Tag: Chicken

Coyotes do eat chickens if presented with the opportunity. They are mostly nocturnal, meaning they are most likely to attack your chickens at night, although if hungry enough may strike during the day. They tend to hunt in pairs, go for the neck, and will typically take a chicken away to eat if successful. Do […]

“Chickens are related to forest-dwelling birds. They don’t like open spaces,” says Dr Charles Milne, who on Friday retired as Victoria’s chief vet. “Free-range can deliver huge welfare problems. Is it better to let chickens free range? Free ranging chickens offers many benefits, the most obvious being that access to fresh air, sunshine and open […]

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. Can a hen lay 2 eggs in 24 hours? It is unusual for hens […]

Minimum Number of Windows in a Chicken Coop Chickens have a sensitive respiratory system that can become irritated by dust, ammonia odor (causes by excessive manure), or too much moisture in the air. In addition to providing air flow, windows allow in natural sunlight which is necessary for egg laying hens. Should you put windows […]

In fact, your chickens require 6 to 8 hours of sleep every day in order to maintain their immune system. So just as much as they need light to lay eggs, your chickens absolutely need darkness to sleep and recharge. Will chickens lay eggs in the dark? In order to consistently lay eggs, hens need […]

Hens need a minimum of 16 hours of daylight to sustain strong production. Without supplemental light, they may naturally stop laying eggs due to a hormonal response as the days get shorter. Hens lay best when provided at least 16 hours of day light, whether natural, artificial or a combination of the two. Do chickens […]

Treatment for Cyanide Poisoning in Chickens Treatment involves administering intravenous amyl and/or sodium nitrate. Those substances combine with hemoglobin to produce methemoglobin, which, in turn, has a strong affinity for cyanide. How do you tell if a chicken has been poisoned? Signs are: depression. inappetence. emaciation. thirst. weakness. greenish droppings commonly seen within 36 hours. […]

Accidental ingestion of anticoagulant rodenticide bait by poultry rarely leads to clinical signs of poisoning, but represents a risk for the consumer because of potential residues in the laid eggs. Does Rat Poison affect chickens? There are many rat poisons out there but they are just as harmful to chickens as they are to the […]

The severity depends on the amount of the rat poison ingested by the bird, and the toxicity of the individual product. Signs of poisoning don’t happen right away. It will take generally 3 to 7 days for clinical signs to appear in chickens, post ingestion of the poison. Will rat poison harm chickens? Is there […]

Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing fresh bamboo leaves results in them weighing up to 70 per cent more than those fed on standard organic diets, according to results from INBAR’s Action Research Site in Abra Province, The Philippines. Is bamboo toxic for chickens? Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing fresh bamboo leaves […]

The sun determines their daily sleep/wake schedule and the light helps them synthesize and produce the hormones required for egg production. However, chickens only need a moderate amount of sunlight and do require shade. Too much exposure or excessive exposure to sunlight can prove fatal. Do chickens like being in the sun? Chicken coops don’t […]

Ferns. Not all ferns are poisonous plants for chickens, but bracken ferns are toxic. These plants cause anemia, weight loss, and muscle tremors, but typically, chickens have to consume large quantities for that to happen. Can chickens be around ferns? Ferns. A specific variety of fern called the bracken fern can cause bracken fern poisoning […]

How Yellow (False) Jasmine Affects Chickens. A chicken that eats any portion of this plant will experience any number of symptoms. False jasmine contains alkaloids related to strychnine. These alkaloids depress the nervous system, causing paralysis and even death. Which jasmine is poisonous? Cestrum L. Tropical and subtropical areas. All plant parts of Cestrum species […]

Plants for Chicken Coop Runs | Landscape for Shade and Forage. Good landscaping in and around your chicken coop can improve flock health by providing well-ventilated shade in the heat of summer and fresh supplemental forage year-round. What kind of plants can I put in my chicken Run? I plant climbing vines to run up […]

As with deer, however, there are plenty of herbs that can be incorporated into the landscape that chickens will avoid. These include: borage, calendula (pot marigold), catnip, chives, feverfew, lavender, marjoram, Mexican sage, peppermint and spearmint, rosemary, sage, salvias, St. John’s wort, tansy and yarrow. What herbs are not good for chickens? 12 Potentially Harmful […]

18 Weeds that Are Toxic to Chickens Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) Death Camas (Zygadenus spp) Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) Coffee Senna (Senna occidentalis) Corn Cockle (Argrostemma githago) Cottonseed (Gossypium spp) Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) What are poisonous to chickens? Garlic and onions are the two most common culprits that may impact egg […]

Lavender also increases blood circulation so it’s especially beneficial to chickens sitting on eggs who don’t get up and move around as much as they should. As the hens sit, they will pick at the lavender and eat some, thereby getting the full benefits. Best use: Add fresh or dried to nesting boxes. What plants […]

Your birds have voracious appetites, which can get the best of them. Don’t let your chickens eat these common toxic plants. Your free-range flock loves roaming into the garden and treating the marigolds, squash blossoms and dandelions like an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Can chicken eat marigolds? Much as with mint and lavender, adding some fresh […]

What Plants Should I Avoid Growing Near Chicken? Daffodils. Foxglove. Hydrangea. Rhododendron. Nightshade plants (including tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes) Honeysuckle. Daphne. Tulips. What plants are toxic to chicken? 14 Toxic Plants Your Chickens Must Avoid Azalea. These deciduous shrubs are popular in landscapes across the U.S. thanks to their waxy green leaves and colorful flowers. […]

Looking for more ideas? Try more grain-like plants like Clover, Alfalfa, Sunflowers, Peas, Lentils, and Buckwheat. You can also try more fruit trees and canes like Raspberries, Blueberries, and Mulberries. While many people consider them weeds, Chickweed, Dandelions, and Nettles are also decent additions as well. What should you not plant around chickens? What Plants […]