When COVID hit, I was fresh out of a stint in the Lost and Found Department and need a way to spend my time, so I built a chicken coop, a covered run, and a larger open run and got me some chickens.
My background. Grew up a farm and ranch. 20 brood mares putting out 15 colts a year that were broken to be used as working ranch horses for sale, and roping horses. 4-8 colts a year were marked for specific training to show/sell as cutting horses. Usually around 50 horses in various stages at any time. Add in about 60-80 cows for a cow/calf operation, 20-30 rabbit breeding does, 4-6 show steers, 4-6 show sheep, 20 goats, a couple of donkeys and 20-30 laying hens.....and various others dogs, cats, peacocks etc. As far as I know, a vet never came by our place to treat an animal. We can say I grew up around animals.
My wife? Raised in Omaha, NE. Had a dog and apparently a duck.
Within 6 months, she was telling me everything I was doing wrong with the chickens. 3 years later.....at least once a day....she points out something I'm doing drastically wrong that will imperil the entire flock of 7 hens.