Category Archives: Knowledge Centre

Feed Material/Ingredients,Best Choice of Feed for Raising Chicken,Cost Effective feed

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh Leave a comment

Chicken Feed Ideas & Suggestions/The Right Choice Of Feed

Quality chicken feed creates healthy chickens. If you have selected to boost chickens, it’s vital that you select the right possible feed to be able to ensure you are taking advantage of neglect the.

Raising chickens is really a large commitment, they might require constant care and proper diet. Therefore, it can help to take a few of the guess exercise of chicken feed. Let us take a look at a few of the things you need to know before you purchase.

Many feed producers provide a type of affordable chicken feed that’s simply wheat consequence. These ‘cheap’ feeds offer hardly any nutrient content and aren’t the best option for raising healthy chickens. Avoid these bargain feeds no matter what, you might spend a little more, however the return about this investment is going to be staggering.

The easiest method to reduce chicken feed would be to avoid waste. Most of the chicken bird feeders available on the market are really shallow.

These shallow pans imply that a lot of the feed flows within the edge, thus creating unnecessary waste. You are able to remedy this issue by clogging your gutters chicken bird feeders a maximum of 1 / 3 of how full.

The easiest method to make sure that your chickens get the greatest quality feed is as simple as teaching yourself around the diet needed to boost healthy chickens.

Consider doing a bit of online investigation, or take a look at several chicken raising books in the library. You will find if this involves raising chickens, and other things, that understanding is energy.

Almost everyone has questions if this involves raising the opportunity chickens. If you are raising the opportunity chickens, it’s possible of these little creatures to locate their very own ft. However, most frequently this involves an array of space.

If you are raising chickens inside your backyard, you likely do not have sufficient space for the the opportunity chickens to look after themselves. Because of this, it’s wise to supplement your the opportunity chickens diet after some dietary chicken feed.

Remember, the greater chickens, you need to more competition for food. It’s vital that you make sure that you provide enough feed for every of the chickens to keep an amount of diet sufficient for growing strong and healthy.

If this involves feeding your chickens, the days are gone of permitting your chicken to consume anything they occur to find. Consumers demand to be aware what entered their food before they eat.

This rings true for eggs and meat. If you are planning to market your chickens, it’s vital that you keep an eye on the diet provided, and then any outdoors causes of food they might be in touch with.

In case your goal is just to boost chickens to market eggs, there is a interest in info on dietary content a bit less.

However, don’t stress yourself over this factor, because oftentimes chickens eat things we do not see (i.e. small seed products or small bugs). It’s virtually impossible to keep an eye on everything which your chickens partake.

A great way if this involves serving your chickens quality would be to not stress or overcomplicate the procedure. As lengthy as the primary goal is to make sure that your chickens are experiencing the highest quality diet, you will be fine.

If you are doubtful consider talking to an expert at the local feed store. She or he will have the ability to offer you educated information regarding raising top quality chickens. Your feed store professional will even have the ability to recommend the very best brands to your requirements.

If you are doubtful, you could help make your own chicken feed. Although this process is much more labor-intensive than feeding your chickens an outlet-bought feed, many people truly benefit from the hobby.

If you are planning to consider this route, your best choice would be to first understand the dietary needs of the chicken. You’ll be needed to teach yourself regarding the formulation of top quality chicken feed.

The next move is to buy the elements needed to create a quality chicken feed. Most small-scale chicken maqui berry farmers abandon making their very own feed to be able to embrace the benefit of business brands. This really is perfectly acceptable, since many commercial brands are simply as healthy like a homemade feed.

So, in case your goal would be to raise healthy chickens and increase the roi you need to spend a reasonable period of time, making certain that the chicken feed is from the utmost dietary quality. Avoid bargain-basement feeds, and consult an expert when you are doubtful.

Backyard Chicken, Feed And Nutrition

Benefits of Herbs for Chicken Health

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh 1 Comment

The trends of taste among people have been changing quite drastically. In older days, people use to give priority to vegetables more as compared to meat food. But now it’s the opposite. And in this, the usage of chicken has been in the top of the list. The increase in the consumption of chicken by people belonging to different countries has led to the proper farming of chicken in order to fulfill the daily needs. But this farming has also raised some medical issues in respect of chicken health due to not handling them properly. Un-controlled and un-healthy environment creates parasites in chickens that not only affects the health of that chicken but also affects the health of other chickens. Therefore, remedy for this problem is using herbs. It is not necessary that these herbs can only be used for chicken farming on large scale. Even if you have small pack of chickens at the backyard of your house, you can also use these herbs to keep your chicken healthy. So below are some of the uses of herbs that are beneficial for the health of the chicken.

