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We found 37 results for category 'Chicken Care'
I want to sell the eggs from my chicks as "organic". Are your chicks organic?
"Certified organic" regulations vary from state to state and region to region, and (thus far) do not have to do with the way chicks are hatched.... read more
Is Salmonella a concern with backyard chickens?
Salmonella is a bacteria found generally in the environment, and ingesting the bacteria causes food poisoning in humans. For instance, every so often... read more
Is it okay to heat my coop in the winter? I don't want my flock to suffer!
We really don't recommend you heat your coop - seriously! Our feeling is this isn't a good idea. Chickens adapt to the cold weather over time. Their... read more
Should I get my birds vaccinated?
Whether to get vaccinations for your flock or not is a personal choice. In most cases, a vaccination is consistent with organic management practices,... read more
I bought hens somewhere else and I want to know how old they are. How can I tell?
It is very difficult to discern the age of an adult chicken; the best you can do is make an educated guess. The number of eggs it lays in relation to... read more
Do I need to give my hens oyster shell or supplemental calcium?
If your hens have a good, "complete" layer feed, they may not ever need read more
At what age do hens start laying eggs?
On average, pullets, or juvenile hens, start laying eggs at about 6 months of age, depending on the breed. Larger, heavier birds like Wyandottes,... read more
There are hawks or owls in our area. Will our chickens be safe?
Hawks can most certainly be a danger to chickens (heck, even CROWS can be a danger to juveniles or bantams). However, only a few types usually bother... read more
It's time to move my 5 week-old chicks to their outdoor coop, but it's cold outside! Will they be okay?
Sudden temperature changes are a real danger to your birds. You will need to make sure their transition outside doesn't shock them. Although chickens... read more
My chickens are 7 months old and I still haven't seen an egg. Why?
First, you should make sure they are on a good chicken feed. Once they have begun laying, switch to layer pellet or crumble; until then, feed them... read more
My chickens run away whenever they see me. Can I tame them?
In general, chickens can be tamable and friendly by the same sorts of general methods you would use with a dog or a cat. Presuming they are healthy... read more
How much feed should I give my chickens each day?
We recommend feeding "free choice"; that is, letting them eat as much layer feed as they want and leaving their feeder out at all times (although you... read more
What is the best way to wash my eggs?
It's counter-intuitive but true: Your eggs will stay fresher if you don't wash them at all. When your hens lay eggs, there is a natural coating that... read more
How do I care for a wounded chicken?
Separate your chicken from any others in your flock first thing so she doesn't get picked on by the other chickens. Make sure she is in a place that... read more
Can I hatch the eggs of my chickens if the rooster and hen are different breeds?
There are no problems associated with hatching mixed breed chickens. If you have a rooster in your flock, he will try to breed ALL your hens,... read more
What type of bedding or litter should I use for my chickens?
Bedding is an important part of keeping your chickens happy and healthy. On the coop floor the bedding will provide a soft surface for your chickens... read more
Do I need to give my shipped chicks vitamins and electrolytes when they arrive?
We don't generally think it is a good idea to offer anything but plain, clean water unless your chicks are exceedingly stressed. When chicks are put... read more
Is there a way to tell if my chicken is happy or sad?
Chickens that are happy will be active and scratching around in the grass, laying in the sun--yes, they do that, too!--or taking a bath in the dirt.... read more
What is medicated feed all about--do I need it?
Medicated feed is formulated for chicks to help them combat coccidiosis, a disease that is found just about everywhere in the environment. Most... read more
Why don't you offer vaccinations for bantams?
The reason we don't offer vaccinations for bantams is that the vaccine is often ineffective for them because the birds are so tiny that it is too... read more
How long do hens lay eggs ?
Chickens usually don't simply "stop" laying eggs when they get to a certain age, but they will lay fewer as they get older. That said, most laying... read more
Should I let my chickens free range? I'm worried about predators.
If you allow your chickens to range freely, you WILL lose some to predators-- make no mistake. It can be devastating, especially to those of us with... read more
What are the signs of mites or lice and how do I treat my birds if they have an infestation?
Mites and lice are a common problem for chickens and can be carried in by wild birds, so if you have an infestation, it doesn't necessarily mean your... read more
How can I help my young children understand the wait to have our baby chicks are delivered?
There are a few things you can do together to help ease the frustration of waiting!
One thing you can do with a child when waiting something... read more
Why does my hen sometimes lay eggs with ridges halfway down the shell?
You may be describing what is called a "body checked egg." Body checks are ridges or grooves that occur around an egg, usually at the pointed end.... read more
I just found a little blood spot in my hen's egg, but I don't even have a rooster! How can this happen?
Blood spots aren't related to having a rooster--or not!--in your flock. Presuming they are fertile, eggs with blood spots are actually less likely to... read more
What does the word " broody " mean?
When a hen is broody, that means she wants to hatch her eggs. A breed known as broody has hens that often, individually go broody, and they may not... read more
Why did my chicken lay a shell-less egg?
Chickens need a lot of calcium to create good, hard shells, so most incidences of shell-less eggs in an adult hens are related to not having enough... read more
Why are the whites of my chickens' eggs watery?
Usually the whites of very fresh eggs such as you may gather from your own flock will be very thick in comparison to what you may be used to seeing... read more
The whites of my chickens' eggs are a funny color--what does that mean?
Cloudy whites in a farm egg are usually indicative of its freshness. The cloudiness is caused by dissolved carbon dioxide in the white, which... read more
At what age does a rooster begin crowing?
The age a rooster will first crow varies, but generally speaking, he will begin crowing at about four or five months of age. We have seen roosters... read more
Are there signs that a hen may be laying?
If you are looking for visual signs that your young pullet is getting ready to come into lay, those might include the fact that her comb will get... read more
Do chickens have a language?
In many way, they do. Chickens can make a very wide range of sounds, and they communicate amongst each other well.
Roosters can sing loudly... read more
Do my chickens need to be wormed, and if so, what schedule should I use?
If your chickens have worms, you will want to treat them. Some signs you can look for at home are pale combs, a drop in laying and watery poo.... read more
My hen has sticky, tar-looking poop--is there anything wrong?
Probably not. Chickens actually produce two types of poo: fecal poo and cecal poo. Cecal poo is thicker, stinkier and stickier. It usually looks sort... read more
How long do chickens live?
Naturally, this will depend on the conditions under which they're kept. Factory farms slaughter their egg layers at one or two years old, because... read more
What is molting?
Molting occurs once a year in mature birds, normally in late summer or autumn. The birds will lose their feathers and regrow new ones--a way of... read more
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