The Essentials For Keeping Chickens

The Chicken Rescuer ( And The Outtakes ) VIDEO

2011-11-06T23:17:00.003Z

The First few weeks after Lesley rescued 5 factory farmed chickens to give them a stress free life in the Sussex countryside.

Hens Like Maggots ( VIDEO HD )

2011-10-29T18:46:00.001+01:00

Chicken Disease - That Is One Sick Chick

2011-10-29T18:25:00.001+01:00

By Kelson Spear

Chicken disease can hit your flock at any time. Illnesses like upper respiratory infections (URI), chickenpox, Avian Diphtheria, bird flu, plus a host of others are all possibilities. And, unless you are already prepared to deal with the problems as they arise, you're going to need to decide how you should care for them. And that decision depends totally on your intentions for your flock.

If you want to save any and all chickens, then you should treat them just as you would a dog or a cat, whenever they get sick you would take them in to your veterinarian. If you are thinking more about a herd, or large flock - then you would do something whenever you notice high mortality, or if you have high morbidity.

It is quite common for most backyard chicken growers to simply allow the chicken disease to take its course and see what happens with the chicken. And that might be okay for you? It may mean the hen will not survive, and you need to be okay with that outcome.

Your other main option is to visit a local veterinarian, treating your hens just like any other family pet. You would take them in to see what's wrong with them, and to get the treatments as recommended by the doctor. Surprisingly, not a lot of owners raising chickens do this. However it is slowly becoming more and more common throughout the U.S. for owners to take one of their hens in to see the veterinarian for care.

For example, there was a recent report, from a backyard poultry raiser, describing how her chicken's beak had grown irregularly, and so she took the hen in to the doctor for treatment. That was one of only a handful of reported visits to the doctor, for a chicken, that have been reported in the news.

The health and safety of your chickens, when hit by any sickness, depends largely on how you want to treat them. Whether you want to treat each one as a single pet, or as a large flock, may determine what actions you take when they are infected by a chicken disease. Make sure you have already thought about each scenario before it becomes a reality.

I want to invite you to pick up FREE Chicken Coop Plans, along with more helpful tips and strategies for raising chickens at http://www.ChickenCoopPlan.com.

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Symptoms That Point to a Sick Chicken

2011-10-29T18:16:00.003+01:00

By Mark Klassen

People who are just starting out raising chickens don't always know the warning signs/symptoms of ill birds. There are generally 6 main areas to focus on that usually point to something being amiss. If you suspect that something is wrong with one or all of your flock you should consult a Veterinarian. My purpose here is to point out what to look for and not to point to specific illnesses:

Chickens are active creatures and always pecking around, exploring. Watch chickens for a short time and you'll observe that unless they're resting, they're usually actively scrounging and scratching for feed.

If your bird is lethargic and not active this is usually a sign something is not right. It will look like it's cold and not move around much and may stay off to itself. A sick bird will tend to hunch its shoulders and stand with its head pulled in towards the shoulders.

If you can hear wheezing this is not normal and a sign something is not right. You may see the bird walking around with it's beak open looking like it's struggling to breathe (except in hot weather as this is normal). They may look like they have a cold with a runny nose and swollen sinuses.

Chickens should not appear to be stumbling, limping or otherwise look unstable on their feet. Look at their joints to see if there is possibly swelling.

The eyes of a chicken should be bright, clear and alert. If they look cloudy or runny then something is amiss.

Healthy chicken droppings should have some substance to them, usually brown or greyish with white caps. If it is shooting out like water, greeny-yellow diarrhea, white or bloody diarrhea or is pasting to the rear end then consult a veterinarian.

Most of all look at the overall appearance. Its skin should be clean and soft - no sores, scabs or lumps. The legs should be clean and waxy-looking - legs should not look scaly. Chickens should look curious, alert and active. If it seems droopy, disinterested, lethargic or goes off by itself - This should a red flag that something is wrong.

Although this is not all the symptoms you might see, it does outline the most common that you may see and will give you a good idea of what to keep an eye out for when it comes to your flock's health.

Want to learn more about chicken coop plans. visit my website

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Hen Houses Or Chicken Arks - Which Are Best?

2011-10-13T08:16:00.000+01:00

If you have decided to raise chickens to provide organic eggs for the family, there are some essential issues you must first take into consideration. To raise poultry you must build some type of housing for your birds. But what variety of chicken house will best suit your needs? Prior to buying lumber, chicken wire, and nails to erect your chicken arks or hen houses, you should understand the major differences between them. Both have unique advantages, but it is likely that only one type will best work in your specific situation. You certainly do not want to erect a huge chicken coop and then realize afterward that a chicken ark would have been lots better with regard to your circumstances.

The terms chicken ark, chicken coop, and hen house are used interchangeably by many individuals, but this is technically not correct. Hen houses and chicken coops are the same, but a chicken ark, also known as a chicken tractor, is a structure unique from the others. Chicken coops are manufactured and put in a stationary (permanent) location. Once built, they will for all time remain in the same place. A chicken ark or tractor, on the other hand, is a portable hen house. It can be moved to a new location in the yard whenever necessary.

The Advantages of a Chicken Ark

Being small, chicken arks are very economical and simple to construct. You can build an entire chicken ark in a solitary day at a very small price. However, the key benefit is that it is portable. With transportability come a good number of advantages.

In view of the fact that tractors make use of the ground as their floor your chickens can hunt and scratch for some of their own diet. This will provide them with real live meals that they just cannot get in a pre-bought feed, helping them to stay healthier. It can furthermore lessen your feed costs. Once one area has had all of its insects and vegetation picked clean, it is an easy task to transfer the tractor to a brand new location possessing new succulent plants and bugs. Cleanup is also simple since there is none. Once you move the house to a new area nature will clean the previous spot for you.

The Advantages of a Hen House

If you are planning to successfully keep a dozen pullets or more you will almost certainly want to make hen houses. These are larger houses than arks and are able to hold a great deal more hens. If you are planning to turn out a lot of eggs a hen house will allow you to accomplish that goal.

If built properly you will be able to eliminate some extra work. Positioning it close to a water source will allow you to use an automated watering system, eliminating daily water replacement. With a tractor, the water fountain ought to be changed on a daily basis. The feeders can be a good deal larger, so it is possible to go weeks without adding feed to the feeder.

