Information: The Moult

Moult is the shedding of old feathers and the growing of new ones. Chickens do this usually once a year, between late Summer and early Autumn, but it varies between individuals. In chickens, the whole process may take up to two months.


Moulting is a very energy expensive process, and you can expect your hens to stop laying while they do this.

Moulting hen.
Credit: Sierravalleygirl  Permission: CC BY-NC 2.0

Care of Moulting Hens.

Hens do not usually need a helping hand during this process, but you must understand that they are much more susceptible to disease and illness while they moult because much energy is being spent. It is particularly important at this time to make sure your hens have a balanced diet. Keep stress to a minimum and avoid adding new birds during the moult.

My moulting bantam comes into the conservatory to warm up!
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author) 

Although your chickens should not shed most of their feathers at once, some do! Sadly, I do not have any pictures of Bonnie from a couple of years ago when she moulted practically all her feathers except a couple of wing and tail feathers. Although this is unusual it does happen. This year, one of my bantams Nutmeg did a similar thing, but not quite so bad (see photo). In this case, she is now in a cage in the conservatory where she will be warmer until she re-feathers. Often even birds in her state should be left outside with the other hens if it is not too cold, but it has been windy, rainy and cold here so she has had to come inside. If you notice birds shivering or fluffing up whatever feathers remain then they should be brought indoors and warmed up. Without feathers, birds are not water proof so quickly get chilled when it rains.

 If you notice bloodied feathers or any kind of scabs/blood they need to be separated from the rest of the flock until the new feathers grow through. This is because sometimes other hens will peck at the feathers if the chickens don't have enough protein, so give them some mealworms, boiled and crushed egg (shell included), a little meat and sunflower seeds.

New pin feathers coming through.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

When the new feathers begin to come through, they are called pin feathers. Pin feathers are growing feathers that are wrapped in a protective sheath made of keratin. They are very delicate at this time and so many chickens will not enjoy being handled, and may struggle, damaging the growing feathers. For this reason, handling should be kept to a minimum whilst they moult.

  

Chicken Care: Keeping Chickens Cool in Hot Weather

We're having unusual weather in the UK this year, with the rainy Summers being replaced by hot, sunny weather.

Chickens can't sweat like us; they have to find other ways to keep cool. They pant, drink more water and seek shade. In really warm weather you may want to make them more comfortable with the following ideas.

    1. Provide shade. If you have a moveable run, place it under a tree,or shady place. Just keeping your hens out of direct sun will help considerably. If your run is stationary, wet a white sheet and sling it over the run. Make sure the sheet is white as this will reflect the sunlight away from the run, and if it is wet the water will begin to evaporate, taking the heat away with it. The sheet may need dampening again throughout the day. If your chickens are free-range, they should be able to find shade under a bush or tree themselves but it's good to try one of  the above ideas anyway, so you can be quite sure they have a cooler place to go.

    2. Water Trough. You could try lining a shallow tray with pebbles and then filling it with water. The hens will stand in this to keep cool. Another option is pouring water  onto the ground to form a muddy puddle. They can sit and scratch in it.

    3.  High water content food. My hens love watermelon in hot weather, and it really does help to keep them cool. Other high water content foods can be given and are enjoyed, particularly if they have just come out the fridge!


   4. Ice. You can place a few ice cubes in the water hopper to keep the water cool in the day, or you can freeze a plastic bottle filled with water and place it in the run. The hens can sit next to it to keep cool.

    5. Hose Pipe. Hosing down the run a little will keep the ground cooler and if you use a spray attachment then you can spray your hens too! This should only be done if they want it and if the spray is fine. Don't actually hose down the chickens, or soak them, this is not good for them! However, a mist spray will help keep the air cool and moist.


I hope these ideas help and I hope you and your chickens enjoy the rest of the Summer!

Chicken Care: Chicken Coop Maintenance and Beddings

Cleaning

Regular cleaning is important if you want healthy, happy hens. This can be anything from a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly clean, depending on how many bird you keep, the coop and the system you use.

Cleaning out the chicken house is something that puts off quite a few people from raising chickens; but it needn't be such a burden!
However, once a year, the whole coop will need hosing down and disinfecting with a mild bleach solution or poultry disinfectant.

Here are a few of the most popular systems for cleaning and are fairly economical.

The Deep Litter System.
This system is most frequently used with large numbers of hens, and large coops. Instead of cleaning the droppings out, you just add new bedding over the top, stopping the hens from treading on it. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation for this system, and clean the whole thing out once a year. Long straw doesn't work for this as the moisture runs through. This system works best in winter, providing extra heat on cold nights.

