Back To Coop: Resetting Your Chicken Care Routine For Fall

Fall Chicken Care Checklist: Prep Your Coop for Cooler Weather

As summer comes to a close, we’re getting ready for a fresh start and a new routine amid the chaos of the coming season - the inevitable rush of activities and busy schedules, shorter days, cooler weather, and holidays just on the horizon.  

In this blog, our EGGsperts discuss resetting your chicken care routine for a smooth transition to a productive and worry-free fall. 🍁🍂   

Welcome Back to Coop. 🐔 Class is in session! 📚✏️ 

 

1. A Fresh Start  

Does your coop look like your flock hosted a rowdy poultry party all summer long? 👀☀️ Start your fall reset with a deep clean. 🧹🪣 

• Remove all bedding and nesting materials. Add used bedding to your compost pile! ♻️ 

• Clean out waterers, scrub drinking attachments, and refill.  

• Clean out feeders, scrub as needed, and make sure they are completely dry before refilling.  

• Scrape and scrub roosting bars, ramps, walls, and doors as needed to remove dust, dirt, and poop. 🧽

• Replace all chicken coop bedding and nesting box bedding. So fresh and so clean! 🫧 

✨ Pro tip: Use RentACoop premium Hemp Bedding for minimal maintenance and a fresh, healthy coop. 🌱 Try the deep litter method for extending the benefits of hemp bedding for chickens!  

 

 

2. Coop Upkeep   

As the temperature and humidity of summer decreases and the dust settles, your chicken coop and chicken care supplies may need some TLC. ❤️🩹️ 

• Inspect the coop’s structure 🏠  Check walls, roofing, wire screens, hardware cloth, and windows - looking for any warped wood, leaky roofs, cracks, or damage. Repairing minor damage now keeps your chickens safe from winter weather and predators and prevents more costly repairs in the future.  

• Check for drafts 💨  Seal any gaps near doors or windows, making sure to maintain ventilation and airflow in the coop. Proper ventilation is just as important in colder months to prevent moisture buildup.  

• Check doors, locks, and latches 🔒  Lubricate and repair as needed.  

• Check chicken feeders & waterers 💧  Inspect all your backyard poultry supplies for wear and tear, cracks, leaks, or damage. Repair or replace as needed.  

✨ EGGspert tip: RentACoop offers spare parts for many of our products, giving you the option to repair or replace a worn or broken part, extending the life of your chicken feeder or waterer, and lowering the cost of caring for backyard chickens. Order directly from our website, or contact our Customer Care EGGsperts at info@rentacoop.com for more information.  

 

 

3. Streamlining Chicken Chores  

Make chicken chores a breeze with some simple and strategic planning. When time is tight, efficiency rules the roost!  

• Restock coop essentials like grit and oyster shell. Try a sturdy, weatherproof automatic feeder such as RentACoop's 10 Lb. Trough Feeder. Wall mount or place on blocks for a supply of grit or oyster shell that will last well beyond the current season.  

• Simplify with automatic feeders and waterers to cut down on time consuming daily tasks.   

• Make it a family affair! A chicken chore chart is a great way to get kids involved, gathering eggs before school or handing out treats during homework breaks.  

✨ Bonus tip: Prevent unwanted dinner guests with RentACoop’s automatic Treadle Feeder. Introducing a new style of feeder now gives you time to train your flock to use the treadle feeder before cold weather and hungry critters move in for the winter.  

 

 

4. Bird Brain Food   

With molting season in full swing and cold weather on the way, it’s a good idea to give your flock’s diet a little fall makeover. 🐓 

• Nutritional needs – Especially if your flock is molting, switching to a higher-protein feed or providing supplemental sources of protein helps with feather regrowth.  

• Energy boost - Add scratch grains and healthy treats to give your flock EGGstra energy.  

• Warmth from within – Offer your flock healthy, high protein snacks such as eggs, insects, and cooked meat and lentils. These foods can keep chickens warm by generating body heat through digestion.  

💡Reminder: Don't overdo it. Treats and supplements shouldn’t account for more than 10% of a chicken’s overall diet.  

 

 

5. Fowl Weather   

With cold weather approaching, the early prep chicken keeper gets the coziest coop.  ⛈️❄️ 

• Insulate smartly 🧤  Consider the position of your coop and run and the direction of the sun, wind, and weather, and set up any insulation accordingly. You can use materials such as foam boards, tarps, or plastic or vinyl sheeting to help retain warmth - just make sure you aren't totally blocking the airflow or the sunshine! 

 

💡 Idea: Stacking straw bales can be a great way to insulate your coop or run for the winter. Just be sure that the straw stays dry, and in the spring your chickens will have a blast breaking down the bales while foraging for bugs! 🐛 

• Prep for the freeze 🥶  Invest in a Heated Drinker or a RentACoop Thermo Bucket Belt to keep your water fresh and free flowing until the spring thaw.   

🎃🦃🎄 Reminder: Planning a getaway or traveling for the holidays? Holiday prep means more than reminding your chickens to write their letters to Chick Kringle! 🎁 Now’s the time to hire a reliable chicken sitter for fall getaways and long holiday weekends.  

 

🍁🍂 Fall tips:  

• Embrace change – welcoming the falling leaves, busy schedules, and new routines. 

• Savor the little things – the nourishment of warm, fresh yolks, and cool, crisp mornings.  

• Connect with the rhythm of your flock – shorter days and molting hens encourage us to rest when we need it most.  

 

Wishing you and your flock all the best for Back to Coop! 🎓  

~The RentACoop Team 🐓