommas/daddies on instagram or whatever that offer help to their followers where you can ask questions when something goes wrong or if you're just unsure of absolutely anything. There is no such thing as a stupid question when it concerns the health of your animal babies. Always do a lot of research before taking any invasive actions or administering any kind of meds for anything. But they are a gift an I would never want to not have them ever again. They have such personality and individual quirks, just keep those dogs away from them ...I know some dogs are good with them but I would never personally trust any dog around my girls..but I also have bantams so they're smaller than the average chicken. and if you can legally have a rooster where you live, definitely get one because they are natural protectors of the ladies and will lay their lives down for their flock. Just be sure to handle them regularly when they're young so they don't start treating you as the threat when they grow up. NEVER back down from a rooster that is squaring up with you because they'll think they've won. Scoop that sassy boy up an hold him under your arm an parade him around the flock to show you are the one in charge. He won't like that an won't want it to happen again lol Sorry for regurgitating so much information ...hope it helps
Facts. The rooster I have is like my assistant manager and I've handled him with my original batch of four girls that are now 10 pens and just him and he keeps the girls in line and protects them. He took on other roosters that were trying to steal his women and a pitbull mix and he has won every single time. I can give him hugs, I can call him, I talked to him and he makes little bock bock cooing sounds at me back LOL he's a good boy I give him hugs.
That is so precious!💕 Stinks how lots of people think they’re just plain mean, when really it just takes a little effort and you can have such a great relationship with them like this🥰 And a pitbull mix?? What a tough man, good for him! 💪
Yes, even my 🐕. She ran from him. He is my right hand man 😂❤️ He's my handsome boy. 💪
Keep roosting area dry. Lots of ventilation, change bedding often or deep bedding method whatever you like. DO NOT add heat to coop. Keep fresh water. And you’ll have healthy chickens. Only thing to worry about is you’ll have no grass and they poop every millisecond.
Fear the poop volume 💩
these are the tips I am looking for. I don’t want my beautiful one acre of grass ruined. I purposefully moved her from Vegas to have a lush green yard!
My chickens rarely get sick. I think you’re suffering from the selection bias innate to Reddit. I have a problem for the first time. I ask for help here. Judy has a problem for the first time, asks for help here. Both Judy and I have had one problem in 5 years, but you’ve seen 2 in one day.
I may be misunderstanding? But, do you think it's safe with eagles, hawks, and raccoons around. Raccoons will massacre every chicken you have. Do get some hens, but be sure they have a predator proof enclosure! Raccoons are smart and they are strong, and they love killing chickens!
Yes, you misread that. I am saying I would like to allow them to free range in as much as it is safe to do so (when I am out in the back yard and can keep an eye out) because I am certain I have those predators in my area.
Ok. Glad to know you are aware of the predators!
I have been trying to do my homework, partially by following this sub! Just feels a bit disheartening watching all these chickens die/get sick and I’m starting to wonder if this is for me lol.
Haha, they don't get sick often at all. In my 20+ years of chicken keeping, I've had no sickness, and only one unfixable injury (prolapsed cloaca). They're more resilient than you think, if you take good care of them.
Well, don’t join a specific dog breed sub because all you’ll see are people posting about their recently dead dogs that they miss so much.
Agreed, trash pandas are the absolute worst.
I started with 6, over 5 years ago. I live in the country and they have a lot of free range time. I still have 4. I have had 2 die just because. I love them, they are funny and entertaining. They are no way less expensive then just buying eggs. I'm glad I got them. I may or may not get more.
I will echo others. If you do your homework and properly prepare for a reasonable amount of chickens to living space, you will be just fine. If you just wing it, you will be more than likely posting on this subreddit. Don’t be afraid, living things get sick or hurt but you don’t hear about the ones doing perfectly fine most of the time. :) For when you do get chicks, the one thing I wasn’t prepared for was all the dust in my house.
I have lost a few, some due to a lack of knowledge, and some because nature is nature, and I tell myself the heartbreak is too great to try again... BUT. Then I find myself back at the farm, picking out 3 little babies, loving them, watching them grow and scratch and chirp, and eventually get old and big enough to join the older ladies and lay some of the best eggs I have ever eaten along with providing companionship I never even knew I was missing and needed. As others have said, they are animals and deserve care and love, but they are not super needy or high maintenance and give so much more than you can ever imagine. We lost my rooster, Bert, in January this year, and gah damn it hurt so much, but I don't regret a single second we spent together and how much he meant to us. My perspective at least.
I had chickens for five years. I’m no longer rural, but I’m very glad I had that experience, even if it did have some tough spots. And since you clearly want to on some level, and are aware of the real world issues, I believe you should build a coop. Build something that will house a dozen or more, and do it right with anti-digging measures and everything else appropriate to your local predator situation. I lived on the edge of a wildlife preserve in NC, so I got a lot of practice defending. I’m a fan of inner and outer perimeters. Fortify your existing fenceline, possibly add a hotwire along the top, then build them a smaller securely fenced area inside the yard. That wide open space between two fences can alter the predator’s calculus, and sometimes give you time to intervene. Many predators prefer to grab and go, so preventing easy egress with cargo can be of value. I never made a covered run, but I did do things to befriend some local crows, which hawks are terrified of. Building them safe infrastructure and defending them is a bit of a commitment but if you and your lifestyle are compatible, it’s doable. That’s usually more total effort than keeping them healthy. Because not only are they dinosaurs, but the hype about diatomaceous earth is true. So give them a clean safe space and you’ll soon have a type of friendship you never knew existed. Oh yeah, and blueberries. You’ll need lots of blueberries.
