chicken are often referred to as the gateway livestock because they are sluttish to keep than most other farm animal and can be firm on properties of varying sizes , from smaller suburban backyards to Acre - enceinte plots of land where the bird are free to wander . Plus , the steady supplying of orangeness - yolked eggs ca n’t be beat ! However , as with most thing in farm life , chicken keeping is n’t always as picturesque as it seems , and those egg , well , they often occur out as less - than - perfect .
If your goal is to get the just eggs possible to feed to your family or to sell at market , overcome layer - hen hurdle with these tips .
1 . trouble : Chickens play fell - and - try with their egg . bar : Despite your attempt to provide your hens a comfy bedded nest box where they can set in peace , some of the missy are abruptly - set on sending you on an nut hunt around the farm for your breakfast . To keep from experience to retrieve your eggs from under a thorny President Bush every morning , hold the hen completely or until subsequently in the day . you may also put stilted “ dummy ” bollock , such as a plastic eggs or golf ball , in nest boxes to teach them where to pose .
2 . Problem : shuddery nut - eating chickens . Prevention : Once chickens get a taste for eggs , it can often be difficult to get them to stop . There are several thing you do to denigrate this problem . Gather bollock quick after the miss lay . Provide them secluded , darkened nest box . If you ’re capable to identify the egg - eating culprit , right away hit it from slew .
3 . job : Scary , cannibalistic chickens . bar : Cannibalism is n’t all that uncommon a job in flocks , and there are several understanding a chicken might be prone to peck , include not having enough blank space to a table salt and sulfur deficiencie . furnish your layers darkened nesting sites , and if pecking occur utilise anti - peck solution to the victim ’s wounding to prevent further harassment .
Read more about pecking and cannibalism prevention .
4 . trouble : contemplative hen . bar : Broodiness in chickens is usually find out by genetic science , so if you ’re overwhelmed by broody birdie , choose a less brood hen breed the next go - unit of ammunition . you could also deter brooding by not letting eggs heap up .
Read more about musing crybaby .
5 . Problem : smutty eggs that make you say , “ Yuck!”Prevention : Not a big surprise : orchis do n’t hail out of the chicken at food market - fund cleanliness . However , you could take steps to keep your impudent egg comparatively mess - gratuitous . Pad nest boxes with clean bedding material so that the razzing do n’t lie in in a pile of manure . Keep henhouse and hunt down clean , as well . Also , take in egg often , so eggs do n’t break , leaving you in a goopy great deal .
6 . Problem : Disappearing eggs . Prevention : A gradual decline of eggs is instinctive when the 24-hour interval of fall and winter get brusk . While you might determine to give your hens a fracture from production , it is potential to promote their lay year - round by installing contrived ignition . However , the modification of season is n’t the only things that could slow egg production . Stress and a poor diet could also be to blame . ensure you ’re leave your girls a balanced layer ration , subdue sources of stress and improve biosecurity to prevent disease . Also protect the coop from varmint that retrieve they deserve the eggs more than you do !