Nesting boxes can be situated to allow trouble-free gathering of eggs. It is even feasible to erect poultry housing that will allow you to gather eggs from the exterior. In addition, you will not need to move it to different places as you will with a tractor. With a chicken tractor, because the earth is the floor, you must move the feeders and water fountains separately from the poultry housing itself. It is quite easy to do, but it is one job that will not need to be performed with permanently positioned housing.

You might think that cleanup would be a significant chore with a larger poultry house, but if you erect a chicken coop a couple of feet off the soil, using wire for the floor, you will eliminate the need for cleaning. All of the droppings will drop beneath the coop, so the interior will remain clean.

Both chicken coops and chicken arks have their advantages and disadvantages. A tractor will be less costly and simpler to erect, supply living food to the hens, and do away with clean up chores. A larger hen house will permit the hens more space, demand less effort with feeding and watering, and if built appropriately, do away with the job of cleaning.

Joshua has successfully grown chickens for about 25 years and has accumulated a huge amount of familiarity on the subject matter. He is an expert in growing chickens for both meat and eggs. He maintains an enlightening web site where you will be able to get free information in relation to manufacturing a low-priced chicken ark, successfully raising chickens, how to pick out the ideal location for building your chicken coops, and more.

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Raising Chickens - Why 'Greens' Are Important For Chickens

2011-10-12T10:40:00.000+01:00

Raising chicken is a very interesting hobby. Some people raise chickens just for fun and to make use of their eggs and meat from time to time while others will do this on a wider scale and turn it into a very profitable business.

One of the very important remarks on this type of hens and their egg is that their tastes change from one coop to another or from one breeder to another. The main difference between these hens is the feed that they eat. The type of the feed affects the taste of both the meat and the eggs of the hens and this is the primary cause of the difference in taste from one breeder to another.

The hen feed is one of two ingredients, dry feed and green feed. Green feed is very important because it is the thing that will improve the taste of the meat and eggs of the chickens. One of the major mistakes in breeding chickens is that breeders think that all types of green feed are the same but; the truth is the whole contrary of this.

There are several types of green fodder that you can feed your chicken with. The different types of green feed can affect the health of the chicken and can also add a distinctive odor or taste to the egg.

For example, the green fodder contains high amount of water but, only some of them has high amount of nutrients. Wheat grass is one of the very interesting green feed that hens would like to eat. The plant is full of huge amounts of nutrients as well as water and chickens love them much so they will eat it all the time and that will result into better production rate and better taste for both the meat and the eggs.

In addition to the wheat grass, chickens can eat any weed clipping that you can get from your garden. It is very important to make sure that they are eating safe plants and safe food. Some people think that because they are animals they could eat anything without getting sick. Some plants have highly adverse effect on the chickens so; make sure that you are offering them the right food.

There are two methods to feed your chickens with green food, you either get them out of the coop and let them free - range in your garden or you can cut the grass and the green weeds and put it in their coop.

If you will go for the first method then you need to make sure that the perimeter is safe and there are no predators can harm them while eating around. Also you need to monitor the weather and if it is going to be windy or rainy then you need to get them inside as soon as possible. If you are leaving for work then do not leave your chicken outside unless you are sure that they are safe or predators will make a feast with these easy to get targets.

If you will go for the second method then you need to make sure that you supply your chickens with enough amounts of green food while they are inside the coop or the free run around it. In the mean time you can easily keep them protected from predators with the fence of the coop. Also you need to make sure that the available space in the free run is capable of containing the amount of chicken you have.

Feeding your chicken with green food can save you a lot of money than feeding them dry ration. Green food can be a free source of food for your chickens if you decided to grow some useful greens in your garden or your backyard. If you are able to plant different sections of your backyard with green stuff on different times then you won't run out of food again.

All the recent researches had proven that green feed will enhance the amounts of Vitamin A, Beta Carotene and omega three in the eggs and will also eliminate a big chunk of cholesterol of the egg content.

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Chickens Dust Bath

2011-10-11T12:39:00.000+01:00

Ironically, a chicken dust bath is an essential tool in caring for your chickens. They keep clean by having a dust bath. That is, they scratch up some dry sand or dirt and then lie in it and ruffle up their feathers until they are saturated in sand and dirt. Then they stand-up, have a good shake, and presto, they are "clean".

Dust baths serve several purposes for chickens. They can remove excess oil from their feathers. Dusting is also a method allowing chickens to cool off when it's hot out. Normally, there would be a slight depression in the bath - so they could lay down in it, and cover themselves with dust and cool off slightly. However, the most important function is to remove parasites, like lice and mites, so that the chicken's body and skin are protected.

A dust bath should be provided in every chicken pen, especially if you don't have a dry patch inside your poultry run.

If you do have to provide a chicken dust bath, it should be a small shallow box that is easy for them to climb into. The dust box should be large enough to allow your chickens to lie in, spread their wings, and flick the dust into the air so that it can cover its whole body.

You would put in sand, ashes, dirt, and a little insecticide (if you want). You can cover this with a shade during summer. You want to keep it dry, and have a cover that you can take on and off while it's in the winter months. You might keep part of it moist during the summer months.

These are the essential basics you need to understand about having a chicken dust bath to keep your flock healthy and happy.

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Protecting Your Flock From Predator

2011-10-11T12:30:00.000+01:00

Whether you've a flock of ten or a flock or two, protecting your essentially defensless chickens from predators such as hawks, raccoons, and coyotes, as well as a number of other animals, is an important part of caring for your poultry.

1. Make Your Coop Secure
At night, and during laying, your chickens will retire to their coop. Sleeping chickens are quite difficult to awaken and a stealthy predator (or a non-stealthy predator) and sneak into the coop and kill them before they even really wake up. Keeping your coop as secure as possible is the number one way of protecting your poultry at night. Make sure there are no holes or gaps in the floor and walls, and nothing that even a mouse can sneak into as mice love to creep into the grain. Set wire fencing at least half a meter underground around your chicken run, with footplates to prevent predators from digging underneath and popping up in the chicken safe zone.

2. Keep It Clean
Do not deposit compost near the coop, and keep the area around the coop and inside the chicken run mowed. This will keep predators from sneaking in while you're not looking and then pouncing out of tall grass and taking off with a bird. Keeping your compost away from the coop removes a temptation for animals to come up to the coop to begin with.

