Necessary chicken supplies

** UPDATED **

This post originally started as a shopping list for when I was just getting into chickens. Now, I have updated so that this is a list of what I have on hand for chickens. It should be a good reference list for those just getting into chickens, or for those looking to update their first aid kits and/or supplies.

Insulated, ventilated, predator-proof coop (with electricity) and outdoor runs
- Stucco wire for exterior fences, with 1/4" hardware cloth on the bottom 48", stucco wire extends out into a 24" apron
- Hardware cloth over windows
- Flight netting on top of runs
- At least 4 sq. ft. of coop space per chicken
- At least 10 sq. ft. of outdoor space per chicken
- 8-12" of roost space per chicken
- 1 sq. ft. of ventilation for every 10 sq. ft. of floor space
- Guns and live traps for predator removal
- Maremma guard dogs for predator discouragement
- Motion detection lights
- Nite Guard predator deterrent lights

Brooding chicks
Brooder box(es)
Heat lamps
Heat lamp bulbs
Ecoglow Brooders
Thermometers

Heating/lighting coop
Oil Filled Heater x 2
Heat lamps
Heat lamp bulbs
Thermocubes
Thermometer
Timer for lights
Pigtail light for timer

Feeding and watering
Nipple waterers
Tank de-icers - get big ones, to keep nipples from freezer
Large feeders
Smaller containers for grit & oyster shell
Chick feeders
Rubber tubs (I feed kitchen scraps and scratch in them)

Feed & Related
Medicated Chick Starter
16% Pullet Grower
Scratch
Layer Ration
Oyster Shell
Grit - #1 for chicks, #2 for chickens
Feed Scoops
Totes for mice-proof feed storage

Veterinary supplies
Sharp hatchet
Head lamp
Iodine
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Polysporin
Dusting powder
Eprinex
Tylan
Denagard
Terramycin eye ointment
Corid (amprolium)
Sulfa (sulfamethazine)
Blood stop powder
Stop pick
Frontline
Super Booster
Polytonin A
Electrolytes
Sav-A-Chick
Lincomycin-Spectinomycin
Vetrap
Paper tape
Eye droppers
Disposable plastic shot glasses (for dispensing eprinex for application)
Scalpel handle and blades
3 ml syringes
Small needles
Nail clippers
Latex gloves

Cleaning/Bedding
Disinfectant - Virkon
Shavings
Straw
Stall Dry for poop boards
Kitty litter scoop for poop boards
Manure fork
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
No-Pest Strips

Under Vet Supplies I would suggest:
Tylan powder - which you can now buy through Amazon.ca if your vet won't get it for you.

Terramycin eye ointment - This is the same as Oxytetracycline powder you can buy at the feedstore. The ointment is not just for treating eye infections. My eldest pet bird developed Wet Pox which has no cure but a bird can recover from. Terramycin is recommended as an aid. As I have it in eye ointment form, I applied it and I had improved results in my bird within 24 hours. I have never had that result when using the powder form before.
The eye ointment usually has an expiration date of a couple of years so it stores well.
I get mine off eBay.

Perfect! Thank you! I googled and those both seem like excellent things to have on hand.

How exciting! I love shopping for chicken stuff. lol


Ok, a few things off the top of my head I don’t see on your list…

Corid (amprolium) or Sulfa (sulfamethazine) – for the treatment of coccidiosis in chickens. I consider these meds essential to have on hand if you’re going to have chicks.
http://www.amazon.com/Corid-Liquid-9-6%25-16-oz/dp/B001FKA414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366243411&sr=8-1&keywords=corid

http://www.domvet.com/sodium25.html


Pet nail clippers – for trimming toe nails.
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/cat-nail-clipper/10067697?trail=SRCH%3Apet+nail+clippers&fromPLP=true&ancestorID=alldept&searchString=pet+nail+clippers&moduleName=S0011&startSearch=yes&fromSearchBox=true&addFacet=SRCH%3Apet+nail+clippers

Blood stop powder – for if you cut too much nail and hit the quick. (Flour or cornstarch works well too!)
http://www.domvet.com/bloodstop.html




No pest strip – hang in coop, kills bugs dead. http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2/OutdoorLiving/MosquitoPestControl/InsectControl/PRD~0593601P/Ortho+Home+DefenceMax+No+Pest+Strip.jsp?locale=en)


Small radio for the coop – leave it on a talk station 24/7 to help keep predators at bay. And as a bonus you’ll have calmer chickens too.


Also consider using smaller wire on the bottom 2 feet of your run. I’ve heard of raccoons grabbing hold of a chicken through the larger stucco wire and eating them a bite at a time. ½ inch hardware cloth is a good choice. This is the stuff I plan on using:
http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Hardware/Farm-Supplies/Fence-Products/Fences/Welded-Wire-Fabric/24-x-1-2-x-50-19ga-Galvanized-Hardware-Cloth/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/No-24/Ntk-All_EN/R-I5258801?Ntt=welded+wire+fence&Num=0


I hope you’ll post pictures of your coop once it’s finished. And of course the chicks after their arrival.

Will I still need the amprolium if I am using medicated chick starter? Sulfa is always a good thing to have on hand, I will definitely get some of that ...