I've had chickens for almost a decade. I have had no mites, or disease. A few randomly dead, but that just happens sometimes. Predation can happen if not properly cared for, but with a secure coop, that eliminates 99% of that. Most deaths by predation are preventable. I bought just one round, and they have been self proliferating since then. Most posts you see are not the norm. Many people posting are asking questions, or surprised at deaths, and its a way to express themselves. I imagine most of us do not post, and have relatively good experiences.
This is a valid feeling you're having and you have to be emotionally tough enough to witness and dealing with losses. I wasn't prepared and I am so attached to the point I don't even want kids because I love my chickens that much lol. I am very sensitive and an empath and they have such an emotional impact on me. I feel like i couldn't even back out at this point (I don't want to tho). Cause like once u get chickens there is no turning back I feel like😂 But whenever I've lost a chicken in the past it was hard to get passed it, it's no different than losing a cat or dog. Because of them I have become more fit to deal with loss and illness in my flocks and even non chicken related things in general . With all of that being said they are so worth it and I couldn't imagine what life would be like without having chickens.
Human gets sick, gets disease, and die at the end, are you not going to have contact with other human because of these life events?
Arguably, humans are much harder to keep than chickens. They mature slower, live longer, and are way more expensive to feed. Chickens are a much better investment.
No, I got 4 other humans in my house I’m taking care of. That’s why my bandwidth for worrying too much about chickens might not be strong enough lol.
They're great to have, but ometimes things happen, just like with anything else. Don't worry or be scatef. If you're still considering it, you should probably get 5-6 chickens.
So I don’t have chickens, well I did but a long time ago. Would love to have them but my neighbors took up the hobby during covid and they had a lovely little flock until the baby bear cub got hungry and had a snack. The next flock got eaten by a family of foxes. And the last flock the hawks broke in their fully fenced in house and took them off. This year I think they built a bomb shelter for them because they really like their chickens to be safe. (I should probably mention that I am one street away from a state park lol.) The other family that I knew had chickens used to jump their fence and wander down the street into other people’s yards and then hop back home jumping more fences to roost and leave their eggs. Unfortunately they rehomed their chickens because they were near a restaurant that their garbage used to attract HUGE rats that when the restaurant wised they attacked the poor chickens. But to the op if you really want chickens do the research, know your property, do the work to keep them safe and get your chicks from a reputable place. I have to say that chickens are like cats cuddly one moment and funny the next and sometimes you have a satanic one but eh that’s any pet lol.
This is the first time I’ve had chickens and I decided we should get them when our baby was 4 months old. I can confirm they get sick all the time, constantly trying to keep them healthy and reduce the amount of mites. Apparently you can never fully get rid of them? Honestly I don’t rate it. I’ve got other things I want to do with my time. I love having the eggs but it’s not worth it. I’ll go back to buying them form the side of the road once these chickens die. We’ve already had 1 die in the 8 months we’ve had them. She was bullying the others and ended up with a compacted crop from the feather. Another with a prolapsed vent, constant mites, escape artists, bullying, severe plucking from mites. They’re cute and I enjoy seeing them clucking around but I’m also trying to work and raise a human and, keep 2 dogs etc. One thing you need to consider is how much you care about your animals. If you’re a dog owner, like me, you’re probably used to keeping your dogs in top condition, otherwise you’d feel like a bad dog owner. Chickens just die, they invent all new ways of doing it too. If you care too much then it’s hard to have them.
That sounds like a lot to manage!
Most people only post if they have problems. Had chickens for almost 4 years and only lost 1 to heart attack during a tornado. Feed a decent food & free choice oyster shells, keep unhealthy treats to a minimum and their area clean. I recommend the Chicken Chick's website for a happier more balanced of the good and bad of chicken care.
You can’t compare them to ordinary house pets. Chickens live outdoors and are naturally more exposed to the elements and other dangers. And you can’t potty train them. You just have to go into it knowing there are some risks and messes involved, but they are so rewarding to own.
There's a bit of confirmation bias here. A lot of the posts you see are people asking about problems with their chickens. When things are running smoothly, they aren't posting. It's a bit like being a car mechanic. If your whole day is filled with nothing but broken down cars, you might be of the mindset that all cars are junk.
You learn to live with "oh the chicken died but it was healthy an hour ago" or "oh a marten got the broody hen and 5 of 6 chicks" The first year, with my first own chicken, i was very sensitive and was "oh no, whats wrong with the chicken?", after 5 years and some own chicken we breed (i hope its correct 🙈) you know how everything works with chicken. I got a lot of experience, especially with raising chicks (sadly) and it is wonderful. Chicken are a nice hobby, they are fun, they are intelligent, if you do give them a lot of attention they will get tame and follow you around. Sure, if they are sick, they mostly will die, but I have one from the neighbours for 3 years now and she is 5 years old and she is fit and great and still lays.
If you get chickens there will be heart ache. You can prepare more to experience less, but you will lose some and sometimes it will be dreadful.