3. Dangers Above and Below
If your hens have a run, put hawk netting over head so that they are safe from hawks and eagles. Smaller birds are often enjoyed by these larger birds of prey, so keeping them covered will keep them safe. Be sure that you raise their nesting boxes and coop up off the ground, if possible. This will help protect them from animals that may find another way in and dig up into the coop taking your chickens with them.

4. Motion Sensors and Electric Fences
Most animals are frightened away when a bright light suddenly shines into their face. However, they may grow immune to this over time, which is why you should consider an electric fence on the OUTSIDE of your chicken coop. You can dig one line into the ground to catch digging predators, and one on the top of the fence to catch anyone who tries to climb over.

5. Invest in a Guard Dog
But be careful that you train your dog not to chase your chickens. Dogs love to chase chickens and chickens don't love to be chased. It is very easy for a harmless and simply excitable dog to chase chickens to death; at the very least this can severely mess up their laying cycle. A guard dog will certainly keep predators away, but you will need to spend time training them and watching them in the beginning to make sure that they don't get over zealous and try to herd your chickens back into their coop.

Lastly, consider investing in a gun; especially if you live in a rural area. Where we live we have the threats of everything from bears to cougars and coyotes. When faced with a predator of this size, often your only defense is an excellent offense. Don't eliminate the prospect of a firearm.

Toys for Chickens

2011-10-11T12:24:00.000+01:00

The idea of chickens playing may seem odd to some, but there are definite ways to make life a little more exciting for your birds. Read below for ideas!

Important Things To Know:
Chickens are incredibly curious but they will be most interested in food and shiny things. Toys that involve eating will be most popular and so anything they eat, even just chicken scratch, can be turned into an interactive game for your birds. They are not necessarily stupid either, though they are simple. If you give a chicken a treat for pecking at a piano, they will continue to do it as long as they are fed. It is, however, very important to remember that moderation is key. Some play time is good but too much is dangerous. Also, keep an eye on them for overly aggressive behavior. Most flocks naturally compete, but when this turns to aggression then play time needs to be changed or removed.

Fruit and Veggie Toys
Any safe fruits and veggies can be used for toys and your chickens will love making a small leap to take a grape from your fingers or to nab some cabbage hanging from a a string.

Hang cabbage from a rope a few inches over head height so they have to jump to get some.
Throw some fruit across the yard so they have to run to get it.
Put berries or peas into their bedding or a mulch pile so they have to turn up the flooring to get to the treats.
Send them chasing peas off the floor.
Put a banana in a rotting log for them to pull apart.
Hang lettuce leaves from a clothes line a few inches over head, one for each chicken.
Break open a pumpkin or squash and let them dig through it, especially as these treats are a natural-dewormer and will keep your birds healthier.

Baking Toys
Be careful as things that are too soft can be choked on.

Roll some hard, crusty rolls for them to chase.
Hang some french bread overhead.
Put rolls on their fencing.
Bake some sugar-less cookies with peanut butter, seeds and grains and then hang these healthy treats around the yard.

Other Types of Food Toys

Peanut butter provides extra protein and can be left around the yard in little piles for them to hunt up and enjoy.
Rice can be tossed for them to chase.
A pinecone rolled in peanut butter and filled with seeds also makes a fun treat that your kids can make for the birds around Christmas time.

Children's Toys
By cautiously choosing toys that light up and make sounds, you can give your chickens some unique things to play with. Just be careful that there are not small parts they can break off.

Kid safe mirrors that will not break.
The ever popular key ring.
Child gym's with interactive parts.
The stacked donut rings are great, especially if you've hidden a treat for them to get to.
A small ball can be fun, they will even play a somewhat game of soccer.

Other Alternatives
As long as you use common sense and remember that chickens have none, your birds should be safe with a number of toys. Just remember they will eat anything and everything so small parts or breakable items should be avoided.

Parrot toys, especially large ones.

Live bugs such as crickets released into the coop gives them great fun chasing the little bugs.
Jewel cases that make reflections on the ground for the birds to chase.

Chicken Care - Why It's Important

2011-10-11T12:19:00.000+01:00

Chicken care, like all pet care, is important both to the health of the chicken and the owner. Many people think that because chickens are farm animals or outside animals, that they can pretty much take care of themselves as long as they are fed and given water regularly.

This is an unfortunate misconception because although it is true that chickens spend much of their time outside, they need to be kept warm and dry. Both the chickens and their coops need to be kept clean as well, to ensure that the chickens stay in good health.

This may seem like a lot of work, but like any pet, chickens need to be treated with care and love. If a chicken gets sick, it can easily make all of the other chickens (assuming you have more than one) sick as well. The chicken's handler or owner can also get sick from the chickens, especially if the chickens are being raised for meat (hopefully not!).

There is also a moral element. Taking on a pet comes with the responsibility that the pet will be cared for properly, and to not do so is pretty much abuse. If you are thinking about a chicken as a pet, then you should seriously consider the commitment it will take to properly raise and care for the chickens.

Ultimately, chicken care is most important for the happiness of both the owner and the chicken. Happiness contributes to good health, and good health contributes to longer life, as well as a more fulfilled life. It is proven that pets contribute to the happiness of the owner, helping to combat depression and loneliness.

Although chicken care may seem like a daunting task, it really isn't, especially when you have a complete guide to chicken care. The more information you have on chicken care, the better off you will be in having happy, healthy chickens.

If you're looking for more information on how to take care of chickens, you can visit http://www.squidoo.com/chicken-care

There's lots of great information as well as links to other lenses with even more about how to care for chickens, how to build chicken coops, and more. Whether you are just thinking about raising chickens or have raised many, the information at http://www.squidoo.com/chicken-care will sure to be beneficial for everyone!

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Tips To Easy And Simple Built Chicken Coops

2011-10-11T11:57:00.000+01:00

If you are thinking about rearing chickens, then you have a job at hand and that job is, you have some chicken coops to build in the near future. It is important now to begin to research and consider what type of chicken hutch plans you will need for your own specific requirements.

Several blueprints and floor plans are available in today's market for the beginner do-it-yourself builder as well as the experienced woodworker. In this article I will discuss several of the different types of chicken coops to build and their construction process.

Before you start building a chicken coop, there are several crucial points to consider, such as; the area of backyard you have available, the amount of chickens you're going to own and do you plan on raising chickens for yourself and family or a money-making commercial venture.

