Author: Lorraine Wade

These bloodsuckers will spend their lifetime — a couple of weeks to nearly two years — feeding off your furry friends and making them itch. The insects also lay their young on the animal, unlike poultry fleas. They become a medical problem instead of a nuisance when a pooch is allergic to flea saliva. Do […]

Do Chickens Attack Snakes? Chickens will rarely attack snakes. However, they won’t hesitate to attack any snake that poses an imminent threat to them and their chicks. Snakes, especially smaller snakes, avoid getting too close to chickens since they know these birds will attack them immediately they detect them. Do roosters fight snakes? The rooster’s […]

Chickens might just prefer sleeping in the nest boxes because nests are comfy and cosy, and they can snuggle up close to each other for extra warmth. Younger birds will often do this before they learn how to roost on perches, but it’s something you can see in older birds too. Where should chickens sleep […]

48 hours. Chickens need water to survive, just like all living things, but how long can they go without water? Most healthy chickens can go 2 days, or 48 hours, without water, depending on the individual chicken and the climate. That said, chickens will start to suffer at around the 24-hour mark. How long chicken […]

454 grams. The record for the heaviest chicken egg in the world was reportedly laid by a hen in New Jersey, USA in 1956. That egg was 454 grams. What is the largest chicken egg on record? 16 ouncesAccording the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest egg was laid in 1956 in Vineland, New […]

between 8 and 10 years. As hens age they will naturally start laying fewer eggs with many hens slowing down production around 6 or 7 years of age and retirement shortly after. Many laying hens can live several years into retirement with average life expectancy between 8 and 10 years. What happens to hens when […]

How Often Can I Feed Chicken Scratch? You should not feed chicken scratch on a daily basis, but you can instead use it as an occasional treat. Most chicken scratch is made out of cracked corn and other grains. These are tasty foods for your chickens, and they’ll enjoy gobbling them up. How often do […]

To candle the eggs, you hold them up against a lit candle, a bright light, or a very bright tiny flashlight. You do this so as to see through the shell to the inside of the egg. If the egg appears to have dark splotches inside or is entirely opaque, then it is fertilized. How […]

Temperament: Cinnamon Queens have a reputation as being particularly sweet and docile birds. Many owners say they are the sweetest members of the flock. History: Like several other sex-linked breeds, Cinnamon Queen Chickens were developed to meet the needs of modern flock keepers. What is the friendliest egg laying chicken? 10 of the Best Chicken […]

On average 13-15 chickens should be able to produce a dozen eggs a day for the best part of a year. A single hen is only capable of laying one egg a day, and there will be days when they don’t lay eggs at all. Shortly after laying, the hen will start developing a new […]

7 Causes of Reduction in Egg Production Stress and Change. Removal of Roosters or Introduction of New Birds into the Flock. Overcrowding, Change in Weather, Feed Composition and Time of Feeding. Noise and Decreased Lighting. Poor or Unbalanced Diet. Broodiness. Diseases and Parasitism. Why are my chickens producing less eggs? Flock Management : Egg Production […]

It can seem attractive, because it lets droppings pass right through. But adult birds are relatively heavy, and wire is hard on their feet. In addition, wire flooring doesn’t allow for the natural wear on their nails, so they can overgrow and make it difficult for your chickens to walk. Can chickens walk on chicken […]

A rounded gravel such as pea gravel can be used, but we wouldn’t recommend using weed membrane underneath. Droppings will be washed through to the bottom by the rain or trampled in which can become quite smelly; it is far better to allow water free drainage through to the soil below. Can chickens be kept […]

While it comes in various sizes, for chickens, the ½ inch or 1 inch variety are best. Chickens, especially young ones or smaller bantam varieties, such as Cochins, silkies, ameraucana bantams, or brahma chicks, might be able to fit through larger holes, or predators might be able to get through. How much inside space does […]

You should not feed chicken scratch on a daily basis, but you can instead use it as an occasional treat. Most chicken scratch is made out of cracked corn and other grains. These are tasty foods for your chickens, and they’ll enjoy gobbling them up. Do I need to feed my chickens scratch? While scratch […]

Chickens like bugs and yes, chickens will eat spiders. Spiders are smarter than we tend to think though and they will build their nests up out of the chickens reach. You’ll rarely see a web right by a roost or near the feed. Spiders will build their webs right on lights or in front of […]

Yes! You can raise pigs and chickens together. But of course, do plenty of planning. While pigs and chickens can easily coexist in harmony, there are some steps you must take to ensure both are as healthy, happy, and productive as can be. Do chickens get along with pigs? Pigs and chickens can live together […]

Can you breed brother and sister chickens? Yes you can breed sibling chickens. Breeding brothers and sister chickens is commonly used to fix a certain characteristic in the birds. This includes the breeding of chickens from the same hatch. Is chicken inbreeding okay? Inbreeding means breeding chickens that are very much related. It’s increasing the […]

Our overall flock may lay an egg or two fewer than normal on cloudy, rainy days. And it may take a few days to see a return to normal production levels – or as many days as it’s darker than usual. But sometimes, rainy weather has zero effect on their egg production levels. Do chickens […]

What is the Deep Litter Method? The Deep Litter Method basically consists of repeatedly turning over the soiled bedding, adding a new layer, and allowing the chicken droppings to decompose on the floor of the coop all winter, at the same time creating heat to keep the coop warm naturally. What is deep litter method […]