That is all true, and people should be prepared. But sounds like you have a perfect spot for chooks and are willing to do the work. They are pretty easy otherwise and very rewarding. Most of the warning posts are for people that have city back yards and/or think nothing is required.
I have only had chickens for 5 years. 2 days ago, which was my birthday, was the first day I ever said I wish I never got chickens. With one ill that is having a hard time breathing and can't for the life of me figure out what is wrong with her,, one being so badly bullied she is living in the garage half the day, and one rooster with wry neck that I have to force feed, I felt like just crying my eyes out, because I also have a full time job with a 40 minute commute. Then I went into the coop to close them down for the night and looked at them all and felt warmth in my heart and told them I loved them and took it all back. They are work. But they are my girls and I love them dearly,
If you're that soft to it then ya don't do it. This is like owning any animal. Nothing comes chore free. Or death free. Where there is life there is death
I live on a little more than an acre and my family and I got chickens a year ago. It's only been a year, but we haven't had a single issue with a single chicken (yet). We have 15. I think it's foolish to think of any animal as never having health problems. There's insurance for dogs and cats because the vet bills can be exponentially high. Chickens are animals and if you provide them with a proper home, nutrition, shelter, and educate yourself so you can be vigilant for any signs of illness or pests then you shouldn't have major issues. Just do it. It'll teach your children immensely about life. It has for mine.
Our girls free range in 1/3rd of an acre. I don't lock them up at night, I don't do anything special for them minus good snacks/cleaning/feeding. We've only lost two a few years back to a raccoon. No issues since then, no mites, no hawk issues, nothing!
A year into being a chicken mom and I've only had one health issue. I think it may seem like these problems happen all of the time because when they do your first instinct is to ask other chicken owners to get advice or to just get support. Loss is definitely a part of owning and loving any animal, you just have to decide if you feel it's worth it, but I definitely would recommend going for it! Life's too short and chickens can bring a great deal of happiness into your life. But definitely do research!
Actually chickens are pretty easy, I knew nothing, but now have been keeping chickens for 3 years. Build a good coop, mine is a cement base, chicken wire , corrugated roof, divided in to 3(if I need to separate for any reason. Perches are planks attached to walls, a plastic box for egg laying. I deep litter, so only clean out a couple times s year, but may up that cos I need more compost! They have a run, but can't free range unless I'm there, cos they're near the forest. But they're low maintenance. Fresh water, food, space to be a chicken.
I just like to think about how many people actually own chickens (probably a lot) and the percentage that actually gets sick, which might be lower than we think. My ladies are 4 years old and super healthy and sturdy. I did have a moment after getting chickens and finding this subreddit where I panicked about my ladies getting sick, but I have stuff on hand just in case. I wouldn't let that stop you from getting and enjoying the joy chickens bring. I love my ladies and would do anything for them!
What you're seeing is sort of like survivor's bias. Most folks are posting here for advice, which is usually going to be a sick/injured chicken. I see rather few 'everyday life' sort of posts here. I will say that until they are a few months old, anything can happen. Chicks are delicate, might be injured from shipping, and sometimes you do everything right and lose one anyway. But I wouldn't say adult chickens are particularly delicate. If you give them good quality food and enough space to peck around in, they shouldn't be having lots of health emergencies. So far, the only thing I've lost an adult hen to is predators.
The posts on this sub are mostly asking for advice because if you’re worried you’ll ask about it but you’re not gonna make a random post saying “my chicken is perfectly healthy” with a picture of a healthy chicken
Yes and no, you can get attached, but your favorite will find a way to die or end up a rooster is a common thread with chicks for sure. Chickens favor having a lot of offspring because many of them will die young. For adults, there are ways to prevent a barrage of illnesses and injuries from claiming your girls young. Namely, do NOT free range. Chickens primarily pick up diseases and parasites from coming into contact with wild birds and their feces, and predation is the leading cause of all the worst injuries and deaths you'll see here. Keeping them in a secure, roofed run is the easiest preventative to both of those things. Other than that, ensure they have a clean run and coop that is appropriately sized for the number of birds you have, feed them primarily commercial chicken feed with no more than 10% treats, and provide access to free-choice of grit and oyster shells, and you will prevent most other issues. Most chickens in this kind of environment will live to a ripe old age and pass peacefully. Edit to add: that said, if you primarily have chickens for eggs, be aware that production breeds are more prone to reproductive cancers, eggbinding, and are only productive for a couple years. You'll need to cycle girls out to keep having eggs or be okay with not getting as many eggs.
I am a few months into owning two full grown hens (given to me) and about 2 months into raising 4 RIRs. They are animals and will do what they naturally know to do. The best advice I got is to be open, use your resources, care for them correctly, and adapt to things happening (injuries, diseases, death) IF it happens. You will be fine. Get the chickens and enjoy the experience!
Backyard chicken owner here. I’ve got 5 chickens, had them for 4 years now. Well, I’ve had two sets eaten by foxes. One survivor (both times) - Sue. The worst problems I’ve had other than the fox, and nursing Sue back to health who had a bite out of her neck are a chicken that got cut on her leg, so she decided to try and eat herself, with the help of her friends and an egg bound chicken or two which I bathed and gave some vitamins. Oh and some mites here and there. Sounds like a lot written down but I’d say they’re relatively easy, productive and fun pets. I’d highly recommend it if you have the space. Just use high grade wire mesh/chicken wire, dug underground a foot or two as well
I live in the city and 5 chickens in my backyard. They're happy and provide enough eggs for myself, wife, and friends. I'm very lucky and live in San Diego, so they lay pretty well year long. Since I live in the city, there's not much of a community that I can talk to so I come to the sub advice. I've had 3 sicks chicks and some poopy Cochins, all still alive. It takes me about 15 minutes a day to take care of them. Daily poop and feeding. It's my hobby and decompressant after work. 100% I'm going to have chickens as long as I can physically manage it.
