Author: Elvira Bowen

In fact, your chickens require 6 to 8 hours of sleep every day in order to maintain their immune system. So just as much as they need light to lay eggs, your chickens absolutely need darkness to sleep and recharge. Will chickens lay eggs in the dark? In order to consistently lay eggs, hens need […]

At a level of 60 dB sound pressure level (re 20 μN/m(2)), their hearing rangehearing rangeHumans can detect sounds in a frequency range from about 20 Hz to 20 kHz. (Human infants can actually hear frequencies slightly higher than 20 kHz, but lose some high-frequency sensitivity as they mature; the upper limit in average adults […]

Vision is the most important sense for all birds, including chickens. Hence the reason that birds have the largest eyes relative to their size among all the different species of animal on our planet. What sense organs does a chicken have? The sensory organs receive the various stimuli from the bird’s environment and include: beak […]

Can I use play sand for chicken dust bath? Play sand is just fine for chickens or you can buy a few bags of building sand from your merchant, it is probably much cheaper than play sand. Other things you can use are: Sawdust. What kind of sand do I use for chicken bath? Basically, […]

Americans eat more chicken than any other meat. Chicken can be a nutritious choice, but raw chicken is often contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria and sometimes with Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens bacteria. If you eat undercooked chicken, you can get a foodborne illness, also called food poisoning. Why does raw chicken have bacteria? Chicken meat can […]

Foraging is where chickens will peck and scratch the ground to find tasty morsels. This is how the wild ancestors of chickens would have found food, by scratching with their feed and pecking. Chickens do this even if they have a feeder full of food. What do chickens peck at on the ground? CHICKENS WILL […]

The birds are capable of recognizing a non-natural mark on their feathers and preening it until it no longer appears in a mirror. They’ve also used mirrors to guide their own self-directed behavior. What animals recognize themselves in a mirror? In Gallup’s view, only three species have consistently and convincingly demonstrated mirror self-recognition: chimpanzees, orangutans, […]

If you want laid-back, healthy hens, bug control in the coop and a pretty run, you can’t go wrong with lavender. Do chickens hate the smell of lavender? Chickens Are Repelled By Lavender Lavender is used in many home products, in herbal applications, and as a common garden addition to bring in pollinators and beauty. […]

Chickens Are Repelled By Lavender Lavender is used in many home products, in herbal applications, and as a common garden addition to bring in pollinators and beauty. Because of lavender’s strong scent and pungent aroma, chickens will usually avoid areas where lavender is planted. Is lavender OK around chickens? Lavender is a natural stress reliever […]

The Truth is… mint added to chicken feed daily can be detrimental to hen health. Poultry herbalist Susan Burek says, “I do not give herbs to my chickens every day. The misuse of herbs can cause those herbs to act indiscriminately and destructively, much like antibiotics. What does peppermint do for chickens? Mint helps repels […]

Mint, lemon balm, and lavender are great plants to have growing around your chicken coop or run to deter a great many different types of pests, lice, and mites. Lice and mites love hanging out in nesting boxes, so make sure to clean the boxes regularly. What keeps mites away from chickens? To help avoid […]

While not toxic itself, Eucalyptus leaves can harbor Aspergillosis spores (a dangerous fungus that can cause death in various types of birds, including chickens and ducks). Also full-strength eucalyptus oil is toxic to both humans and animals. What essential oils are harmful to chickens? Because essential oils are so potent, potentially irritating ones, including cassia, […]

Avian influenza has been detected in at least 24 states. Approximately 23 million chickens, turkeys and game birds in commercial and backyard flocks had been culled as of April 3, 2022 after bird flu was detected on their sites. Is bird flu in the US 2022? Learn about 2022 detections of HPAI in Commercial and […]

Virulent NewcastleVirulent NewcastleVirulent Newcastle disease, formerly known as exotic Newcastle disease, is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry. The disease is so virulent that many birds and poultry die without showing any clinical signs.https://www.aphis.usda.gov › avian › virulent-newcastle › vnd What are the most […]

Chickens and turkeys will die quickly from the disease. Ducks and geese may recover but then remain carriers and spread the disease. How do I know if my chickens have the bird flu? Some of the signs for avian influenza include eating less, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, reduced egg production, lack of energy, swelling around […]

Your flock does need access to pasture, but they need chicken feed, too. They will also be healthier and lay better if their bodies are not stressed out by undernourishment and nutritional deficiencies. What is the best feed for free-range chickens? In addition to a good quality poultry feed, a variety of fresh fruit and […]

If the chicken is not eating independently, they can be fed by spoon, dropper, syringe or tube fed a liquid diet. Layer feed can be can be crushed with warm water or warm milk to make a soupy mash, which a sick chicken may find enticing when little else does. Is milk good for sick […]

Coconut is safe for chickens as long as it has not been sweetened. The extra sugar is bad for hens and will disrupt the balance of nutrients in their feed. You can feed your chickens fresh coconut, coconut water , coconut milk and dried or desiccated coconut without any problems at all. What water is […]

Creative Feed #18: Grass Just having access to fresh grass can be 15-20% of a chicken’s entire diet. Throw in access to wild seeds, bugs, and worms and you could sustain your flock entirely on pasture/yard if your flock is small enough and you have enough pasture/yard to rotate them on. Can chickens survive eating […]

This phenomenon is caused by gas-producing bacteria, often Pseudomonas spp., inside the egg. Pressure inside such an egg builds up and even a small vibration can be enough to trigger the explosion. Can chickens explode? ‘ The chickens were buried in a 20-foot pit at Mohler’s poultry farm after they died from heat prostration last […]