Spot Cleaning.
I currently use this system because my coop is relatively small and I currently only have a few hens. You will need a small trowel or scoop. Scoop the droppings out daily or every few days. Again, long straw can be used but is not too suitable because it is difficult to scoop out the dropping without taking all the bedding with you! This system is good for composting because you add a little bedding with plenty of manure to the compost heap every few days or it can be added straight on to the garden.

Regular Cleaning.
It is possible to give a good layer of bedding and change it all weekly to monthly. I usually use this if I go away so my "hen sitter" doesn't need to clean them out much, if at all. Not the best system if the perches are near the door, because the hens will have to walk through the droppings to get into the coop.

Bedding

Type:                                                             Pros &Cons:                                                                          

Long Straw - This can be quite cheap if you buy in large bales from a farm, however you will need to be extra careful of mites and lice. Red mites may also hide inside the straw. It is not the most absorbent litter, and can not be used for spot cleaning. Good insulator and great for composting or mulching. I have heard from a couple of sources that it can cause crop impaction, but very rare. Hens like it in the nest boxes.

Chopped Straw - Better absorbency than long straw and can be used for spot cleaning. Mites may still hide in it but it's much less likely. Despite it's disadvantages, I have used this for years, and found it perfectly adequate. Can be insulating, and great for composting and mulching. 

Oilseed Rape Straw - I didn't even know this existed until recently, but I am completely converted! It  smells nice, can be composted, very absorbent, insulating, if chopped, great for spot cleaning and dust-free. It's also one of the cheapest and most economical beddings.

Hay - Can harbour fungi, but if replaced regularly and kept dry, works OK, good for nests but don't use for chicks or broody hens. Not the best absorbency, not good for spot cleaning.

Hemp - Hemp bedding, such as Aubiose, is good to use. Sorry, I have never used it for chickens, but sources say it works well, with good absorbency and dust-free.

Woodshavings - Best if dust extracted. Very dusty shavings should not be used. Needs a lot longer to rot down than  the other beddings I have talked about, so will need to be in a separate compost heap. Very absorbent and great for most cleaning systems (see above).  

Sand - Absorbency OK, not good for composting but can be reused by sieving the sand through and using the droppings on the compost heap. Not at all insulating. 

Leaves, bracken, etc. - Some people do use these as bedding. Can't give an opinion on dried leaves, but bracken is a good insect repellent and used to be frequently used in the olden days, but apparently should not be consumed by the chickens, so I wouldn't risk it!

Newspaper - Not very good absorbency, and there is some debate about whether the ink is bad for them. Good insulator.

Chicken Care: Feed

One of the most important aspects of responsible chicken keeping is clean, fresh food and water.

There are many different feed types, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. I'll list as many as I can here, but you may want to do further research elsewhere. The following feeds are the most commonly found and popular, and I believe you can find them in both the UK and US, if not other countries too.

Bonnie and Daffy help  themselves to pellets.
Credit: birdbrain99 (author)

Pellets - Probably the most popular feed, I use this for my birds. It should contain at least 16% protein for healthy, laying hens. Layer's Pellets provide most of the essential ingredients to keep your hens healthy whilst laying. Layer's Pellets should only be used after 18-25 weeks of age, or when the first egg is laid. Before that, Grower's pellets should be given. You should not feed grower's pellets to laying birds, either. If you have cocks and hens, layer's pellets are fine to feed to all of them.

Mash - This is quite a popular option too. Basically it is the same as pellets, but it has not been compressed into pellets. It is finely ground into lots of bits or a powder. If you don't have much space for your chickens, this will stop them getting quite so bored as it takes longer to eat than the same amount of pellets. However, I don't feed it often to my hens because of a beak problem one has. She finds pellets easier to eat.
You can mix mash with a little water to make a kind of paste but if you do you will need to change it a couple of times a day so that it doesn't go sour. My hens adore it though, so I just give it as a healthy treat sometimes! You can leave it dry, but depending on how fine it is the chickens may be able to pick out their best bits.

Mixed corn (also known as "Scratch") is a great treat.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

Mixed Corn - This is best not fed as their main feed, but it can be given in small quantities scattered on the
ground or in straw where the chickens will be able to
scratch around for it, keeping them active and preventing them from becoming bored. I tried mixing it in with the chickens' pellets,  but they just chucked all the pellets out of the hopper, so I was basically feeding them corn and wasting a lot of good food! So it is best to choose another feed and just use corn as a supplementary feed.

Oats - These must not contribute a main part in you chickens' diet as oats have hardly any nutritional value and your birds can run fat. I only feed as a very occasional treat and in the morning in winter when I scatter some down with the corn when the birds need the extra energy to keep warm.

Chick Crumbs - It is especially formulated for chicks and should not be fed after this stage.