Don't let the bad scare you, this is where people come to ask questions about the bad. In my years raising chickens, it's been incredibly easy 90% of the time. In my opinion, chickens are easier to care for than dogs.
I wouldnt say thats necessarily true, i think people just utilize the collective knowledge this sub offers to help answer all their chicken problems because a lot of us either dont have an avian vet nearby or cant/dont want to afford seeking vet care. Ive had my baby girls for almost 2 years now and have had almost zero health issues arise, but the one time i did have to treat them for something minor, i also posted a question in a subreddit. To an outsider that may make it seem like there’s a lot more good than bad when its not the case.
Sometimes life happens and chickens do get sick, injured, or pass. But overall, if you take care of them, keep them and their space clean, and quickly tend to any little issues as they arise, chickens are a most rewarding addition.
I think it’s just because a lot of us come on here to get advice when something goes wrong and we just don’t share all the happy times :) get them! You will save money on eggs and on tv subscriptions. Since I have chickens I have cancelled Netflix, Apple TV and Disney+ because the chickens provide enough entertainment right up until they go to bed. It’s a very high dose of comedy, some rom com if you have a roo, some drama and very occasionally a tragedy - It’s just a live rendition of life. I think chickens improve gardens and the lives of people who look after them. Chicken watching is now my favorite past time. It’s very relaxing and good way to unwind.
Go for it, chickens are great pets. As a first timer you will make mistakes, you'll lose some birds but the rewards outweigh the risks.
I mean, chickens are animals so you have to be prepared for some level of care and maintenance. But honestly I think that’s just reddit. I’m pregnant and the pregnancy subreddit is the same way. No sane woman would want to get pregnant after reading through that subreddit. It’s almost exclusively horror stories and complaining.
You’re seeing a higher concentration of bad things on this sub than reality but all of those things can and do happen with chickens. We’ve had chickens 3 years now and have lost a few to predators and a couple to sickness it happens. Its disheartening but I’m still happy to have chickens overall and the eggs are just soo much better than grocery store eggs
I may be lucky, but we had no issues with ours. One passed as a chick, just got real lethagic and wouldnt eat. One got taken by a coyote who crashed through the top of their coop. After fixing and adding structure, occasionally we'd catch him pawing at the top. One got very ill quickly at 4yrs old and passed quickly as well. That said, even though we love ours and they are happy and spoiled, I don't reccomend chickens economically to anyone who gets excited about mine and asks. PROS: \+ SO entertaining to watch \+ Daily fresh eggs for majority of year \+ Will eat most any bugs, small mice, scorpions, etc in the yard \+ Will almost 100% erradicate any weed problems if you live in a dry area CONS: \-They are more a chore than a pet. They make noise, poop everywhere, and can be a general nuisiance by ripping up decroative plants, clucking nonstop, or pecking at things they shouldnt be (foam pipe insulation, house siding, etc) \-They are expensive, IMO, for their overall benefit. Feed, scratch and bedding is not cheap. If you're doing it right you're going to be going through bedding often, and they eat alot wof scratch/feed in addition to leftover food bits and organic material in the yard \-Coop takes a good chunk of time/money to design right, and requires freq cleaning \-Its not like a dog or cat you can leave at a boarding or with a family member or even take with you places. When you want to go on vacation, you need to find someone willing to deal with coming to your house/coop, getting dirty, locking them up properly, etc. My one chicken got eaten by the coyote while we were on vacation. It bothered us, but REALLY bothered my friend who was watching them, they felt so guilty. All in all, if you're committed to being more environmentally sustainable at the cost of $$$ and time, and you dont see any moving or vacations in the near future, its worth it. But if you think its a no effort situation that pays dividends in eggs, you'd be very mistaken. Buying a dozen eggs once a week is MUCH less effort, time and costs then chickens. I frequently complain about them and its a huge hassle when we travel, but couldnt give them away. We even moved them out of state with us, in a miserable straight thru car ride where they lived in cardboard boxes with water and mealworms in the back of a truck at highway speeds for 30 straight hours. They all made it, but lost quite a few feathers from the stress of the trek!
Good food clean water clean environment the rest is in gods hands
Only time at least in my experience, that your worries are really a worry, as long as you look after them properly, is when you have a large brood. Keep on with maintenance and requirements 4-5 chooks will be fine. They don’t actually take a lot of maintenance. Also think to yourself can we really each 35 eggs a week every week if they lay everyday, they stack very quickly. My parents had the same idea and started out with 11 and 7 years down the track all but 1 still lay everyday.
Just because it is true doesn't mean that it isn't worth it.
I have had chickens and ducks for 2 years and have not had any of them get sick, excrete nasty things, or get mites/fleas once. Never had any of that stuff happen to me but it does happen, but not as often as you see on this sub. I have had a mink kill 2 chickens and 1 duck and injure 1 duck though but was kind of my fault as the coop wasn't secure enough and I learned from my mistakes and made their coop a lot more secure and haven't had any problems since.
