Basic Care of Your Backyard Chicken Flock

Chickens are self-sufficient pets. As long as they have fresh water every day and a dry, clean coop to sleep in, they should be happy living in your backyard. You want to keep a clean coop to stop parasites and rodents from being attracted to your coop. Your cleaning can vary from how many hens, size of coop, etc. I do a weekly maintenance inspection and change floor bedding and nesting boxes if needed. Twice a year I do a deep clean and disinfect the entire coop from top to bottom.

Floor: Care can vary for the type of coop that you have. We use a portable coop that my husband built but I still put a piece of plywood in the run area with pine shavings. With our coop it is easy to remove the plywood if I just want to let the hens scratch up bugs and worms. We found that without the wood shavings they can create quite a mess digging up the yard. The plywood just helps with the cleanup by having a flat surface.

Floor covering options: pine shavings or sand (very coarse).

Sprinkle lime on the floor to help neutralize odors even before the wood shavings. Here is a good article regarding the use of lime in a chicken house - Liming the Chickenhouse. Some individuals have mixed emotions on the use of lime.

For lice and mice control use diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic, abrasive fine white powder made of the tiny fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae. If you ever take a microbiology class make sure you get to take a look at this algae under the microscope. They are absolutely beautiful! Diatomaceous earth is a 100% natural treatment for poultry ailments including mites, lice and intestinal worms. Sprinkle it in the nest box and run and coop bedding.

Nesting Boxes: Chickens like quiet, enclosed areas to lay their eggs. You can put straw or pine shavings in your nesting boxes and let them rearrange it to how they want it. I have heard that some people have problems with the hens laying their eggs in the corner on the floor but I have not encountered that problem yet. Our coop has two nesting boxes but for some reason the hens like to nest in the same box. Change the bedding when it looks like its getting dirty.

Roosts: Chickens like to "roost" on raised platforms. Its where they huddle together at night. Once it starts to get dark at our hen house don't even think about peeking in. We have one hen that will make crazy noises and even peck at you! Our roosting stick is removable so I will take it out at least once a month and give it a good scraping. Below the stick I used to lay hay down but found that cat litter works better. It is very easy to clean up. Learn as you go.....

Ventilation: It is very important to keep your coop clean and well ventilated. Ammonia fumes can build up and cause respiratory problems in your chickens. Ventilation also removes humidity and keeps the coop nice and cool in the summer and prevents frostbitten chickens in the winter.

Keeping of backyard hens is still controversial in cities. You don't want your neighbors complaining that it stinks! Keep your coop clean.

Feeding

Food: The best food for egg laying chickens is an organic feed. You can buy pellet or mash. Feed should contain nutrients, omega 3 oils, carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals that your chickens need. Chickens will eat about 4 ounces of pellets a day.

Grit (small rocks): Chickens hold grit in their gizzards. A gizzard is an organ that ginds up feed making it easier to digest. Use more grit in the winter when rocks are harder to find. If you find that shells are thin and soft add oyster shells for calcium.

Oyster Shells: Give oyster shells to egg laying hens. It gives them extra calcium to help produce strong egg shells.

Scraps: Think of this as "treats". Chickens have their own likes and dislikes so see what your ladies like. This can be anything from fruits, veggies and bread.

Free Range:This is my favorite part. Let your hens out and let them run around the yard and let them look for their own food. Mine head straight for my perennial garden. There are some good nightcrawlers and bugs in their.

Water: Provide fresh water everyday. I sanitize the water containers once a week. If you use bleach make sure you rinse well.

Food Storage: Store in vermin-proof containers.

Health

Bugs: Keep an eye out for parasites, lice and fleas. You may need to give treatments if necessary.

* Provide a dust bath for your girls. This is where your chickens will roll, flap or run around in the dirt. It gets rid of bugs and lice naturally.

Stress: If your chickens are looking stressed find a cool dark place for them to go to and recover.

Miscellaneous Chicken Care

Handle: Don't chase your chickens or pick them up by the tail or wings. Get close to them by gaining their trust and confidence. Talk to them and give them treats. Gently pick them up and support under your arm. Patience!

Let Your Chickens Out: Let your chickens out of the coop to scratch and dust bath. I only let them out in the afternoons for a couple of hours under supervision. They destroyed my entire perennial garden one afternoon.

Watch for predators: Keep an eye out for neighborhood pest. This can be anything from cats, dogs, foxes, and racoons.

About the Author:
Tana Lyon can be found at http://www.backyardchickenfarmer.com and is always willing to answer any questions you may have regarding your chickens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tanna_Lyon

Small Business Opportunities

If you are looking for small business opportunities, you might not have to look too hard. You may find that they are waiting in you own back yard. Right now the push is on to go green and to eat only organic foods. Well you can actually lower your carbon footprint and eat healthier at the same time.

Your perfect small business opportunities start with a chicken. All you need to do is to build a chicken coop. There are lots of how to books available if you are not sure how to proceed, or you may be able to hire a handy man to build one for you. Then you need to contact your local feed and seed company and order in some chickens. All you need to do is to feed and water the chickens until they mature enough to start producing eggs.

