Feathered Fundamentals Curriculum
Here’s everything we’ll cover, section by section:
Bringing Home Your Birds
Choosing the right chickens for your space, lifestyle, and goals – including where to find healthy birds you can feel good about bringing home.
Raising Chicks
Everything you need to know from day-old fluff to confident young birds – brooder setup, heat, feeding, growth milestones, and what is and isn’t normal during those early weeks.
Raising Teenagers
The in-between stage from 8 to 20 weeks – managing changing needs while preparing your flock for coop life and adulthood.
Laying Hens & Roosters
Life after 20 weeks – what to expect as hens begin laying, how to care for adult birds, and understanding the role (and personality) of roosters in the flock.
Chicken Breeds
A look at common chicken breeds and what sets them apart (egg production, size, temperament, and how well they handle our climate) so you can choose birds that actually fit your space and goals.
Chicken Behaviour
Learning how chickens communicate and behave – from pecking orders and dust baths to broody moods and flock dynamics, so you can tell normal chicken chaos from real problems.
Coop Considerations
Designing or choosing a chicken coop that keeps your flock safe, dry, and comfortable – space needs, ventilation, nesting boxes, predator protection, and common coop mistakes to avoid.
Introducing New Chickens
How to add birds to an existing flock without total mayhem – quarantine basics, slow introductions, and managing the inevitable drama when chicken math strikes.
Biosecurity Best Practices
Learn how to protect your flock from preventable disease through simple, practical habits – including quarantine protocols, dedicated chore gear, and smart management of visitors, equipment, and environmental risk.
Healthy Chickens
A practical, real-life guide to keeping your flock healthy – knowing what “normal” looks like, building simple preventative habits, and catching the early signs when something’s off.
Common Chicken Health Issues
A practical look at the health problems backyard chicken keepers most commonly face – what they look like, what your next steps usually are, and when it’s time to call a vet. We will look at:
• Comb Injuries, Nail Injuries, Cuts, and Scrapes
• Respiratory Infections
• Bumblefoot
• Egg Binding
• Prolapse
• Salpingitis
• Impacted Crop
• Sour Crop
• Torticollis (Wry Neck)
• Neoplastic Diseases: Marek’s and Lymphoid Leukosis
• Parasites: Coccidiosis, Worms, Lice and Mites
• Seasonal Issues: Heat Stress and Frostbite
Your Chicken First Aid Kit
How to build a first aid kit so you’re prepared to handle minor issues quickly and confidently when they pop up.
Euthanasia
A compassionate guide to recognizing when it’s time to let a bird go, how to make that decision with confidence, and how to navigate the emotional weight that comes with being a responsible, caring flock keeper.
Financial Considerations
A realistic look at what chickens actually cost to keep – startup costs, ongoing expenses, and the stuff beginners don’t always see coming.