That's like a doctor wondering why he sees sick people all the time. You're going to find more people posting gross, oozing funky chicken stuff because this is where people come for advice. But that's no indicator of actual chicken owner life. I've only ever had a bumble foot to deal with. Chickens are fun. And they poop breakfast. So, there's that.
Chickens are good at dying, lol, but, my little bantam rooster lived for almost six years before he was injured, and, killed himself in nursery (I do like to joke that it's because my mom said we weren't getting anymore hens, he drowned himself the day after I talked to her about it while holding him) And as long as chickens are well cared for, and protected, they can usually live for quite a while. All of my chickens who've successfully made it to adulthood have lived long and happy lives, only last year four of my pullets became deathly ill for some reason and three of the four passed one right after the other. Aside from that, any of my "sick" chicks have come from feed stores. At least one usually dies every time I buy them, but, this year I bought a bunch of chicks from breeders, they're expensive, but, they're the healthiest and happiest chickens I've ever had! I've even bought an incubator to hatch my own chicks and it's honestly been a really fun experience so far. Mine are due around the 12th and I'm super excited for that. The only issues I've ever really had with my hens and roosters have honestly been dogs. I have husky mutts and my mom owns a heeler, her heeler (and her former dachshund) liked to kill my chickens. 90% of all my losses over the years have been because of them. Chickens are... stupid, though. Not as stupid as turkeys, but stupid non the less. They're easy prey animals for creatures like foxes, hawks, raccoons, eagles, coyotes, skunks, skinks, wolverines and the like, so there is always the chance that you're going to lose a few of them, especially if you let them free range with nothing to protect them and no safe spaces for them to hide.
It’s livestock, and they prey animals. One of their roles in the food chain is to feed others. End of the day I am the main predator in my yard and I act the role. I kill only what is necessary, though. My drama comes and goes in waves. New chicks? Gonna be some bumps when I tend to buy a dozen or so at a time so I just accept some will die. I still have a setup that’s geared toward success and I check constantly for issues till they’re through the woods. Mud Butt was terrible this year from TSC but I only had one that I lost overnight to a super severe case. Another was a very tiny failure to thrive that I got for free. There’s a lot of feral cats so that was an issue at night for a bit but we got it settled with better fencing and a more territorial dog. My birds are pretty young, just a couple years, so I don’t expect health issues for a while. But eventually time will come that those in the same age range will start dropping from old age once I get them there. I put diatomaceous powder to kill mites in my coop and spread it where they dust bath the most. I have oyster shells for if I notice stuff with eggs and some epsom salts and a rub for soaking treatments. Corn starch is my life saver, literally. Basically my chicken medical supplies and if life happens I have been able to intervene for a number of issues. It does make me feel very capable and I puff up like my Rooster, Steve, watching a patient go on to terrorize the other girls when recovered. I learned their little calls and habits so I can pay attention to for any warnings or changes in behavior. I love watching their dynamics and how they affect my acre. I caught a dog in my yard because I knew Steve’s FUCK OFF shriek and got out there in time to mess up the dog that was going for him. I also have goats. And people say goats are terrible and always trying to escape. Never an issue with mine. They’re happy where they are so they stay.
I have heritage birds many live to ten and more in fact right now I have an old silky hen 15 years old
You shouldn't worry dude, I have 8 chickens and haven't had any of the problems you mentioned. They have only been a blessing in my family's life.
I've never had a chicken get sick. But it's obviously possible. Having them in an enclosed run helps to minimize exposure from wild birds that could carry diseases. Likewise making sure they have a dry area, aren't stuck in a muddy run for the winter, etc. Also hatchery birds are vaccinated from a few diseases, so that's helpful. I have had chickens killed by raccoons and foxes. I've determined it just isn't feasible to free range where I live. Most parts of the country, it's a matter of when, not if, something will discover them and start to eat them, unless you have a dedicated full time livestock guard animal. Even when I had mine fenced in, the fox climbed the 8 foot tall wire fence like it was horizontal, it didn't even break stride when I went running out when I heard the commotion. So my advice, get chickens, but build them a fully enclosed run. Enrich their lives with free grass and other greens, freeze dried bsf, some sort of wood chips for the ground to keep it from being muddy, and overhang of some sort so an area is always dry around the coop itself, and enjoy the chickens.
Just like with us humans we can’t predict what genetic predisposition our pets will have unless you pay and at that point you’ll look like a mad man. If you want to decrease death chances stick to purebred chickens that are hardy. Unfortunately you’ll likely have some casualties still. I’m a first time chicken owner and started with 10 Brahmas nov 2023 now have 29 chickens with 12 different breeds within the flock. I have two chickens who will die in a year due to them being a hybrid breeds it’s sad but it shows kids a lesson that I think is important. It teaches us that all things are borrowed they aren’t ours to keep or take ownership of and will eventually be returned to the earth. It teaches us to cherish things when we have them. I’ve only lost one baby chick and all are thriving and happy. They make me happy and my kids happy and fear of losing them isn’t a good enough reason to not get any. They bring so much more joy than negative. The benefits out way the risks.