 Herbs for chicken

As we all are well aware that chickens eat green plants for their survival. If green plants are the food than why not provide with such green plants that does not only satisfy their basic need, that is food, but also keeps them healthy and reduces the chances of getting any worms in chicken. In order to provide them with useful herbs, you need to make some good room for the chickens. Chickens can be more happy and healthy when they have plenty of room to walk, spread their wings and find their food themselves. Keeping them in fence cannot fulfill this purpose that accurately as this is practiced for the convenience of humans and keeping chickens away from predators. The important herbs that are useful for the health of chicken and also so that they could lay healthy eggs are comfrey, garlic, chickweed, elder, hyssop, feverfew, nasturtium, tansy, lavender, kale, Gotu Kola, and nettle.

 Some Herbs and their benefits

The herbs that are mentioned above have separate benefits for chicken. These are described below.

Comfrey:

this herb is filled with tonic food and protein and has a high level of calcium and potassium in it. This herb is also beneficial in providing amino acid. Feeding this herb daily to chickens will not only help them in being healthy but they will lay eggs with golden yolk as well.

Chickweed:

This herb is very common and it grows in the cooler months. This herb is on the top of the list that is liked by chickens.

Feverfew:

This herb is effective in controlling mites and lice that possesses some serious threats to the health of chickens. This herb produces self seeds and ample of flowers. These flowers and leaves can be converted in to a tea and then sprayed to control mites and lice.

Gotu Kola:

This herb grows in areas that are partially shaded. The leaves of this herb are very useful tonic for chickens and this herb can also be used for some of external skin conditions.

Nasturtium:

This herb has antibiotic and antiseptic characteristics and helps in repelling the insects away from the chicken.

Nettle:

This herb not only is rich in minerals and vitamins but also it prevents chicken against worms. This herb can be added with comfrey after drying it so as to give a boost for laying eggs.

Herbs and chickens health

Some of you may have experienced that the chickens which you have been keeping in your backyard or on your farm are getting less active and are often seen in unhealthy shape. This may lead to death of some chickens as well. If you are providing them with proper food, water and shelter and wonder why still this is happening, so the reason is their declining immune system. The reason in the declining of chicken’s immune system is unhealthy diet. You may have been providing proper feed for hen but sometimes that is just not enough. Giving them proper diet which includes useful herbs is also very important. These herbs have the necessary proteins and vitamins that do not only strengthen the immune system of chicken but also helps them in fighting with any parasites in chickens. The stronger the immune system is, the healthier is the chicken and will also lay healthy eggs. The immune system not only helps the chickens to fight with parasites but also to counter lice and mites diseases that may not only affect the health of one chicken, but may also affect other chicken as well. Besides the fact that these herbs help in maintaining the immune system of chickens, there is one also additional benefit received from these herbs. These herbs not only make the immune system of chickens more defensive but also provide the necessary calcium and proteins that helps in the nourishment of these chickens. As healthy the chicken will be, there are greater chances that the egg laid by the egg laying chickens will also be rich in protein and calcium. And when these eggs will be used as a source of food by the people, they will also have a better and healthy life.

Above are some of the benefits discussed of using various herbs for the proper nourishment of chickens and why they are essential for the immune system of chickens as well. So if you think that the food which you are providing to your chickens is enough, than think again. This information will help you to keep your chickens more healthy and active and the herbs mentioned will help the chickens in fighting various diseases as well.

Here is more information on types of herbs,their benefits and how to use them

http://orgprints.org/20460/1/sb_poultry.pdf

Feed And Nutrition

12 Homemade Feed Recipes-Give Your Chickens An Organic Diet

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh Leave a comment

If you have chickens at some point your thoughts should turn to homemade chicken feed. Chickens are healthiest and happiest when allowed to free-range and forage for worms, bugs and greens. You will have to supplement their foraging however, especially in the winter months. You do not have to resort to a bought feed, however. These ‘junk food’ pellets can be substituted with whole grain, organic, non-GMO feeds. Here are 12 homemade chicken feed recipes to give your birds an organic diet that will benefit them and you:

1- Whole Grain 17% Protein Chicken Feed Formula

This chicken feed by gardenbetty will fill a ten pound feeder. In addition, chickens are provided with free choice oyster shells and grit. These are essential to chickens, who need not only the protein but also calcium from the oyster shells and grit to aid digestion. Another healthy recipe for feeding chickens can be found at:

2- Organic Chicken Feed To Source From Health Food Shops Or Order Online

In a feed recipe like this one by home.howstuffworks.com that uses a combination of hard grains and seeds, the aim is to choose so that the overall balance of proteins is correct for your chickens. You can source grains from health food shops or buy them online. Growing chicken feed may be out of your reach but it is often possible to source grains easily.

