Raising chickens for ballock takes a snatch of earned cognition , but you do n’t have to larn everything the hard way . Here are 15 chicken - have-to doe with Good Book - to - the - wise that will go down you and your laying hens on the right path .
1. Best Breeds
raise wimp for ball means first choosing the right-hand breeds . It can be allure to choose breed(s ) found solely on spirit , and it ’s a plus to value the appearing of the poulet you leaven . However , chickens are more than look .
Look at their egg - lay deviation alone . Hens might be extremely prolific , maintain good production throughout the winter or be given to raise sizable egg . Other characteristic relate to their dispositions , climate tolerances , and distinctive behaviors .
The value of these traits depends on your wish . Do you require volaille to brood their own eggs ( i.e. , do you want broodiness or nonsetters ) ? Do you want Gallus gallus that love to forage ( i.e. , will your chickens stay penned or get away ) ? Even bully nut yield is n’t a good thing for everyone . Sex golf links ( Red , Amber , and Black Stars ) place many eggs , but do you desire to sell eggs or are you only interested in a personal supply ? With chickens , you could select for what you really want . check that you have enough blank space at your feeders and waterers . JACKF / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
2. Dietary Requirements
The composition of your birds ’ dieting is of import especially when raising chickens for eggs . Offering commercially create feed insure hen receive the 16 % to 18 % protein they call for for egg production . It contains carbohydrates as well , of path ; important for muscularity but not nut laying .
Though poulet like treats of scrape caryopsis , kitchen scraps , etc . , these tend to be high on carbs and low-pitched on protein ; overconsumption of them will reduce the amount of feed they acquire , lead to lower egg production . Chicken diets should be 9 parts commercial-grade provender to 1 part other foods to guarantee sufficient protein . Or , as a different metric , you should only put out as much “ dainty ” as can be consume by your flock in 20 minutes .
However , if you desire to subjugate your dependence on commercial feed and have other food resource available on your homestead , experience gratis to run to see , for example , how the summation of civilised Milk River ; fresh byproduct of on - farm slaughtering ; a protein - rich plant such as moringa ; the inclusion of other protein sources such as legumes , helianthus seeds and fishmeal ; or insect forage might reduce your need to buy feed while keeping up protein grade .
Make sure you have enough space at your feeders and waterers.JACKF/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
3. Supplement Needs
to boot , there are other thing to keep in mind when feeding your chickens . Calcium is of import to insure strong eggshells , so a supplying of free - pick oyster carapace is a good musical theme . Lacking dentition with which to grind food , offering grit will help with the right breakdown of food in the gastric mill — an all important when feeding lettuce grain and other non - ground foods .
finally , regard it as a dietary addendum to have enough feeder space so that all chicken could conceivably eat up at the same time , as limited space could chair to individuals go without . Silkies are n’t known for their egg - set abilities , but they will loom and think of other hen ’ egg very well . LDC / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
4. Just Add Water
When raise chickens for eggs , do n’t forget that water supply is just as important as food , as perish without could direct to stress molts or interruptions in egg production . It must be always kept impertinent and unfrozen in the winter and provide enough waterer space so that all chickens have ready access as chickens can be territorial , and “ guarded ” lacrimation spots may moderate to privation for some .
Ironically , this important resource must be handled properly as excessive dampness is especially deleterious to bird wellness in the henhouse . Waterers must be at the correct elevation for the chickens , which is level with the height of their backs . Too high and they may not be able-bodied to make it , but too scurvy and piss will dribble from their neb as they stand to sup , wet the floor and bedding .
Breeds for Your Needs
The more suited a wimp strain is to your specific position , the more you ’ll benefit from its mien and the happier you will be ; your hen will in all likelihood be happier , too ! Here are a few chicken characteristic and the breeds ( now and again people of color - specific ) that best be them .
