Backyard Chicken Care: Getting Started

It’s chick season! Have new chickens and need some help? Buffalo Country Store has a guide for you, offering tips and tricks on chicken care, as well as a trained team ready to answer your questions.

Baby chicks are adorable, but how do you get started with backyard chickens?

Are you ready for chickens? Here are your first steps:

• Double-check your city & county ordinances (here's the info for Buffalo MN)

• Prepare chicken living space, secure fencing, & poultry products

• Research feeding, maintenance, and breed choices

• Order food & supplies

• Order your chicks! Here are a few breeds that are popular as backyard chickens:

  • Plymouth Rock

  • Rhode Island Red

  • Wyandotte

  • Americana

Planning your coop! Things to consider:

• Square footage of the coop

• On the ground or off the ground?

• Coop height: do you want to stand in it, or just reach in?

• How are you planning to enclose it?

• Is there enough space for all your birds?

Tips on how to handle chicken poop 💩:

• Chickens will have fecal waste; make sure you follow city requirements for disposal

• Clean your coop frequently to prevent unwanted smells and waste build-up

• If offering food scraps, make sure they’re not attracting predators, flies, or other nuisances

Questions?

• Which breeds should I get? What do I need?

  • Hoover's Hatchery is a great source of information to learn more about different breeds and their requirements!

• What’s a brooder?

  • Chicks love a smaller environment to first live in.

  • Miller Manufacturing Company makes a great chick brooder that is perfect for the first couple of months!

Getting ready for your new chicks - Part 1

• What type of equipment do I need?

  • Age-appropriate waterers and feeders are very important to get things started!

  • Chick feeders and waterers are available at the Buffalo Country Store.

• Choosing food for your chicks!

  • Medicated, non-medicated, and/or organic food choices are available at the country store!

  • Age-appropriate food is important for chicks of all ages!

• What’s Grit?

  • It is essential for gut health in chickens!

Preparing for backyard chicks and chickens - Part 2

• Health Products for your chickens

  • Buffalo Country Store offers a variety of other products you might need for your chickens including wound care, electrolytes, and probiotics.

• Adult Feeders and Waterers

  • Buffalo Country Store has everything you need from adult feeders to waterers.

• Treats!

  • Food scraps and chicken treats are best to wait until the chickens are full grown.

Chick and Chicken Care - Part 3

Have more questions? Stop by one of our five store locations to chat with our knowledgeable team members!

Centra Sota Country Store locations:

• Buffalo MN

• Little Falls MN

• Upsala MN

• Sauk Centre MN

• St. Martin MN

For more information visit our website!

Country Stores | Centra Sota Coop | Pet Food Supplier in Buffalo