3- Bulk Bought Organic Grain Mix For Chickens

If you bulk buy grains then you can make a cheap chicken food like this one by theelliotthomestead which really can rival store bought feed on cost and keep your chickens healthy. You will find another recipe here:

4- Chick Starter Feed Recipe

Chicks need plenty of protein to grow. Fish meal in this recipe boosts the protein intake for baby chicks. Chicks will also need grains to be ground at first and will need a balance of nutrients tailored to them. Find one chick starter feed recipe at Whole Fed Homestead.

5- A General Guideline For A Custom Chicken Feed Mix

When creating your own custom chicken feed mix like this one by smallfarm.about, you should first work out a formula or general guideline that covers the basic necessities of a poultry diet and then add in a number of other items to make sure that all the nutritional bases are covered.

6- A Flexible Formula For Chicken Feed

Some grain mix formulas like this one by theprairiehomestead require you to mill your own grains but not all grain mix formulae have to be milled. The mix at the website below is an example of a flexible formula that does not require home milling equipment. If you want an organic, non-GMO mix then you will have to try to source organic corn and wheat in your local area.

7- A Soy and Corn-Free Chicken Feed Formula

Many chicken owners are realizing the importance of moving to a soy and corn free chicken food like this one by wellfedhomestead. Soy contains potent phytoestrogens that are passed to eggs, most soy is also GM, contains damaging chemicals and may cause long term health problems. Corn is like chicken chocolate, with low nutritional benefit and also, much of it is not organic and chemicals can pass into the food chain. To get some of the ingredients cheaper, you could ask around for leftover grains from local mills.

8- Homemade Chicken Feed For Layers

The recipe on the following site is for laying hens and is provided in addition to kitchen scraps and oyster shells. Chicken owners will need to consider whether hens are kept as layers or for meat when choosing a feed recipe. Making your own chicken feed like this one by thefieldandtable allows you to control the process.

9- Another Soy and Corn Free Feed For Healthier Chickens

There are a number of different recipes that conscientious and ethical chicken keepers can use for their homemade feed like this one by peacefulvalleyfarm. Here is another alternative to commercial chicken food, with all its unhealthy and potentially damaging ingredients:

10- Summer and Winter Feed Recipes

One of the great things about concocting your own feed mix like this one by marystilwell.wordpress is that you can alter it depending on the season. Some owners choose to alter the chicken feed throughout the year, changing the balance of ingredients to help chickens cope with warm weather in the summer and cold weather in the winter.

11- Another Homemade Chicken Feed Recipe

The key to creating a successful mix is to educate yourself about the nutritional requirements of your birds and how they can be met. A number of different recipes can be found on forums like backyardchickens.com.

12- Twenty Five Pound Organic and Non-GMO Chicken Feed

It is a good idea to try to bulk buy ingredients and make up a larger mix in one go as this will usually work out cheaper than trying to make up small batches more frequently. You can find one homemade feed mix like this one by gnowfglins for a 25 pound amount here.

Ending Up!

Develop your own, organic, non-GMO chicken feed and you will have healthier chickens and healthier eggs to eat. By taking control of what goes into chicken feed, you will also be making sure that you do not contribute to global environmental problems and will be taking one more step towards a sustainable and ethical future.

Brooding And Rearing guide, Ducks

Caring and Raising Ducklings

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh Leave a comment

Are you contemplating about raising these cute little darlings or how to take care of ducks? At times of the Easter Season, these ducklings do find their way into the beautiful gift baskets. For the purpose of caring and raising ducklings, you should always have all sorts of information about ducks. In comparison to other birds, the ducklings are relatively inexpensive to bring up. Moreover, they can survive easily for a period of 20 years, but with proper caring for a duck and feeding. So, for taking care of ducks or raising a duckling below are some points that you need to ponder.

1. Try not to raise these ducks as house pets. This is because of their habitat that belongs to the open settings and not in the home based environments. You might feel happy in keeping them in your home, but what about the well being and happiness of the ducks. So, if you prefer not be cruel with these darlings, then it is imperative to raise them in the settings to which they rightfully belong.

2. An important personality trait of the pet ducks is their socialization. In other words, their growth is best guaranteed in the presence of other ducks. Moreover, they usually do not fight each other, which is another reason for which keeping them with other ducks is recommended. On the other hand, if you bring them up in isolation, then it is likely that they won’t survive.

3. Make proper arrangements for fulfilling the needs of these animals. In addition to fulfilling their basic needs, you also need to give them with the life which they deserve.

4. In opposition to some misconceptions, ducks are quite intelligent and can respond to your commands. They are capable to play with toys, children and are also able to play a number of games. If they are handled with care and affection from the very start, then it is likely that they are going to become sociable with humans. The element of interaction is the key to raising ducks.

5. The backyard ducks do not demand an open pond or area for swimming. Furthermore, you should also not worry about the odor they give off, as it is quite pleasant in comparison to the chickens.

