Decorating a Small Chicken Coop for Fall: Chicken Feed + Snacks
Small chicken coop fall decorating ideas plus feed and snack ideas to get your chickens ready for cooler months
It's officially fall and you know what that means...
Chicken coop decorating time of course!
This might seem a little "extra" but I swear our flock looks forward to their new coop decorations every year.
Plus this is a great time to do regular chicken coop maintenance and get the flock ready for the cooler months ahead.
I can't wait to share our new chicken coop fall decorations with y'all, plus some fall chicken coop maintenance, feed, and fall treat ideas!
Choosing the Right Chicken Feed
Lately I have been worried about our chickens not getting the nutrition they need from their regular feed...
This is a concern I really wanted to squash before the weather started getting chilly.
So I did some research (like a whole bunch) and found Scratch and Peck Feeds!
We switched last month to their Naturally Free Organic Layer Pellets + Grub protein and I have already noticed a big difference with our girls.
The higher levels of calcium in this feed have made their egg shells noticeably harder and my picky eater is even starting to put on weight.
I also really love that these layer pellets contain grub protein which is rich in calcium, vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids.
Cluckin' Good Organic Herbs is another new addition to our feed routine.
These herbs smell really good, like something I would cook with.
They support digestive and circulatory health for your flock and so far the girls really seem to enjoy having them sprinkled into their feed.
Fall Chicken Snack and Feeding Ideas
Throughout the year I try to come up with fun snack ideas for our chickens, they do work really hard after all!
Fall is one of my favorites because some of their snack options can also double as coop decor.
Here are some of my favorite fall snack/feeding ideas:
1. Pumpkin Bowl: This idea is so cute looking and the chickens (plus the rooster) really love it. I cut the top off of a pumpkin and tamp down the gooey insides, then I fill the pumpkin with their daily feed! The pumpkin works as a cute bowl and an extra treat. You could also sub the pumpkin bowl for squash or sweet potato.
2. Oatmeal Mix: This snack actually looks tasty until you add the mealworms. Mix: 1⁄2 cup cooked oatmeal, 1⁄4 cup pureed pumpkin, 1 teaspoon raw honey, 1 tablespoon flaxseed, 1 tablespoon mealworms, 1 tablespoon raisins, and 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds. You can serve this in a regular feeder or a vessel like we talked about above.
3. Pumpkin Swing: Our chickens are great at pumpkin carving and they seem to really like the swing feeder. I made this super easy swing feeder with a chain and thin tube. I use it all year adding lettuce heads, pumpkins, cauliflower, watermelon, etc to it. It's a treat and a boredom buster that they love!
Small Fall Chicken Coop Decor + Maintenance
The coop always looks a little rough at the end of a season...
Fall is a great time to do general maintenance on your chicken coop and make sure it is ready for winter.
Our chicken run's main flooring is a grassy/dirt area that I add wood shavings to.
During the fall I grade and re-level the floor and add another layer of fresh shavings.
This is also a great time to check the fencing enclosure for any breaks or gaps that predators could use as an entrance.
Next, I remove weeds and get rid of any spent plants from the garden bed area so that it's ready for planting next year.
I also cleaned the outside of the coop with a duster and broom to get it ready to decorate.
Chicken Coop Fall Decorations
This fall I went with a more neutral fall decor theme, opposed to last year's colorful Halloween decor.
We can enjoy this decor throughout November.
I stapled these sweet burlap fall leaves to the coop front for a fun pop of color.
These wooden pumpkins are the same ones I DIY-ed last year, I just repainted them to match this year's neutral fall theme.
Every time I go to the Dollar Store I grab a pack of these clip on mini pumpkins, they are perfect for clipping to the coop window and also making napkin rings.
The pretty purple fall wreath is another DIY project from a couple of years ago.
I simply spray it every year with Scotch Guard to keep it looking fresh.
This year I decided the coop run should have a fun wooden pumpkin and chalkboard garland too.
We put up these solar powered string lights last year, they double as a security feature and add a whimsical aspect to the coop at night.
Fall Ready Chicken Coop
That's a wrap on our fall chicken coop preparations.
Between changing our chicken feed to Scratch & Peck, the small maintenance updates, and the fall decorations I would say we are in good shape for the change of seasons.
Let me know if you have any questions about our new feed or if you have any chicken snack ideas you want to share!
You Might Also Like:
No comments:
Post a Comment