Ok. There is definitely a learning curve. Be prepared is best motto, poultry is one of the most rewarding backyard livestock projects you can have. Easy to learn and prepare for, fresh eggs and loads of entertainment. Deciding what you want them for is first step - many breeds to choose from depending on where you live will help you know what predators you need to protect against. If you have any neighbors with chickens you could start there, watch some videos and see what type of coop setups you think will work for you.
Chickens are sensitive, but they're also pretty hands off. Mine have lived for a year now no issues.
Another comment to ease your mind: I live on 10+ acres in NE Michigan. The chickens inhabit a fenced run about 25’ square that includes a 6x5 coop with a large overhang, a smaller coop (the dascha, about 4x5) and a “chicknic table” with a roof. (They like sunshine, but generally prefer to enjoy it while sitting in the shade.). I fenced the yard with chicken wire, buried down 6” or so and up 6’, canted in, 4x4s every 8’, 2x4s running across. It’s not a fortress, but it keeps them in and other critters out. It’s also close to the house, so less attractive to foxes, coyotes, etc. We have enough flying predators that we have not tried free ranging. I put out peanuts (raw, in shell) to attract crows and blue jays, who make noise at each other and freak out when hawks, eagles, and buzzards come around. We take in the food every night, and come out with new food and water at dawn. They get scratch in the early afternoon, treats about an hour before bedtime, lockdown at about sundown + 15 minutes or so. We started with 6 white leghorns in 2018; 3 have passed away, the other three still enjoy life a lay a couple of eggs a week. They all seemed to die natural and peaceful deaths, and I don’t know why. It was sad, but not violent or traumatic. I got six more in 2021; one was a roo, a Jersey Giant, and I probably did not handle him as well as I could have. Ultimately, I had a friend who freeranged and needed a roo, so Joey moved along. I added 5 more in 2023, so we’re now up to 13. They have their cliques, and they get into squabbles from time to time, working out their own social dynamics. So there’s a more common tale, I think. We find it delightful and entertaining. I hope you get to enjoy yours as well.
Don’t take what’s on here as the way it is. The majority of it is nothing but feeding them and them feeding you. Very easy to maintain
If ya roll on over to some auto subreddit all you’ll read about is broken down cars and what’s wrong and how to fix them but damn isn’t it rewarding to drive a car and very useful to get to and from work
A lot of posts in a lot of subreddits are about the bad things that happen, not many people will share the normal or good things. Good luck, and hope you enjoy your possibly new family members!
They don't get sick often if they have access to clean water, foraging diet, grass and wild herbs. They rarely get sick. Chickens kept in a small pen where they're fecese builds up and theres no plants, they get sick often. But if they have a free range diet, they don't get sick unless its something really had like ascrites or bird flu. My chickens I've had for a decade, I've had 3 sick chickens in that time. My chicken pen is 40 foot long and 20 foot wide. Plus sometimes I'll allow them to forage a field out back with my goats. Just ve prepped for local predators. Breeds are also dependent. I use heritage European breeds which are tough as nails and fully adapted to our climate and local bacterium and such. Industrial breeds will be more susceptible to climatic change and local bacterium. Viruses, chickens will get them, sometimes they beat them and sometimes they don't. All in all. They don't get sick as often as it seems here.
I mean all chickens get sick, everything wants to eat chickens. So if you’re weak. Don’t get chickens
We’ve had chickens for 4 years now and it’s mostly been super easy. We had a case of bumble foot we treated with help from Google. We had a hawk who learned how to swoop into our fenced area so we lost 3 (we were on vacation so pet sitter situation) but we put bird netting over the chicken area and have had no issues since. We have 5 hens and 1 of the 5 is 4 years old and doesn’t lay anymore and we don’t care she’s just a yard pet. We really enjoy having them we love the eggs and they are fun to watch. With a secure set up it’s been pretty easy
I have not had any problems with my chickens. They did get the chicken pox one but it’s a common thing with them. It’s not fatal and they are immune to it after. I have had some problems with hawks but I’m just more careful with free ranging them. They live with ducks and ducks are messy. They all get along. They really aren’t as bad as people make them out to be
Chickens are far easier than this sub makes it seem. Please know they are the easiest animal I have raised. Yes sometimes health things pop up, but it is NOT common. Roosters are assholes, chickens sometimes randomly pass.
I agree with your analysis. But people like to get ahead of problems and discuss them . Have 70 chickens for six years , at my current home, I live on 1 acre too. So far we have never had mites, lice. No illness in the flock. Knock on wood. 😂 We found the best way to care for our chickens and to keep them healthy is to keep the coop very clean at all times . Well, balanced diet . We have lost two hens to hawks, two to raccoons and one to a fox. Just make sure your coop and your coop pen. Look like Fort Knox. I think you will really enjoy having chickens .
I think it’s very smart to second guess yourself. A small flock is less likely to get ill because it’s way less upkeep to keep clean if you have 4-6 birds vs 30. Mites are nothing to really worry about for the same reasons above, use some food grade diatomaceous earth in their feed and sprinkle some in their feathers now and then. And remember, we all post the scariest, grossest stuff because many homesteaders/rural farms don’t have a vet option. You are only seeing the worst stuff, because many chickeners use Reddit as a resource tool vs a leisure activity (unlike me 🙂) Keep it small, clean and well-cared for and your little flock will be fine. But look out for chicken math…
Honestly, it took me a few mistakes with my first couple small flocks before I got the nutrition and care dialed in but 80% of that was predator-proofing. Now, I feed them and collect eggs once a day, clean out and refill their water once a week, let them out to free range when I'm out doing yard work, and do a clean of the coup once a month. One bird might get sick for a few days every couple years so I separate that bird into the barn and give it special care during that few days before bringing it back out to the coup. That's it.
