Tag: Chicken

Hen body weight is the key to increased egg size. Bigger hens produce larger eggs than smaller hens and bigger breeders produce larger eggs than smaller breeders. For modern White Leghorns, rearing pullets that weigh at least 1.35 kg (3.0 lbs.) at the start of egg production will increase both hen weight and egg size. […]

Skeletal size has some impact on egg size. Hens with bigger and longer bones tend to become bigger hens and lay bigger eggs. The protein level in the ration fed before 10 weeks of age is the main factor influencing skeletal size of any particular breed of hen. Can chicken eggs be too big? It […]

Chickens have another advantage that’s often overlooked. They can provide really effective tick and mosquito control! Not only will backyard chickens eat ticks and mosquitoes, they also enjoy dining on slugs and other pests – sometimes even eating mice or small snakes. Why are my chickens full of mosquitoes? Mosquitoes, gnats, and flies easily buzz […]

Chickens are sociable creatures, so plan to keep three to six birds. With this amount, you’ll always have a steady supply of eggs, since an adult hen lays about two eggs every three days, on average. Is it OK to keep just 2 chickens? Social Complexity Of The Flock Some might recommend that keeping just […]

Provide Proper Temperature for Chicks’ Age. If a chick is not warm enough, it will let you know by a constant, distressed and loud chirping. Check to make sure that you are providing your chicks the proper temperature. A chick that is too cold may chirp loudly and try huddling together with other chicks. Why […]

5 Tips on how to stop hens from crowing Isolate the chicken to reduce its dominance among the flock. Isolating the chicken is also deemed to be an excellent solution to break down the order pecking. Introduce a rooster. Make use of the no-crow collar. Introduce new hens. Providing a clean and decent living condition. […]

Dogs can get giardia from chickens, primarily through the ingestion of feces. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website says this about this particular disease. “Anything that comes into contact with feces (poop) from infected humans or animals can become contaminated with the Giardia parasite. Can dogs get giardia from eating chicken poop? Dogs […]

Use a low pressure sprayer to totally soak all surfaces. Soak until the accumulated dirt and manure has softened to the point it is easily removed. Wash every surface in the building, especially window sills, ceiling trusses, wall sills and any surface where dirt and dust may accumulate. Do chicken coops need to be cleaned? […]

Tap Water City water sources are considered safe for consumption, but there are certainly differences in the taste and composition from city to city. Treated water isn’t all the same, but it is almost always safe. Growing up, I drank from Lake Huron. Today, my chickens and I drink from the Ohio River. What water […]

According to a research paper written in 2013, parvovirus can transfer through chicken poop since chicken can also get parvovirus (see source). As we can see, chickens that are sick and have parvovirus are likely to have poop that contains this disease. Can you get parvo from chickens? It can also contract parvovirus from an […]

Dogs eating chicken poop may gross you out, but it’s not toxic to them. However, that doesn’t mean you can simply let them eat feces all they want. In fact, dogs can get sick from it – not because of the chicken poop itself but from the pathogens and parasites that may exist in the […]

48 hours. Chickens need water to survive, just like all living things, but how long can they go without water? Most healthy chickens can go 2 days, or 48 hours, without water, depending on the individual chicken and the climate. That said, chickens will start to suffer at around the 24-hour mark. How long chicken […]

Calcium deficiency One of the most frequent causes of laying thin shell or soft eggs is a diet low in calcium. While most quality layer feeds have extra calcium in them, you should still offer a supplement just to make sure your hens get enough. How do you fix thin egg shells? Normally hens will […]

Chickens might just prefer sleeping in the nest boxes because nests are comfy and cosy, and they can snuggle up close to each other for extra warmth. Younger birds will often do this before they learn how to roost on perches, but it’s something you can see in older birds too. Where should chickens sleep […]

Scrambled eggs: Not only do chickens like to eat eggs, but it’s good for them too! Eggs contain protein, fat, vitamins and minerals that chickens need. Scramble an egg in a little bit of olive oil or butter. What foods are good for sick chickens? You can feed your chicken hard-boiled eggs, mealworms, fresh or […]

To improve the quality and prolong the length of chickens’ lives, they should be fed their own eggs, including the shells, so that they can gain back the nutrients they lose by laying eggs so often. What happens if you feed chickens eggs? Eggs are a good source of protein not only for humans but […]

I’ve been blind in my left eye for 28 years due to ocular histoplasmosis, which is caused by bird droppings. Can chickens cause eye problems in humans? What is Histoplasmosis? In the eye, histoplasmosis causes multifocal small scars under the retina as shown in this photo. Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores […]

Salmonella or Campylobacter infections are the most commonly reported infections associated with backyard chickens and live poultry. Chickens and poultry can carry Salmonella in their intestines without showing symptoms of illness. What diseases can chickens transmit to humans? Zoonotic diseases that backyard poultry may spread to humans include salmonel- losis, campylobacteriosis, and avian influenza viruses. […]

Live in the small intestine & interfere with chicken’s ability to absorb nutrients; larvae damage the intestine walls, adults can create a blockage in the intestines, causing death. Roundworms cannot be transmitted from chickens to humans. What worms can chickens pass to humans? Roundworms. Roundworms, also called ascarids, are the most common intestinal parasite found […]

Any individual cleaning a chicken coop must wear a mask for the sake of their own safety and health. The best options are a respirator mask or N95 dust mask to prevent the cleaner from inhaling hazardous fumes and particles that could cause various, potentially life-threatening, diseases. How warm does a chicken coop need to […]