Keeping chicken in Switzerland: a practical beginner guide

Backyard chickens can be a joy, but good care starts before your hens arrive. This guide explains the everyday essentials: clean water, suitable feed, safe housing, hygiene, registration and the equipment
that makes daily care easier

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Before your hens arrive

Was Sie zuerst vorbereiten sollten

Before bringing hens home, make sure you have a secure coop, enough outdoor space, protection from predators, clean bedding, suitable feed and reliable access to fresh water. Chickens need a calm, dry place to
sleep, a safe area to scratch and forage, and a routine that keeps food and water clean.

Ihre Grundausstattung sollte Folgendes umfassen:

  • Ein sicherer Stall mit Belüftung und trockener Einstreu
  • Ein sicherer Auslauf oder Gartenbereich
  • A feeder that protects feed from dirt and pests
  • A drinker that keeps water clean
  • Nistkästen mit sauberem Nistmaterial
  • Grit oder Austernschalen, wo angebracht
  • Stallhygieneprodukte und eine Reinigungsroutine
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Swiss registration reminder

Prüfen Sie Ihre lokalen Registrierungsanforderungen

In Switzerland, chicken keepers
should check the official requirements for registering poultry holdings with the
relevant cantonal authority. Registration helps veterinary services contact
keepers quickly if there is a disease outbreak.

For official information, visit the
Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office: BLV chicken-keeping information.

Learn more

Clean water

Clean water is a daily priority

Hens need access to fresh water every day. Open bowls are easy to tip over and quickly fill with dirt, bedding and droppings. A dedicated chicken drinker helps keep water cleaner, reduces spills and makes your daily routine easier.

Choose a drinker based on your flock
size, your hens’ age and how much cleaning you want to do. Cup drinkers are easy for hens to understand, while nipple drinkers offer a more sealed and hygienic water source.

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Feeding

Futter trocken, sauber und geschützt halten

Good feed can be wasted quickly if hens scratch it onto the ground or if rain and pests get into it. A proper feeder helps reduce waste, keeps feed drier and makes it easier to monitor how much your flock is eating.

For small backyard flocks, choose a feeder that is easy to fill, easy to clean and suitable for the number of birds you keep. Raise the feeder to the right height so hens can eat comfortably without scratching bedding into the food.

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Hygiene

Eine einfache Reinigungsroutine beugt größeren Problemen vor

Most coop problems start small: damp bedding, dirty drinkers, spilled feed or hidden red mite. A simple routine helps
keep your hens healthier and your coop more pleasant.

Use this rhythm as a starting point:

  • Daily: Check food, water and your hens’ behaviour.
  • Wöchentlich: Tränken reinigen, verschmutzte Einstreu entfernen und Nistkästen überprüfen.
  • Monthly: Deep clean the coop and inspect cracks, perches and corners.
  • Seasonally: Review red mite prevention, ventilation and winter water care
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Richten Sie Ihre erste Hühnerpflege-Ausstattung ein

If you are not sure where to start,
begin with the essentials:

  • one reliable feeder,
  • one clean-water system,
  • nesting materials and
  • basic hygiene products.

You can add extras later as you learn
what your flock needs.

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