If you're interested in rearing chicken to meet the white meat and egg demand of your home, you only need to raise a relative small number of hens and you can choose from a few easy types of chicken coops to build to get the job done. If you are going to do a small business and want to rear chickens for commercial purpose you will definitely need a large chicken coop and a different set of chicken hutch plans.

Always build chicken coops by following chicken hutch plans that are available in the marketplace or one that's designed by you, according to your own requirements. If you have large chicken coops to build you should make long-term planning decisions and be ready to allocate a somewhat larger budget for this purpose. It is important to follow the building plans exactly or you will find that you have gone way over budget and have a chicken hutch that isn't suitable for raising chickens.

It is not a daunting task if you simply divide the construction process into several small steps and specify time for each and every step in a logical sequence. There are different tasks that should be done prior to others, arrange them in a logical order so that you can build a chicken coop with ease. For small chicken coops, a smaller budget and less planning is required, they require less effort as compare to the large coops and can be easily built by an individual in a weekend.

There are several other advantages of a small chicken hutch plan. One cheap advantage is that you can find different raw material from within your home to build chicken coops. Although these are suitable for fewer than ten hens, they can also be built for large number of hens. If you want to keep hens as pets or domesticate them, then you only need to consider small chicken coops to build.

These can be constructed under an old, abandoned sheds, discarded children playhouses or simply a small corner of the backyard. Consider fencing the roof of these chicken coops, it will not only protect your chickens from numerous predators but also prevent the chickens from entering into your neighbor's backyard.

If you have decided to build a medium size chicken coop, then you are simply constructing a small chicken house, with a slightly larger footprint with a somewhat higher cost and additional construction time. These medium size coops can be built into a portable design which works great if you need to move the chicken hutch for any reason.

The only difference between the large coop lies in the fact that they are capable of holding a larger number of hens as compared to smaller coops. There are a wide variety of different chicken hutch plans available, which once purchased, can be scaled up or back in their design depending on your specific requirements.

These medium and smaller coops cannot be utilized for an industrial scale business because they cannot hold more than twenty hens. There are blueprints available for chicken coop building projects on a larger scale.

There is no limit to the size of these coops and there is no end to the number of hens that can be kept in these coops if your prepared to do the additional work.

To learn more about how you can simply and quickly build you own chicken coop in your backyard, simply visit http://www.buildingachickencoop.com/?hop=filmer007 to receive a set of professional chicken hutch building plans and get started building today.

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Keeping Chickens Healthy Through the Winter Months

2011-10-10T15:10:00.000+01:00

By Tim Warrington

Chickens need care all year around and if treated properly will lay beautifully for you but there are things you must do, especially in the winter months in order to keep your chickens comfortable and healthy. More bedding is a good idea in the winter months in order to keep your chickens warm in the cold winter months. Some people line their coops with cardboard to add extra insulation but make sure when doing this that you don't compromise any ventilation in your chicken coops.Hens will usually lay one egg a day and hens will usually start laying at 20-22 weeks of age, after 2 years egg laying starts to decline a little and in the winter months egg laying diminishes considerably. Other factors can affect your hens laying such as a change of location and sometimes harsh weather such as rain. There are ways to help egg laying in all year round and because laying is effected by the reduction of light, some people install light into the pens in order to stimulate the egg laying process. We don't however and prefer to let nature take its course and allow the hens egg laying to decline naturally. The hens will begin to lay again in early spring and will lay right through the summer months.

Other things that are vital in the winter months are making sure your chickens have a fresh supply of unfrozen water. Water will freeze naturally in the winter months and unless you manually break the water, your chickens will become thirsty very quickly. It may also be a good idea if you have several chickens and cockerels to separate them for a while over the winter months, this gives the cockerels chance to recharge their batteries and gives the hens chance to have a rest from the constant attention of the cockerels

If you live in areas where the temperatures fall really low you may find that your chickens feet and toes will suffer and in extreme circumstances chickens can lose them. Chickens combs can also suffer with parts of them actually falling off in extreme frost and cold. Roosters may become sterile from stress and hens will suffer too and will almost certainly stop laying. You must also remember that illnesses are more prevalent in the cold weather and extra care and vigilance is needed in order to separate any ill chickens from the rest of the flock. If an ill chicken has an illness it is quite probable that they will pass on any infections to other birds. Having said all of that chickens suffer more in heat than they do in cold weather and as long as their needs are met, they will get through the winter months with no problems.

Ukchickens offer point of lay chickens in many breeds as well as eggs of various breeds for incubation. http://www.ukchickens.com

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Keeping Chickens and Selling Eggs From Various Breeds

2011-10-10T15:05:00.000+01:00

By Tim Warrington

If you are planning on keeping a collection of chickens in order to supply the hatching eggs market then you will need to first decide what breeds of chickens you are going to have. You can buy in your breeding stock and it is probably a good idea to start off with about six different breeds. A variety of Leg horns are always a good idea and piles and Aruacana's are also popular birds. You may want to start off with adult birds and then you can immediately begin to collect the eggs. The first thing you will need to do is start to incubate your own eggs. There are various incubators out there that can hold different amount of eggs and you don't have to incubate on a grand scale. Hens will lay on average an egg a day but you must remember that in the winter month's egg laying will diminish and may disappear altogether. The time to collect and incubate your eggs is during the spring and summer. There is also a market for small chicks and POL (Point of lay chickens). However the most popular age to purchase chickens is about 20 weeks simply because most of the hard work has been done and the chickens are fed on adult chick pellets and this is also a good age to sex the chickens.

Hybrid chickens are also extremely popular and many people will want to purchase hybrids in order to have their own eggs. You should keep all breeds separate however and hybrids will need to be in their own enclosure, as will all of the other breeds. Keeping cockerels is a must if you are going to sell the eggs for hatching but one cockerel of each breed is enough. If you have more than one cockerel you run the risk of them fighting and sometimes they will fight to the death if they are evenly matched. Having more than one cockerel also can bother the hens and they may become restless. If there is constant fighting in the chicken pen this can cause stress and hens will temporarily stop laying.