sitter : Cochin , Orpington , Plymouth Rock , Silkie
Nonsetters : Ancona , Dominique , Polish , Silver Gray Dorking
Cold - Hardy : Ameraucana , Black Australorp , Brahma , Delaware , Salmon Faverolle , Welsummer , Wyandotte
Heat - Tolerant : Ancona , Hamburg , Leghorn , Whiting
Mellow / Quiet / Family well-disposed : Ameraucana , Bielefelder , Orpington , Langshan , Salmon Faverolle , Speckled Sussex , Wyandotte
Silkies aren’t known for their egg-laying abilities, but they will brood and hatch other hens’ eggs very well.LDC/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Top Egg Producers(Asterisks are the very top testicle producers!):Sex Link * , Pearl White Leghorn * , Whiting * , Black Australorp , Rhode Island Red , New Hampshire , Plymouth Rock , Welsummer
Sustained Winter Egg - yield : Brahma , Jersey Giant , Orpington , Salmon Faverolle
Dual - Purpose(raising for egg and nub production):Bielefelder , Delaware , Jersey Giant , New Hampshire , Orpington , Plymouth Rock , Speckled Sussex
Water is essential, starting on day 1. For every 25 chicks, fill two 1-quart waterers with room temperature water and place them in the brooder.CHRISTOPHER BOSWELL/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Active forager : Cuckoo Maran , Dominique , Silver Gray Dorking , Hamburg , Whiting , Wyandotte
5. Chicken Checklist
You may be surprised by how much stuff chickens necessitate – roost , nesting box , provender , supplements , fence , heaters for your waterers , and more . You ’ll want them to have an area for dust bathing . And you may need a peculiar domain for confining an injure biddy or a reflective hen . Though it is doubtless impossible to anticipate all your next needs , a niggling enquiry ( via books , the cyberspace , and/or chat someone ’s flock ) can aid excrete the surprise at every turn!Water is essential , go on day 1 . For every 25 chick , fill two 1 - quart water boy with room temperature water and place them in the brooder . CHRISTOPHER BOSWELL / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
6. Molting Misinterpretation
For fledgling owner , molting can be an uncertain time as feather passing — and occasional free weight loss — is flurry . For those raise poulet for egg , it ’s disconcerting because your biddy hold on lay . But molt is a raw process by which crybaby supersede old feather with new I . This rehabilitation is often triggered by the decrease in daylight hours in fall , an ideal time as their raw feather will arrive for wintertime .
But most hens have their first molt at 18 months ( irrespective ) , and spring or summer molts are far from unheard of . Also , moult can be soft ( miss only a few feathers ) or hard ( lose almost all feathers ) and can take anywhere from 8 to 12 hebdomad or more . So there is some variation in moult . However , note that “ unnatural ” or stress ecdysis ( typically out - of - season ) can ensue from disease , chilling , and going without water or food , point a freestanding take that must be dealt with .
7. Brushing Aside Broodiness
A sitter hen wants to cover eggs , which is a trouble if it is n’t what you have in thinker . Though often triggered by the increasing twenty-four hour period distance of spring , hen may become ruminative at any time .
you may spot a ruminative biddy easy : She seldom leaves her nest , and when she does , she ’ll fluff her feathers , fan her tail , and cluck incessantly to create a “ fierce ” appearing ; eats and drinks minuscule ; and make grumbling sounds and is prone to pecking when you set about her . Her egg production will drop off ; plus , she is block a nest from used by others .
Even if you cerebrate you’re able to contend one broody biddy , broodiness can be contagious and spread through a mass . One hen can chop-chop become four , and your egg production will really suffer .
Dust bathing is essential for a flock’s health and happiness.PETER CRIPPS/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
To terminate broodiness , render repeatedly slay the contemplative biddy from its broody plosive speech sound and/or block her access to it ; express her around , particularly to the food ; point icy bottle under her to make discomfort ; and if all else fail , put her in “ jail ” — an unstable or lilting , Laputan cage with solid food and piss but no bedding in it . check up on every day to see when the broodiness has take offstage . Dust washup is essential for a pile ’s health and felicity . PETER CRIPPS / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
8. Nifty Nesting
Whether your chickens are confined to a pace or allow to set out freely , you want to have it off where to gather your egg . So it ’s significant to make your nesting box invite to encourage their use . They should have a 1 - foot square home and measure 18 inches in high spirits .
Ideally , their positioning should be slightly darken and secluded ; ours have curtains of tarpaulin - corresponding material to help mist the opening of each ( and discourage egg eating ) . One box per quintette of hens is recommended .
9. Act Your Age
When conjure wimp for eggs , know that hens will begin put egg at around 6 months and can continue for 5 to 10 years . However , peak production is for the first 2 days , leaving you to decide how farsighted to keep your hen around . No matter your decisiveness , you must know how old each biddy is , or rather , if she is still laying eggs .
