As egg prices increased, many people researched and started raising chickens for their eggs. Have you considered raising chickens so you can have fresh eggs every day? When you raise your own chickens, you control the quality of your eggs. However, there are some key things you should do to raise healthy chickens.
Choose High-Quality Feed
Chickens need good quality food. The feed should include calcium, such as oyster shells, which provides strong shells and keeps the chickens’ bones strong. You can find appropriately mixed feed for your chickens, but avoid giving them excess treats, which can compromise their health and keep them from consuming the nutrition they need. However, other nutrients depend on the stage of your chickens’ lives and development.
You can throw your chicken feed on the ground or use a feeder. However, you should also make sure your chickens have small rocks or stones to help them break down the food they eat. You may have to provide this grit if you keep your chickens confined to a small run.
Provide Clean Water
The next item on your healthy chicken list is fresh water. Chickens need lots of clean water. If you live in an area that freezes, make sure you purchase a heated waterer that prevents freezing. Make sure you clean their water out frequently, at least once per day, so they aren’t drinking water with fecal matter or other contaminants that can make them sick. You can also use nipple waterers, which keep their water cleaner than standard cup-like waterers.
Keep the Coop Clean and Dry
Did you know that chickens have respiratory sensitivities? Their systems become irritated easily. This is especially true when they get exposed to mold. However, their own droppings can also cause health challenges. In addition, dirty coops can encourage parasites like poultry lice. Therefore, you need to keep their coops clean.
Keep any food and water outside the chicken coop. In addition, remove any droppings from the coop every day. You can use a droppings board to make this process easier. You can also use litter or other bedding to keep the ground clean. You can also investigate your chickens’ droppings for any abnormalities. Also, don’t keep your chickens in coops or yards with other birds.
Give Them Dusty Areas
Chickens need a daily dust bath. Therefore, you should create an area with loose dirt or sand. You can use flowerpots, buckets or a sand pit. They use this dust to clean their skin and feathers. Avoid diatomaceous earth or other supplements. Also, keep this dirt dry.
Manage Lighting
Young adolescent chickens do not need supplemental lighting during the winter. In fact, it can actually cause them to prematurely mature and start laying when their bodies cannot properly handle the process or pressure.
However, to keep them laying all year, older, mature chickens do need supplemental light during the winter months. When the days have less than 13 hours of natural sunlight, provide additional light.
Although they are a lot of work, you can receive years of delicious eggs from them. The key is cleanliness, so keep your clothing and yourself clean and keep other critters out of your chicken yard, and you can protect them and keep them healthy for years to come.