Once your breeding stock is established you will be ready to start to advertise your eggs, remember to label and date your eggs to ensure you know what chickens they have come from and when they were laid. Once an egg has been laid it must be stored in a cool place and turned every day and all eggs shouldn't be kept for any longer than 10 days as every day after an egg has been laid it's fertility will reduce 2% every day.

ukchickens off a wide variety of chicken breeds as well as a wide variety of hatching eggs. We also offer advice and information on keeping chickens. http://www.fertilehatchingeggs.com

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Thinking of Keeping Chickens at Home

2011-10-10T14:49:00.000+01:00

By David Mac Smith

Keeping chickens or hens at home has, for a long time, been popular. Once it was because fresh eggs were difficult to come by but in these days of supermarket abundance other reasons exist. People start out with wanting to know where their food comes from, to have some control over its production. Having your own hens you will know everything is fresh and whats gone into it!

A good healthy hen will lay between 4 and 6 eggs per week, get four hens and you will soon be gifting the neighbours or maybe selling or trading your bounty. That's the starting point but pretty soon you will find out just how much fun can be had by having your own birds. They all have their own characters and will soon be part of the family. You will even have names for them, I like Bunty and Biscuits at the moment! You will find that they are intelligent creatures that will soon come to you, expecting food of course, but they are inquisitive and entertaining. Nor do you need masses of room, the average garden or yard can contain hens easily. Possibly the more room they have means they can find more of their own food but it can make finding the eggs more difficult!

A small run is no disadvantage and their food can be supplemented with kitchen scraps, another form of recycling! You will require some form of hen house or coop to keep them secure at night but they are easy to source. It has become so popular that supermarkets and DiY chains are now selling ready made coops, although with a bit of imagination its easy to build your own that will probably suit you and your birds better. In the UK it is estimated that there are about 500,000 chicken-keepers, world wide its millions.

What sort you go for is a matter of personal choice, they vary in size, colour egg laying capability and character. I prefer some of the local breeds that I know will suit my weather but I also love to see ex-battery hens given a taste of a decent life.There are always bantams to chose from, smaller in size and requiring even less space than a full size hen. Always a popular consideration, especially with city dwellers where space may be tight. Bantams are also very popular with children. There is no need for a cockerel, the hens will lay all the same and your neighbours will not be complaining about the noise!

Chickens are easy to keep, once you have done a bit of reading, and there are plenty of sites on the internet giving advice some free but there are some more professional ones that make a small charge for their comprehensive guides.

As with most things you get what you pay for. If you have ever fancied keeping hens I say give it a go, your children will love them and benefit from the experience and if you can save ex-battery hens all the better. Once you have had your own free range eggs you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner and of course your egg recipes will multiply!Enjoy chickens at home. Visit my blog to learn more.

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2011-10-03T18:03:00.001+01:00

Raising Chickens For Eggs And Meat

2011-10-03T18:00:00.000+01:00

There are meat breeds, layer breeds and dual purpose (as well as ornamental breeds and many other types). If you are considering meat for family use, you would want to figure out how many chickens you will want in one year. If you have lots of freezer space, you could raise the number you want to their optimum size, butcher and freeze. For this you would want a good meat breed that will grow fast and be ready for butchering with a minimal amount of feed expense and time. These breeds are designed to put on muscle mass quickly and can be ready for butchering in as little as 6 weeks. You will need to be well prepared in advance to process a large number of chickens at one time. Meat breeds are prone to multiple health problems if allowed to live past their prime butchering age.

If your family prefers fresh chicken meat rather than frozen, you might want to consider a Heritage breed. They are usually dual purpose, slower to mature, generally of good size. You can raise roosters and butcher when needed, once they reach a good size. You might want to choose bloodlines with hens that are good mothers. This would be a more "old fashioned" way of farming chickens, with a breed that is sustainable for many years, producing eggs and chicks for future meat and eggs. You would want to bring in a new rooster of different blood lines every year or two to prevent inbreeding problems. Older roosters make good "burger", soup and stew as well as hens that have slowed or stopped producing eggs, as long as they are healthy. The Heritage breeds generally live longer healthier lives when well cared for.

When raising young chickens you would feed them differently than your laying hens, so separate yards would be needed. There are breeder feeds, grower feeds, conditioning feeds, layer feeds and more. A chicken yard should allow at least 10 sq. ft. per bird. I'm not sure how much area you have to offer chickens, but he healthiest chickens for eggs and meat are raised free range, meaning they are regularly given access to pasture-like areas where they can eat a natural diet of fresh vegetation, bugs, worms, and seeds, as well as their regular feed. Yards are good for keeping them safe, a coop that locks up well at night, blocks wind and allows about 4 sq. ft. per chicken is important.

We have some excellent articles on our site to help you get started and choose the breed or breeds you think would be best for your purposes as well as how to get set up and care for chickens.

For more information on raising chickens go to http://www.raising-chickens.org

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Which Chickens Are Best for Eggs?

2011-10-03T17:58:00.000+01:00

It's become popular to raise and keep a small flock of hens for eggs as a hobby for many families. It is a part of today's urge to go green and get back to basics.

Most hens can be expected to lay five eggs a week. This means that four to five good layers will mean a couple of dozen eggs a week. Different breeds have different qualities. The best layers won't usually sit on eggs (be broody), but some of the breeds that are just a little less productive will set the eggs for you if you plan to raise chicks.

If you only want to produce eggs to eat, you won't need to deal with a rooster, which is a big perk. Roosters can be mean, territorial, and cause problems with chicks introduced to the flock.

Choosing Your Chickens

The White Leghorn is the best laying breed. They begin laying at about five months of age and will continue to do so almost daily for 3 years or more.

Red and Black Stars are also excellent layers. Plus, they have the added attribute of being friendly and they make great pets. They lay large brown eggs almost every day.

Consider these things before choosing from the hundreds of chicken breeds available:

Make sure your choice of hen will do well in your climate. Be sure you have enough space - an adult chicken needs at least 4 square feet of space, minimum. This means sixteen feet of space per four hens. More is always better. They need exercise, close confinement increases stress in hens that can cause them to stop laying. A docile breed will be best if children will be involved.

Eggs and Small Business Ventures

Selling fresh eggs can be a great family passtime or even a small business.

If you have the room to free range the chickens, then the eggs will bring a much higher price. You can also go completely organic and they will bring even more.

Fertilized eggs for hatching can be sold as incubation projects for students or you can sell the chicks.

A rare or endangered species of hen can command an even higher price. Online sales of these eggs can be done all year.

Be sure to learn how to pack eggs for shipping. It's not as difficult as you might imagine. It just takes lots of bubble wrap around each individual egg plus a snug fit in a double box. Many eggs are shipped or received this way without a problem.

