Poultry Recommendations

We purchased our first flock of chickens back in 2017 while we were in between dogs. Since then, we have expanded our flock to also include ducks, turkeys, and geese over the years. We like to tell people our birds are 75% pet, 25% production. We love having them around! Our chickens and ducks have supplied us with fresh eggs over the years, and our turkeys supplied us with wonderful meat in the fall of 2022. Summer of 2022 we added two African geese to guard our duck flock against aerial predators. Our female is still around and provides us with beautiful eggs in the spring, along with protection for the other birds.

Over the years, we have had our fair share of predator attacks, brooder set ups, and multiple coop and run builds. We have also owned over 15 different breeds/varieties of chickens, one breed of turkey, two breeds of geese, and six breeds of ducks. While we do have experience, please keep in mind that we are not professionals, and this page is not meant to be an all-inclusive informational page. This is simply our list of recommendations, recommendations that speak to our interest in promoting the holistic health of our poultry, as well as our interest in avoiding plastic and unnecessary waste where possible.

*See disclosures here.

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Feed and Supplements

Why whole grains and not pellets? Although typically more expensive, we like that whole grains are less processed, able to be fermented, and most similar to what a bird would eat in the wild! It also helps to ensure that the feed is not made from byproducts of other industries. Check out our favorite brands below.

• Our favorite high end pre-made feed is from Scratch and Peck Feeds. They offer starter, grower, and layer whole grain feed that can even be fermented to increase benefits for the birds and extend how far one bag of feed will go. (Cool side note: Their feeds are packed in paper which can double as weed barrier in your organic garden!) Click here to check out this shop.
  • Scratch and Peck Feeds also offers grit, mealworms, calcium supplements, and scratch grains.
  • We feel that their feeds are the best quality available, based on the many options we have purchased from farm stores, pet stores, online, and even compared to the second best option we share below. It was do-able for us to purchase Scratch and Peck for our flock when we had just a few chickens, and it is still what we recommend, if you have the budget!
• Our favorite affordable pre-made feed is from Kentucky Organic Farm and Feed (KOFFI). They are based in Kentucky, and we can get a monthly delivery dropped off at a nearby farm. We appreciate that they are locally milled and that they work with only 100% organic grains. Their pricing is fantastic and an excellent value for a whole grain feed, so their feed is what we have chosen for a large flock! Click here to check out this business.
  • KOFFI also offers other organic animal feeds, single ingredients, and supplements. We currently get our pig grower feed from them as well.
• For DIY feed, we recommend consulting with a trusted veterinarian or poultry expert and then purchasing individual grains from Azure Standard and/or KOFFI.
• Supplements – A quick google search will help explain the benefits of each of these, as well as how to best incorporate them into your birds’ diet. You can decide for yourself whether or not they will be helpful for your flock based on the type of birds you have, their breeds, your geographic location, the birds’ living conditions, etc. Like with our human diets, it is important to avoid genetically modified food for your animals, as well as food that has been sprayed with pesticides and herbicides (ex: glyphosate). Here are the supplements we use for our birds:
  • Brewers yeast (necessary source of niacin for our waterfowl)
  • Oyster shells (necessary source of calcium for egg-layers)
  • Construction sand (NOT play sand; necessary source of grit for digestion in birds who do not free range)
  • Organic apple cider vinegar
  • Organic garlic
  • Fresh and/or dried organic herbs
  • A note about treats – whether you are considering grubs or a scratch grain to give your flock as a treat, keep in mind that quantity is very important. Too much of a treat or supplement can lead to not enough nutrition taken in from their food (ex: ratio of protein may be off if too many carbs are taken in). Treats should be just that-treats! And supplements are to complement a complete diet. Check the back of the bag or box to see what recommended amounts are and you should be just fine!
  • A note about grubs/mealworms – we recommend thoughtfully sourcing these treats, as suppliers of mass produced brands oftentimes feed mealworms byproducts of the food industry that can harbor disease. Scratch and Peck Feeds offers a clean grub option we like to purchase as an occasional treat for our flock.

