Chickens (Laying Hens & Broilers)

Space Requirements

• Inside coop: 4 sq ft per bird (minimum); 6–8 sq ft is ideal to reduce stress and pecking
• Outdoor run: 10 sq ft per bird minimum; free-range on pasture is optimal
• Provide 1 nesting box per 3–4 hens; boxes should be dark, private, and filled with clean straw
• Roosting bars at least 18 inches off the ground — chickens sleep perched, not on the ground

Diet

• High-quality layer pellets (16% protein minimum) as the base feed
• Unlimited foraging on pasture (bugs, worms, seeds, green grass) dramatically improves egg nutrition
• Kitchen scraps: vegetables, fruit, cooked grains, dairy — avoid avocado, onion, chocolate, and raw beans
• Calcium: Provide free-choice crushed oyster shell at all times for strong eggshells
• Grit: Insoluble grit (granite) for birds without outdoor access so their gizzards can grind food

Water

• Clean, fresh water available at all times — chickens will stop laying immediately if water runs out even briefly
• Change water daily; use nipple waterers to keep water clean and reduce spillage
• In winter, use heated waterers to prevent freezing

Shelter

• Coop must be completely predator-proof: raccoons, foxes, weasels, opossums, and hawks are primary threats
• Use hardware cloth (welded wire) — NOT chicken wire. Predators can reach through chicken wire and tear it open
• Well-ventilated but draft-free: ammonia from droppings causes respiratory disease; fresh air at the roofline prevents it without exposing birds to cold drafts at roost level

Health & Routine Care

• Deep litter method: add fresh straw or wood shavings on top of old bedding regularly; this composts in place and reduces ammonia
• Check for mites and lice monthly: inspect under wing feathers and around the vent area
• Dust bath access is essential — a box of fine dirt, sand, and wood ash prevents external parasites naturally
• Laying hens peak in production at 1–2 years, decline after year 3; plan flock rotation accordingly