Author: Elvira Bowen

Chickens naturally flock together for warmth and comfort, for company, and when they are stressed or frightened. They are generally very social animals and without companionship can become depressed. Does a chicken need a friend? Chickens are highly social animals who thrive in flocks of up to 30 members. A single chicken will not thrive […]

How Long Do Chickens Live? Chicken lifespans vary widely, with most hens generally living between 3 and 7 years. However, with ideal care, they may live even longer. If a chicken is kept safe from predators (including dogs) and doesn’t have genetic issues, they can certainly live 10 to 12 years old. Can chickens live […]

DO shoot for 14-16 hours of light each day, for best results. Anything less than 14 hours will mean fewer eggs. Anything more than around 16-17 hours may stress out the birds and cause them stop laying altogether. DON’T add the extra hours at night. Should chicken coops be dark? Sunlight is necessary for egg […]

Salmonella: you’ve probably heard of Salmonella, but you may not know that the bacteria Salmonellosis can be carried by rats and mice. It’s transmitted to chickens (and other birds) through dirty drinking water if it contains rodent faeces and / or urine. Salmonellosis – the Salmonella bacteria. Can mouse droppings make chickens sick? Chickens can […]

If you are going to serve young chicks apples, it is best to wait until they are at least 1 week old. Dice the apple flesh into little pieces to make it easier to consume. Always offer regular chicken feed first and then treats after. Make sure treats are not more than 10% of a […]

Standard size chicken breeds that are the most likely to go broody are: Cochins. Buff Orpingtons. Light Brahmas. Other breeds that have a relatively strong tendency to go broody are: Turkens. Buff Brahmas. Cuckoo Marans. What is the most broody breed of chicken? Silkies — these sweet little muppets are the most consistent breed that […]

Chickens will enjoy grains like bulgar and wheatberries or more common grains like corn, flax, cooked rice, and raw or cooked oatmeal. Toss scratch — a mixture of cracked corn and grains including wheats, oats and rye — into the chicken run to keep them happy and busy searching for treats. What can I feed […]

Build your Chicken Coop on Level Ground Any coop that will stand the test of time should be built on level ground. You want a rock-solid foundation for your chicken coop. You will want to either find an area of your property that is level or clear a space to create one. Can a chicken […]

If a dozen is enough, you will only need a few hens. Depending on the breed and age, a hen may lay an egg almost every day. A half dozen hens will provide more than enough eggs for your family, with extra to sell or share. How much space do you need for 8 chickens? […]

Dried poultry manure is two to three times as rich as cow manure in inorganic fertilizer content. Poultry droppings are better manure than cow dung (or other farmyard manure) in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content, the elements most deficient in Indian soil. Why is cow manure better than chicken manure? cow dung is good booster […]

The Chicken Chick recommends evacuating chickens to an indoor space like a garage or basement. A coop can be damaged by high winds. Hobby Farms suggests moving a mobile coop to a more secure location, away from trees and direct winds. You can also remove anything from inside the coop that could become a flying […]

Do Chickens Like Getting In Water? No, chickens with access to bodies of water are not known for getting into it. They avoid it, and also avoid rain, seeking shelter under bushes, in pens, or other sheltered areas. The reason chickens avoid rain is that their feathers are not waterproof. Why do chickens like to […]

A regular, generous application of well rotted animal manure or compost and blood and bone are perfect for roses. Avoid manure from animals that eat meat and use chicken manure sparingly – as these are too acidic for roses. What manure is best for roses? The composted chicken, cow, or horse manure is beneficial to […]

Tapeworms cannot be transmitted from chickens to humans. What foods can you get tapeworm from? Most people with a tapeworm infection got it by: eating raw or undercooked beef, pork, or fish infected with tapeworm. or. contact with poop that contains tapeworm eggs. People can pass tapeworm eggs to others when they don’t wash their […]

Burying mesh at least one foot deep around the sides of the enclosure will keep predators from digging. Keeping chickens indoors at night is easily the most important and effective way of protecting free range birds, because many predators are most active between dusk and dawn. How do I protect my backyard chickens? Here are […]

Rats will attack and eat baby chickens, and if desperate enough, they will attack adult chickens. They are more likely to eat chicken feed than to attack adult chickens, as that requires more effort and rats are opportunists. A direct attack on an adult chicken by a rat is rare, but it does happen. Will […]

For the small flock owner, vaccination is generally necessary only if the birds have had disease problems in the past, may possibly be exposed to other birds (eg, at poultry shows, meat swaps, or wild bird access), or if new birds are introduced to the flock (open flock). Do I need to vaccinate my chickens […]

ABSTRACT Several worm parasites have been detected within market eggs. The intestinal nematode (Ascaridia galli) has been reported most frequently. Cecal worms (Heterakis spp.), oviduct flukes (Prosthogonimus spp.) and a tapeworm (Cestoda) also have been recovered from eggs. Can you eat the eggs of a chicken with worms? Yes, you can still eat your chicken […]

Bug and Pest Control Chickens are also really good mousers. As a matter of fact, our hens are better at catching and killing mice than our cats are. This is why we store their food in their coop, covered. We don’t worry about mice, because the chickens will take them out. Do chickens keep mice […]

Why are spiders in the chicken coop? Spiders really don’t give a darn about your chickens! They want the bugs that are attracted by chicken poop and leftover food items. Not only do spiders eat the bugs flying around your chicken coop, but they are bugs. Do chickens eat black widow? A chicken could definitely […]