6. In terms of determining the sex of the ducklings, firstly you need look at their secondary characteristics. For example, the males are marked for having green heads in comparison to the females that lack this feature. For the sake of sexing, you can also consider the voicing style of the domestic ducks which becomes evident as soon as get about 6 weeks old.

7. For the first few weeks, ducklings need to be kept warm and dry. For this purpose, you should make use of a box or a cage. The temperature of the place should be about 30 Degree C. You can also make use of a light bulb for the sake of heating.

8. Try to keep them away from the water, especially when they are alone. It is because they might become chilled and might also drown at times when the water is too deep.

9. In the winter season, you can let them wander outside if they have enough feathers over their body. These feathers appear at about 4 to 5 weeks after their birth. But in times of extremely cold temperatures, it is better to keep them inside.

10. Their shelter should have proper ventilation and area, keeping in view the number of ducklings that are to be accommodated in it. Moreover, the house should also be bedded with sufficient wood shavings and other necessary materials.

11. In terms of feeding ducks, the young ducklings should be fed with started food for baby ducks. For those who are about 3 to 7 weeks, the grower food for ducks might be brought to use. It is also recommended to use some Grit close to them, so that they might use for grinding the food when required. Ducklings care should always be your top most priority. The same applies to the use of water for ducks.

12. In order to deal with the major issue of feces, it is best to make use of a proper diapering system. The diapers used should be changed after a period of 4 hours. But at the time of diapering, you should keep in mind that they should not interfere with their swimming needs. Nonetheless, you should also make all possible arrangements for cleanliness and minimizing the spread of diseases.

Breeding Guide, Turkeys

Selecting the most suitable breed of turkeys for your flock

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh Leave a comment

Raising some friendly breeds of turkey is really enjoyable. Moreover, if you bring them up at your home based settings, then you would be able to enjoy a number of flavored meats. At the same time, this strategy is also useful in saving some money. In this regard, you can make use of a number of old as well modern breeds. Glenn Drowns, a specialist in the domain of heritage poultry, asserts that the White Holland and related breeds are best suited for flocks which are below 20 and that the Bourbon reds are really useful in terms of pest control as well as for foraging. Frank Reese, another specialist in the domain of breeding turkeys, also suggests that the White Holland poultry breeds are quite competitive in terms of meat production and consumption. How to breed turkeys? This is the core question here.

Preference for Broad Breasted Breeds

For those who plan to raise for sales, then the breeds will come to be the most useful. However, these birds are available on a limited basis, all because of a respiratory disease outbreak that has effectuated thousands of flocks. The reason for which this bird is being recommended lies in the large amount of meat which is present in the areas of its breasts. In comparison to the wild turkey, the bird has 2 to 4 times more meat, due to which it is well suited for meat production purposes. These birds are able to achieve a weight of sixteen to twenty five pounds in a matter of 24 weeks. On the other hand, in order to reach the same weight, the heritage birds would demand nearly 2 years. The importance of this timing period is highly crucial in terms of poultry production, for which most of the poultry producers prefer to make use of this breed of turkeys.

Tips for selecting the best breeds for you farms

In terms of selecting the most suited and appropriate breed, you need to be knowledgeable of the various facets including its capacity of natural reproduction, its ability to fly, its pace in terms of reaching the stage of maturity and many other related factors. The thumb rule here is that the most famous breeds might not be necessarily suited for the smaller farms and at the same time, the big size is also not an indicator in terms of the best breeds of domestic turkeys.

Classes of Production Type Turkeys

There are two basic types which will be discussed here including Broad Breasted Whites and The Broad Breasted Bronze. You can easily purchase them from a number of hatcheries in times of the spring season. In addition, the pace of their growth is also quite agile, due to which you would be able to have a massive turkey in the minimal time span. However, there is a single drawback in making use of these breeds of turkey i.e. they aren’t able to produce on a natural basis. The reason for this can be linked to the large sizes of their breasts, which limits their ability to reach out. So, for those who plan to breed some large flocks of turkeys, these two breeds might not be suitable. But if you have no sort of problem with their reproduction limitation, then you should go for them.

Heritage Breed of Turkeys

There are a number of farmers and poultry producers who prefer to utilize the heritage turkeys, all because of their well-developed reproduction capabilities. Moreover, they also come in various colors and sizes and are also able to brood a number of eggs. Below are some of the breeds which you might want to consider at the time of selecting the best breeds of turkey for your farms and poultry houses.

Auburn: This heritage breed is believed to be similar to the bronze breeds, but happens to be more reddish in color. The origins of this breed go a few centuries back.

Beltsville Small White: This rare preservation breed is marked for being smaller in size. The breed is also more active in comparison to the other breeds, primarily because of its small size.

Spanish Black: Now here we have another rare breed which was mainly utilized by early settlers. The breed is also medium in size in comparison to other breeds of the same class.

