Showing posts with label Chicken Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicken Care. Show all posts

Wednesday, 5 June 2019

Why You Should NOT Let Your Chicken Hatch Eggs

June 05, 2019 0


Sounds weird right?  Broody chicken is the natural way of hatching eggs.  Chicks are definitely healthier and take to eating and drinking better than incubator-hatched chicks.  Chickens keep their chicks at a constant temperature and they protect their babies amazingly.  So what's the problem?  Well, let's just say my hens have had some technical difficulties that I need to talk about.  

1.  They Pick STUPID Places to nest


 So, we have lots and lots of nesting boxes which are safe in our chicken coops.  We recently had an ex-battery hen who decided to jump the fence, go through our garden to our drive.  She then started laying eggs in a bush under our house window.  The problem came in when we couldn't find her one night and she had to stay outside (we lock our chickens up every night).  Luckily we found her the next day BUT it was one stressful night.  Why can't they just stay in a safe place?  


2.  They Can't Decide Whether They Want Chicks 


 Yes, I really have gone through this.  My light Sussex Hen was sitting on around 10 eggs for over 2 weeks.  She then decided that she didn't want to be a mum and abandoned her nest to make another one!  what the heck.  So, I gave her some of my call duck eggs (instead of incubating them).  call ducks do not lay a lot of eggs so these were rare.  She incubated them for a week and gave up again, wasting my beautiful call duck eggs.  

  She wasn't done there.  This bloody hen then thought it would be a good idea to STEAL another hen's nest.  Luckily that mamma got her nest back and now has a cute little chick (the other egg must have died when her nest got stolen).  


3.  You Can't Keep an Eye On The Chicks



 The only time EVER that I have had a chick die was with a hen.  Now, I know that hens are GREAT mums but I can't check the chicks enough.  When I am looking after chicks inside, they all start to eat and drink small amounts by day 2.  The problem is when you are not able to check that each chick under the hen is eating and drinking multiple times a day, deaths can happen.  

 Obviously, I am a bit obsessive with making sure my chicks are thriving but it really is a disadvantage.  To counter this, I try to make sure my hens only have around 2 chicks so I can keep a better eye on them.   


*Disclaimer*  

 I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

  The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

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Wednesday, 29 August 2018

How to Keep Your Chicken Coop Clean

August 29, 2018 0


Sand -


The BEST bedding to use in a chicken coop is sand.  You can easily sift through it to clean and you will only need have to remove the sand and replace it once or twice a year.  You may have to take a shovel or straw fork to it every month to avoid it getting compact and to help any wet sand dry.



The Routine


Once a Week -


Using a shavings fork (for horses) with small square shaped wire wrapped around it, remove all of the droppings.  Then you will take a mite killer and spray the entire coop.  Remove shavings from the laying boxes, spray with mite killer the add fresh shavings.

Once a Month -


Follow the above and add these steps.  Use a straw fork to break up the sand so it doesn't get compact.  Spray the walls, nesting boxes and perches with an animal-friendly disinfected.  Leave doors open to help to dry everything while the chickens are free ranging.

Once a Year -


Full clean out time!  Remove all sand and shavings.  Then you will power wash the entire coop, spray with disinfectant then leave to dry.  Once dry spray again with disinfectant and mite killer.  Add new sand and clean shavings.


*Disclaimer*  

 I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

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Wednesday, 22 August 2018

How to Heal a Broken Leg In Poultry

August 22, 2018 1

If your chicken, duck or goose has broken its leg, then you may want to try to heal it yourself IF the bone is still aligned.



What You Need



  • Popsicle Sticks (or similar, hard stick)
  • Cotton roll 
  • Vet wrap 

What to Do 


step 1 

First, you need to make sure that the bones are in the correct place to heal without a vet doing it.  If the bone isn't, you will need to get a vet to see the bird and re-align it.  

Step 2 

Holding the leg straight, wrap the leg with a layer or two of cotton wool to add some cushion.  Then you will want to wrap each popsicle stick with cotton wool to protect the bird's leg.  

Step 3

Hold the popsicle sticks in place, parallel with the leg, with one on the outside of the leg and the other one at the back of the leg.  Now you can apply vet wrap around the whole thing.  

