Tag: Chicken

True free-range chickens are those that range outdoors on pasture. Meaning they do what all chickens do naturally: eat bugs, greens, and whatever leftovers they can scrounge or scratch up. What do I feed free range chickens? And they aren’t picky; chickens enjoy everything from beetles and grasshoppers to worms and even ticks! Not only […]

Lettuce, kale, turnip greens and chard are great greens options. Watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries make healthy snacks for chickens when fed in moderation. A few flock favorites include: Vegetables: Lettuce, beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, swiss chard, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers. What should I feed my chicken daily? Chickens love fruit and vegetables, and you can […]

A healthful starter feed should be filled with complete proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Your chicks should eat starter feed for the first eight weeks of their life, until they are introduced to grower feed. When should I switch from starter feed to layer feed? When birds reach 18 weeks old or when the […]

Coconut is safe for chickens as long as it has not been sweetened. The extra sugar is bad for hens and will disrupt the balance of nutrients in their feed. You can feed your chickens fresh coconut, coconut water , coconut milk and dried or desiccated coconut without any problems at all. What water is […]

“There are lots of assertive flavors and fatty richness. You need a beer that plays well, not something that’s going to fight the chicken.” Beer is well suited to tackling fried chicken; its bitterness and carbonation help refresh the palate between bites of chicken much like an acidic wine would. What happens when chicken drink […]

If the chicken is not eating independently, they can be fed by spoon, dropper, syringe or tube fed a liquid diet. Layer feed can be can be crushed with warm water or warm milk to make a soupy mash, which a sick chicken may find enticing when little else does. Is milk good for sick […]

Chickens are omnivores and will eat (or try to eat) just about anything they can get their beaks on. When ranging in the yards, chickens will find a cornucopia of protein- and vitamin-rich food on their own, including insects and grubs, vegetation and seeds. Do chickens eat any animals? Chickens will gladly guzzle down worms […]

Your flock does need access to pasture, but they need chicken feed, too. They will also be healthier and lay better if their bodies are not stressed out by undernourishment and nutritional deficiencies. What is the best feed for free-range chickens? In addition to a good quality poultry feed, a variety of fresh fruit and […]

Broiler breeder hens are typically provided a restricted amount of feed once a day. This feed is rapidly consumed; therefore, the hens fast for an extended period of time before their next feeding. In the current research, the effects on reproductive performance of implementing a twice-a-day vs. Is it OK to feed chickens once a […]

No dunking, misting or spraying down your chickens. No letting them “swim” in your pool. Chickens don’t take water baths. They cool off by holding their wings out from their bodies and fluffing their feathers to allow air to circulate. Is it OK to mist chickens? The misters can often do more harm than good, […]

As a rule of thumb, chickens will drink two or three times as much water as the feed they eat, so figure on about two cups (one pint) of water per chicken per day, although during the summer, their feed intake will decrease while water intake will remain the same or increase. How often do […]

We did not know it was possible. We knew given sufficient land, chickens can survive mostly on forage and scraps. We also believed the common “wisdom”: without feeding a complete and balanced chicken feed formulated for layers, hens can’t sustain high rates of laying and their health is likely to suffer. How long can chickens […]

Squirrels are naturally herbivores but don’t shy away from eating flesh sometimes and will devour little defenseless birds like baby chickens. Will a squirrel eat my chickens? Because they are a member of the rodent family, squirrels are known to prey on small snakes, birds, young chickens, fellow rodents, and lizards. How do I keep […]

Chickens commonly suffer from a variety of diseases and health conditions. Here are six of the most common health issues chickens face: Fowl Cholera. Coccidiosis. Avian Influenza. Fowl Pox. Newcastle Disease. Salmonellosis. What are the 5 causes of disease in poultry? These include ‘germs’ (bacteria, viruses, fungi), external parasites (lice and mites) and internal parasites […]

Squirrels are inherently resourceful, and you shouldn’t put it past them to find any and all unsecured entries to your home, garden, or shed. Although chicken wire and other lightweight wire mesh materials with large weaves are easy for them to breach, heavy-duty woven mesh with a tight weave should do the trick. What material […]

Chickens and turkeys will die quickly from the disease. Ducks and geese may recover but then remain carriers and spread the disease. How do I know if my chickens have the bird flu? Some of the signs for avian influenza include eating less, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, reduced egg production, lack of energy, swelling around […]

For the majority of chicken bacterial diseases, treatment involves antibiotics. They can be given in the water or with pills (there are other ways that are impractical for flocks of less than 500). How they are given depends on the specific disease and which method is most practical. Which is the best antibiotic for chicken? […]

Leftover cooked bones – pork, beef or large chicken bones – are a good source of protein for your rat. Leave a little meat on the bone and allow your rat chew through it. He will wear down his ever-growing teeth to get to the rich marrow inside. Can rats have bones? Definitely! Like all […]

Virulent Newcastle disease, formerly known as exotic Newcastle disease, is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry. The disease is so virulent that many birds and poultry die without showing any clinical signs. What are the symptoms of Newcastle disease in chickens? Newcastle disease only […]

In addition to their more regular diet, squirrels have been observed eating bones. Can squirrels eat cooked chicken bones? Yep, my flyer Anakin loves them too. I will bake him a chicken wing once a week, and after it has cooked, I just peel the skin off it. He gets the rest. Super cool to […]