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Caring For Chickens
Tips to Keep Them Happy and Healthy
Caring for chickens is not nearly as complicated as you may think. Follow these few maintenance tips and your flock will remain contented, strong and good egg producers.
You should approach caring for chickens the same way you approach your organic gardening.
Take a few extra maintenance measures to make certain your brood remains strong on the inside out.
Home Sweet Home Should Be Home Safe Home
Whether you keep your flock in a stationary coop or a chicken tractor
you will need to protect your flock from the wind and sun. A roof is especially important when caring for chickens.
Your birds will need shade during the hot summer days or they could go into early molt. Hens that go into molt will not lay eggs, so be sure to provide your birds with protection.
While their dwelling space should be well ventilated, there also should be some protection from wind, especially during winter, when the north wind is particularly cold.
Your hens will need nests to encourage them to lay indoors. A good rule of thumb when caring for chickens is one nest for every two birds.
Also, keep their waterers and feeders clean. The coop should be easy to clean as well. So while your birds might not need high ceilings, make them high enough so that you can get inside easily.
You will need to protect your flock from predators, especially dogs, who tend to love killing birds. A good solution is a portable electric fence surrounding your coop.
Also, make certain the door to the coop can be latched shut to keep out unwanted guests.
Make certain your birds have adequate space. Provide three square feet per bird when caring for chickens. Provide these simple maintenance precautions and you're on your way to a healthy flock.
Feed 'Em Right
You'll want your chickens to get the best diet possible, something that will be a challenge when caring for chickens who are confined.
Of course, if you want your birds to get the best nutrition possible, keep them on grass in a chicken tractor
That way they'll get a daily diet of fresh greens and insects.
However, the greens usually won't be enough for a healthy maintenance, so you'll need to give your flock rations as well. To make sure they get their complete nutritional needs met, buy commercial rations for them.
You can find rations at any farm supply store. The type of ration you buy will depend on the age of your flock and whether you are raising layers or broilers (meat).
Most farm supply stores will sell chick ration (for the first ten weeks of your flock's life); broiler ration (both grower and finisher); pullet ration, both grower and developer for your female birds; lay ration for your laying hens and scratch grains, a bit like candy to your flock.
Free-choice feeding - where you leave rations out all the time - is a simple way of caring for chickens and making sure your flock is getting enough to eat. A large tube feeder is easier to use; you only have to fill it once a day.
Keep Things Clean
If you keep your chickens in a coop, the end result will start piling up and getting higher by the day!
It's not healthy for anyone to live in their own manure, and your birds are no exception.
So an important part of caring for chickens is to remove that manure on a regular basis, and add it to your compost pile.
They'll appreciate the maintenance. Also scrub their waterers once a week and clean their feeders.
Avoid Visitors of the Feathered Kind
Other birds can bring diseases to your flock, so keeping them away is one of the best ways of caring for chickens. Even if these birds look healthy, they may not be. If you get a new bird from somewhere, isolate her for two weeks to make sure she is healthy.
Also, keep other poultry lovers away from your flock. They could spread diseases with their shoes.
Don't mix birds of different ages or species as they could spread disease as well. And finally, keep wild birds away from your flock. They can bring in parasites, along with the dreaded avian flu.
Just Stay Calm, Everyone!
Spend any time at all caring for chickens, and you'll realize they tend to panic easily.
Today, one of our roosters got out of his pen and got chased by our dogs.
He was so terrified he fainted dead away! Hence, the term "chicken-hearted."
It won't take much to stress out your birds. But stress is not good for anyone, and especially not for your flock.
To keep things calm, talk gently or sing to your hens and roosters whenever you get near, and always handle your birds gently.
More Helpful Information on Caring for Chickens
Worried how your hens will make it through the winter? Here are some winter Chicken Care tips.
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Yes, you can keep chickens even in many urban communities. Here's some information on keeping a backyard flock.
If you're planning on ordering baby chicks from a hatchery, you'll need to provide your babies with special care until all their feathers are in.
Here's how you can Get your chicks off to the right start with a brooder.
Are you wondering what the basic needs of your flock will be? Here are some basic tips on how to care for your flock.
Have you ever wondered what the big deal is about a chicken coop on wheels?
Here are some reasons why a portable coop is best.
Keep chickens and you'll get eggs! Not only are they good to eat, but they can also be a great source of homesteading income.
There are a wide variety of chicken breeds available. Here are some tips on choosing the right breed for you.
Thinking of venturing into the organic market?
It can be profitable, but there are steps involved as well. Here are some tips on raising the organic flock
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