We have always buy ( never dream up ) our position hens and thus have been capable to have a yearly changing succession of our favorite breeds . It was easy to know which ones were 2 or 3 years old . If your mass has a individual breed across multiple generations , see release is your near stakes to know who is laying or not . The outlet ( call it the nut opening ! ) of a position hen will have a moist appearance and a paler colouring than her other cutis surfaces . Also , her rear underside should feel indulgent if she is laying ; a tight underside credibly means no ballock . Don’t skimp on the rest infinite ! Hens require 1 foot of roost per skirt minimum . FOCUS FINDER / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
10. Room to Roost
Roosting is an authoritative chicken activity . alight on a roost , biddy can cozy together and feel safe and protected . roost outer space is a good way to sign to your hatful that this is where they are to drop the night . Hens require 1 foot of roost per doll , and roost should be set at least 18 inch off the ground .
11. Nighty Night
Many mass make the fault of think they do n’t have any nighttime predators on their attribute . Then , they do n’t shut their Gallus gallus in at night ; the chickens come inside to perch and that is that .
eternal sleep assured , even if you do n’t begin your Gallus gallus - keeping career with raccoons , opossum , or other nocturnal nuisances visiting your chicken coop in hunting of eggs or the chickens themselves as a repast , you eventually will . Even if you do n’t attract those brute , even benign nighttime visitors ( cats , hare , etc . ) will still disturb and accentuate your flock . So be sure to lock them up !
12. Keep it Clean
Your chicken coop should be as spartan as potential to allow for agile visual assessments that it ’s dependable . If you have never had rats on your holding , this is good intelligence . You want to keep it that direction , and you never sleep with when they might wander through the locality ( rural or urban ) look for a newfangled home .
Do n’t have isolated boards , boxes , barrels or other items in or around your house that might offer locations for them to hide . Do n’t leave food in the house or grand overnight to attract animals of any kind .
It ’s easier to avoid pests in the first place than to free yourself of them after they have arrived . Don’t have your crybaby free - kitchen stove at Nox . Lock them up for their guard . SUWIWAT / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Don’t skimp on the roosting space! Hens require 1 foot of roost per bird minimum.FOCUS FINDER/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
13. On the Job
Though this is n’t the sort of mistake that will harm your chickens , it ’s certainly one that will do you a disservice . Not making right purpose of your mountain as garden insect - pest remover , compost - pile turners , weed - seed eliminators , even agents of fly controller in the barnyard , signify you are n’t using them to their full potential . crybaby are omnivores , with a taste for everything from sum to seed to plant biomass , so make good use of them , and hopefully less work for you .
14. Social Director
“ Pecking guild ” get that name for a rationality , so it should get as no surprise that you must watch your doll ’ behavior . Providing sufficient space and nutrient usually prevents any major problems . However , roosters can serve you here ; they ’re crucial member of the passel even if fertilized eggs are n’t desired .
A good rooster ( not all are good at their line of work ) will break up hen fights , encounter and “ announce ” nutrient sources , signal when danger is around and , of course , be the alarm clock ! The size of your plenty dictates the number of rooster you should have . Generally , one cock for every 10 to 25 hens is right , the higher end of the spectrum working well if fertile bollock are n’t need . Too few hens ( or too many roosters ) can lead to rooster fight , so always pay attention to your cock numbers racket and dispositions . If you happen to get a cock with an unfavorable disposition ( one that jumps at man , for case ) , it wo n’t improve its behaviour and should be remove . If you hold out in a stale climate , a stock such as the Orpington is ideal . It has soft feathering that masks its unfeigned size and allows it to live on cold temperature good than other breed . CHERYL FLEISHMAN / WIRESTOCK / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
15. Space Out
When working on building / fencing projects , reconstruct not for the current size of it of your batch but for the size you stand for it to be . Probably one of the elementary tips included , it is also one of the best one for saving time and unneeded expenses . If you plan on get a larger lot in the hereafter than you are lodging presently , or want extra blank space for hatching or other special labor , keep this in head . Yes , be naturalistic and practical about your objective goal . But always be mindful of what you are forge towards , too .
This clause about raising chickens for eggs was write for the January / February 2024 issue of Hobby Farms magazine . Click here to take .
Don’t let your chickens free-range at night. Lock them up for their safety.SUWIWAT/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
If you live in a cold climate, a breed such as the Orpington is ideal. It has soft feathering that masks its true size and allows it to endure cold temperatures better than other breeds.CHERYL FLEISHMAN/WIRESTOCK/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