Step 4 

Contain your chicken in a small cage for a week or two to avoid excess movement.  After the cage rest, you can slowly start to let them out for longer amounts of time.  


*Disclaimer*  

 I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

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Monday, 13 August 2018

How to Check Your Chickens For Illness

August 13, 2018 0


Things to Look for



Pale comb (  Usually seen in battery hens) -

This could be a sign of worms, frostbite or change in surrounds (like battery hens).  

Coughing, running nose -

Usually respiratory problems or a symptom of another illness.  

Cloudy, runny or dull eyes -

This is usually conjunctivitis or a symptom of another illness.  

Weight loss and/or Appetite loss -

This is most likely a sign of coccidiosis, worms or heat stroke 

Patchy/loss of feathers -

Lice or mites, stress (pulling out feathers themselves), a rough cockerel or being bullied is usually the cause.  



Weird Behaviour 

Gasping for air -

Heat stroke,  worms (gape) or severe stress 

Mouth open breathing -

Stress due to surroundings or illness 

Pulling out their own feathers - 

Stress 

Sleeping on the floor - 

Severe Illness 

Limp or having convulsions - 

Dehydration or heat stroke 

Shaky wings, walking like a penguin + squatting - 

Egg Bound 



What To Do 

It really depends on the chicken.  Sometimes you can help the chicken yourself like stopping them being stressed, treating them for mites/lice and giving them wormer.  I would say for everything else you should call a vet.  If you are new to chickens then call a vet if you notice anything for advice.  People who have had experience with chickens may be able to treat for slightly worse illnesses.  


*Disclaimer*  

 I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

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Monday, 30 July 2018

What Chicken Really Go Through For Egg Production

July 30, 2018 0


BackGround


Commercial egg production is a very tricky situation for animal protection services.  Although chickens are usually now 'free range' the cheaper the eggs are the worse the chickens are kept.  Chickens that produce these cheap eggs are kept in small cages with wire bottoms for their whole lives until they stop laying daily which means they are then sent to either to slaughter or possibly (like mine) rescued.



Health


It is difficult for animal standards because on paper the chickens are 'well cared for', they have a huge amount of food and all the vaccinations they need.  The problem comes into play with their environment.  They are stuck in a small cage so they are very weak.  There are lights left on at all times so the chickens will lay more which shortens their lives and wear their bodies out.  Their nails become very long and all of this causes stress which makes them pull out their own feathers.



What You Can Do


The least you can do to help is buying more expensive, free range eggs.  This, however, doesn't stop all of the problems above as 'free range' chickens are kept the same way but just crammed in a shed will hundreds of other chickens.  The best thing to do is either find someone locally that sells eggs from well cared for chickens or buy your own chickens.  If fewer people bought eggs from shops, chickens wouldn't have to suffer.


*Disclaimer*  

 I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

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Sunday, 29 July 2018

How to Find a Healthy Diet Your Chickens

July 29, 2018 0



1.  Layer Pellets


I really do recommend feeding your chickens *layers pellets*.  They are made to have all of the essential vitamins and minerals that many farm birds will need to have a healthy life.  I tend to make up around 80% of my chickens and ducks diets with layers pellets.  They pretty much have an endless supply so that can eat whenever they want.



2.  Natural Foraging


I allow my chickens to 'free range' in a 1-acre field every day.  I think it is really important to let your chickens have some time to be normal.  I would say my chickens and ducks will naturally forage over their layers pellets whenever they are let out.  It's hard to really say how much little bugs they manage to eat but I just treat this as a bonus.



3.  Fresh Fruit and Vegetables


The other 20% of my bird's diet is fresh foods.  I feed A LOT of fruit and vegetables that have been left over from feeding my other animals.  I also give extra treats sometimes like cooked pasta, seeds and anything else that is safe for them to eat.



4.  Prebiotics


I like to supplement my chickens with some natural and shop bought *probiotics*.  There are plenty of brands of shop bought ones that you can use or you can use natural prebiotics as treats such as honey and natural yoghurt.



*Disclaimer*  

 I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

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