Containers for Food and Water

• Galvanized, uncoated completely metal, gravity-fed feeders and waterers are great if you want to avoid plastic completely. There are also a few options that are chick-sized that screw onto glass mason jars. However, we have found that the metal containers we purchased early on eventually rusted when kept outdoors and became unsuitable for animal use. If you are able to keep your poultry’s feeders and waterers indoors, rust may not be an issue.
  • For feed, we have successfully used a combination of a (metal) hanging gravity-fed feeder inside the coop and open top “pig” pans in the run. Sometimes we throw a cup or two of feed right onto the ground to encourage scratching and pecking.
  • For water, we currently use combination of a (metal) hanging gravity-fed waterer inside the coop and a plastic dog water bowl in the run. The latter is great for waterfowl, since they need to be able to submerge their beaks fully into the water. The plastic dog bowl is actually a heated bowl (when plugged in) that has been a fantastic affordable + durable solution for keeping our birds’ drinking water from freezing in cold temperatures. We have had it for three or four seasons now with no issues. Working with what you already have can be a great way to reduce waste on the homestead!
  • 2024 Testing – Erica found these metal hanging feeders and waterers from Rent-a-Coop on Amazon. We have only had them for a few months so far, but are very pleased with them and hope to report back after a year or so of use to speak to their durability. We like that they are mostly metal, so the food and water is not sitting in constant contact with plastic being heated and cooled all day. We also like that they are easy to fill and clean (just remove tops of containers and fill from above), plus they can be hung or set at whatever height is needed, inside or outside the coop.
• Other options:
  • Under the metal category is Grandpas Feeders (linked here), which sells automatic feed troughs that are designed to only open when the weight of a chicken steps on the platform. They are expensive, but are made of metal (no plastic that we can tell) and prevent food from getting spoiled from the elements or stolen from small pests like mice.
  • If you have just a few birds and do not mind the extra work, something as simple as a (metal) large dog water bowl can work as well. We have used these when keeping one or two chickens separated from the rest of the flock and even in our brooders at times. Keep in mind that they do get dirty much easier compared to the gravity-fed options, so this is an option that requires more frequent cleanup and refilling. Hard to beat the affordability though!
  • Angela from Axe and Root Homestead introduced us to the idea of a wooden trough set at an angle for feeding ducks and geese (watch her video showing it here). The food stays off the ground and is spread out to enable all your birds to eat at the same time. We are looking forward to building one of these for our ducks and geese once we build them their separate coop.

Brooder

A brooder is a safe space where you raise young poultry until they are old enough to live outside. A brooder helps young poultry regulate their temperature with the inclusion of a heat lamp or heat plate. (Note: while costing much less, heat lamps do get significantly hotter and can present a fire hazard.) We have used dog cages and horse-sized rubbermaid watering tubs for brooders, and we have experience using those inside (ex: basement) and outside (ex: porch, barn). Read through the list of main things to look for in coops and runs; these apply to brooders as well!

The idea with a brooder is that you slowly prepare your young poultry to transition to living outside full time, without that added heat and light. We recommend you consult a poultry care book or guide to learn about how to slowly make this transition for your birds. Part of this will be setting a specific temperature in the brooder and then slowly decreasing the temperature as the chicks get older (before they transition to living outdoors in a coop).

Coops, Runs, and Cleaning

• Coops and Runs – There are plenty of pre-made options available online, as well as DIY plans. Some main things to look for are:
  • safety against predators (DO NOT USE chicken wire – it is meant to keep birds in but will not keep predators out; instead, use hardware cloth)
  • safety against the elements (think: shade, dryness, ventilation, etc.)
  • adequate spacing for the size and number of birds you have
  • access/ease of cleaning
• What to put on the floor – You will want to make sure to provide clean “bedding.” We prefer sand or straw once the grass has been trampled in the outdoor area (also called the run). For inside the coop or brooder, we prefer sand for chickens and horse pine pellets for waterfowl. Sand is awesome, particularly for chickens, because you can use a kitty litter scoop to remove the poop clumps, while leaving the sand in place. It also provides natural grit for the birds to aid in digestion. Ducks and geese produce poop that does not clump in the same way as chickens’, so a highly-absorbent bedding like the pine pellets works wonderful. Horse pine pellets are also biodegradable and can be added to the compost pile once fully used.
• Where the females lay eggs – If you have female birds, they will need nesting areas. Ducks and geese lay eggs in a nest on the ground (along with some smaller breed chickens), while most chickens are able to hop up to nesting boxes that are raised. We like to fill our nesting boxes with fresh straw.
• Where the birds sleep – Chickens will need roosts, as they sleep off of the ground. A roost can be as simple as a secured 2×4 two feet off the ground or a wooden ladder secured and leaned against the coop wall. Ducks and geese sleep on the ground (along with some smaller breeds of chickens, like Silkies).
• Bonus addition for waterfowl – While not required, it is ideal for waterfowl to have access to enough water to fully submerge and clean themselves. This amount of water allows them to flush dry food debris from in and around their nostrils (specifically ducks and geese need this) and keep their feathers clean. We are currently using a large outdoor rubbermaid tub for this purpose, but we would like to eventually transition to use a metal stock tank and/or build a small pond on our property.
• What we use to clean our coops and runs:
  • wood and metal drywall scraping knife (to clean off poop boards underneath chicken roosts)
  • metal kitty litter scoop (to sift poop out of the sandy areas in the coop and/or run)
  • spray bottle with all purpose dilution of Branch Basics (to clean/remove debris around the coop)
  • spray bottle with a 1:1 ratio of water to vinegar (to gently disinfect without harming the birds)
  • Other: designated “for bird use only” broom and dust pan. We also recommend wearing a a drywall-style mask to ensure airborne particulate does not enter your lungs while cleaning.

