In order to consistently lay eggs, hens need about 16 hours of daylight and 8 hours of darkness when they’re roosting. Once less than 12 hours of daylight is available, egg productions slows down considerably if not ceases completely. Can chickens lay eggs without sunlight? Hens need a minimum of 16 hours of daylight to […]
Tag: Chicken
Why Do Chickens Coo In The Morning?
Roosters anticipate sunrise to get a head start on their daily hunt for food and defense of territory. But if one rooster in the neighbor has an internal clock that’s set a little early, he can stimulate other roosters to crow early, too. The rooster’s sunrise song is actually a way of establishing his territory. […]
Are Chickens Ok In Mud?
Mud is not good for chickens. It can promote bumblefoot and internal parasites, as well as making it less easy and pleasant for chickens to get around. Mud is even worse for chicken owners. What do you put in a muddy Chicken Run? Possible Fixes for a Muddy Chicken Run Well draining material can include […]
Why Do Female Chickens Crow In The Morning?
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 […]
Can I Eat My Chickens When They Stop Laying?
2. Another option is to use your chickens as meat chickens instead of egg-layers. Year-old hens usually aren’t tender enough to roast and older hens tend to have tough meat, so if you choose to go this route, prepare for a lot of chicken stew. The more humane approach is to give them the winter […]
How Do I Keep My Chicken Run Dry?
Provide a dry sandbox under cover to allow the hens to dust bath. Treat your ground near the pop hole or door with a disinfectant; this will stop the ground from becoming poached and smelly. Use plenty of absorbent bedding inside the coop to minimise the amount of mud and wet tracked into your coop. […]
What Age Can You Let Chickens Out Of Coop?
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 […]
Should I Put A Fan In Chicken Coop?
Use a fan to cool your chicken coop Installing a fan in your chicken run will also help reduce moisture and ammonia levels by providing additional ventilation. Some fans, like the one pictured, will automatically turn on when the temperature reaches a certain level. Should a chicken coop have a fan? Chicken coops do need […]
How Do You Get Chickens To Lay Eggs In The Winter?
As the hours of daylight decrease in the fall, hens tend to stop laying eggs. However, if you keep the chickens comfy with light and warmth, they’ll reward you with more eggs. Many hens stop or slow down egg production during the fall and winter. The lack of daylight and cooler temperatures tell their bodies […]
Do Chicken Runs Need To Be Covered?
Yes, a chicken run should be covered. While a designated roof is seen as optional, some form of covering is not. You need to consider that chickens can escape and get up over top. Even if the run is 4-foot high, this is even low enough for them to get over. Do I need a […]
How Do You Cover A Chicken Run In The Rain?
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 […]
Why Have My Chickens Slowed Down Laying Eggs?
Hens will slow down or stop laying eggs when they are stressed, sick, have feed problems, lack of water, have changes in daylight, molting, or going broody. Many of these causes can be easily fixed to get your chickens laying again. What causes chickens to slow down laying eggs? Daylight The first and most common […]
Does A Chicken Lay An Egg Out Of Its Bum?
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 […]
Do Chickens Need Special Food To Lay Eggs?
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 […]
What Animal Pokes Holes In Chicken Eggs?
Stoats and weasels, being smaller, eat larger eggs in the nest. They bite a hole in one or both ends of the egg. Why does my chicken egg have a hole in it? Pin holes are caused immediately after the egg is laid, when the egg is still wet and warm and the shell matrix […]
Do Chickens Lay Eggs For Their Whole Life?
Female chickens lay eggs throughout their adult lives. Egg-laying is automatic and requires no male chickens or roosters to be present. Certain breeds of hens can lay one egg every 25 hours at the peak of their production. How long do chickens live after laying eggs? As hens age they will naturally start laying fewer […]
How Do I Get My Chickens To Go In The Coop At Night?
Lots of chicken owners recommend food or treats as a way of encouraging their flock into the coop at night. Just use feed in their coop in the early evening. The idea is that you do this for a while so that they get used to going into the coop and sleeping there. Will chickens […]
Should Chickens Eat Their Own Eggs?
Chickens may eat eggs if they aren’t getting enough calcium elsewhere. Insufficient calcium intake can also lead to soft-shelled eggs or thin shells, which are more likely to crack – and then entice even the healthiest, curious chickens to eat eggs! Should I let my chickens eat their eggs? Chickens eating eggs are fine. Just […]
Do Chickens Only Lay Eggs For Two Years?
Chickens live eight years on average, but hens only productively lay eggs in the first two, maybe three years of their lives. And on the commercial level, it’s closer to two years, and sometimes less. When hens are productively laying eggs, they’ll lay one egg about every 22 hours. How many years will a chicken […]
Do Led Lights Bother Chickens?
Some studies note that producers observed an overall increased flock calmness with LED lights because, it is suspected, they do not flicker the way CFL bulbs will. Because chickens have extremely sensitive eyesight, it is thought that the reduced flicker of LED bulbs was the cause of the calming effect. Is LED light OK for […]