Chicken Wellness Best Practices

Effective chicken management can have a lasting impact on their health and lifespan. By following a few key wellness best practices, you can ensure that your flock remains healthy and protected throughout their lives. Here are some essential guidelines to consider as a responsible chicken owner:

1. Provide the Right Feed Chickens’ nutritional needs vary depending on their stage of development. Newly hatched chicks up to nine weeks old require starter feed. Chickens between nine and 18 weeks should be fed a grower/finisher feed. Hens should switch to a layer feed once they reach 18 weeks of age or when they start laying eggs. Layer feed contains calcium, which is essential for eggshell production but can be harmful to younger chickens. To meet their calcium needs, laying hens should always have free access to oyster shells, which dissolve slowly and safely.
2. Limit Treats While treats can be a fun addition to your chickens’ diet, they should be given in moderation. Excessive treats—regardless of how healthy they are—can lead to a number of health issues, including obesity, reduced egg production, malformed eggs, and more serious conditions like fatty liver syndrome and heart problems. Commercially formulated chicken feed is designed to provide the right balance of nutrients, so treats should never make up more than 5% of their daily diet.
3. Ensure Clean Water Fresh, clean water should always be available to your chickens. Dehydration can lead to various health problems, so it’s essential that they have constant access to water that is free from contaminants.
4. Keep the Coop Clean A clean and dry coop is vital for your chickens’ health. Chickens have sensitive respiratory systems, which can be easily compromised by mold and ammonia from droppings. A clean environment not only protects them from respiratory issues but also helps reduce the risk of external parasites like mites and lice.
5. Provide a Safe Roosting Area Chickens need a secure, enclosed space to sleep at night. A safe, sheltered area protects them from predators and the elements. Providing a roosting perch is beneficial because it allows chickens to feel secure, stay warmer in cooler weather, and maintain better hygiene by keeping them off the ground.
6. Maintain Dry Litter A wet environment created by damp bedding or spilled water encourages the growth of harmful organisms like coccidia, which can cause coccidiosis—a potentially deadly intestinal disease. To maintain a dry and healthy environment, make sure to:
   • Remove droppings daily
   • Avoid placing food or water inside the coop
   • Use sand for bedding and as ground cover in the run
7. Monitor Droppings Chickens’ droppings can provide valuable insight into their health. Regularly observing their droppings will help you spot any abnormalities, which can often be the first sign of illness. Knowing what’s normal and what’s not will help you take action early if needed.
8. Break up Broody Hens A broody hen is one that wants to sit on eggs to hatch chicks, whether or not the eggs are fertile. During this time, a broody hen will neglect her own health—eating, drinking, and resting only briefly. While this behavior is natural, prolonged periods of broodiness can lead to malnutrition, weight loss, and vulnerability to parasites. If you don’t intend for her to hatch chicks, it’s important to break her broodiness as soon as possible to prevent these health risks.
9. Practice Good Biosecurity Biosecurity refers to practices that protect your chickens from infectious diseases. These pathogens can be carried by a variety of sources, including people, animals, equipment, and even wildlife. To minimize the risk of disease, limit access to your chicken yard from high-risk areas such as other poultry yards, swaps, shows, and feed stores. Always be mindful of how diseases can spread and take steps to prevent them.

By incorporating these best practices, you can help ensure the health and well-being of your chickens throughout their lives.

Sources: 

10+ Tips for Healthy Chickens | The Chicken Chick®
Best Practices to Keep Your Chickens Healthy – Homestead Hustle