Bronze: This breed is quite large in size and is able to carry out the breeding process in a natural manner. Do remember to distinguish it from the broad breasted ones.

Midget White: The smallest breed of turkeys, Midget White, is really suited for small families. Furthermore, these birds are also quite active and are also able to fly.

Royal Palm Turkeys: Famous for being a show bird, Royal Palm is a small sized heritage turkey. The breed is marked for having black and white colors.

Narragansett Turkeys: Believed to be good foragers, natural calm, medium sized and excellent brooders, Narragansett is the breed which you might want for your small farms. In the past, the breed had come quite close to being extinct, but now it is believed to be more prevalent.

Backyard Chicken, Breeding Guide

Guide to Select a Right Breeds of Chickens For Backyard

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh 2 Comments

At the time of launching a poultry farm you do have a wide array of choices to choose from. Chickens have been kept by humans for thousands of years now for a number of different purposes. Due to this domestication, a number of breeds of chicken have been resulted. In a similar way to animals that come in different types, the chicken breeds differ from one another in terms of their characteristics, about which you should be well aware. In other words, you should know about the specific characteristics of each chicken breed in order to have an idea about which types of chicken breeds would be best suited for your farm.

It is all by doing some research that you would be able to have an idea about the best chicken breeds for eggs and meat. When it comes to selecting the right backyard chicken breeds, the following are the breeds about which you should know.Here are some of the most preferred chicken breeds with pictures.

Plymouth Rock

In terms of the top ten chicken breeds, the first in line is the Plymouth Rock. Many years ago, this chicken breed used to be the most common in America. You can select this breed from a number of different options. One of the most common of them all is the black and barred ones. Moreover, these birds are of a calm and friendly nature, due to which they are best suited to being kept in any setting.

Rhode Island Breed

Next in line we have the Rhode Island Breed which is also very common and preferred among the backyard chicken farmers. They are available in two different types including Rhode Island Red and The Rhode Island White. It is their docile demeanour, which makes them one of the most preferred to farmers. Furthermore, it is also able to adapt very well to all forms of free range as well as combined settings. On a yearly basis, it is also able to lay around 300 eggs which are brown in colour. That’s not all, as it is also known to be the best chicken for laying brown colored eggs. The Rhode Island Breed is indeed one of the most famous egg laying chicken breeds.

Light Sussex

Another top chicken breed is the one known as The Sussex Breed. In addition to being present in a number of different types and colors, they are also quite adaptable to any environment. Moreover, it’s also their unique nature which makes them one of the most preferred among all the farmers. Their capacity to lay eggs on a yearly basis falls around 250, which is indeed quite good in comparison to the other different breeds of chicken that are found all over the world. Many farmers, especially the hobbyists love to keep this chicken breed at their homes for quite obvious reasons.

Ameraucana Breed

Now moving on, we have another popular breed which you should also consider at the time of selecting the right chicken breed for your farm house or any other setting. The breed is known by the name of Ameraucana. They have a standard size and are mostly kept being one of the dual purpose chicken breeds. Now here, by dual nature it is meant that they are kept for eggs as well as for meat usage, thus making them quite useful in terms of meat chicken breeds. The eggs laid by these birds get really expensive at the time of the Easter Holidays. The reason for this being the beautiful colour of the eggs these birds lay. They are also quite constant in terms of laying eggs on a set schedule. Mostly, this breed is easy to handle and friendly, but there are some that can get really aggressive at times. The colors in which this breed is found include black, blue or brown red.

Ancient Breeds

For those who plan to keep the breeds that are being used since the ancient times, The Anconas and Hamburgs are the ones to be used. These chicken breeds typically lay white colored eggs, but some of the farmers are of the view that these breeds might not be suited for backyard farming, all because of their changing temperament. Other breeds which are also very famous for egg laying include The Minorca, Campine, Orloff, Penedesenca and other broiler chicken breeds. So, now you know how important is it to have some idea at the time of choosing a chicken breed.

Backyard Chicken, Poultry Layer And Egg Guide

16 Reasons that May Lead to Decrease in Egg Production

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh 4 Comments

A large number of people love to keep backyard chickens for egg production. There might be numerous reasons for this habit. But it really feels amazing to collect eggs from all the next boxes. In other words, gathering eggs from the nest boxes is one of the greatest joys of keeping the backyard chicken. If dealt in a proper manner, then the process might lead to the increase in egg production, thus enabling you to grapple some large profits. At the time, there are a number of reasons that might lead to the fall in the rate of egg production. So, if you feel the egg production rate at your farm is falling, then you need to keep a number of things in mind. Most of the researchers are of the view that the fluctuations in the rate of egg production may be due to behavioral, environmental and emotional factors, all of which can be controlled. Here are the 16 reasons that might initiate a decrease in the rate of chicken egg production.