Extras - Your hens will enjoy kitchen scraps, but this shouldn't be a main part in their diet. Make sure there is not a high sugar or salt content. They will love lettuce and salads but if you notice that their droppings look runny they could be eating too much greens or other foods so limit these, and if you notice that a certain food is having a negative effect on your chickens' health stop feeding it. There are many lists available on safe foods for chickens on the internet and in books, so please do your research before feeding. This article is a great starting point! As a rule, don't feed chicken scraps that are mouldy, off, or you wouldn't be ok about eating yourself.
If your hens are not free range then they will enjoy a bit of grass just make sure you cut it very small as it can cause Crop Impaction. It is advised not to feed grass cuttings from petrol lawn mowers.

Grit - This is not strictly a "feed", but should always be available. They use grit in their digestive system to help grind up the food. Oyster Shell grit should also be available, as it is an important source of calcium. You can by these online or at poultry/farm shops. If your hens are free-range they are unlikely to need normal grit, as they will probably find enough around, but Oyster Shell grit should still be provided.

How much will a chicken eat a day?
The average hen will eat about 110 - 150 grams a day, but it depends very much on the breed, where they live, the season, etc.

How often do I need to clean the feeder, and what do I use?
Clean out the feed hopper/trough immediately if it gets soiled or you notice any algae or mould.  If not, every month or so. Use a safe poultry disinfect, and follow the instructions on the label carefully. Otherwise, you can use an ecological washing up liquid and rinse well.

Where should the feed be placed, and when should I feed the chickens?
The hopper should be placed in a dry, sheltered and light area, where the chickens can access it easily. It is best if they have their main feed available at all times, but treats, corn, etc. can be given when you like (as long as it's not enough to fill them, preventing them from eating their main feed) and as long as you've established a good routine.

Hand feeding is one of the best ways to tame chickens!
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

• Do not use feed after the best before end date.

• Store the chicken feed in a cool, dry place.

My hens relaxing in the Summer Sunshine!

Although a chilly start to the year, June has brought warmth and Sun! Here's a video of them enjoying the Summer days:D Bonnie (my Light Sussex) even tucks her head under her wing, she is so relaxed!

Note: Best not to view full screen because it is very pixelated!

Chickens: Top 5 best egg-laying pure breeds

If you are looking for ideas on which chicken breeds are best for you, one of the first questions you should ask yourself is, "do I want chickens for eggs, meat, pets or some other reason (showing, breeding, etc.)?"
If you are looking for eggs, then I have put together a list of five pure breeds that might be right for you. Please remember, these do not include Hybrids, which often lay more eggs, but have a shorter life span and don't have such a wide range of colours. This is only pointing out the five best pure breeds. I haven't written an article about the best hybrid egg-laying breeds yet.

Austrolorp hen.
Credit:  Jason buildakicker Permission: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Austrolorp

Eggs: young hens will lay an average of 200 eggs year, but a hen was recorded in Australia and managed to lay 364 eggs in 365 days! The eggs are light brown in colour.

Personality: A generally docile, tame breed, often happy to be handled and curious. Good mother and broody.

Care: They are very easy to keep, and love to forage but happy enough if kept busy in relative confinement.

Rhode Island Red hens.
Credit: Sammmydavisdog Permission: CC BY 2.0

Rhode Island Red                                                 

Eggs: An average of 200 large brown eggs a year.

Personality: Calm, easy to tame birds, they make an ideal backyard chicken!

Care: Very easy to keep and are adaptable. They are not good broodies but are hardy.

White Leghorn.
Credit: Lauredhel Permission: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Leghorn

Eggs: 200 + white eggs a year, depending on strain. Utility strains (particularly the White leghorn) lay more. The white leghorn is often used in the US in battery farms.

Personality: They are a Mediterranean breed so are flighty and excitable but some can be tamed and have hilarious characters if you manage it!

Care: Keep an eye on their combs in winter as they can get frostbite. They are good fliers.

Speckled Sussex.
Credit:Shooting Chris Permission: CC BY-NC 2.0

Sussex

Eggs: Good stock can lay 200-220 eggs in a year, but some sources may lay less.

Personality: Curious, calm, and friendly, this bird is ideal for a small backyard flock and pets.

Care: Good broodies, and tolerate low temperatures. They can be kept confined but love to free-range or have a large run. Otherwise, they are very easy to keep.

Silver Laced Wyandotte hen.
Credit: cskk Permission: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Wyandotte

Eggs: Hens lay 200 or more eggs in their first year, and the Sliver-laced variety is thought to be best layer.

Personality: Are happy in confinement or free-range, they are easy to tame and docile birds.

Care: Hardy birds, suited to most climates. Their small rose-comb makes them less susceptible to bullying and frostbite.

Updates...

Hi,
I know I haven't written for a while but I've been editing older posts, either which I hadn't quite finished or that I wanted to add to.
Please check them out!

