So you've decided you're going to get some chickens, goats, pony, or just one of the above? Here's some of the equipment that has made my life so much simpler. Let me link you to them so you can get ahead of the game. It took me awhile to find all of this I'm going to save you some time!
When I first moved here I purchased cheap muck boots, I didn't even know they made nicer ones. The only ones that had tread, or fit me were mens boots which weren't very tight on me so I'd slip and slide in them. I have probably purchased 3-4 sets of these over 5 years, the most recent pair I purchased about 4 months ago from a superstore which will remain nameless. I spent $25.00 on them they split open on one boot across the front and are now useless. Of course I don't have the receipt :0). Which my dad has already reprimanded me for. They are now in the trash.
My dad is actually the one that found the boots shown below. Well not the purple ones but the company. I found the purple ones (my signature color).
My dad found his at IFA - Intermountain Farmers Association, I found mine on line (I'm a big on line shopper go figure) www.endless.comfree 2 day shipping mine actually arrived the next day. They have every style you could imagine even gardening ones. These boots truly feel like slippers which is what they advertise. :0). They are awesome. Most of the time you can't tell that I have purple boots on because they are under my legs of my jeans but I KNOW I have purple boots on.
Feeding chickens, as many as I have, I have about 12 buildings in order for everyone to get along, I have a big huge tub of food, I used to be able to just carry one little container around, I can't really do that anymore. I also have tools to do fence repairs, etc., scissors to trim wings of those who are trying to get into sections which aren't their sections... I found the most awesome cart. I price shopped, looked around and I do have to say I am a huge fan of wagons, carts, etc. This truly is the best buy on a wagon/cart.
The tires are pneumatic which allows me to go through mud, snow as long as it's not ridiculously deep and I have put a bungee chord on the handle back to the front axle so the handle of the wagon doesn't fall forward I don't want to hurt any of the chickens. That's the only thing I'd like to see is the handle not drop down to the ground all the time.
Steel Yard Cart
When the snow gets too deep for the above, Alexis, the gal that worked for me for awhile told me about a "fishermans sled" which I'd been trying to come up with something but didn't know where to go or if it even existed. She headed me in the right direction and man did that help for winters thank you Alexis!
I usually have a sled full of chickens when I pull up in this in the winter as pictured below :0). They love that I'm at ground level and I love that I no longer do face plants in the snow trying to pull a wagon over deep snow banks. It works terrific and I can fit all my gear in it. I can even pull it over really low melted snow so I can transition back while things are melting and mucky until I can use my wagon again. What a difference having the right gear can make for owning chickens.
I also use the sled and the wagon for hauling hay, wood shavings etc. from my Rav4 back to my storage shed in the backyard.
:0). Owning chickens is work, don't get me wrong but it's fun work and the easier you can make it on your body the more enjoyable it can be.