Once your chickens begin to produce eggs, your small business opportunities begin to multiply. Now you have a great organic product in the eggs. People are crazy for organic products and you are helping with the carbon footprint because these eggs do not have to be trucked in to your customers. You are not wasting gas and you are not using electricity. Everything about your small business is green, how politically correct is that?

Other small business opportunities include selling the chickens to the meat eaters of the community and you can also sell the chicken fertilizer to local gardeners to get them started on their organic vegetable gardens. Just think you will be making lots of money while saving the environment.

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucas_Collingsworth

Keep Your Chickens Laying For an Amazing 12 Years

If you want to raise happy, healthy and productive chickens, your main concern should be the quality of feed you offer them. With all of the options for feeding your flock, it can be a daunting task to select the right method for you. One solution is to let your chickens roam around the yard, hunting for their own bugs and wild plants. This approach however, will drop their egg production to oblivion due to filling their stomachs with protein-lacking grasses instead of high-protein foods. Another choice is to use a premixed vegetarian diet, possibly this same type of diet with the addition of animal proteins. The last method that we will be covering is mixing your own feed grains.

Before we get into our lengthy discussion on chicken feed, let us first mention another important element, which is an integral part of feeding your chickens; hen houses. The reason I bring this up now is because, as you will soon see, hen houses also play a major part in feeding your flocks. Whether you call them poultry houses, chicken coops, hutches, pens, runs, or any other name, they are all the same. And properly constructed portable hen houses can provide valuable protein which can help keep your chickens healthy while saving you money on store bought feed at the same time.

The mass producers use a strict vegetarian diet due to the fact that their old style of feeding, using feed that included animal proteins, had the potential to pass animal diseases to their flocks. The no-animal-protein diet eliminates the risk of these serious diseases, which have been known to kill thousands of birds in a flock. The negative side to this diet is that it is possible for the birds to end up with protein deficiencies if care is not taken to mix the feed properly.

The mass producers obviously want their chickens to be as healthy as possible, but that is not their main objective. They are driven by the questions "how many eggs am I going to get and how much is it going to cost me?" Since they typically replace their laying hens every year they are not as worried about keeping them active and healthy for 10 or 12 years as they are getting the most production at the cheapest price. The home grower of chickens on the other hand, can use feeds containing animal protein relatively risk-free, so it is not as worrisome for the backyard enthusiast raising just a small number of birds. Backyard farmers can also let their flocks graze around the chicken coup for a portion of their protein in the form of bugs and insects, which has the added advantage of lower their feed bill.

The simplest and quickest approach is to get feed that is already premixed for you, where the feed is already packaged and bagged, ready to distribute to your birds. This approach saves time and work, but it also means higher feed bills. You can save money while still getting the same results mixing your own feed. You buy the individual elements and mix them on your own. It does not take a lot of work to do.

The final alternative we will mention is allowing your chickens to forage for their own food, but there are two potential problems here. One, if they roam unconfined they can quickly become the prey of a predator or neighborhood pet. Also, they can end up eating too many grasses and too little protein, and this will dramatically decrease egg production. Both of these problems can be solved with the help of portable hen houses.

As I said previously, portable hen houses are a terrific way to help you save money on feed. With poultry houses that are movable there are inside and outside sections, and your flock can find a portion of their food in the outdoor area. When your birds have eaten most of the grasses and plants in one area, you simply drag the portable poultry housing over to a new area where there are plenty of new plants for your chickens to feast on. It is the circle of life, simply moving your hen houses to new vegetated areas, so the recently used areas will have a chance to grow back their greenery. This is the best way to lower your feed bills while still giving your chickens a reason to be happy and healthy.

Mr. Harding has raised chickens and many other types of poultry since 1981. Feel free to visit his fun for more information about chicken feed along with exciting details about building your own hen houses. Also find entertaining reviews of products regarding poultry housing. You can visit his web site at hen-houses.org.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Harding

Raising Baby Chickens

A nonbreeder chicken will naturally get broody every spring. They'll begin to fuss and cluck more than usual, refuse to leave the nest and generally get maternal. Usually they lay a clutch of about a dozen eggs over a two-week period and settle down to brood them so that they hatch at the same time. After the chicks have grown, the hens usually molt their feathers and begin laying again until the following spring. Because of the mother hen's body warmth, the chicks don't stay too far from her during their first week or so.

You could gather about a dozen large eggs and incubate them yourself. You then have the trouble and bother of purchasing or making an incubator and brooder. Then you must keep it properly heated so the eggs hatch. You also could purchase newly-hatched baby chicks from a hatchery. Just make sure it is a reputable hatchery whose flocks are registered and guaranteed.

Chicken Feed - Chickens receive calcium-rich egg shells and clam shells smashed up real fine. Also coffee grinds, herbal tea leaves and citrus rinds. Chickens will eat your regular garbage leftovers from raw vegetables, suet and meat scraps.

Pecking Order - The young hens will chase one another around to establish the pecking order. The top hen can peck any other hen but won't be pecked. The number two hen can peck any other hen except the number one hen and so forth on down the line. Roosters tend to ignore all this but can get henpecked by any of the females. If a bird is pecked to the point of bleeding, the others will gather around it and sometimes peck it to death. In this case, segregate the bird, apply some purple genital violet horse liniment on the wounds. Keep it segregated until the wounds heal and feathers begin to cover the bare skin.