1. Lighting Conditions and Shorter Days:

One reason for which the egg production might be slowed down is due to the shorter days. On an average rate, a hen requires nearly 12 hours of sufficient day light for the stimulation of the ovaries.

2. Molting Issues:

During the phases of molting, most of hens stop laying eggs. In order to tackle the problem a number of proteins might come in handy, but it is better to let the molting complete its cycle. Molting in chickens should be dealt in an effective manner in order to ensure that egg production remains constant.

3. Broody Hen:

In this phase, the hens stop laying eggs. Moreover, they also spend the entire day sitting on the eggs, waiting for them to be hatched. The only thing that can be done here is to break the broodiness as soon as possible. Almost all classes of egg laying chicken breeds might suffer from this problem.

4. Egg Eating:

There are some chickens that might engage in this irrational behavior. Furthermore, when one hen starts doing this, other hens prefer to follow. For substantiation, you can see a number of broken egg shells in the nest.

5. Predators:

There is no end to the number of predators who love to eat and steal eggs. Moreover, the hens also get stressed out at the sight of these predators, so it is best if you make all sorts of conducive and safety arrangements for dealing with this issue.

6. Overcrowding:

Another common reason for which the eggs might stop laying eggs, is overcrowding. When you keep a number of chickens in a small area, then the hens might get stressed that will result in lower egg production.

7. Change in Nesting Area:

Hens like humans love their homes and the places where they usually lay their eggs. But switching the area from time to time can break their routines and patterns of egg laying.

8. Illness/Disease:

One of the first things to notice in times of decreased in egg production is illness. You must also know that chickens do love to hide their illness at times. So here it is imperative to schedule and perform medical checkups from time to time.

9. Extreme Fluctuations in Weather:

There are some optimal temperatures in which hens lay the most number of eggs. Normally, the temperature range should be from 50-75 Degrees F. Even the slightest of deviations from this range might lead to fall in the egg production.

10. Lack of Ventilation:

Lack of ventilation in the coop leads to the accumulation of ammonia, thus causing various physiological changes in the chicken and egg laying habits of the chicken through respiratory illness.

11. Poor Nutrition:

Those farms that utilize some low quality feeds face this problem more often. So, for having the maximum number of egg yield, you should make use of good quality feeds.

12. Overfeeding:

Just like underfeeding that might lead to diminished egg production, the same also applies to overfeeding. Chickens require a set number of proteins for egg production, but never try to offer them with more than what they require.

13. Lack of Water:

In terms of the internal composition of egg, it is evident that water makes up nearly 75 % of the total mass. Be sure to supply sufficient water for chicken egg laying at all times.

14. Free ranging:

Chickens should be offered with free ranging, but in a controlled manner. Otherwise, they are going to hide their eggs at places you might not be able to track. Mostly the hens lay eggs in the morning times, so it is recommended that you monitor them at these times.

15. Age:

The first 2 to3 years are the ones in which hens lay the maximum number of eggs. With the passage of time, the productivity is going to fall. So, it is best that if you continue adding new chicks to the settings.

16. Stress:

In the end, it is quite visible that a stress free hen happens to be the one that lays the most number of eggs.

Backyard Chicken

13 tips to protect your chickens from hot weather

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh 3 Comments

Each of the united state regions is now broiling – wonder why the heat wave seems to have adored this place. Humans have ample amount of ways to counter this igneous heat but what about the animals around? I am being specific about our backyards fellows and other feathered creatures because they are absolutely innocent and rely on us for shelter when the temperature is torturing. One of the researches says that birds like turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, chickens and pea fowls cannot stand against the temperature of 90 degrees – they can even die cause of sun stroke/ heat stroke if exposed to soaring temperature than this.

Don’t worry, there are ample ways through which you can protect your little fellows and keep your flocks happier even if the shiny sun is in the mood to annoy them. This excerpt now highlights simple, affordable and quick ways through which you can keep chicken cool during the hot season. Raising backyard chicken is interesting but caring chicken is responsibility.

Identify the heat stress symptoms:

You must be wondering how to identify symptoms regarding heat stress in poultry? Well, their behavior would depict lots of things;

Hyperventilation or panting: this refers to quick and short breaths by birds
Laziness – they lie down on the ground with fully stretched wings
Eating disorder – appetite shrinks
They stop responding to stimuli

How to keep chicken cool in summer?

Here are the most inquired tips:

1: Choose the bird breed sensibly:

Indeed, you would never want to have a sick or lazy flock in the backyard – a healthy and active flock is something that each rasier would look up to. If that’s your goal, always select the bird breed wisely. What do I mean by this? See, there are a few heat tolerant breeds; similarly, you would come across cold tolerant breeds, and a few which cannot bear any extreme temperature. If you would build your flocks based on factors like beauty, rareness or egg laying ability only, you may face trouble. Before filling your coop clearly make a note of their habitats and abilities.

