Backyard chicken, duck, quail and turkey gear

What to look for

• UF/IFAS says allow at least 3 sq ft per bird in the coop and 8 to 10 sq ft per bird in the run, with one nest box (about 12 x 12 x 12 in) per five hens. Oregon State gives 3 sq ft per bird with run access and 8 to 10 sq ft without. Source: UF/IFAS Extension
• Oregon State advises closing the flock in at night, raising the coop at least 1 ft, using 1 x 2 in mesh on the run with overhead cover, and burying fencing 6 to 12 in. UF/IFAS recommends hardware cloth for small predators and an L-shaped buried apron. Source: Oregon State Extension
• Coops need passive ventilation to remove ammonia and moisture without drafts. Oregon State says insulation is not needed. Source: Oregon State Extension
• Feed by life stage: starter at 20 to 24 percent protein for the first six weeks, grower at 16 to 20 percent, and layer at 14 to 16 percent from 18 weeks. Never feed layer feed to birds under 18 weeks. Offer oyster shell free-choice, and grit if birds forage widely. Source: UF/IFAS Extension
• For ducks and geese, use only feed additives approved for them. Some chick-starter coccidiostats can cause lameness or death in goslings, so check the label with a vet or extension office before giving medicated chick starter to waterfowl. Ducklings need about 1.5 sq ft of floor each, and brooding starts near 90 F. Source: Missouri Extension
• Blackhead disease is fatal to turkeys and has no approved US treatment, and chickens can carry the cecal worm that spreads it. Keep turkeys apart from chickens, use turkey-specific feed, and buy poults from NPIP Mycoplasma-clean sources. Source: Penn State Extension
• Young quail fit through very small gaps and can drown in open waterers, so screen the water or add marbles. Laying quail need 14 to 18 hours of light. Source: eXtension Poultry
• Heat lamps coated with PTFE are a known hazard to birds, so use a radiant plate or a PTFE-free heat source. The Brinsea plate below avoids bulbs, but its coating was not verified either way. Source: MSD Veterinary Manual
• Wash hands after touching birds or their area, keep dedicated poultry shoes outside the house, and do not kiss or snuggle poultry. Refrigerate eggs, cook to 160 F, and keep children under 5 away from chicks and ducklings. Source: CDC
• Avian influenza: people with backyard poultry should remove feeders during an outbreak. This Purdue Extension piece is dated May 2022, so confirm against current CDC or state guidance. Source: Purdue Extension