Diseases - If you get day old chicks from a reputable hatchery, you shouldn't have any serious disease problems. Occasionally a bird will just lie down and stop walking. Paralysis has probably set in and is incurable. The bird must be killed, but do not use it for food.

Intestinal worms are present in nearly all natural soils and are parasites to chickens. They are harmless unless they get into small chicks. Do not let the chicks onto soil until they are a month or more old.

By keeping chicken netting over the top of the run, wild birds that can carry cholera and other bird diseases can be kept out.

For more information on chickens please refer to the author's blog at http://buildingachickencoopebook.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_J_Miller

The Right Way to Keep Chickens Happy, Healthy and Productive

Keeping chickens has become a very popular pastime because apart from the obvious advantage of getting a regular supply of fresh eggs, it is a lot of fun. If you are considering keeping chickens then you won't be disappointed as long as you realise that there is a right way to keep chickens. Follow some basic guidelines and you should benefit from having a happy, healthy and productive flock.

Chickens do make good pets and generous ones at that. But whether you want to keep chickens as egg producing pets or see them as a potential succulent roast dinner, you really need to plan, organise and care for your flock carefully.

So, what is the right way to keep chickens?

• Firstly you need to be aware of any local regulations covering the raising and keeping of poultry and it is probably worth letting your neighbours know about your project before you begin.

• Then you need to decide on how many birds you want to keep. Available space will obviously be a deciding factor but a minimum of three is recommended. As a rule of thumb, one square metre of space should be allowed per bird, so that they have sufficient room to forage, exercise and nest comfortably.

• A substantial chicken house or coop is essential so that hens have somewhere to roost safely at night and to shelter from the sun and rain. The coop should have perches and nesting boxes and have easy access, so that you can clean the coop and collect eggs without causing too much disturbance for the hens.

• Security of the hen house is paramount as there are many predators just waiting for the chance of an easy meal. Foxes, rats, weasels, birds of prey and even snakes are the enemy that needs to be prevented from getting into your chicken sanctuary. So all round protection of the coop is essential.

• Hens are quite easily stressed and stressed chickens are not good layers of those delicious eggs, so keep Rover at a good distance away from the coop so that he cannot worry the birds.

• Of course the correct feeding of your pets is vitally important and a well balanced diet including protein, greens and grains plus a constant supply of clean water should be provided. It may sometimes be necessary to supplement their food with added proteins and grit but these they normally get from their own foraging.

• Apart from the above the only other thing to consider is the checking on the health of the birds which you can do by maintaining regular contact with them. They do like to visited and spoken to. After all they are providing you with those delicious eggs.

If you remember that there is a right way to keep chickens and that by doing so you will be rewarded with happy, healthy productive pets you cannot go far wrong. You will have a great deal of fun into the bargain.

Finally, as with most projects, expert guidance is invaluable. This is particularly important when planning the chicken coop. So, seek the best advice and guidance you can get. It will certainly be worth it.

Building a backyard chicken coop yourself, will be both economically rewarding and an enjoyable experience. It will also be one of the best investments you can make. However, although you do not need any special skills you do need expert guidance if you are to make a success of your project. It doesn't matter if you are a skilled carpenter or a total beginner, if you require a big or small coop, or if you have a small or large budget. "Building a Chicken Coop" will guide you through all the stages of planning, preparation and construction, providing all the plans and instructions that you need to build a professional looking chicken coop.

There is a right way to keep chickens and providing a comfortable, secure home for them is a basic requirement that must not be scrimped on. So visit http://buildachickencooponline.info to get the best information available on the internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chester_Warrington

Five Crucial Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing the Location For Your Chicken Coops Or Chicken Sheds

One of the most overlooked, but important decisions you can make concerns the location of your chicken sheds. Making the wrong choice can lead to disease among the flock, decreased egg production, dirty and unsightly eggs, and other negative consequences.

Mistake #1: Not Choosing an Area with Good Soil Drainage

Probably the one specific item that can take all the enjoyment out of growing chickens is putting your chicken sheds in areas with inferior water drainage. This can result in water buildup, sludge, soaked litter, sullied eggs, disease, and a lower number of eggs produced.

If the water does not drain well it will most likely result in mud production. When chicken droppings are included in the mixture of soil and water, it can produce a contaminated mire. This will be easily tracked inside the chicken shed where the litter, nesting boxes, water, and food are located, which can cause the litter to get soaked and the eggs and poultry nests to get soiled. Chickens need an unpolluted house to continue being happy and healthy and produce lots of fresh organic eggs.

Mistake #2: Constructing Poultry Coops that Face the Wrong Direction

When constructing a chicken pen you will need to face it southward if possible. This is mandatory in climates where the winter months are severe. South facing houses will have the highest sunshine which will serve some essential purposes. It will keep the chicken sheds a bit warmer through the wintry weather which will help the inner area remain drier. And remember, chicken sheds that are drier will provide you with extra eggs and fewer health disorders.

Mistake #3: Not Picking a Location with Decent Air Circulation

Sufficient air movement, along with correctly positioned windows, can allow clean air currents to flow all through the poultry house. This can keep strong odors from increasing to noxious levels and help the litter remain dry.

