Basics 101 · PDF
Backyard Farming Raising Chickens From Building Coops to Collecting Eggs (PDF, opens in a new tab)
131 pages 5.7 MB
The Chicken Keepers library
No need to wing it.
Read it.
Free PDFs for first chicks, everyday care, and a healthier flock. Save it for later. Chickens never schedule the chaos, but they do seem to know when you’re out of town.
Basics 101
From choosing your first birds to preparing a brooder and learning the basics.
Basics 101 · Free PDF
Choose the Right Chicken Breed (PDF at Mississippi State Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Mississippi State Extension
Compare common chicken breeds by temperament, climate tolerance, size, and egg production to choose birds that fit your backyard flock's goals.
4 pages · 2026 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Basics 101 · Free PDF
Plan Your First Backyard Flock (PDF at Mississippi State Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Mississippi State Extension
Plan your first flock with an overview of daily commitment, housing, feed, chick care, egg production, predator protection, and basic disease prevention.
8 pages · 2025 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops
Plan a comfortable, secure home with housing guides, predator prevention, and original coop plans.
Coops · Free PDF
Small-Scale Poultry Housing (PDF at Virginia Cooperative Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Plan a practical coop with advice on ventilation, roosts, nest boxes, flock space and protection from weather, injuries and common predators.
6 pages · 2023 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops · Free PDF
Identify and Prevent Poultry Predators (PDF at Maryland Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Maryland Extension
Learn to recognize common poultry predators, interpret signs of attacks and strengthen coops and runs with practical measures that help protect birds.
4 pages · 2020 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops · Free PDF
Clean and Disinfect Your Coop (PDF at USDA APHIS, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
USDA APHIS
Follow a practical cleaning sequence for empty poultry enclosures, including debris removal, washing, rinsing, label-directed disinfection and drying before birds return safely.
2 pages · 2018 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops · Free PDF
5 × 12 Modern Coop & Covered Run (PDF at Rogue Engineer · Simpson Strong-Tie, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Rogue Engineer · Simpson Strong-Tie
A 5 × 12-foot overall footprint combines an elevated coop and covered run. Includes dimensioned assembly drawings, nesting boxes, and a materials list. The designer rates this build advanced.
10 pages · 2017 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops · Free PDF
4 × 6 Raised Coop — Free Edition (PDF at Easy Coops, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Easy Coops
Compact raised-coop plans with dimensioned assembly drawings, a nesting box, litter tray, and ramp. This free edition includes a materials overview; fuller shopping and cut lists are in an optional paid edition.
21 pages · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops · Free PDF
5 × 6 Raised Coop — Free Edition (PDF at Easy Coops, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Easy Coops
A raised coop with a single-slope roof, windows, access door, and ladder. Includes dimensioned drawings, assembly steps, and a shopping list. The publisher also offers an optional expanded paid edition.
19 pages · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops · Free PDF
10 × 4 A-Frame Pasture Ark (PDF at UW–Madison Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
UW–Madison Extension
A moveable A-frame ark with a 4 × 4-foot shelter and 6 × 4-foot run. Includes a materials list, construction blueprint, and photos. Designed for daily pasture moves; review mesh and predator protection for your location.
4 pages · 2010 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Coops · Free PDF
Build a Mobile Hoop Pen (PDF at Kentucky Cooperative Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Kentucky Cooperative Extension
Build a walk-in pasture pen from cattle panels, lumber, wire, and a tarp. Includes ten illustrated assembly steps, materials, and management tips. This is mobile pasture housing; printed prices are from 2012.
8 pages · 2012 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Daily care
Feeding, eggs, and everyday care for your feathered supervisors.
Daily care · Free PDF
Get Ready for Healthy Chicks (PDF at UMaine Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
UMaine Extension
Get ready for new chicks with a practical checklist covering brooder warmth, safe heat sources, clean bedding, starter feed, water, and hygiene.
3 pages · 2020 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Daily care · Free PDF
Brooding: Setup & Troubleshooting (PDF at Alabama Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Alabama Extension
Prepare a brooder, check chick comfort, and troubleshoot common feeding, watering, temperature, and bedding problems during the important first weeks after hatching.
4 pages · 2022 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Daily care · Free PDF
Feed Your Flock Well (PDF at Alabama Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Alabama Extension
Choose feed for each life stage, understand calcium and grit, and improve feeder placement and storage to support a well-nourished backyard flock.
8 pages · 2022 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Daily care · Free PDF
Handle Fresh Eggs Safely (PDF at Pacific Northwest Extension, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
Pacific Northwest Extension
Learn safe egg collection, cleaning, refrigeration, and cooking, with practical explanations of egg quality and guidance for handling eggs from your flock.
8 pages · 2022 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Chicken Health
Disease prevention, signs to watch for, and household hygiene. Older PDFs are reference material; ask a poultry veterinarian about current care.
Chicken Health · Free PDF
Year-Round Biosecurity Workbook (PDF at USDA APHIS, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
USDA APHIS
Create a flock biosecurity plan using seasonal checklists, cleaning logs and everyday routines for new birds, safe water, equipment and illness reporting.
19 pages · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Chicken Health · Free PDF
Keep Tools and Transport Biosecure (PDF at USDA APHIS, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
USDA APHIS
Reduce the chance of carrying disease between flocks with a checklist for cleaning shared tools, poultry supplies, transport equipment and vehicles before use.
2 pages · 2018 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Chicken Health · Free PDF
Keep Your Family Safe Around Flocks (PDF at CDC, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
CDC
Protect your family around backyard poultry with a printable reminder covering handwashing, children, outdoor equipment cleaning, safe egg collection and proper food handling.
1 page · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Chicken Health · Free PDF
Bird Flu: Know the Signs (PDF at USDA APHIS, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
USDA APHIS
Keep this printable visual reference nearby to recognize important bird-flu warning signs and find the official contacts for promptly reporting sick poultry.
1 page · 2026 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
Chicken Health · Free PDF
Avian Influenza: Signs and Prevention (PDF at USDA APHIS, opens in a new tab; save from the PDF viewer)
USDA APHIS
Review common bird-flu warning signs, essential prevention habits and reporting contacts in a concise printable factsheet from the USDA's Defend the Flock program.
1 page · 2026 · Save or print
Open PDF Publisher PDF
No guides found.
Nothing hatched from that search. Try another keyword.
New PDFs open at their original publisher’s website; use your PDF viewer to save or print them. The original collection also has direct Download buttons. Selling the original documents is strictly prohibited.
Looking for help with a sick chicken?
Start with what you’re seeing.
The symptom checker helps you organize signs and explore possible matches. It’s a starting point for a conversation with your veterinarian.