Daily:
- Open up the chicken house pop-hole and allow the chickens out. This shouldn't be done too early in the morning, as predators are more likely to be about at dawn. Try to wait an hour or so after sunrise before opening up. Take a moment to watch the chickens for signs of anything untoward.
- Rinse out and scrub the drinker before refilling it with fresh water.
- Top up the feeder with layers pellets if necessary.
- Collect any eggs. Hens usually lay their eggs mid-morning, so it's best to wait until around lunchtime to do this. Avoid leaving eggs for too long, as there is a chance they will get damaged or eaten.
- In the mid-afternoon sprinkle a small handful of mixed corn per chicken on the ground as a scratch feed. The idea of this is to fill their crops before they go in the chicken house overnight. Avoid overfeeding with mixed corn, because the chickens will become fat and out of condition. This will cause the hens to stop laying properly. Again, take the opportunity to watch the chickens as they scratch around.
- Chickens need to go back into the chicken house at dusk. They should never be left outside after dusk, so if they are going to be unattended it is safest to put them back in the chicken house early.
- Give the chicken house a thorough sweep out. Replace the bedding and give it a good sprinkle with diatomaceous earth and red mite powder to help keep mites, lice, moisture and smells at bay.
- Scrub, disinfect and rinse the drinker thoroughly. Twice a week put 5 ml of apple cider vinegar into every litre of water. It is also a good idea to put a crushed clove of garlic in the drinker.
- Scrub, disinfect and rinse the feeder thoroughly. Allow it to dry before topping it up with layers pellets.
- Make sure that a handful of oyster shell grit is sprinkled with the afternoon mixed corn scratch feed.
- In the cooler winter months you might decide to top up the bedding for a few weeks instead of replacing it completely. If you do this, the lower layer of bedding and muck will start to biodegrade and produces warmth for your chickens in the process.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect the chicken house. Choose a good day for this job, which has some warmth and breeze. Remove the old bedding, sweep it out, wash down the inside, scrub with disinfectant and then rinse. You should then allow the chicken house to dry thoroughly before replacing the bedding. Give the bedding a good sprinkle with diatomaceous earth and red mite powder to help keep mites, lice, moisture and smells at bay.
- Give each chicken a good visual inspection, paying particular attention to their behaviour, feathers, vent, eyes and claws. Dust from red mite, trim flight feathers and claws as necessary.
- Use Verm-X as directed for three consecutive days every month, to make sure your chickens are wormed and have healthy intestines. If necessary a double dosage of Verm-X can be given each day. Because Verm-X is a natural herbal product, any eggs laid during the treatment period are safe to eat.
- Check the chicken house thoroughly, paying particular attention to hinges, catches and joints. Oil or replace hinges and fix any leaks as necessary. If you have a wooden chicken house it's also a good idea to treat it with wood preservative.
- Ensure that all fences and runs are in good condition, with no gaps/holes that will allow vermin or predators access to your chickens.