Additionally, take into account which direction the wind normally blows in your region. Chicken sheds will ideally not be placed in areas with no wind breaks. If there is the risk of intense winds in your location situate the coop in a site with a wind break.

Mistake #4: Not Putting Chicken Sheds Near Water and Electrical Outlets

Electricity and water are two factors that are not generally given enough attention before construction actually begins. In spite of this, manufacturing your shed in the vicinity of these sources will certainly save you a lot of work and help your hens supply you with more eggs.

Being in the vicinity of a water faucet will allow you to install a simple automatic watering system, eliminating the requirement of refilling the bird's water fountains each day. Electricity will allow you to add a light source in the interior of the poultry house if desired. Hens need a minimum of 14 hours of light each day if you want them to give you eggs steadily. During the times of the year with less than 14 hours of sunlight you can run additional light inside the shed which will usually keep the hens laying eggs on a regular basis even throughout the winter. It normally requires just a solitary low-watt light bulb to keep the hens laying eggs efficiently.

Mistake #5: Not Allowing for Upcoming Expansion

It is best to keep your options open. You may possibly assume that you will never want to keep a greater number than a handful of chickens, but it still pays to set aside a small amount of additional breathing room. Even if you don't expect to increase the number of chickens you keep, it is normally a fine idea to set aside adequate amounts of room to do so if you change your mind.

You may initially believe that just a few chickens is plenty and put up your chicken house where there is no extra space for future expansion. Then again, if something should cause you to change your mind and you decide to raise 20 or 30 hens you will want the additional room.

Joshua has raised chickens for over 25 years and has built all of his own chicken sheds during that time. He is an expert in raising chickens for meat and eggs. You can learn more about building high quality chicken sheds, raising chickens, and other valuable tips on his website at http://www.chicken-ark.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_G._Harding

Why You Should Construct Your Own Chicken Coop

When you create your own chicken coop, this will not merely provide you with a self-sustaining mini farm, which generates fresh organic eggs daily, recycles food scraps and supply high quality fertilizer, but will also give you the added fun associated with constructing a coop on your own. Many people for a long time now have always been chicken keepers mainly for food reasons, but now there are other reasons why we raise chickens.

There was a rush of attention in chicken keeping, publicized by celebrity chefs bringing the buzz of troubles with battery reared hens, high prices at stores and reported credit crunch. The concept of keeping chickens in your lawn and the thought of acquiring fresh eggs from your own hens doesn't make you different from those who have home farms on their own.

Raising chickens is an economically smart hobby. If money is not a problem, then there are lots of fancy ready made chicken coops which you can avail from several chicken keeping shops. If funds is tight, you may opt of create your own chicken coop with just scraps of wood dumped in your garage or backyard.

Chicken coops simply require being big and comfortable enough for your chickens to stay during the night, and big enough to extend their wings during the day. The coop should be a place where the chickens can comfortably lay their eggs on.

When you are searching for ways to construct your own coop for raising chickens here are some of the plans which you can follow in order to come up with your own design.
There are no fancy equipments needed to design your own chicken coop all you need are basic tools such as handsaw, drill, hammer and some other materials that are readily available in hardware shops.

When you construct your own chicken coop you will be able to acquire the following advantages:

• Save you more money from buying the premade kits
• You are assure that you have created a warm and soothing environment for your chicken to lay more eggs
• You will acquire fresh organic eggs daily
• You can put up your own security measures against predators like cats, hawks, foxes and coyotes
• You are able to secure your chicken from the worst weather condition and sustain their health
• You will be able to lengthen the lifespan of your flock since you are able to give them a healthy environment

Before you start to breed chickens, make sure that you begin with a small flock. From there you will have to build a bigger coop so they will have more room. Select a location from which they will have enough sunlight to help them lay more eggs.

Being able to choose the right materials and the correct Chicken Coop design can save you hours of work and a lot of money. If your looking to save time and money when building your own Chicken Coop then building your own Chicken Coop may be the perfect solution, find out more here;

How to build a Chicken House.

Download your Chicken Coop plans right now, illustrated colour designs and a clear and concise guide to becoming self sufficient, saving money and time.

Click here to find out how to build a Hen House.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Blears

Chicken Trivia

You can literally hypnotize a chicken by holding it and drawing a line in the dirt over and over. The chicken will stay still right there as long as you do this.

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Colonel Sanders (the Kentucky Fried Chicken guy in the white suit) was the second most recognized public figure in the world in 1979.

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Did you know that some breeds of chickens can lay coloured eggs? Sure enough, the Ameraucana and Araucana can lay eggs colored in shades of green or blue, depending on the breed and it's ancestry.

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In Fruita, Colorado, the town folk celebrate 'Mike the Headless Chicken Day'. Seems that a farmer named L.A. Olsen cut off Mike's head on September 10, 1945 in anticipation of a chicken dinner - and Mike lived for another 4 years WITHOUT A HEAD. Mike died from choking on a corn kernel.

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In Gainesville, Georgia - the chicken capital of the world - it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork!

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One punishment for an adulterous wife in medieval France was to make her chase a chicken through town naked. The source doesn't state whether it was the chicken or the wife who was naked.