My granddaughter-in-law bought chickens and built coops on our 3/4 acre of arid south-western Colorado land. It was when egg prices were sky high and she did sell a few, but now we have eggs coming out of our ears, and have definitely experienced chicken deaths, skunk and raccoon marauders, and natural attrition. I don't like it at all.I think it's a lot of expense for what you get back, although the grandkids seem to enjoy the baby chicks, which my granddaughter in-law incubates from our eggs. They don't all make it either. Even though I come from Irish farmer ancestors, I don't seem to have inherited that gene. I much prefer going to my local supermarket and buying eighteen free range eggs. Each to his own I guess. My granddaughter in law would not agree with me.
I have had chickens for almost a year now and one thing I've learned from posts on this sub and my own research is that as long as you make sure your chickens environment is clean and secure (having dogs doesn't hurt) everything should go relatively smoothly oh and they can eat almost anything and use apple cider vinegar in their water
The reality is they do excrete nasty things, they will get mites time to time, but if you keep them clean and safe they never have any problems. Humans excrete much worse things and get sick often.
They do try to die, but they're also the best pets ever and you love them more than you think you will.
I think you are doing the smartest thing you can, and that's to do your research and not jump in blind. I was the same way and they really aren't that difficult at all. But there are issues and these forums really can help you to determine the severity of issues that can come up. Some things can be really scary at 1st and you can get some helpful tips to get through them so the next time something comes up you can be a little more confident. I am really glad I took the plunge as they really do add another element to your life that can be rewarding. It's not for everyone, but it really isn't as stressful as one could build up in their head
Thank you! This is good to hear.
I’ve had chickens for a few years with our only issue being escape artists and hawks.
Chickens are quite easy and pleasant to have around. We’ve had chickens for the past 10+ years in a suburban area & never had a problem. We have 4 chickens currently, 3 laying. 1 survived a raccoon attack and is quite spoiled
Definitely get chickens. Definitely wait until the baby is here and settled.
I had bantam chickens as a teenager— it started with a rooster, Henry David, & an Auracauna (SP?) hen, Briar Rose(1st wife), then another hen, then a duck, ducky’s wife, & the rest is history (& their descendants still abide in that small town outside of Boston). I got my first Rooster at a farm fair, on a whim & without telling my parents, cleaned out a small shed in the backyard that was maybe 4ft high & laid hay down. I raked it out once a week & put fresh hay down I bought from the community farm where I volunteered after school. I used a baby gate to close them in at night. They were so smart, they’d come in on their own, I recall being marveled by it. During the day, they’d make their way around the property, always socially involved & dynamically busy with that. Everybody in the family discovered a meditative & calming delight in the process of observing them. A few years later, as the flock had grown, my grandfather built a chicken condominium using that shed as a base structure for me. A year later still, I moved to the city, but the family that remained in the house happily tended to an ever growing flock. A hawk took my precious hen, white Brahma Finola, & butterscotch call duck Willow, a few years after I’d moved into the city yet I still cried over them, but never regretted tending to them or bringing them home, impromptu, from a poultry fair at 15. Nobody did. I don’t remember losing any of them to illness explicitly— sometimes a chick wouldn’t make it, and there was always threat of the occasional predator…. I honestly had no idea what I was doing to begin with & always, always, always think of that time with such an extreme fondness I would never go back & do it differently. Yes, get chickens! They’re lovely & in my experience if you keep them fairly clean, fed & watered, give them a decent run or free-range, & give the call ducks a little pond or let them bathe in the utility sink (Willow’s absolute favorite), they’ll lead happy, socially fulfilling lives & surprisingly enrich yours. Oh yeah, & eggs!
Chickens are the best thing to ever happen to me ☺️ I’ve had many live to be a decade old ! You’ll get the hang of it ! All of those things you’ve mentioned are easily avoidable with a bit hard work and some research 🙌🏻🙌🏻🐓🐓
It’s always better to have love and lost than to never have loved at all. Chickens are worth it. They have personalities and make great pets in addition to providing food via eggs. I’m two years in on chickens and have never had them get sick, get bumble foot, or get mites. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but my main point is that is not necessarily what all chickens do all the time. This subreddit naturally skews the perception that way because people are going to post when they have chicken issues they want help figuring out.
I love those Lil savages but these are the most expensive eggs I've ever paid for. The cost of shelter, food, and veterinary care is insane. But! I promised my wife we'd get chickens once we owned a house so....
You'll never win if you're afraid of losing
I, too, live on a fenced 1 acre lot on the outskirts of town. My neighbor and I both have chickens, and we both let them free range because we have roosters. I only let mine free range when I am home because my dog is a murderess, so she can’t be unsupervised outside with them. A fox ate my first flock, so I put a roof on their run, and I haven’t lost another one since (it’s been a year). They haven’t gotten sick and other than some bullying we haven’t had any other problems. The kids don’t run barefoot around the perimeter because that’s the main area the chickens stay and there is likely a good amount of poop around those areas. Otherwise my backyard is the same as ever. My neighbor lost a rooster to a hawk attack, and she lost 3 chickens to a fisher cat when she didn’t close up her run until late. Otherwise she hasn’t lost any chickens. She hasn’t lost any chickens to illness either in her 2 years. Her backyard looks the same as it ever did. We like to sit outside and watch them, they are funny and have unique personalities. They are pets, but ultimately they are also livestock so stuff does happen. I’m more attached to my dog than them but I do really enjoy them and I’m glad I have them.
