1. Keep an Extra Close Eye Out for Predators
Predators will often be more vigilant in the Spring time. They’ll be getting ready to mate, and hungry after a long Winter – a bad combination for your flock! By preparing ahead of time, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary stress & potential danger for your girls.
Popular predator deterrent methods include electric fencing, smart coop placement (away from trees!), keeping excess feed on the ground to a minimum, and using solar nite eyes to deter unwelcome nighttime visitors.
2. Spring Clean that Coop!
Spring is the perfect time to clean your coop, especially if you get snow. Your coop might have gotten muddy, drafty, or damp in the Winter, and now’s the time to get it all spruced up for the warmer months ahead.
This is especially important in areas where it gets cold at night, even if daytime temperatures are warm. Avoid frostbite by ensuring that your coop is ventilated but not drafty and nice and dry.
Replacing the bedding in your coop & nesting boxes is also a good idea, both for avoiding draftiness and keeping things tidy. Don’t forget to deep clean those feeders and drinkers while you’re at it!
3. Get Ready for New Baby Chicks
One of the first things that comes to mind when I think of the Spring Season is the sweet little chirps of fuzzy yellow chicks. Spring is one of the most popular seasons for hatching/raising new members of your flock. With more backyard chicken keepers than ever before, that means that chick care supplies (and the chicks themselves!) often sell out weeks or even months in advance, depending on what you’re looking for.
To prepare for this busy season, it might be a good idea to stock up on essentials like incubators, egg turners, chick feed, and heat lamps ahead of time. If you know that chicks sell out fast at your local store or farm, try and reserve yours in advance.
4. Health Check: Parasites
Spring is associated with new growth and lots of sweet baby animals. Unfortunately, it’s also a time of growth for parasites (who are considerably less cute).
It’s a good idea to do a quick health check on your flock after the cooler months are over to make sure your girls are in tip-top shape, as egg production should start to increase in Spring. While you’re doing your standard health check, be on the lookout for parasites like red mites. Signs that these pests have already invaded your coop include pale combs and reluctance to roost.
Similarly to predators, the best way to avoid parasites is to have as little excess food as possible left on the ground, and to keep your girls locked up at night.
5. Prepare for More Eggs
Your girls should start producing more eggs as the days get longer and warmer. Make sure you’re being egg-stra vigilant about collecting eggs to avoid your chickens munching on their own eggs, or food waste.
Prepare ahead of time for this by making sure you have a strong & large egg basket, egg wipes or detergent, and plenty of cartons (or serving bowls) to hold all of those eggs you’re about to get!
There is a caveat to this, though – broodiness! If you are wanting more chicks, then this is fantastic. If not, you may have to gently break her away from her eggs.