Author: Justin Shelton

While the cost of raising chickens for eggs is slightly more expensive, most backyard chicken owners would agree that it is worth it. Owning chickens for eggs allows one to produce and harvest eggs from their own backyard. Is it cheaper to buy eggs or have chickens? But is it cheaper to buy eggs or […]

If you’re raising chickens and don’t need fertilizer, you won’t benefit. But if you’re growing your own food, having chickens to fertilize your property saves you money that should be included in your personal breakdown of chicken economics. Do chickens save money? For most families, having chickens does save money. If you are spending $4-5 […]

Fresh and composted poultry litter may contain bacteria that are harmful to humans. Avoid breathing in the dust of these products, wear gloves when handling them, and avoid eating and smoking while working with them. Can humans get sick from chicken poop? Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter spp.) Campylobacter are bacteria that can make people and animals sick […]

Read below to learn about diseases that can be spread by poultry and visit the Healthy People section to learn about staying healthy around backyard poultry. Bird flu (Avian influenza) Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter spp.) E. Histoplasmosis (Histoplasma capsulatum) Salmonellosis (Salmonella spp.) What diseases can you get from a chicken? It is common for chickens, ducks, and […]

What is histoplasmosis? Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease of the lungs caused by a fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. The infection can sometimes spread to other parts of the body. Droppings from chickens, pigeons, starlings, blackbirds, and bats support the growth of the fungus. Can chickens cause respiratory problems in humans? They may also have red eyes, […]

A rain shelter is an excellent spot to place your flock’s dust bathing box, as they might not use one if it’s damp. Similarly, you could install a waterproof cover for your chicken run. It’s important for your chickens to get outdoors regularly, as being “cooped up” for long periods isn’t ideal. Is it OK […]

The symptoms may vary and include weakness, loss of appetite and poor growth. The animals are crowded close to heat sources and sit with drooping wings and their eyes closed. Watery diarrhoea may also occur. In adult poultry, diseasepoultry, diseasePoultry diseases occur in poultry, which are domesticated birds kept for their meat, eggs or feathers. […]

Salmonella can get on the shells of eggs when birds lay eggs or when the eggs touch bird droppings (poop) after being laid. Is chicken poop harmful to humans? Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter spp.) Campylobacter are bacteria that can make people and animals sick with a disease called campylobacteriosis. How it spreads: Campylobacter most often spread to […]

To protect the coop use hardware cloth on the floor, and also to cover any ventilation areas, and existing holes. Most rats can squeeze through a space as small as a quarter, so be thorough as you search for holes and cover even the small ones in hardware cloth, or stuff them with steel wool. […]

Most predators of poultry will kill and remove chicks, often without any signs of disturbance, especially if the attack occurs at night. Unprotected nests are easy targets for predators. Missing or damaged eggs may be caused by skunks, snakes, rats, opossums, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, blue jays, and crows. What would be eating my chicken eggs? […]

When deciding between red or clear heat lamps, it’s usually better to go with a red bulb. This lamp may put out gentler light that helps the chicks sleep and could prevent the chicks from pecking at each other’s combs and wattles. Is a red heat lamp okay for chickens? According to some studies, chickens […]

The use of blackout pullet houses is a common industry practice. The purpose of blackout housing is to sensitize (to make more responsive) the pullet’s brain such that when the pullet is exposed to long daylengths in the breeder house, she will respond with efficient egg production. Do chickens need to be in the dark? […]

There’s no denying it–chickens are flippin’ flappin’ weird. And you are about to become one, congrats. Chickens, as with most birds, possess the emotional and intelligence level of a 2 year old human child. Chickens feel emotions on that level including jealousy, fear, affection and sadness, among others. Do chickens get attached to their owners? […]

Quality Feed You don’t have to go crazy with some cutting-edge feed that’s guaranteed to make your chickens produce eggs the size of a garden gnome. It’s recommended that you use a diet of premium laying mash or pellet, along with occasional fresh fruit. vegetables, meal worms and other healthy treats. What food encourages chickens […]

Light Exposure Hens require at least 14 hours of light per day to lay eggs. They produce eggs at a maximum rate with 16 hours of light exposure. Hens generally lay eggs within six hours of sunrise — or six hours of artificial light exposure for hens kept indoors. Why don’t my chickens lay in […]

So, prevention being better than cure, keeping an eye on their general health at very regular intervals is critical if you’re going to maintain a healthy flock. Chicken health can deteriorate very quickly, so whether you have two hens or two dozen, these quick checks should be carried out at least every month. Is it […]

Some breeds begin when they are older, however. Healthy chickens lay eggs most reliably in their first 2 to 3 years. After that, egg production will taper off. At what age do chickens stop laying eggs? As hens age they will naturally start laying fewer eggs with many hens slowing down production around 6 or […]

Let chickens do the work. Chickens love scratching up dirt, dust bathing in it, and gobbling up grass, weed seeds, and insects, worms, and other invertebrates they find while scratching. When confined to a small outdoor run even a few chickens will soon devour every bit of grass and convert it to bare dirt. Do […]