Where to Purchase Poultry

• MyPetChicken.com – As strange as it sounds, yes, you can purchase live poultry online! The live birds get shipped to your local post office, and you get notified to pick up your peeping package once it arrives. We have ordered three different flocks from My Pet Chicken and have never had any issues. We appreciate that they are a reputable company, they promote organic practices and feed, they are highly accurate in sexing their birds (aka sending you either male or female based on what you select for your order), and they have an extensive selection of breeds. We highly recommend purchasing your hatching eggs, day-old poultry, or six-week old poultry from them! My Pet Chicken also sells poultry supplies, from coops to supplements and feed to accessories. Click here to check out this store.
• Local trusted breeders or family farms – We have purchased both ducks and geese from small family farms in our area. Please, please make sure to only purchase from individuals who are trustworthy and maintain healthy living conditions for their animals. The last thing you want to do is bring home a diseased animal or support unethical practices. Be wise and feel things out before handing over any money. Also, it is a good idea to ask questions and request pictures ahead of time! Many people have the parents on site and are willing to send pictures so you can see what to expect once your poultry is full grown, and you can oftentimes get a sneak peak into the living conditions of the animals this way. Where can you find local trusted breeders or family farms? Here are a few ideas:
  • Facebook groups or pages for your state/area
  • Craigslist
  • Please note: Mareks is a highly transmissible disease with significant health consequences for a flock. It is a lifetime disease, meaning once a flock is exposed, there is no cure. It is also something that can lie dormant before causing visible symptoms or be present in chickens that never show symptoms. If you purchase chicks from a farm store (ex: Tractor Supply, Rural King), the birds will already be vaccinated. If you purchase chicks from an online store (ex: Mypetchicken.com), you will likely have a choice on whether or not you would like your chicks vaccinated. If you buy chicks or chickens from local breeders/farms, it is highly unlikely they will be vaccinated against Mareks disease. We did not vaccinate our 2022/2023 flock of chickens. After noticing specific health problems with a few birds a few months after buying them, we spoke with a vet. He believes our flock acquired the disease from the group of chicks we purchased from a local Silkie breeder. For this reason, we will not be purchasing chicks or chickens from local farms/breeders again. It is just not worth the risk for our family, especially since Mareks may not show up for months or ever in some birds, yet they can still have and transfer the disease. Moving forward, we would rather have the assurance (albeit, not guarantee) that a vaccination provides. We recommend that you do your research and then decide the route with which you are most comfortable.

Books and Other Resources

• Books:
  • My Pet Chicken Guide to Chicken Care (linked here, book written by the company from whom we buy our chickens online; it is well organized and written for the beginner chicken keeper, whose focus is chickens for pets and/or for eggs; super helpful breed selector guide and FAQ-type sections)
  • Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens (linked here; the textbook version of chicken care, one of the most comprehensive books on the topic; also includes information for meat chickens)
  • Keeping Chickens: Getting the Best from your Chickens (linked here; this was our first chicken care book and is at an excellent price point, has beautiful pictures of different breeds and was plenty helpful as we got started)
  • The Modern Homesteader’s Guide to Keeping Geese (linked here; we would categorize this book as a good introduction to keeping geese)
• The Chicken Chick – an excellent blog that helped us a ton when we first got started with chickens. She also has a book, which we have not yet read, but imagine is a great resource as well.
• Axe and Root Homestead – a blog, Instagram account, and Youtube channel with lots of helpful information on raising ducks and geese.
• Poultry DMV – a website with easy to digest information on a wide variety of subjects, from disease and predators to nutrition and safe/toxic plants. They also have excellent infographics to reference!