Author: Elvira Bowen

They also determined that salt given in solution twice daily proved to be more toxic than equal amounts consumed in the feed. The minimum lethal dose of salt for chickens weighing from 3 to 5 pounds was found to be close to 4 grams per kilo- gram of body weight. How much sodium is too […]

It is illegal to feed mealworms to chickens because they are a health risk to both the birds and the people consuming the meat and eggs produced by insect fed chickens. Mealworms may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, fungi, pesticides, heavy metals and toxins. Are dried mealworms OK for chickens? Dine A Chook Australia has […]

Eggs are good, nutritious food. Egg yolk is particularly good for injured or sick chicks, as it’s literally their nutrient source while they were in the egg. A hen will not be harmed in any way by eating an egg or six, other than she will get more protein in a day than is generally […]

Picky eaters aside, the absolute best indicator of whether chickens are drinking enough water is actually in how much feed the flock is eating. When chickens are dehydrated, they completely stop eating because they cannot swallow or digest. What happens if chickens don’t get enough water? Dehydration – When chickens don’t have enough water, they […]

Pellets. Pellets are the most common form of chicken feed available on the market. They are easy to manage, and the compact cylinders minimize waste. Pellets are processed by grinding up the ingredients and molding them into an oblong shape. What is the best feed for a chicken? Examples of raw fruits and vegetables that […]

Eating snow and ice in the winter months is how the wild birds all around us stay hydrated. It’s instinctual for chickens to eat snow when there’s no source of open water. Mine sometimes choose to peck at snow even when there is water available. Can chickens eat snow to hydrate? If you have extremely […]

Remember, modern domestic chickens lay lots of eggs year-round, while wild birds may lay only a few eggs a year, seasonally. So seed mixes designed for wild birds just won’t make a good, well-balanced diet for your flock. So feel free to offer them wild birdseed. In moderation, as a treat, it can even be […]

All you have to do is gently drop it into a glass of water. Eggs that sit on the bottom are very fresh—they’re perfectly safe to eat. As an egg ages, air seeps into it through the pores in the eggshell, causing the egg to become buoyant. How long can a chicken sit on an […]

They generally alternate between eating breakfast and egg-laying, but the earlier hens start laying their eggs, the better. The first thing chickens do at sunrise is stretch out their legs and wings before hopping off the roost and out of the coop door for breakfast (assuming it is open of course!) Why do chickens shout […]

Once he’s got their attention, he does the chicken dance! This dance involves dropping a wing, then circling around the hen until she either squats in submission or walks away. So, don’t be alarmed. Do chickens do mating dances? The completed mating in chickens is the culmination of a sequence of behaviours. The rooster will […]

The reason is to keep the food dry if it rains, and keep water from freezing as easily in the winter, because the inside of the coop will be warmer. You won’t have to “put them” in the coop at night, they’ll put themselves in at dusk. Do you put food and water inside chicken […]

A good quality commercial poultry feed should be the main component of your hens’ diet to make sure they get all the nutrients they need. These feeds can come in pellet, mash or crumbed forms and are made up of a mix of grains (corn, oats, soybeans), grit (ground oyster shell or limestone) and vitamins […]

For example, if a chicken looks up when it rains, it will drown. Also, they tend to try to eat things that are too big for them to swallow and choke to death. How do I know if my chicken is choking? The first sign is a bird that is breathing with its mouth open […]

Chickens have a sensitive respiratory tract and the fumes produced by fermenting litter cause irritation and respiratory disease. Wet litter tends to grow moulds and fungi, which, if consumed or inhaled, can cause illness or death. How do you dry a wet chicken? You can dry your chicken by putting them in a box with […]

Rats carry many diseases such as salmonellosis and leptospirosis that can be transferred to your chickens. They can also carry mites and fleas into the coop, which can then infest your entire flock. Can chickens get sick from rat poop? Researchers studied the feces of rats caught at an Abbotsford, B.C. poultry farm, and discovered […]

Causes of sudden death in chickens Parasite, poisoning, egg binding, injury, poor nutrition, organ failure: most likely heart, Salphingitis and other disease that show very few symptoms. Any of these can be the reason your chicken died suddenly. What can kill a chicken instantly? Feathers, dust, chickens and a heat source are a lethal combination […]

Chicken Eyes Chicken (and other birds) eyes are actually far more sophisticated than those of mammals. They have cones to detect colour as we do but they have enhancements. They also have minute drops of coloured oil that filter out different wavelengths – yellow, blue and red. Do colors affect chickens? Breeding practice shows that […]

Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing fresh bamboo leaves results in them weighing up to 70 per cent more than those fed on standard organic diets, according to results from INBAR’s Action Research Site in Abra Province, The Philippines. Is bamboo toxic for chickens? Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing fresh bamboo leaves […]

The severity depends on the amount of the rat poison ingested by the bird, and the toxicity of the individual product. Signs of poisoning don’t happen right away. It will take generally 3 to 7 days for clinical signs to appear in chickens, post ingestion of the poison. Will rat poison harm chickens? Is there […]

Hens need a minimum of 16 hours of daylight to sustain strong production. Without supplemental light, they may naturally stop laying eggs due to a hormonal response as the days get shorter. Hens lay best when provided at least 16 hours of day light, whether natural, artificial or a combination of the two. Do chickens […]