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According to National Geographic, scientists have settled the old dispute over which came first -- the chicken or the egg. They say that reptiles were laying eggs thousands of years before chickens appeared, and the first chicken came from an egg laid by a bird that was not quite a chicken. That seems to answer the question. The egg came first.

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Beijing boasts the world's largest Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

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Chimney's used to be cleaned by dropping live chickens down them

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The closest living relative of the t-rex is the chicken which makes the phobia 'Alektorophobia' (Fear of chickens) slightly more plausible.

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Chicken Nesting Boxes Simplified

Those of us keeping Chickens are often looking for way we can keep our costs down. This can be done by trying to build Chicken nesting boxes for free or at very little expense. If you think about it there are lots of things that may be suitable for the purpose.

A Chickens nest box does not have to be complicated and you may find that you have things laying about that will be very useful for the purpose. Think about what Chickens would like to lay their eggs in and take it from there. They are not fussy birds and anything of suitable quality may just be ideal as a Chickens laying box.

Anything that is plastic has an advantage in that it is easy to keep clean. Cleaning out Chickens is a bit of a chore so it is in our best interests to make the area where they lay their eggs as easy to clean as possible. Something that can be wiped down in a short space of time means that it will be done more often. It also means there is less chance of bacteria building up where they lay their eggs.

So what could we use? An old washing up bowl would be ideal. If you can cut a little opening in to the bowl then the Chicken will have easy access to the bowl and will be more than happy to lay its eggs inside. A chickens nesting box can be as simple as this if there are monetary concerns. Chickens are really not fussy birds at all.

Of course you could also try old crates and wooden boxes as nesting boxes for your Chickens. If you have a surplus of these the you may find them ideal. Anything wooden is harder to keep clean though but if it is what you have then it may be worth trying. If you have lots of old crates then it makes more sense than throwing them away.

If you use a crate of some sort make sure to cut down one side so the Chickens can gain easy access to the area where it will lay its eggs. You want to make it as easy as possible for the Chicken to enter. This way it will get used to its new box quicker.

Although there are a lot of very reasonably prices Chicken nesting boxes on the market, if you have limited funds then these ideas may well be worth a try.

Find all about Chicken Nesting Boxes at the authors site. Nesting Boxes for Chicken made easy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Tee

Keeping Chickens - Chicken Facts You May Not Know

Roosters and Hens - You don't need a rooster to have eggs. Hens lay eggs if they have a rooster friend or if they don't have a rooster. If you are thinking about getting some backyard chickens but worried about the rooster crowing at 4 am, then getting hens only is the way to go. Hen's do not crow but they do make some cackling type noises sometimes.

Egg Laying - Younger hens will lay eggs every day for 2-3 days in a row and then take a day off. Hens start laying around 5 months of age. Hens laying will begin to slack off as the days grown shorter. In winter there are fewer hours of daylight so hens will lay less. If you want hens to lay more in the winter then make sure they have a light on in their coop 12 hours a day. Hens will continue to lay for about 5 years but they will never lay as good as they did their first year.

Hen Pecked - Chickens really do have a pecking order. There will always be a chicken the flock picks on the most and can be down right mean to.

Handling Chickens - The best time to catch chickens is at night when they are sleeping. They really don't move much so you won't have to chase them around.

Chicken Friends - If you decide to let your chickens roam around free there are a few things you should be aware of. Chickens are highly entertaining. They are fun to watch and they like to watch what you are doing. Chickens love eating bugs! Chickens will get into pots and planter boxes. I stop them by place large rocks in the planters, they don't like the rocks in the way so they stopped hopping up. Free range chickens will often decide to sit on the porch and wait for you to come out to feed them. Chickens sitting on the porch = chickens pooping on the porch.

We're Out Numbered - There are more chickens in the world than there are people! China has over three billion chickens! its a rare occurrence but chickens can live as long as 20 years!

Chicken Egg Facts - Chickens lay eggs in shades of green, blue, brown and white. Different breeds lay different egg colors. The biggest chicken egg ever laid was 12 ounces! Chickens often lay double yolk eggs. These eggs are typically longer than regular eggs. Double yolk eggs are more common in younger chickens.

Check out Katie's newest website Easy Chicken Coop Designs dot com. Tips for picking out perfect Chicken Coop Plans. Chicken Coop Design made easy. Please stop by and check it out!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katie_Pepper_Morgan

What Breed of Chickens Lay Brown Eggs and at What Age

There are all kinds of myths and misconceptions about what chicken will lay what kind of egg. You may have heard that the color of the chicken plays a role in the color of the egg, this is a common misconception. Below are some of the most common chickens that lay brown chicken eggs as well as the age you can expect them to begin producing.

Golden Comet Chickens

Golden Comet Chickens lay beautiful brown eggs and although some people believe rich in color rich in taste white eggs are just as nutritious as brown. These chickens mature at an early age, generally laying by 4-5 months and they lay golden brown eggs of excellent quality. The size of the egg is most always either large or extra large. She is a low maintenance bird that does not need protection from colder weather.

A Golden Comet Chicken is a quite a quiet bird. She is the perfect bird for your back yard, or smaller egg hatchers because of their low maintenance. Golden Comet Chickens are golden red and has beautiful white under feathers. However, you can also find these hens with White feathers with red tips.