If you will be incubating or selling the eggs for incubation, they should not be washed. Just brush off any loose dirt. Washing the egg removes a protective layer on the outside of the shell.

Keeping chickens for eggs is fun and, with the right planning, can be quite profitable.

If you're a do it yourself kind of person, you can check out how to build a chicken coop.

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Common Diseases and Cures That Backyard Chickens Contract

2011-10-03T17:54:00.000+01:00

Many people enjoy raising backyard chickens out of the joy that comes with owning chickens and because of the fresh eggs that they provide. In fact, this form of urban farming is becoming so popular that people across the country are building chicken coops and keeping chickens in their backyards. However, chickens like any other animal or pet also are susceptible to many diseases that can occur no matter how clean you keep a chicken coop or how well the animals are looked after. Thus, to help you identify when your chickens may need your aid here are the top diseases that backyard chickens may develop.

First on the list are external parasites which can range in size from a small mite that only measures about.5mm and can be hard to even see up to ticks that are about a centimeter in size. You may also notice fleas that nest on the chicken's feathers as well as lice that resemble the same type that young children often get in their hair.

Some parasites are more harmful than others and can lead to mild conditions such as irritation and feather damage or can cause life threatening diseases such as tick fever. Depending on the severity of the infection your feed store may carry parasite sprays and drops that you can give the chicken, although severe infections will require a trip to the vet before it spreads to all of your chickens.

Internal parasites can also infect chickens and are usually more harmful to chickens since they can cause diarrhea, pale combs, and severe weight loss. If you notice any of these symptoms it is possible that your chickens have worms much like puppies get. Regularly cleaning up the feces of your chickens will help keep worms from spreading and infecting your chickens in the first place. If you notice worms you should head to the vet with a feces sample for a diagnosis of type so that they can give you the proper medication. Additionally, during this time period you should not eat any of the eggs that your chickens produce.

A popular disease that is specific to chickens is Marek's disease which is a viral infection that spreads from chicken to chicken via dust and feather dander. It is extremely hard to cure in your chicken coop due to the fact that it can tolerate harsh environments for a long period of time and can even spread on your clothing from bird to bird.

Marek's disease usually affects a bird at a young age attacking their white blood cells and results in cancer developing in the bird. The first time you may notice it is when the chicken's legs become paralyzed although sometimes the paralysis can affect the neck and wings of the bird. Other symptoms include breathing problems, weight loss, and diarrhea. Since you cannot cure the disease it is important to have your chickens vaccinated or be sure that the chicks you buy have previously been vaccinated.

Another exclusive disease that strikes chickens is fowl pox which is also a viral infection. The disease can be spread from chicken to chicken by fighting or by biting at insects. It enters the chicken's body by a scrape or scratches and will manifest itself when the scabs start to form over the entry point. Most of the time chickens will recover from the infection without intervention but sometimes they can get ill from another secondary infection. The good news is that once a chicken recovers from the fowl pox just like the human form of chicken pox they are immune for life.

Although most of these diseases can sound awful in nature, outside of the Marek's disease most are not serious and be prevented by practicing good hygiene when it comes to your chicken coop. The best way to prevent your chickens from getting sick is to keep their chicken coop clean by scrapping out the feces from inside the coop and enclosure on a regular basis. Changing the water and food on a daily basis is also important to prevent disease from spreading from bird to bird.

Suzie O'Connor is the owner of ChickenHousesPlus.com which carries an extensive selection of Affordable Backyard Chicken Coops, custom made chicken houses.
http://www.chickenhousesplus.com/chcohenhofrs.html Custom made chicken coops and chicken houses mean happy, healthy chickens.

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Raising Chickens and Quails ( VIDEO )

2011-10-03T15:11:00.000+01:00

Keeping Chickens Under Extreme Weather Situations

2011-10-03T15:06:00.000+01:00

Chickens, especially when they're young, are quite sensitive and vulnerable to extreme temperatures and diseases. Some baby chicks have a weak immune system and may succumb to harsh climate situations. Other breeds of chickens have a stronger immune systems which permits them to survive regardless of the extremes of climate and various diseases. Because of this, you should certainly take into account the weather conditions in your region when choosing a breed of chicken to raise. The two essential seasons which an individual must be careful about are summer season and winter, since these two seasons see the most extreme weather conditions.

If an individual has his home situated in a location with extreme summer temperatures most of the time, the chickens can suffer from excess heat exposure resulting in dehydration. There is a possibility for hens to lay an excessive amount of eggs in hot weather. Excessive egg laying is not a good thing, since it will cause a lot of stress to the hens..

Sufficient water needs to be provided for the chickens, and it needs to be clean and hygienic. It should be given to the chickens constantly during hot weather. The waterer has to be refilled on occasion to make sure that the water remains clear and fresh. The chickens need to be kept within the shade when the temperatures are high. Most importantly, correct air flow and ventilation have to be maintained inside the chicken coop.

Be aware that chickens can adapt to the tough weather conditions in the winter. Their metabolism undergoes a natural change to help them to survive low temperatures. Just make sure that the chickens are properly sheltered from the weather, and not exposed to drafts. After that, you need to provide warmth inside the coop. The easiest way to do this is by hanging a heating lamp from the ceiling. The lamp should be at a sufficiently long distance away from the ground and from any flammable materials. The water also needs to be heated to keep it from getting frozen. Without water the chickens can die, so this always needs to be taken care of. It is also a good idea to spread some straw or sawdust on the floor to help keep the coop insulated

Every morning, watch the chickens for their health status. Look at their physical attitude. Do they look bright, active, and healthy? If they don't look anything close to normal, then you should call or see the vet to ask for suggestions and answers. The chickens may show teary eyes, sneezing, loss of appetite, melancholy, subnormal stools, mites, etc. If your chickens show any of these signs, they should be placed in quarantine immediately to stop the illness from spreading to the rest of the flock. The isolated birds have to be kept under close supervision, even after it has been diagnosed. If the birds are fortunate enough to recuperate, they may be safely introduced back to the flock.

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Keeping Chickens - A Great Hobby

2011-10-03T15:03:00.000+01:00

Keeping chickens can be a great hobby for anyone with the space and a little extra time. I started keeping chickens several years ago and I really enjoy having them running around in my yard.

But I made a lot of mistakes when I bought my first chickens and it was terrible. So let's go over some of the things you need to consider before you ever buy your first chick.

