Chickens in the Backyard - The Daily Routine
& How Much Time Do Chickens Take To Keep?

Keeping chickens at home doesn't actually take a great deal of time. My daughter keeps over a dozen hens and a couple of ducks in her back garden in Yorkshire. Even that number don't actually take a great deal of time each day.

As with any pet, it's important to develop and stick with a routine. Not only do the animals get to know it and expect their food etc on time, it helps you avoid forgetting things. With laying hens, it's important to take out the eggs fairly promptly or they may decide to try hatching them and go broody or worse still, start eating the eggs. See The Broody Hen

Your morning routine is a good time to just cast an eye over your hens and check for any problems and pests. Apart from the daily routine, the coop needs a good weekly clean out. Chickens actually do 70% of their business at night in their sleep so not cleaning regularly will encourage flies and create smells.

The large galvanised poultry feeder and water drinker shown in the video can be found in our Poultry Equipment and Housing section - Poultry Drinkers & Poultry Feeders

Backyard Poultry Tips - The Daily Routine with John Harrison