Rhode Island Reds

Rhode Island Red chickens will also lay beautiful large brown eggs. They are used for both meat and egg laying; this is what you call a utility chicken. They are one of the more beautiful chickens around; they have reddish and maroon feathers with red/orange eyes and yellow feet. One of their other beautiful features are their reddish brown beaks. The Rhode Island Red is also a show bird because of their beauty.

Rhode Island Reds lay a variety of brown eggs some are light brown and other can lay very dark brown eggs. They can lay 250 to 300 eggs a year. These eggs are almost always extra large eggs. These hens like to be feed more and have a great diet they also like to have good weather standards of comfort, such as cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The better treatment they have the more and bigger eggs they will give you.

Conclusion

The most common way to find out what color egg your chicken is going to hatch is to look in their ear area. There is a tiny tuft close to where the ear would be that would tell you what color the eggs they will lay will be. You cannot look at the total color of their feathers to tell what color eggs they will be hatching. Here are several other varieties of chickens that lay brown eggs are:


White, Silver Laced, and Columbian Wyandot
Light Brahmas, Buff Rocks, Delaware, Sussex, Turkens
Buff and White Orrington's
Red Star and Black Stars
Golden Comet Chickens and Rhode Island Reds are two of the most beautiful chickens that produce brown and larger eggs than others. Both of these birds would be great choices for laying hens, and the Rhode Island Red can even be used for meat.

Suzie O'Connor is the owner of ChickenHousesPlus.com which carries a variety of fertile chicken eggs and eggs for hatching. The site also offers an extensive library to help customers raise happy, healthy chickens. The company is located in sunny Florida and can be reached at 866/579-1347.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzie_OConnor

What Are the Best Backyard Chicken Breeds?

Raising backyard chicken breeds can be a very rewarding experience for those that may be interested in it. There is a very long list of chicken breeds that are suitable for this type of breeding. That being the case, deciding which backyard breed is the best is a completely personal choice. It depends on what one's preferences are as well as what the chickens are being reared for. Knowing the purpose for which you wish to rare chickens is the best starting place for deciding which breed will be right for you.
There are varying reasons as to why people breed chickens in their backyards chief among them being for fresh healthy eggs and/or meat. Chickens also provide an environmentally friendly way of controlling insects and weeds. They are also a great source of fertilizer for farms or gardens. There are those that breed chickens for shows and then there are those that just like to have them around as pets.
For individuals that are looking to raise backyard chicken breeds, there are plenty of options to choose from. The choice of between hundreds of domesticated chicken breeds from all around the world. The different breeds are differentiated from one another by way of color of plumage, size, skin color, type of comb, feathering, type of eggs that they produce and the number of toes among others. Breeds are also classified with regards to the function with which they are known for i.e. layers, meat or ornamental purposes.
Chickens for egg production
The best backyard chicken breeds for egg production are; Ancona, Araucana, Andalusian, Ameraucana, Jaerhone and Easter Egger. These chickens are light in weight and have a temperament that is balanced.
Chickens for meat production
Most individuals that rear chickens for meat production prefer that the breeds that they get serve a dual purpose i.e. a source of meat and laying of eggs. The breeds that are common for meat production include Indian Game, Ixworth and Bresse.
Dual - purpose Chickens
Dual-purpose chicken breeds are the most common breeds that are kept in farms and backyards and for obvious reasons. These breeds may however be slightly better at either their egg or their meat production but the bottom line is that they do both. The most commonly bred dual-purpose breeds include: Brahma, Astralorp, Braekel, Chanticleer, California Gray, Jersye Giant, Faverolles and the Derbyshire Redcap.
If your goal is rearing chickens in your backyard for the purposes of meat and eggs, then there is no need to get a rooster as well. The only reason why you would require a rooster is if you need your eggs fertilized for hatching in which you have to ensure that your rooster to hen ratio is in line. The standard is that you should have at least eight hens for every rooster if you want your flock to co-exist in peace. For a backyard flock, the best way to go would be to keep dual-purpose birds. Some good examples of these are Dorking, Dominique, Plymouth Rock and Wyandotte.
Need more help choosing your backyard chicken breeds, why not take the FREE mini-course today that covers most of the answers to raising chickens at: http://chickenkeepinganswers.com/.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jason_H_Perry

Raising Chickens for Food

The commercial breeders have devised a strain of birds that grow up in only six weeks of living on chemicals during which time they never have a chance to be chickens. They live in a totally controlled artificial environment. They never breathe fresh air or feel the warmth and health-giving rays of the sun. Then they are sent off to market. No wonder they don't taste like anything. Home-grown chickens live a full chicken life, as they were meant to. And they taste like a chicken should without using any flavor enhancers.

In choosing chickens for raising, there are five basic types to choose from:

For Eggs - The egg producers are White Leghorns and are white-feathered, skinny temperamental birds. They will lay some 200 large white-shelled eggs in the egg factories in their sixth through nineteenth months of life. After that, they give up laying eggs and are sold for cat food, as the meat they do have on them is pretty stringy.

For Meat - The meat producers are bred to fatten out rapidly with a maximum feed economy. Most of these are hybrids between a cross of White Cornish and White Rock breeds. They are slaughtered at four weeks of age and sold as Rock Cornish game hens.