2: Chicken coop design should be considered:

Always inquire vendor about the coop designs; for example, the slanted roof has a greater tendency to absorb heat as well as the humidity. Similarly, all sides closed coop would also lead to suffocation; you must have a coop which allows fresh air to pass easily while providing enough shade inside the coop for birds.

3: Make sure enough shade is provided:

During summers specially, you must have shades and shelter at different places so that chickens and other birds can seek shelter there. What you can do is grow more shrubs, trees and porches – if you don’t have enough space, you can use man-made options for making shady areas.

4: Make water available:

You must place cold water for birds in their residency – try to change the water after 2 hours during peak summers. If that’s not possible for you, at the base of water containers place ice in plastic bags – this would help water retain coolness.

5: Use small ice air conditioners:

What you can do is, freeze water in small some containers and place them in the resting place of the birds. They would get an idea that while they are near the containers they feel relaxed and cold. It’s a good way to keep them away from heat strokes.

6: Provide dust bathing place:

By doing so you would reduce the chances of getting parasite as well as heat. When the temperature is ferocious, chickens make small holes in the dirt and would sit where they find cooler regions.

7: Use of electrolyte:

All you have to do is buy a powdered electrolyte from the store and mix it in the cold water as per the instruction on the packet.

8: Pay attention to nest Box area:

Smaller chicken coops face this type of a problem widely – as the day passes temperature inside the coop soars. You have to make sure that there is proper ventilation and air circulation where nest boxes are placed. You can use a fan or place freezers (ice air conditioners). In fact you must have nest boxes outside somewhere in shady regions for summers.

9: Change in diet:

Stop giving your chickens scratch and corn – they provide the body with extra heat and require longer time for digestion. Replace them items with fresh fruits and juicy vegetables.

10: Use Frozen foods:

Take out fresh and juicy fruits and vegetables and chop them into smaller pieces. Go to your flocks and let them enjoy this meal twice a day. This would help them retain energy and coolness. You can try;

Watermelon
Cucumber
Oranges
Berries
Apples
Pineapple

11: Water your coop:

If you have plants at the top, that means you have a green roof chicken coop, you must keep on watering it. Also, you can create a cold water pool inside the coop.

12: Decrease the litter in the coop:

You must decrease the deep coop bedding – by doing so you would be able to keep the coop cool and clean. This would increase the air circulation and decrease suffocation.

13: Give birds freedom:

Your goal is to lower the chickens stress so try giving them a place to play and walk around. This would help keep away their stress.

Backyard Chicken

10 tips to train your hen to lay eggs in her nest box

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh 1 Comment

Are you pissed at your cute chubby hens because of their annoying habits? Relax, that is normal for the poultry dwellers. My 10 years experience has lead me to conclude, you may not agree with it but my opinion remains the same – hens love laying eggs everywhere except for the place where they should. When I bought hens for the first time, I went mad almost – they use to lay eggs all over the farm but not their next boxes. It was bothering because most of the eggs used to get wasted as I was not able to locate them or other animals used to break eggs.

Are you going through the phase when the hen laid eggs in the garden, trees, hay bales but not their boxes? You cannot do anything about it other than training them. Don’t lose hope because chickens have a very annoying habit of sticking to what I being restricted – I shall share my experience of training my fellows, you can take perks from the foolproof tips through which you can easily obtain fresh and clean eggs;

1: Place nest boxes in quantity:

You must have at least 4 to 5 boxes for a flock of 20 hens – in this way hens would feel comfortable laying eggs in the boxes because of ease. This would also help you in collecting eggs easily.

2: Alluring nest boxes:

The nesting boxes must have something that the hen would not to eat or maybe play with.

3: Placement of the box:

Always keep the boxes in the areas of the coop that are dark – hens adore peaceful and dark places and would happily lay eggs in the boxes.

4: Create a scenario – play with them:

You can use golf ball or ceramic eggs and design a scenario to create an impact on the hen’s mind that the right place for the egg is the next box.

5: Limit their movement:

You must know the time when your hens lay eggs usually – for example, if it is the mid morning time, you can close the coop door. In this way, hens would have no option other than laying eggs in the nest boxes.

6: Make the boxes cozy and comfortable:

You must have a clean and fluffy nest box so that he feels cozy in it – untidy and boxes with depleted shavings (floorings) are disliked so hens lay eggs in other locations.

7: keep the boxes free:

Once the chicken is done with laying eggs in the box, make sure you clean it and leave it for another hen.

8: Notice the hen behavior:

Make sure you guard the hens in the morning, if they are trying to escape from the eyes or searching for darker location, send her to the coop where the clean box is placed.

9: Timings:

You can place food and water bowls near the boxes – the hens would eat and play, and before that lay the egg in the safe secure area, which would be nest only.

