198: All About Chickens

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I recently asked on social media: Hey, what are some things that you guys want to know about when it comes to raising chickens? In today’s episode, I dig into some of those chickeny things you asked about.

Note: I did not do a blog post/transcript with this episode because it was so long. Seriously, none of you would have read it. However, in the future, I will break this episode down into shorter, single topic blog posts and videos for those of you who don’t listen to the podcast.

Questions answered in today’s podcast episode:

How to choose a good chicken breed?
Should I start with chicks or mature layers?
How many birds should I start with?
What should I feed my chickens, and how do I know they are eating enough?
Do you feed medicated feed? Chick starter?
What about making your own feed?
Should I free range my birds or not?
How do I condition them to return to the coop at night?
Your thoughts on supplemental heat for adult chickens in the winter?
Regarding chicks, is a heat lamp or a brooder plate better?
How do I know when my chicks are big enough to go outside?
Should I use supplemental light in the winter?
How do I keep their water unfrozen in the winter?
How do I handle “problem children”?
Should I get a rooster or not?
Common chicken illnesses? Should I take a chicken to the vet?
Pros and cons of hatching my own chicks vs. buying them?
Predator protection?
Options for coop litter
How do I introduce new birds to an existing flock?
Do I need to separate a mom with newly hatched babies from her adult coop mates?
Should I get the chicks first or the coop first?