For Meat and Eggs - Hybrids of several kinds are common in New England where they produce jumbo-sized brown-shelled eggs and develop into roaster size. If raising chickens for eggs, the disadvantage to this breed is that they show more of a maternal instinct than other full-sized breed. If the hybrid eggs are hatched, the offspring will be all different colors and if left to breed themselves, they would probably revert back a generation or two and become unproductive, multicolored and scrawny wild creatures.

Fancy Breeds - This is a breed kept for show or hobby. Some will have odd coloring or plumage or lay odd colored eggs. As far as meat and egg production goes, this breed isn't worth their feed bill and are only good for a hobby. Bantams are pint-sized and seem to have more sense than the larger chickens and they will do a good job of keeping the bug population down in the garden.

Best Choice - According to the hatcheries, the main flock should be a variety of Purebred Multipurpose chickens. These would include the heavy-bodied breeds such as the Rhode Island, New Hampshire Reds, the White, Plymouth and Barred Rocks. These breeds will produce good brown eggs and fine meat. Most importantly, they will produce good strains. The Barred Rocks have black and white feathers and are reported as being of calm temperament with good meat and eggs.

For more information on raising chickens, please refer to the author's blog at http://buildingachickencoopebook.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_J_Miller

Raising Backyard Chickens For Fresh Eggs

Backyard chicken raising is easier than you might imagine. As a first step you will need to know how to build a chicken coop . Once the building is over the fun begins and raising baby chickens can be a lot of fun. Additionally it is educational for kids and has the added bonus of producing farm fresh eggs right from your backyard. Here are some other reasons for Backyard Chicken raising:

1. Chickens love leftovers

A chicken's appetite is incredible. They can eat almost everything, even their own kind! You can now say bye-bye to those unwanted leftovers being left to rot in your fridge. No more throwing leftovers into the garbage can. Plus, you can save on chicken feed. But be very careful with what you give your chickens for it may be their last supper. Unfortunately backyard chickens can't eat everything. For example tone down on the onions and garlic.

2. Farm Fresh Eggs!

Who doesn't love eggs? Have them boiled, scrambled, sunny side up, etc. Admit it, pets that live comfortably inside your home don't give anything more than barks, meows, purrs, and sometimes, chirps. Fishes, in general, can be eaten, but who would want to eat Goldie? None of these domesticated animals produce something edible. Well, backyard chickens, on the other hand, have lots of benefits. One of the many benefits are their eggs.

With chicken raising you can eat fresh eggs right from the source. Either raw or cooked, eggs taken from your own backyard chickens minutes or hours ago are far more tasty and nutritious than those purchased in the grocery store. You'll notice the texture and color of your backyard chickens' fresh eggs is way different than that of the grocery store ones.

3. Source of natural fertilizers

Your lawn or backyard will never look better. Chickens love to freely walk around. Backyard chickens also love to peck on anything they see that can be considered as food. And what is food to them? Possibly anything that's organic. If you let your chickens roam around your yard they will eat pests that would otherwise attack your garden - grubs, beetles, insects, earwigs, and anything that comes close.

After the digestion has worked its way through your chickens , they will transform what they've eaten into poop. But this is not just any kind of poop but a treasure a "natural fertilizer". And you know what natural fertilizers do right? They keep the soil healthy for plants to grow.

4. Backyard Chickens are Low Maintenance Pets

Unlike dogs that need combing and brushing everyday to keep their fur alive and shiny, a chicken doesn't need such hands on treatment. All you have to do is provide for their daily needs like food and water. You also have to clean their pad at least twice a month and change the bedding too. In return, you can gather all the eggs as they are laid. You might even start a small business of your own by supplying poultry stores with fresh eggs.

5. Grass and weed clippers

Now you can save on mowing your own lawn by raising baby chickens into real backyard chickens! For chickens, grasses, weeds, and leaves are treats. It's like a lifetime dessert offering. It's like having a cow in your own backyard. They will dig through whatever it is without even complaining about the hard work. Your backyard Chickens will clip it then clean it all at the same time.

With these reasons, why bother getting yourself a dog or a cat? No offense but they can't even water the plants nor lay eggs for breakfast. In cases of chickens, you can have a best friend, a lawn mower, a supplier of organic fertilizer and an egg producer all in one.

For more information on raising backyard chickens visit http://www.handsomehens.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Kitt

Building a Chicken Coop VIDEO...

If you want to learn how to build a chicken coop, so it will meet expectations and needs of your chickens, this article is for you. Chickens aren't choosy animals, but they require few things in their life to stay happy, health and lay eggs regularly. However, this article isn't only about convenience of your chickens, by following tips I share below, you will be building a chicken coop that is easier and faster to clean as well as keep in good condition.

Light

Chicken are very dependent on light when it comes to their life cycle. They go to sleep when it is getting dark and wake up with sunrise. That is why you have to build windows in your chicken coop that will supply a lot of light.

You should place windows in your chicken coop in a way that will allow your flock to get as much sun as they only can. Especially in the mornings. Most of the windows in your chicken house should be in a direction of the sunrise.

Second use for windows is creating air circulation inside your chicken coop. They allow your chickens to breath with fresh air and save you from dealing with bad smells while you are cleaning the chicken coop.

