Can Chicken Keeping Really Be Easy?

[FrostRanger]

Sounds like you just got unlucky with your flock. As was said earlier, animals by their very nature are unpredictable so I also make no promises with your next flock.

My all hen flock is peaceful, everyone gets along well (other than usual pecking order stuff). Getting a peaceful flock takes a combination of a proper setup, proper nutrition and care, proper selection of breeds and a bit of luck. Sometimes you can do everything right and wind up with birds that cause issues for some reason. What you do in such situations of course depends on what the problem is exactly of course

I do think your particular feather picking issue was a learned behavior and your particular birds were just individually more prone to the behavior for some reason, but making sure everyone gets adequate protein goes a long way towards preventing and fixing the behavior. 18-20% is a good protein level and it's also best to limit treats to no more than 10% of their diet. I personally don't like flock blocks, I brought one once and I will never buy one again because everyone started ignoring their food and just eating from the flock and they got bits of corn and whatnot everywhere. Granted, some people have better luck with them but honestly, there are better (and cheaper) options for enrichment

 

[ChaosMom]

I added wide poop boards a couple feet off the floor (under the roosting bars) and its the favorite spot for my shy hens

I REALLY like your ramp with the hole at the top for access! What a great idea for tight spaces.

 

[McChooky]

I REALLY like your ramp with the hole at the top for access! What a great idea for tight spaces.

Thanks! Dividing my run made integrating chickens easier. Fortunately I don't raise baby chicks but every other year or so. 3 yrs ago I started to build a coop on one end of the run but I abandoned the idea once I realized how much room my flock would lose. The ledge with the cut out and ramp is the actual floor of the coop I started on

 

[ChaosMom]

Thanks! Dividing my run made integrating chickens easier. Fortunately I don't raise baby chicks but every other year or so. 3 yrs ago I started to build a coop on one end of the run but I abandoned the idea once I realized how much room my flock would lose. The ledge with the cut out and ramp is the actual floor of the coop I started on

Did you have to go through any drama to get the chickens to use it? I’m thinking specifically of going down the ramp, having to jump into the hole first, rather than coming up.

I have the world’s most timid Buff Orpington, and I’m trying to imagine persuading her to drop down in this cut-out hole, even though she’s the one who would most benefit!

 

[McChooky]

Did you have to go through any drama to get the chickens to use it? I’m thinking specifically of going down the ramp, having to jump into the hole first, rather than coming up.

I have the world’s most timid Buff Orpington, and I’m trying to imagine persuading her to drop down in this cut-out hole, even though she’s the one who would most benefit!

Sometimes a chick jumping in the 'hole' would land on one standing there .It got pretty chaotic sometimes when they were playing on the ramp but none of them were scared.The weren't as brave jumping up there because they couldn't see to navigate their jump

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Our first year with chickens has been so complicated, despite everyone telling us it would be easy and how low maintenance chickens are. I knew it would come with its challenges, but definitely not as many as we’ve faced. Is there such thing as a flock that just gets along? Am I guaranteed to have troubles? I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts before I might consider another flock.

How is your flock doing? Do you have any updates?