Resources & tools
Your control centre: calculators, checklists, and the best guides.
If you want higher retention, this is the page you build around. Bookmark it. Everything practical lives here — the stuff that prevents chaos.
How to use this page: Start with the tools (calculator + checklist), then follow the guide path based on your situation.
Free printable: UK Backyard Chicken Starter Checklist
A quick printable that prevents week-one mistakes — and saves money by stopping bad coop purchases.
Coop & run size calculator
Stop guessing. Size is the #1 driver of behaviour and mess.
Printable starter checklist
Printable, UK-focused, and designed to save you from expensive mistakes.
Breed Finder + profiles
Filter breeds, then open full profiles (SEO-friendly).
Run design library
Simple builds and the predator-proof details most people skip.
Nutrition guide
Feed, treats, supplements, grit, water — what matters vs. what’s a waste.
Health routines
Daily/weekly checks, parasites, and early warning signs.
Help! My chicken… (triage)
8 fast guides for the most common “something’s off” problems — plus links to deeper fixes.
UK cost calculator
Monthly + annual estimates for feed, bedding, buffers, and optional coop/run amortisation.
Breed collections (quick shortlists)
High-intent pages that answer the questions people actually search for. Each one links to 10–15 detailed breed profiles.
Family-friendly breeds
Calm starters for kids (with the real caveats).
Small garden picks
Bantams + compact options, plus space reality checks.
Blue eggs & colourful baskets
Blue/green, dark brown, speckled, and white egg breeds.
How to use these: read the collection page, open 2–3 breed profiles, then verify your space using the calculator.
Coops & runs deep dives (high intent)
These are the “I’m about to buy/build something” pages. They’re designed to convert stressed beginners into confident keepers — and they support the main Coops + Runs guides.
Retention truth: “Tools” pages keep people on your site because they solve a problem immediately.
If you want this site to become the place to be, keep adding practical tools — not vibes.
Recommended path (beginner)
- Getting ready — decide your setup before buying birds.
- Coop & run size calculator — build bigger than you think.
- Breed Finder — shortlist calm, hardy birds.
- Build a run — predator-proof it properly.
- Nutrition + Health routines — keep problems small.
- UK rules — avoid neighbour and compliance drama.
Shortcut: If you’re overwhelmed, start with the checklist. It tells you what to do next.
Guides by situation
| Situation | Go here |
|---|---|
| Small garden / worried about mud | Run design + size calculator |
| Want calm birds for kids | Breed Finder (filter kid-friendly + high friendliness) |
| Not sure what to feed | Nutrition basics |
| Thinking about hatching chicks | Hatching & chicks (brutal truth) |
| Need neighbour-friendly advice | UK rules & considerations |
| Feeling unsure about the commitment | The things no one tells you |
Want a new tool added? Post it in Community — tell us your exact problem and your garden setup.