Failing to supply your chickens with an appropriate source of light will decrease their performance and cause them to lay eggs less frequently or during weird hours. So if, for some reason, you can't supply them with natural light, try to substitute it with electrical. This, however, should be done under supervision of someone who knows how to build a chicken coop.

Electrical light is a great idea, but you have to make sure that the installation is well hidden and won't become a pecking target. The other thing you have to remember is that with electrical light, your bills can get really high, so my recommendation is to always search for natural solutions.

Size

You have to remember about creating a chicken house of the right size. You should estimate how many chickens you are going to keep and based on that choose an appropriate plan. Each chicken requires from 4 to 5 square feet to feel comfortable.

If you are unable to find a perfect fit for your flock, always choose bigger coop. Small chicken coops will force your birds to crowd on a very limited space and that can cause disease spreading and in some extreme cases cannibalism.

The next dramatic result of keeping your chickens in a small space is, aggression. Chickens that don't have enough room, can become aggressive towards you, other members of the flock and the chicken coop itself. They also tend to break their own eggs so, pay attention to the size of your chicken house.

What is your budget?

Budget is a very important factor you should consider while learning how to build a chicken coop. It can be the single reason that will kill your entire undertaking. That is why you should always establish how much you can spend before starting to build.

There are many ways you can cut the cost of construction. One of the most obvious ones is buying cheaper, but still usable materials. This, however, requires information on what kind of materials are chicken safe and, which aren't.

Another way you can decrease the money you will spend is, by finding free materials. Yes, it is possible. Just ask around if some of your neighbors don't have spare pieces of wood they don't plan to use. You will be surprised how much stuff you will receive.

However, if all the above methods don't work for you, I recommend to hold building your chicken coop for some time. It is better to wait until you save an appropriate amount of money, then rush into construction. This will insure you are building a chicken coop that will last long and not some low-quality dummy that will fall apart faster than you have built it.

How much time can you spare

Your time limitations are very important when you are discovering how to build a chicken house. If you have problems finding an hour every week to clean up your chicken coop, you have to give it some thinking.

Taking care of your chicken house is very important. So if you have problems finding enough time to clean it, forget about complicated chicken house designs. By creating a simpler construction that is easier to access and keep clean, you invest in happiness and health of your chickens.

Always build chicken houses that have plenty of well designed access points. They will make cleaning and collecting eggs' way easier. By simply making the floor of your chicken coop slightly tilted in the direction of the entrance, you will cut the cleaning time by more than half. This simple trick will allow you to hose down your chicken coops floor, helping you to save a lot of energy.

Land and climate

It is really important to choose the right place for your chicken house. It should stand on an even, hard ground in order to be durable and useful to your chickens. That is why, you should spend some time thinking about this issue.

What kind of a climate you are living in? Does it rain a lot? What kind of a soil is in your backyard? Is it cold for most of the year?

If you are living in a place, where the soil is very soft and it rains a lot, you should raise your chicken coop above the ground, or else it will drown with time. Especially if your chicken house is very large, and you own a large flock.

If it is cold in your area for most of the time you have to use thicker materials and insulation that will help your chicken to remain warm during harsher weather conditions. If the thicker walls alone don't do the trick, you may also want to install an artificial heather that will keep the right temperature when it is needed. For more specific advice on heathers ask a person who has experience in the area of how to build a chicken coop.

Do you want a mobile chicken coop?

The next thing you should ask yourself is, will you move your chicken coop a lot. If yes, you may think about building a mobile chicken house. It will allow you to change location of your flocks' home with ease.

The only disadvantage of such a solution is the size limitation. In order to create a mobile chicken coop, you will have to attach wheels to it. This, on the other hand, will force you to build a chicken coop which size allows you to carry it. The next thing you have to think about is the hardness of the ground in your backyard. If it is very soft you won't be able to pull your chicken coop through it, without getting stuck.

Protection from predators

Topic of predators is often missed by many people who learn how to build a chicken coop. But this issue is of utter importance and if neglected can lead to loss of your entire flock.

You should start from establishing what kind of predators are in your neighborhood. You can do it either by asking people near you or searching this information on the Internet. The thing you are after is the method they will try to attack your chicken coop.

If they will try to go from the top, you should cover the top of your chicken run with a fence. If you are dealing with really big animals that may try to destroy the fence of your run or chicken coop overall, use the most durable materials you can find. If you think they will try to dig their way to your chicken house, make sure you dig the fence at least a foot into the ground.

In addition to these tips, you should also remember to tweak the weakest link of nearly all chicken coops and runs, doors. Try to find ones that have a tight fit, multiple latches and overall there is no way to get in, for unwanted animals.

As you can see learning how to build a chicken coop requires a lot of time and experience on your part. That is why you shouldn't rush in to the building. Don't hope you will combat all the obstacles along the way. It is plain stupid and you will have to spend more time doing necessary modifications then, you would spend on the entire construction, only if you would invest more time into crucial preparations. So spend some more time learning how to build a chicken coop and plan your chicken house with confidence.

If you would like to discover best chicken house plans, that will be convenient for you and your chickens, you have to visit my site. Aside from tips on creating a great chicken coop, you will also find a wealth of information about chicken housing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_Karen_White