Chicken Keeping Secrets

In all the issues of this newsletter, we’ve never discussed culling in any detail. Lately I’ve been receiving about 1 question per week from people who wonder if it’s time to say good-bye to a particular animal for one reason or another. Although it is a hard subject for those keepers who love their chickens as pets, I think it’s an important subject so I though I’d take some time this week and address it.

We’ll start with basic flock management principles and move on to more personal situations thereafter.

If you are keeping chickens primarily for eggs, the number of eggs being produced becomes the determining factor in your flock management.

Each animal requires a certain amount of feed, whether it be home rations or commercial feed, and along with that come expense.

In addition, each animal requires a certain amount of energy to be expended by the owner to maintain sanitary conditions, i.e. manure removal, bedding replacement, etc.

Again, from a strict production point of view, those animals that are low producers would be considered candidates for culling. (more…)

“We are new to keeping chickens and I have a question; is it safe for me to interact with my chickens when I am pregnant? We think we have 5 hens, none of them are crowing anyway. They are 14 weeks old and I’ve really enjoyed taking care of our little flock. We were very excited to find out that we are expecting our first child but we’re concerned about my contact with the chickens. Any advise would be appreciated. Thank you,” ~ Marissa Crittenden

Marissa,

Congratulations to you and your husband on the upcoming birth of your baby.

It’s an exciting time, enjoy it and sleep as much as possible now because you’ll never get enough sleep again!

Seriously though, this is a great question.

Yes, it is safe to handle chickens while pregnant.

There are very few diseases that effect chickens that humans are also susceptible to. Those that are would present risk whether you were pregnant or not. So as not to scare anyone, these diseases are rare and should not deter anyone from enjoying their chickens. (more…)

“Hi there, I am having an issue with my 4 month old chickens wanting to sleep in our tree outside our deck. I have not yet made perches or nesting boxes for them in their coop! Could that be the reason? Where can I find input about how and where in the coop, to build their perch and nesting boxes? Thanks any info would be appreciated ” ~ Tammy Pinto, Colorado Springs, CO

Thanks for the question Tammy.

I believe that you’ve answered your question correctly.

Because your flock has instinctively sought a place to sleep off the ground, they are most definitely ready for a perch.

It also won’t be long before they start laying so go ahead and put up nest boxes now so that they’re used to them when the time comes to start laying. They may just lay wherever the mood strikes them at first. When they discover the secluded area a nest box provides, they’ll make that transition. (more…)

“Hi Wendy, Thank you for your postings – I have learned a lot of things from them. My question, is it OK to have a hen house with no windows. I have 10 rescued factory chickens in a run with an “A-frame” hen house with a flap door about 12″ square. There are no other openings – I notice the hens come out at first light and don’t seem to go back in until night fall, except when they lay.

There food is in the house and when I open the house to get the eggs out (& in doing so introduce light) they all pile into the hen house and start pecking at their food. On saying that they manage to empty their feeder in 2 days so they are obviously eating what they need. My main concern is that with winter now rapidly approaching that they will get soaked and cold during wet windy days (of which we get a lot in Scotland) During recent rainy weather they were all standing out all day in the wet – soaked the skin – when they had an empty house right next to them! Many thanks in advance” ~ Alan Patterson

Alan, I’m glad you wrote.

As is evident in your story about your flock staying in the rain, chickens aren’t the most intelligent animals.

We’ve had very little rain this summer and apparently my chickens forgot what it was.

Recently, they were all out when it started to rain. We were laughing hysterically as we watched chicken after chicken take a few steps to the side in an attempt to get out of the rain. Apparently they thought that moving over would allow them to avoid this wet stuff falling from the sky.

My point is that sometimes instincts aren’t enough and we have to help our animals for the sake of their health. (more…)

“Thank you for your newsletter, it’s very helpful. I have set up three nesting boxes at the side of the chicken coop. However, my six chickens insist on using them as a loo i.e. pooping in them all the time. Any suggestions?” ~  Chrissie

Chrissie, thanks for the question.

I have a few ideas that I’ll share, hopefully one of them will fit your situation.

I wonder if they are laying their eggs in there too?

If not, is the place they are laying acceptable, meaning out of the way, and can it be kept clean? If the answer to that is “yes”, take down the boxes all together and forget about where they’re “supposed” to lay.

Chickens do most of their pooping at night while on their perch. (more…)