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

 Shop now

Before your hens arrive

What to prepare first

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.

Your basic setup should include:

  • A secure coop with ventilation and dry bedding
  • A safe run or garden area
  • A feeder that protects feed from dirt and pests
  • A drinker that keeps water clean
  • Nesting boxes with clean nesting material
  • Grit or oyster shell where appropriate
  • Coop hygiene products and a cleaning routine
Shop Starter Kits

Swiss registration reminder

Check your local registration requirements

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.

Shop drinkers

Feeding

Keep feed dry, clean and protected

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.

Shop Feeders

Hygiene

A simple cleaning routine prevents bigger problems

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.
  • Weekly: Clean drinkers, remove dirty bedding and check nesting boxes.
  • Monthly: Deep clean the coop and inspect cracks, perches and corners.
  • Seasonally: Review red mite prevention, ventilation and winter water care
Browse Hygiene & Health

Build your first chicken-care setup

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.

Starter Kits