First of all, are you allowed to keep chickens in you area? There are strict rules and regulations in many areas that don't allow chickens at all. Some areas will allow hens but not rooters. Still other areas will only allow you to keep a very small flock and the number of animals allowed depends on your area. Take the time to find out before you decided to start keeping chickens and then have to get rid of them.

Do you have the money to invest in keeping chickens. It will cost a lot more to get started since you will have to buy and build a chicken coop, all the necessary equipment, the animals themselves and the food. Check your finances carefully and go to some of the local feed stores in your area to see if they carry what you need. I will cost more sometimes if you have to pay to have items shipped to you.

Decide what size chicken coop you need to keep your chickens in and how big of a space you can afford to build. The bigger the coup, the more money it will cost. If you are going to keep them confined, standard guidelines say that each chicken needs about three square feet of space. If your chickens are allowed to free range, they only need around two square feet. The more hens you have, the more space you will need.

Do you have enough storage space to keep all of the supplies that you need. You will have to store feed, cedar bedding, the lighting equipment for winter and anything else that you might need. If you don't have a storage area, you will need to build one.

Decide where to place your chicken coop. It's location is very important. You want a sunny location but there should also be shade so your hens don't bake when they are laying eggs. The drainage around the area should also be taken into consideration. Chickens need to be kept dry or they will get sick and possibly diet.

This article covers just some of the most basic things that you need to consider before you decide to start keeping chickens. Don't make the mistake that I made. I didn't do my homework and I lost a lot of chicken in my first attempt. Learn more about how to keep your chickens alive and healthy by visiting this link ==> chicken breeds

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Keeping Chickens at Home is Not Difficult When You Know the Fundamental Steps in Caring for Chickens

2011-10-03T14:51:00.000+01:00

Chickens can be kept in a small place at your home, even at the backyard. There is no need to create a special area for them to proliferate in, for keeping chickens at home is the usual setup when it comes to maintaining them. It is relatively easier to take care of chickens compared with other kinds of animals that give products ready to be sold.

Keeping chickens at home need not be tedious. All you need to do is to have a small chicken coop, one which is kept clean and gives enough room for the chickens. Fresh water and food must always be readily available for chickens. There are designated meal times wherein you will feed the chickens, but in between those small portions of food must be present for the hungry ones. One of the advantages that you are keeping chickens at home is you can experiment with their diet by giving them bits and pieces of the food available to you. Chicken droppings must also be constantly cleaned from the coop to maintain a healthy environment.

The sanitary condition of your chicken coop must abide by the community rules on rearing poultry. The failure of which can lead to you being forced to dispose off your chickens. Make sure that you know the rules and follow them obediently.

When keeping chickens at home, sometimes you think that a very small space that sufficiently encloses them will do. However, you must take heed of their need to scratch, peck and perch. There is nothing better than them feeling comfortable in their surrounding. Another important thing is to remember not to cage them, otherwise they will feel stressed out and will not be healthy. In line with their health condition, you must always check up on them and observe whether some of them are sick. In case there are sick chickens, separate them from the group immediately and treat their condition to prevent further sickness in the coop.

Probably one of the reasons why you are keeping chickens at home is the eggs they give. There are chickens that are territorial with their eggs, and their area, but you have to make sure that you approach the coop calmly. Do not threaten them by aggression.

Most importantly, you have to make them safe in their coops. Predators such as hawks need to be kept away from them so that they remain calm and healthy. Parasites must always be checked before they infest everyone.

Looking for more tips on keeping chickens at home? Visit the how to raise chickens website today to discover everything you need to know and how easy it is to raise your own chicken. Separate yourself from the usual chicken owners and avoid costly mistakes, just visit: howtoraisechicken.com.

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How Much Space Do You Need To Keep Chickens? Try Keeping Bantams If You Are Struggling For Space

2011-10-03T14:46:00.000+01:00

If you are considering keeping chickens as pets or just to give you eggs then you're going to need to consider how much space you have available.

In answer to the question of 'how much space do you need to keep chickens' then the answer is always going to be 'as much as possible.'

That said though if properly planned then you do not need a lot of space to keep happy, healthy and productive chickens. You do however need to follow the 5 Freedom rules and as long as you can tick these boxes then you can certainly keep chickens:

1) Freedom from thirst and hunger
2) Freedom from pain, injury and disease
3) Freedom from fear or distress
4) Freedom from any discomfort
5) Freedom to live with normal, natural behaviour

So what is the absolute minimum area that is suggested to keep chickens and be able to abide by the above rules?

Well most experts would suggest the actual coop or hen-house should allow for one square foot per chicken. So if your chicken coop was say three feet by three feet then you could comfortably house 9 chickens in this area of space.

But you will also need a chicken run for your chickens to get out and about for exercise, to scratch around and to feed. (Chickens just love to scratch around!)

There is no hard and fast rule for this area but again, most experienced chicken owners would suggest that if you were housing 6 chickens then you would need approximately six feet by 3 feet for the chicken run.

You can then consider the size of your actual chickens.

If you have a larger area of land then you would probably want to go for standard sized chickens however there is a smaller breed of chicken called a Bantam.

Many people opt for Bantams due to space restrictions and many people consider that they have better personalities than standard chickens whoever the downside is that they do lay eggs that are about half the size of a large or standard sized chicken. As far as size goes though the chickens are about 1/4 of the size of standard chickens so they are much smaller.

There are several popular breeds of Bantams, more affectionately known as 'Banties.' The three most common are the Silkie Bantam - named mainly due to the fact that their feathers are very soft and not barbed like most standard chickens.

If your are considering keeping your own Chickens then it is important to know how big to build a Chicken Run & Coop especially if you are struggling for space.
If you are short of room in your garden or back yard then you may consider keeping smaller breeds of chicken such as Bantams. Visit this website to discover much more about keeping chickens from the experts and how to Build A Chicken Run

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How to Keep Chickens - The Top 3 Reasons You Need a Backyard Chicken Coop For Your Hens

2011-10-03T14:44:00.000+01:00

If you're interested in how to keep chickens in your yard, the first thing you need to realize is that one of the most important aspects to keeping healthy chickens that produce high quality eggs, is to provide them with a safe, comfortable living space. Here are the top three reasons you need to provide your chickens with a backyard coop.

1) A coop will keep your chickens sheltered from extreme weather conditions.

