Author: Gerardo Gonzalez

Scratch, a blended mix of cracked corn and other whole grains, is the quintessential winter chicken treat. The energy required to digest the scratch grains increases the bird’s body heat, helping to keep it warmer just when needed it most. Do you feed chickens layer feed in winter? During winter I tend to keep my […]

In warm conditions keep the sun off the coop and in the cold weather a south facing window will help warm the insides. For example a southern facing coop with windows on the east and west sides and a big door or windows on the south side will help your coop to stay warmer. Why […]

Chicken Dust Bath Recipe Dig a hole approx. Add some fine dirt or sand. Add Diatomaceous Earth. Add wood ash to the dust bath Wood ash or ash from a fireplace can be a good contribution to your chicken’s dust bath, adding vitamins and further deterring pests. Add some fragrant herbs. Cover the bath. What […]

The USDA Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook for May 2022 noted that poultry production nationwide has steadily increased following supply chain disruptions during the pandemic. But, so have prices. Rising production costs, particularly feed and fuel, have driven up grocery store prices for consumers. Why did chicken get so expensive? The cost of chicken is […]

An official with the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services was unaware of a connection between chickens and toxoplasmosis. DHHS noted that the parasite more frequently finds its way into humans from cat feces and raw meat. Can chickens give you toxoplasmosis? Chickens are considered one of the most important hosts in the epidemiology […]

A 2 ½ to 4 pound whole chicken will serve approximately three to four people. Roasting Chicken: A 4 to 7 pound chicken will serve approximately five to seven people. How many chickens do I need for 6 people? How Many Chickens Do I Need For A Family Of 6? If you have 5-8 chickens, […]

Building a coop is usually cheaper than buying one. But here’s the catch: constructing an abode for your flock takes know-how, tools, and time. If you don’t have these, then it makes more sense to buy — and there are many nice chicken coops for sale out there. Is it worth buying a chicken coop? […]

The high pH of most manure-based composts (e.g., chicken and dairy) is unsuitable for acid-loving plants like blueberry. What manure is best for blueberries? Blackberries respond well to any nitrogen-rich fertilizer, but blueberries require fertilizers with an ammonium form of nitrogen such as urea, sulfur-coated urea, ammonium sulfate, or cottonseed meal. Any fertilizer sold for […]

A healthy-looking hen might be infected with Salmonella, and may lay an occasional SE-contaminated egg while the rest are safe for human consumption. This is true for both factory-farm and backyard chickens. However, the probable risk of infection is extremely small. Can I eat eggs straight from a chicken? Never eat raw eggs. Outbreaks for […]

The Bedding Lineup Straw and Hay. Sun-colored straw, with its sweet, earthy smell and springy texture is what many new chicken keepers reach for to line their coop and nest boxes. Pine Shavings. Cedar Shavings. Sand. Grass Clippings. Shredded Leaves. Recycled Paper. What is the best bedding for a chicken? Medium- to coarse-grained sand is […]

4-6 inches. DO maintain a litter depth of 4-6 inches. As it decomposes and dwindles in depth, add more litter material. It is usually necessary to build a lip at the entrances to the coop so the litter does not spill out. What is the deep litter method for a chicken coop? What is the […]

If you don’t clean your chicken coop regularly, bacteria and other diseases can grow in the coop. This can make your chickens sick and could even make you or your family members sick from taking care of the chickens. How often should a chicken coop be cleaned? As far as how often to clean your […]

The rinses and dips all fit with the outside-in theory of Salmonella contamination where Salmonella contamination is on the “outside” surface of the carcass and it can be removed, and the internal muscle tissues and organs of the bird are not contaminated with Salmonella. Is salmonella in chicken or on the surface? In fact, about […]

Unfortunately it’s true. In fact, bed bugs are a huge problem in commercial poultry farms. As chicken keepers we understand that from predators to parasites, everything likes chicken! Can chickens have bedbugs? Heavy infestations of bed bugs in chicken houses may lead to excessive feather loss, cloacal irritation, lesions on the breasts and legs, and […]

Still, like any captive animal, they need regular feeding to both survive and thrive. In general, a chicken can go for no more than 4–5 days without their regular food, as they’ll be quite malnourished after this point. What happens if you forget to feed your chickens one day? This is because chickens naturally turn […]

Rodents, such as rats and house mice, are not only predators of chickens and eggs, they can carry and transmit many diseases to both chickens and humans. Can mice break chicken eggs? The presence of rodents can stress them. That can lead to a drop in egg production – rats will also steal eggs, so […]

Simply fill the cooler with warm water, secure the lid, and place it in the coop. Chickens quickly learn to drink from the small hole. A cinder block placed next to the cooler will help the birds reach water. What is the best chicken waterer for winter? The 7 Best Heated Chicken Waterers Farm Innovators […]

For a chicken, an Epsom salt bath helps her relax the same way it helps us. If she’s found to be egg-bound, a warm soak will ease her muscles and encourage the egg to slide out. If she’s eaten something she’s not supposed to, it will help flush out toxins. How long should I soak […]

Generally water containing more than 1% NaCl (common salt) is generally not considered good quality, because this approximates to the maximum that cattle and sheep can tolerate without losing performance or production. Animals such as chickens and swine, will typically not tolerate this level of salt. How much salt do you put in water for […]

Moldy feed, mishandled feed, and dirty water are the most common reason chickens get sick. However, there are several other ways your chickens could be poisoned listed below. How do you tell if my chicken is poisoned? Signs are: depression. inappetence. emaciation. thirst. weakness. greenish droppings commonly seen within 36 hours. What kills chickens instantly? […]