Category: Meat

Before They’re Killed Each year in the U.S. alone, more than 300 million chickens endure nightmarish abuse on egg farms, and it all begins on the very first day of their life. Chicks bred for egg production are hatched in large incubators, and males and females are separated almost immediately. Are eggs cruel to chickens? […]

How to Collect Eggs. Ideally, wait until the hens leave their laying spots to collect eggs. They’ll typically be happy to hop off the nest if food is involved, so collecting eggs right after feeding can be a good strategy. Gather eggs in a basket, a cloth sling, or any other container that won’t put […]

It is unusual for hens to lay two eggs a day since almost all chicken breeds lay a single egg in a day on average. Young hens can, however, lay more than two eggs a day, as these young hens are maturing and they have loads of energy. Why are my chickens laying 2 eggs […]

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. Do chickens need sunlight […]

Timing of Laying She won’t ovulate or lay eggs in the dark, and egg production rates vary with length and timing of photoperiod. All these factors influence the time of day an egg is laid, so it varies with each egg. But it usually occurs in the morning or early afternoon. What time of day […]

But you don’t want to keep chickens inside the house permanently; indoor pet chickens are just a bad idea. Firstly, it will make them unhappy. They prefer to be outside. Keeping a chicken inside your home permanently prevents them from expressing their natural behaviors. Can you keep a chicken indoors as a pet? “It’s never […]

How often do free range hens go outside? Per Certified Humane’s requirements, all Nellie’s hens are given daily access, weather permitting, to an uncovered outdoor pasture for a minimum of 6 hours per day during daylight hours. How long does a chicken have to be outside to be free range? 6 hours per dayThe hens […]

Many city areas are perfectly fine with a few chickens, as long as you don’t have a rooster. Some allow small goats. You could perhaps consider ducks, geese, rabbits, dogs, and cats. What other animals can be kept with chickens? Adult birds that can live with chickens are ducks, geese, guineas, peafowl and turkeys. Birds […]

? Should chickens go out in the rain? Chicken feathers are somewhat waterproof, so letting them out is fine. Letting your birds out prevents overcrowding, boredom and the diseases that go along with a wet chicken coop. What do you do with chickens on a rainy day? What to do. It might be wise to […]

So, can chickens live alone? Chickens can live alone although it is not optimal, ideal, or recommended; chickens generally do better together as a group. Chickens naturally flock together for warmth, comfort, company, and when they are stressed or frightened. Is it OK to have only 1 chicken? Is it OK to have just one […]

around 6 weeks. Although it varies, chicks should stay in a brooder for around 6 weeks or until they develop adult feathers. Once the chicks are 3 or 4 weeks old, they can be allowed to leave the brooder during warm weather. When can baby chickens go outside? around 6-10 weeks oldOnce chicks are fully […]

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 […]

Plain Pedialyte or Gatorade is an option for your chickens, or you can mix up your own homemade electrolytes using things you already have in your kitchen. Can you give human electrolytes to chickens? Electrolyte drinks do basically the same for poultry as for humans. They help to rehydrate and re-balance the cells and organs […]

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 […]

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 […]

It’s possible for a bird to be deprived of water and not be completely dehydrated. This still has lasting effects on the bird’s health. Laying hens deprived of water for a day or more can take weeks to recover. Going without sufficient water for three days or more can result in a permanent state of […]

It might not be for everyone, but collecting rainwater for the chickens works great for us. We have a well and our drinking water goes through a lot of treatment before we can use it. It’s nice to be able to provide my chickens with fresh, clean water without all that processing. Is rain water […]

Hens may live in backyard flocks for 6-8 years, and most flocks will produce eggs for 3-4 years. The level of egg production, egg size, and shell quality decrease each year. Most commercial layers are kept for 2-3 years as their egg production decreases after this time. At what age do chicken stop laying eggs? […]

Dying hens will usually have soiled vent feathers and most chickens will stop eating and drinking as they die. The signs or symptoms of a dying chickens are: Stood very still or lethargic and moving slowly. Not eating or drinking. What does a chicken do when it’s dying? A dying chicken will hide their weakness […]

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 […]