Chickens are sensitive to the weather just like people are, and while chickens are a little better suited to living outdoors, they still don't like extreme weather. Too much heat, too much cold or too much dampness can all have an effect on your chickens health, and on the quality of eggs they produce. Building a coop will give your chickens shelter from the cold in the winter months, and shelter from the heat in the summer months. It'll also protect them from rain and snow.

2) A coop will keep your chickens safe from hungry predators.

There are more than a few animals commonly found in urban and suburban areas that would be more than glad to snack on your chickens. Foxes, weasels, racoons, and even common dogs, can all be a serious threat to your chickens. A dead or severely injured chicken won't produce eggs, so it's in your best interest to keep your chickens safe from such animals. A well built coop will provide exactly that protection.

3) A coop will help keep your chickens centralized in one area.

A coop is the perfect solution to keep your chickens in order. Penning them in with simple chicken wire fences is not only ineffective, but it lacks the solutions to the weather and predator problems mentioned in the last two points. A coop will keep your chickens safe and comfortable, but it also keeps them from taking over your yard! No one wants to give up their entire yard to keep chickens, so a well placed coop will allow you to have them without having to let them have the run of your yard.

There are many more reasons why it's in your best interests to keep your chickens in a good backyard coop. Coops don't have to be expensive, and in fact, can be very cheap without sacrificing quality if you opt to build it yourself. No special skills are required to build a chicken coop, just a willingness and a good set of plans and instructions. Regardless of whether you choose to buy or build though, always remember that keeping your chickens healthy and comfortable is the only way to ensure they produce high quality eggs!

For instructions on how to cheaply and easily build your own quality chicken coop, click here to check out Building a Chicken Coop. This guide will provide you with easy to follow plans for a variety of chicken coops that are affordable, easy to construct and don't require any specialized tools!

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Basic Care of Your Backyard Chicken Flock

2010-02-26T15:39:00.000Z

Chickens are self-sufficient pets. As long as they have fresh water every day and a dry, clean coop to sleep in, they should be happy living in your backyard. You want to keep a clean coop to stop parasites and rodents from being attracted to your coop. Your cleaning can vary from how many hens, size of coop, etc. I do a weekly maintenance inspection and change floor bedding and nesting boxes if needed. Twice a year I do a deep clean and disinfect the entire coop from top to bottom.

Floor: Care can vary for the type of coop that you have. We use a portable coop that my husband built but I still put a piece of plywood in the run area with pine shavings. With our coop it is easy to remove the plywood if I just want to let the hens scratch up bugs and worms. We found that without the wood shavings they can create quite a mess digging up the yard. The plywood just helps with the cleanup by having a flat surface.

Floor covering options: pine shavings or sand (very coarse).

Sprinkle lime on the floor to help neutralize odors even before the wood shavings. Here is a good article regarding the use of lime in a chicken house - Liming the Chickenhouse. Some individuals have mixed emotions on the use of lime.

For lice and mice control use diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic, abrasive fine white powder made of the tiny fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae. If you ever take a microbiology class make sure you get to take a look at this algae under the microscope. They are absolutely beautiful! Diatomaceous earth is a 100% natural treatment for poultry ailments including mites, lice and intestinal worms. Sprinkle it in the nest box and run and coop bedding.

Nesting Boxes: Chickens like quiet, enclosed areas to lay their eggs. You can put straw or pine shavings in your nesting boxes and let them rearrange it to how they want it. I have heard that some people have problems with the hens laying their eggs in the corner on the floor but I have not encountered that problem yet. Our coop has two nesting boxes but for some reason the hens like to nest in the same box. Change the bedding when it looks like its getting dirty.

Roosts: Chickens like to "roost" on raised platforms. Its where they huddle together at night. Once it starts to get dark at our hen house don't even think about peeking in. We have one hen that will make crazy noises and even peck at you! Our roosting stick is removable so I will take it out at least once a month and give it a good scraping. Below the stick I used to lay hay down but found that cat litter works better. It is very easy to clean up. Learn as you go.....

Ventilation: It is very important to keep your coop clean and well ventilated. Ammonia fumes can build up and cause respiratory problems in your chickens. Ventilation also removes humidity and keeps the coop nice and cool in the summer and prevents frostbitten chickens in the winter.

Keeping of backyard hens is still controversial in cities. You don't want your neighbors complaining that it stinks! Keep your coop clean.

Feeding

Food: The best food for egg laying chickens is an organic feed. You can buy pellet or mash. Feed should contain nutrients, omega 3 oils, carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals that your chickens need. Chickens will eat about 4 ounces of pellets a day.

Grit (small rocks): Chickens hold grit in their gizzards. A gizzard is an organ that ginds up feed making it easier to digest. Use more grit in the winter when rocks are harder to find. If you find that shells are thin and soft add oyster shells for calcium.

Oyster Shells: Give oyster shells to egg laying hens. It gives them extra calcium to help produce strong egg shells.

Scraps: Think of this as "treats". Chickens have their own likes and dislikes so see what your ladies like. This can be anything from fruits, veggies and bread.

Free Range:This is my favorite part. Let your hens out and let them run around the yard and let them look for their own food. Mine head straight for my perennial garden. There are some good nightcrawlers and bugs in their.

Water: Provide fresh water everyday. I sanitize the water containers once a week. If you use bleach make sure you rinse well.

Food Storage: Store in vermin-proof containers.

Health

Bugs: Keep an eye out for parasites, lice and fleas. You may need to give treatments if necessary.

* Provide a dust bath for your girls. This is where your chickens will roll, flap or run around in the dirt. It gets rid of bugs and lice naturally.

Stress: If your chickens are looking stressed find a cool dark place for them to go to and recover.

Miscellaneous Chicken Care

Handle: Don't chase your chickens or pick them up by the tail or wings. Get close to them by gaining their trust and confidence. Talk to them and give them treats. Gently pick them up and support under your arm. Patience!

Let Your Chickens Out: Let your chickens out of the coop to scratch and dust bath. I only let them out in the afternoons for a couple of hours under supervision. They destroyed my entire perennial garden one afternoon.

Watch for predators: Keep an eye out for neighborhood pest. This can be anything from cats, dogs, foxes, and racoons.

About the Author:
Tana Lyon can be found at http://www.backyardchickenfarmer.com and is always willing to answer any questions you may have regarding your chickens.

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