10: Keep the nest box a few inches above the ground because hens like it that way – make sure you place fresh flooring each morning so that it motivates the hen to carry on with the behavior.

Backyard Chicken

10 Best and Healthy Treats for Chickens -the treats chickens can eat

September 22, 2022 Farhan sheikh 1 Comment

If you have backyard friends in your house, you must be knowing how carefully they are brought up. From their living to health, habits to the house, everything needs to be perfect, especially if you are dealing with chickens. They are very moody and tend to get irritated if not treated the way they want to be. Other than all the stuff, taking care of chicken’s diet is the utmost priority of the everywhere backyard raiser. However, you can always have some treats for chickens occasionally. The treat for chicken would help in avoiding the boredom of having the same food for the little fluffy fellows.

If you fail to allure the chickens with treats, they might get into the habit of feather pecking, which is certainly dangerous for the bird’s health. However, treat would be only 2 to 4 percent of the actual diet; it only makes around quarter cup feed for one chicken and that even for the week.

You must be thinking what to feed chickens as treat? Health, safety and freshness would be your utmost concern. The excerpt guides you about best 10 treats that your birds would enjoy to the fullest:

1: Lush green veggies:

You can serve the chickens with lettuce, cabbage and other soft leafy green veggies. However, make sure you do not give them anything cold. It is ideal feed to hens.

2: Solid vegetables:

You do not have to shop for special or new vegetables for them – simply serve the leftover dinner’s vegetables in the morning to chickens. They would love it. However, do not over-do any of the items. Cauliflower, Brussels, cabbage and onions should be given in limited quantities.

3: Garden and Lawn weeds:

Weeds have higher nutritional value, but make sure the ones you present to the chickens do not have any elements of pesticides. Wash the weed properly before serving it to the chickens. Make sure you consult the chicken veterinarian before that – never serve such a weed, which is unfamiliar to you. The most common weeds are chickweed, crabgrass, dandelions and thistles.

4: Squash and pumpkins:

Chickens have a special love for the jack-o-lantern from the Halloween – jokes apart, pumpkins have great nutritional value for chickens. Worming chickens with pumpkin is also a great practice.

5: Fruits:

For wormy chickens, fresh fruits are a great treat. Make sure when you serve the chickens with fruits, they are washed and seedless. The fruits with seeds may cause chickens loose motions or other stomachaches. Look for soft fruits and give preference to sweeter ones; citrus fruits may not be liked much.

6: Meat:

If you plan to provide chicken with meat or bone scraps, make sure they are well cooked. It is ideal to have some meat on the bones so that they can pick it and have fun. Do not leave the bones in the coop for more than 24 hours – chickens may develop some infection by having them around.

7: Eggs and shells:

It is time to make the most of cracked and old eggs. Simply give them back to the chickens in cooked form – make sure it is crushed well, so that you do not intrigue the chickens having their own eggs when you are not around.

8: Dairy and milk products:

Who said chickens stay away from the dairy products? They love cheese, sour milk and the simplest milk too. They would even have it if you mix some other liquid mixture in it. However, make sure you consult chicken veterinarian before doing it. It may otherwise cause a decrease in egg production.

9: Starch products

Now you must not be worrying about what chickens can eat – everything is crystal clear. You must serve pasta, rice and spaghetti in properly cooked manner. You can even serve the leftovers of the last night – even some sauce mixed dish would be fine for chickens.

10: Potatoes:

Never ever, feed your chickens with raw potatoes – not even the peels. The roots may be poisonous, so make sure you remove them as well. Simply put the potatoes and the peels into boiling water for 10 minutes and then serve them to the chickens when cool on temperature.

1- Whole Grain 17% Protein Chicken Feed Formula

2- Organic Chicken Feed To Source From Health Food Shops Or Order Online

3- Bulk Bought Organic Grain Mix For Chickens

4- Chick Starter Feed Recipe

5- A General Guideline For A Custom Chicken Feed Mix

6- A Flexible Formula For Chicken Feed

7- A Soy and Corn-Free Chicken Feed Formula

8- Homemade Chicken Feed For Layers

9- Another Soy and Corn Free Feed For Healthier Chickens

10- Summer and Winter Feed Recipes

11- Another Homemade Chicken Feed Recipe

12- Twenty Five Pound Organic and Non-GMO Chicken Feed

Ending Up!

Plymouth Rock

Rhode Island Breed

Light Sussex

Ameraucana Breed

Ancient Breeds

How to keep chicken cool in summer?

1: Lush green veggies:

2: Solid vegetables:

3: Garden and Lawn weeds:

4: Squash and pumpkins:

5: Fruits:

6: Meat:

7: Eggs and shells:

8: Dairy and milk products:

9: Starch products

10: Potatoes:

A Free Source Of Information for poultry Keepers,Raisers, Beginners and poultry food lovers