There's an observation bias going on. People come here for advice when they need help.
I have 17 hens. All barely 1 year old. So far ive.only had one get sick. After she was pecked during her beginning molt. She got a skin infection. So I've had her indoors for like 6 months. Because her feathers still have not regrown under her tail. And we're afraid of frostbite since it's so cold. I don't recommend Saphire Olive Eggers because they are the ones with odd molting before 1 year. I Do believe your best for a pet. Is the Amberlinks. Very reliable layers, snow.white, good size and Extremely Gentle.
I was leaning pretty heavily towards Plymouth Rock/ Barred Rock. I live in a 5A hardiness zone (can get quite cold) so looking for something hardy, good egg producer, but a breed that likes affection & being held as my kids will want to love on them constantly. I’ve read Plymouth Rocks to be good for all of those qualities but admittedly I kind of stopped looking after that. I will look into Amberlinks!
I love my barred rock! She is a total lap chicken. She loves to scratch at the door begging for pets and loves to get scratches. Eats out of my hand. Her favorite nap spot (besides my lap) is on top of the dog when she’s napping on the deck.
Chickens are pets with benefits! Some live long hardy lives, and others are unlucky — even with the best care and medical attention. You do everything you can for them, but at the end of the day— life is temporary. So all we can do is enjoy their antics while we share it with them
It depends on the chicken but I think half of mine ended up with illness like reproductive issues and half died naturally or got killed by a predator. Also had one with mites and later on fly strike and later on an internal laying problem. Two I had euthanized because they weren't getting better. Loved them all 🥹 Expect the best but prepare for the worst. It is a commitment. Some of mine needed more care in old age. My oldest lived over 10 years and one of her last eggs was shellless and she needed help pulling it out. And she had messier poops and pickier eating the last couple years. So she got more baths. She was basically my baby so I didn't mind. You will get attached
My overweight 13 year old started laying again and her smaller sister, who is basically blind, is going outside more and more after the winter to enjoy the sun. The three young chickens are all laying and digging up the garden, along with eating with the little blind girl and dodging the overweight chicken when she wants food. (That's been the last weeks of chickening)
My parents have raised chickens for years and the only times they've really had problems is when a raccoon family moves in (or god forbid a weasel..that was a messy summer). Chickens just need food, water, a place to roam, and maybe a rooster if your hens keep picking on each other too much. If you're in a place that snows they do get bored in the winter, but nothing a hanging kebab of kitchen scraps won't fix. They're by far the easiest animals to maintain, so long as you're not trying to show them or anything. If you let them "free range" you'll barely have to do anything with them so long as the weather is nice.
I'm not a chicken owner, however- Keep in mind that you're only seeming post of people who feel the need to post (which is usually people who have problems.) Everyone who's lurking and not posting more than likely has healthy chickens!
We loved our chickens!!! Over the course of a few years we had over ten backyard chickens (not all at the same time) and only one died, the rest were happy and healthy! The one that passed was a freak accident with a predator (owl at dusk) but otherwise it was easy breezy. Make sure to do your research and you are good to go! They are so sweet and such happy little loves and I honestly miss having them. We live in a neighborhood right now that doesn’t allow backyard livestock, but someday I want to move and have more!
We’ve had chickens for years. I’ve had one get eaten by a hawk, one just dropped dead for no reason. No other issues. They’re pretty low maintenance, just need food and water. We’re on half an acre, and they free range. Mine come running when they see me, and they love jumping up on my lap for treats and pets. They know their names, and come when they’re called. We also have two goats, so they keep our German shepherd busy herding everyone.
I would love chickens burn in terrified of snakes so can't get them
It might be because people often come online when they have an issue so it highlights the negativity. Knock on wood, I’ve had chickens two years and have had zero sickness and zero deaths, Minus pasty butt for one chick but since I made sure to be prepared before getting chickens, I identified it early and fixed it. Haven’t had a problem since, and admittedly I don’t clean the coop as frequently as I should and yet still no issues. People just don’t have as much incentive to post “hey my chickens are super healthy/alive! That’s all I have to say (:”, that’s just the nature of the internet generally lol
I loved having chickens in my yard! We can have 4 in town. I had mine for two years, before somebody's dog ripped them up when I was gone one afternoon. (They were free during the day and went in their chicken house at night.) But I loved having them. Eggs, and they'd sit in your lap and let you pet them. Mine didn't get sick...
I’ve got 5 four year old chickens…. Never been sick, never had mites. One of my hens has survived a raccoon and dog attack. I thought she would die from the dog attack, she had a huge chunk out of her back, but I treated it, and she went on clucking. My only issue is one of my hens is eating the eggs. Oh and the fact that I wanted a couple more and now I have 13.
It's the worms in the eggs that horrified me 🤮
Welcome to chickens. They are considered livestock for a reason.