11 Ways To Accidentally Kill Your Chickens

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Welcome back to The Happy Chicken Coop, the hub for all things poultry-related! Today, we're addressing a subject that might seem a little scary, but is incredibly important for every chicken keeper to understand - "11 Ways You Could Accidentally Harm Your Chickens".

We all want the best for our feathered friends, but sometimes, despite our best intentions, we might be putting our flock in harm's way without even realizing it. From feeding mishaps to security oversights, these are pitfalls any chicken owner could accidentally fall into.

In this video, we'll unveil these common mistakes and misconceptions. We'll talk about everything from feeding blunders to environmental hazards, and discuss the importance of appropriate housing, healthcare, and nutrition.

But don't worry, it's not all warnings and dangers! Alongside each potential pitfall, we'll provide you with practical advice and solutions to ensure that you're giving your chickens a safe and nurturing environment.

So, are you ready to become a better chicken parent?

Join us in this essential episode to safeguard your flock. And remember, for more insightful tips and advice, like, share, and subscribe to The Happy Chicken Coop!

[lillianeconner]

Been feeding tomatoes for 25 years. The plants are the poisonous part not the fruit

[jms]

Don't use poison for vermin, use hot red pepper flakes mixed in the feed. Chickens aren't bothered by it, but vermin generally hate it and won't revisit.

[jenniferharris]

As a firefighter I have seen coops and barns burn with the lamp still secured. Dust stirred up by flapping wings, etc. can ignite easily. Good video!

[rickhunt]

Never let your chickens have access to firearms. A chicken with a shotgun is a bad combination.

[Radhaun]

I'd like to add for hawks, if you're in an area where you know crows or ravens are nearby, if you leave out food they like (pretty much anything you'd feed a chicken, peanuts I've heard are a favorite, I've used bits of old bread) in an area where they can easily see it, you can convince them to make your yard part of their territory and they'll help keep hawks away. I haven't had a single hawk attack since the crows moved into this area.

[lemongrab]

Empty buckets are one of the most dangerous rookie mistakes. At night when they try to perch on empty plastic buckets. As a result the bucket flips on them which typically suffocates them it cooks them alive too if it’s in summer. So be very very careful around big empty plastic buckets.

[Artbug]

For over 20 years we've thrown all of our kitchen scraps in the chicken yard; coffee grounds, tomatoes, avocado, onions, citrus peels... if you keep your hens well fed, they only eat the scraps that interest them, everything else is made into compost

[Nightowl]

1 HUGE thing that you forgot to mention is proper ventilation for the coop, especially during winter because if it isn't ventilated enough then ammonia gas will build up in the coop and kill all the chickens.

[eledhwenmare]

A had a couple of hens that were past producing eggs so I retired them to the hay barn where they became excellent mousers.

[zenofhen]

Appreciated this; thank you.

I've been keeping hens 20-some years. I'm mindful of overfeeding treats like scratch, but in the winter when they need a few extra calories, spreading a little scratch on a couple of boards right when they come off the roost is an easy way to check each bird's behavior. If everyone is active and eating, great. Birds who aren't are worth a second look. (Bonus: The pecking and soft talk of hens first thing in the morning has to be one of nature's sweetest sounds.)

[MiraOntl]

I check my chicken's for parasites every day, I'm 9 yrs old, I want to be a vet when I grow up.

[lauracollins]

I accidentally killed a chicken That was sick by giving it water with a syringe. Not aware that they have a hole in their tongues. She took it fine, but the last one I was going to give her evidently was too much or too fast and she threw it up and choked to death very quickly . Was devastating to watch and will never forget that vision.

[cassiejo]

What a great video! Thank you so much. A lot of people don't realize how awesome chickens are. You have no idea how many times I've heard someone tell another person who has lost a pet, "Oh, it was just a dog/cat/chicken." Animals are absolutely incredible. Every single one of my chickens are amazing and I love them. Thank you for making this video to help keep our babies safe.

[markthomas]

In todays times…. We need and appreciate videos like this one. Informative, clear and no bull crap to bore us with babbling phrases. Great content.

[viwanton]

Thanks for this direct, no nonsense video without unnecessary chatter. Every new chicken owner needs to see this

[Cherrycreamsoda]

Chickens are very good at hiding injuries and illness since they’re prey animals, so don’t want to show any signs of vulnerability to predators. Unfortunately this means it’s harder for humans to spot the warning signs before it’s too late :(

[gabrodermond]

lol my male rottweiler raised and cleaned up after my baby chicks.
we had our neighbor’s puppies behind our house, sneak under the fence and chase our (now grown chickens) all around the yard. my rottie cornered the 2 puppies and corrected them, they were so scared 😭. (they were returned safely to their owners !)
he also gets along with our bunnies aswell

[ItsMe-icon]

Wow there's a lot of care that goes into raising those little guys. Thanks

[archerbowyer]

I use some old chainlink fence (free on CL) under the run about 6" inside and the rest outside. Planted grass on top of the fencing to make it easier to walk on.

[Skorpionion]

I built my coop with pig penwire and qtr inch hardware cloth on a concrete slab and a tin roof. Added bracing and supports until I felt I would feel safe in there if surrounded by zombies. It's a good benchmark for construction standards and keeps like a little more whimsical and exciting.