Author: Lorraine Wade

Store feed in an airtight container that can stand up to clever raccoons as well as the gnawing teeth of squirrels, rats or mice. Metal trash cans with tight-fitting lids work well. How do you store large amounts of chicken feed? You should store bulk chicken feed in an airtight container that keeps out all […]

Diet—Birds raised for commercial purposes often consume diets high in glucose, so they put on weight faster and grow more quickly. Poor diet and rapid weight gain can strain the birds’ bodies, causing them to drop dead suddenly. Give your chickens a diet that will support their overall well-being. Can chickens die from fall damage? […]

Suddenly changing feed of laying birds did not reduce egg production during the first month after the change or cause the birds to molt. Egg production was slightly lower dur- ing the second month after feed changes, but this appeared to be due to the cycle of production. Does chicken feed affect egg production? Egg […]

between three and seven years. Generally, most wild chicken breeds can enjoy lifespans between three and seven years, and sometimes longer. Despite the challenges of living in the wild, including the risk of predators, wild chickens have longer lifespans than domestic chickens. How long do chickens live as pets? Chicken lifespans vary widely, with most […]

Discovering a hen’s first egg from your own hand-raised chicks is a thrill. Pullet eggs are tiny and look like gems in the nest. Although the first eggs your birds lay may be small, irregularly shaped and/or inconsistent, don’t panic! The eggs should norm out over time in size and frequency. How do you know […]

Yes. Water, in vapor form from breath, evaporation from wet litter and water sources can cause unsafe conditions inside your coop. It seems counterproductive to have a well-ventilated coop when you are trying to keep it warm, but this is one reason airflow is important. Should I keep water in the chicken coop? It is […]

Fresh clean water must be made available at all times, which can be tricky when it is freezing outside! While chickens do prefer to drink cool water over warm water, they will not break through a layer of ice to access the water below! You’ll need to keep their water defrosted for them. Is it […]

about 24 to 26 hours. It takes a hen about 24 to 26 hours to produce and lay an egg. Fifteen to 30 minutes after she lays her egg, the process starts over again. How long does it take for a chicken to give eggs? Flock Management : Egg Production Many hens lay their first […]

But free-ranging chickens can give you free tilling, aerating, and pest control. Use compost to your advantage. Chickens love to peck, scratch, and eat their way through compost. Not only do they eat the leftover food, but they’ll also eat the bugs and till the compost. What do free range chickens need? Free Range Management […]

Never mix the oyster shells into their chicken feed. Doing this risks overloading the chickens who don’t need more calcium with it, leading to potential health problems. It’s safest to let your chickens decide for themselves when they need and want oyster shells. How much oyster shell do you put in chicken feed? Fill a […]

Feeding chickens scratch grains, especially ones which contain corn, need to be offered in moderation. Strict moderation. No more than 10% of a bird’s daily diet should consist of treats. And in truth, even less if they are kept in an enclosed run. Can I feed my chickens only scratch grains? You should not feed […]

Chickens generally don’t lay eggs in the winter because there’s not enough sunlight to stimulate the ovary to release a yolk. New chicken keepers usually start with baby chicks in the spring. The excitement of the chicks growing into adults, then that first egg in late summer or early fall is undeniable. How do I […]

Laying hens: How many eggs to expect High-producing, well-fed backyard hens can lay up to 250 eggs per year. This is because it takes 24-26 hours to create each egg, and hens take a natural break each year for molting – often as days get shorter in the fall. How many eggs do hens naturally […]

One of the main reasons why some chicken keepers add supplemental lighting to their coops during the winter months is to keep egg production high. On average, hens need around 14 to 16 hours of sunlight a day to lay productively. This means the shorter days and longer nights of winter lead to a halt […]

16 hours per day. Raising chickens for egg production can be rewarding and challenging. The amount of daylight hours affects a chicken’s reproductive cycle. Hens will begin laying when the amount of daylight reaches 14 hours per day during early spring. Maximum egg laying will occur when the day length reaches 16 hours per day. […]

LAYING HENS Once your chickens start laying eggs (around 20 weeks of age) they should be switched to a layer feed. Layer feeds are formulated for chickens laying table eggs (those used for human consumption). Broiler feeds are formulated for those chickens producing hatching eggs (breeders). How do you stimulate chickens to lay eggs? You […]

The vent is the workhorse of the chicken. It’s the star of the show. The vent does it all. Poops, pees, lays an egg. Does the egg come out of the chickens butt hole? When a chicken lays an egg it comes out of the vent or end of the reproductive tract. As she does […]

If you do end up with some muddy puddles in the pen after rain entering from the sides, fill them up with some sand. Many backyard chicken and poultry keepers use clear Laserlight roofing sheets which allow sunlight through but keep the rain out. What can I use to cover chicken Run? Ground cover within […]

4-5 weeks. By 4-5 weeks of age your chickens are ready to move outside full-time. And thank goodness! As much as you love them, you’ll be thrilled to get them out of your house. Read the next chapters to learn about chicken coop requirements, how to transition them to their coop and how to care […]

Hens do this to assert their dominance and establish a territory – just like roosters will. If your hens are crowing, chances are, they’re on some sort of power trip. Why are female chickens crowing? There are two main reasons why hens crow, the first is to do with dominance and the next is a […]