Basic Equipment

What I think you will definitely need:

  • Chicken Coop - get a good one with correct high level ventilation and wide perches

  • Covered Run - you will need a covered run in case of bird flu restrictions

  • Outdoor Space, fenced from predators, foxes, cats, dogs etc

  • Chicken Drinkers

  • Chicken Feeders

  • Chicken Food, layers pellets (grower pellets, chick crumb if you are raising chicks)

  • Chicken Bedding for the Coop - I like Aubiose Chopped Hemp Horse Bedding

  • Claw Clippers (Cat ones will work fine)

  • Red Mite Control Spray - I found SMITE is excellent, you dilute and use a hand sprayer

  • Scaly Leg Spray

  • Anti peck spray - disinfects & covers any wound with purple to prevent pecking from other hens

  • Poultry Disinfectant - antibacterial and antiviral type for coop cleaning yearly - I use Viratec-P

What you might choose to have in addition:

  • Diatomaceous Earth - controls mites and other unwanted insects when sprinkled in the coop

  • Chicken Treats e.g. sunflower hearts, dried mealworms, I get mine from the farm shop

  • Epsom Salts - for treatment of bumblefoot and other ailments

  • Tuf-foot Spray - antiseptic spray which toughens foot skin (used for greyhounds, chickens and people)

  • Wound Powder - Battles - this is a horse antiseptic powder for small wounds

  • Vaseline - for chicken combs in very cold weather to stop frost bite

  • Iodine Spray for small wounds

What you don’t need in my opinion

  • Coop Heaters - chickens are fine without heat to several degrees below freezing, they do need ventilation to prevent frost bite from moisture build up

  • Chicken clothing - they have feathers (who knew?), interfering with them is not sensible

  • Coop lighting - this interferes with the chicken’s natural biorhythms that control egg laying and moulting, healthy chickens are natural chickens I think

  • Chicken swings - mine are just not interested

  • Straw - it can harbour mites, moisture, mould and all sorts - use chicken bedding made from chopped hemp or wood chips

  • Incubators - if you have Pekins you will never need an incubator, chicken mums are best, and mum will teach the chicks everything they need to know