Ooh, she's a listmaker! Half the fun of making a list is crossing things off when you get them. Hey Authentic, wanna go on a shopping trip?

Have you considered deep bedding in your coop?

Schipperkesue wrote:Ooh, she's a listmaker! Half the fun of making a list is crossing things off when you get them. Hey Authentic, wanna go on a shopping trip?

Have you considered deep bedding in your coop?

Come on over and we will have a great time spending my money! Lol

You should see my spreadsheets! I have it broken down to the number of boards, sheets of plywood, pounds of screws ... and costs on everything!

I will most likely utilize the deep litter method, yes. It's what I am familiar with, in my limited experience. There is a dirt floor in the coop, so it should work well.

Man, I am not that organised and I have been doing this for a long time. I think you are enjoying organising as much as you are going to enjoy the chickens!

I would for sure plan to cover your run. If you cover at least part of it with a solid cover they will go out when it rains and in the winter when there is now. All my outside runs have a solid roof. I even shovel some for them in the winter so they can free range a bit outside of that. These Chant girls love to get out even int he winter!

authenticfarm wrote:Will I still need the amprolium if I am using medicated chick starter? Sulfa is always a good thing to have on hand, I will definitely get some of that ...

Hopefully not! I feed medicated starter but still like to keep both meds around, just in case. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it in my mind.


Also agree with coopslave about the importance of covering the run. Everything, and I mean everything, likes chicken dinner...

coopslave wrote:Man, I am not that organised and I have been doing this for a long time. I think you are enjoying organising as much as you are going to enjoy the chickens!

I would for sure plan to cover your run. If you cover at least part of it with a solid cover they will go out when it rains and in the winter when there is now. All my outside runs have a solid roof. I even shovel some for them in the winter so they can free range a bit outside of that. These Chant girls love to get out even int he winter!

This chicken organizing stuff is fun and recreational compared to what I usually am doing!

Ideally, I would like to be able to get the Bobcat into the run. That is looking less and less likely as I think about it, though - as soon as I add netting or a wire roof or a solid roof, I lose the clearance I would need. I may have to go old-school and wheelbarrow it. First world problems!

Flicker Chick wrote:Hopefully not! I feed medicated starter but still like to keep both meds around, just in case. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it in my mind.

That is my thinking as well.

Better to be over prepared than not to be.

I went ahead and purchased the Tylan, Terramycin eye ointment and Corid (amprolium) online today. The rest I can likely just get at UFA.

Keep those suggestions coming peeps!

authenticfarm wrote:

Schipperkesue wrote:Ooh, she's a listmaker! Half the fun of making a list is crossing things off when you get them. Hey Authentic, wanna go on a shopping trip?

Have you considered deep bedding in your coop?

Come on over and we will have a great time spending my money! Lol

You should see my spreadsheets! I have it broken down to the number of boards, sheets of plywood, pounds of screws ... and costs on everything!

I will most likely utilize the deep litter method, yes. It's what I am familiar with, in my limited experience. There is a dirt floor in the coop, so it should work well.

So is a deep litter method not good for a sealed wood floor? I plan on cleaning and repainting the coop floors once a year (with cleanings in between of course). I'll have 2 coops in the one building so the chickens would get moved over and probably breeding sets put in tractors.

Hopefully someone else will weigh on on the wood floor for deep litter method - I have no idea. If the wood is waterproofed then it might be okay ....

Hmmmmm. Looks like I have some researching to do.

I added some Stop Pick and Vetrap (self-adhesive bandaging) to my chicken first aid kit.

I like to have electrolytes on hand ( I use Stree-Aid) to mix in the water of weak chicks or stressed birds.

happychicks wrote:I like to have electrolytes on hand ( I use Stree-Aid) to mix in the water of weak chicks or stressed birds.

I'll have a look for that, too!

I also ordered some Sav-A-Chick probiotic - it was cheap, and I figured it would be a good thing to have on hand.

Bump for smokyriver

Not sure from your list but I have the hardware cloth going down almost 2 feet underground around the run to discourage digging predators (foxes are big with us). Hardware cloth goes up to 4 feet up then just stucco but the 1" squares.

I have waterproof painted plywood floors and use deep litter method. We are a very dry climate so rarely gets mucky esp as I keep water outside all year. Never clean out the litter. Just keep adding.

timer for your lights?

I should update this - I have a ton of stuff now. This was pre-chickens!

Yes please Autenticfarms update I'm curious as what you and others keep on hand. I'm doing some online ordering wondering if I'm missing anything.

Here's the updated first aid part. I will change the original post as well.

Veterinary supplies
Dusting powder
Eprinex
Tylan
Terramycin eye ointment
Corid (amprolium)
Sulfa (sulfamethazine)
Blood stop powder
Stop pick
Frontline
Super Booster
Polytonin A
Electrolytes
Sav-A-Chick
Lincomycin-Spectromycin

Vetrap
Paper tape
Eye droppers
Disposable plastic shot glasses (for dispensing eprinex and frontline for easier application)
Scalpel handle and blades
3 ml syringes
Small needles
Nail clippers