HEALTHY COOP

Chickens NEED aged bacteria from OLD hay with manure/ (cow/horse/chicken/pig) or old garden/leaves/compost that has been AGED and mixed with dirt/mulch in the new coops that you are making NOT  (let me repeat this) N-O-T fresh clean hay or pine shavings.

Why? 

Would you buy new pet fish, from a pet store, that has been swimming in established aged water balanced with bacteria and take them home and put the new fish that you purchased into FRESH pure water like purified or distilled water?  

Not a good idea because the fish would die from the sterile water. All animals need a proper place to live. Fish need OLD water with an established ecosystem AND SO DO CHICKENS!!!!! If you move chickens from a coop with established aged balanced compost into a new coop with sterile bedding this can shock the hens' system. 

REMEMBER THIS FACT: Too much handling of the chickens, holding your chickens, opening coop doors, or over activity in the first week or two after purchase of hens/chicks can cause your chickens to be overstimulated and slow down the process of getting settled or laying eggs. 

 You can make your own starter compost for your coop or chicken pen. Or we sell bags of aged non-GMO compost here at Blue Star Ranch. Simply pour aged dry compost into your coop add warm water and cover it with fresh grass to begin building a healthy bacterial growth for your coop. Your chickens will be healthier.

Along with a safe and predator-proof coop, a healthy diet of bugs, grasses and grains, fresh water, and occasional worming too, your chickens need bacteria to grow and prosper.

All chickens need a balance of aged bacteria inside of the bedding for a healthy coop.