• I have added the "Poultry Lice" section and also a diagram to Stories or Problems: Mites and Lice.
• Also the "Less Frequently" section to Chicken Care: Daily Routines.

Thanks for looking! :D

Pepper. 
Credit: birdbrain99

Chicken Care: Choosing a Chicken Coop

For happy, healthy chickens it is very important to have a good house for them. This is where they will roost at night and lay their eggs.

My first coop made of recycled wood. 
Credit: birdbrain99

If you follow the points below when building, converting or buying a coop, there is little that can go wrong:

• Draught-free: Not only will a draught chill them, risking disease, in the winter months frostbite to the comb may become apparent due to cold, draughty conditions.

• Spacious: Over-crowding can cause so many problems, and your birds may get injured. The coop will also get dirty faster. As a guide line, if you end up buying your coop please check the specification of how  many birds it can fit, and then take away 1 or 2 birds per 4, as the companies often work on smaller breeds or bantams (other chicken keepers recommend this. my own experience: I bought a coop online, it said it could fit 8 birds in, but I've never had more than five in it as there wasn't space on the perches and any more chickens would have had to sleep in the nestbox!)

• Good ventilation: Despite the fact that I noted above not to have a draughty coop, some ventilation is a must. The best thing would be to have a small wire grid or a few holes just above where the chickens' heads will be whilst they are on the perch, or at the highest point where the roof meets the sides as this is where most of the foul air will gather.

• Dry: There should be no way for water to get in, or condensation to build up: if you see condensation, more ventilation is required. The coop should not get damp either. This last problem can be prevented if the coop is raised off the ground.

• Easy access: This includes both you and the hens. You will need to be able to access the coop for cleaning,collecting eggs and checking on the birds.

• Easy to clean: Most things in the coop - such as the perches - should preferably be removable so that the coop can be maintained responsibly. There should be a large, secure access door to clean the main coop.

• Secure and Predator Proof: There should be some way of locking both the human and chickens access doors, even if it is just a simple hook or bolt. The coop must also be predator proof, or you may find just a pile of feathers in the morning!

• Insulated: This is not necessary - most coops aren't insulated - but if it is at all possible, particularly if you live in cold climates, it would be favourable.

Buying a coop.

There are a wide range of different coops on the market. Which one you choose in the end is up to you. However, your choice should be based primarily on the health and well-being of the birds. Of course, it's great if you can get a coop which is also pretty! It may be a much cheaper option to make your coop at home, and it can also be exactly how you want it then too. However, if you're not very handy, or don't have the time, a ready-made coop is a great option.

Converting  Existing Buildings

Have you already got a shed or out-building? Well, it may be a lot cheaper and convenient if you could just turn that into a chicken house! Most building floors are suitable, such as wood, brick or tiles, but do be aware that if you have a soil floor you will need to think carefully about predator-proofing, damp and cleaning. Just follow the points above, and there are unlikely to be any difficulties.

Building your own.

Another option is to build your own. My first coop was made of old pallet pieces that we collected from saw mills and recycling centres - completely free! If you don't want to design it all yourself, just search around and you can get plans and measurements of other people's coops, and all you have to do is nail the wood together!

 Left: Nest boxes, accessible from outside and with removable wall for cleaning.

Right: inside showing perch, window and nestboxes. 

Plastic, wood or something else?

You may have heard of a relatively new chicken coop called an 'Eglu'. It is a popular option in recent years, made of plastic. Many people think they are the best coops, and they are easy to clean, but some of the information from the company who sell them is misleading, and they are very small and without a proper perch or nest box. However, they do have an advantage because they are made of plastic so there are no crevices, slits, etc. in which Red Mite can hide (Check out this article). There is also the environmental issue. Plastic lasts forever, creating more litter where as responsibly-sourced wood does not. Many people do think they're easy to use, though.
There are also other plastic coops, and even ones made out of recycled materials which could be another option.
If you are planning on a more traditional look, made of wood, you might find it useful to place some lino or something similar on the floor for extra-easy cleaning. Check regularly for mites, and treat the wood with a pet-safe wood treatment.

Stories or Problems: Common Mites and Lice that Infest Chickens

Here is a list I've made up of the most common lice and mites you are likely to find on chickens, how to get rid of them, what to look for and how to prevent it.

The most important places to look for the different mite and lice species.
Credit: birdbrain99

Common Name: Scaly Leg.

Type: Parasite.

Look for: Up turned leg scales. Apparent discomfort and excessive "preening" of the legs. Limping (in bad cases).

Caused by: Scaly leg is caused by microscopic mites (called Dermatoryctes mutans) which burrow in to the skin between the leg scales. They produce white crusts which force the scales up and cause discomfort for the affected birds. These mites are also called Scaly Leg Mites.
If this problem is discovered early and treated quickly then it is a very simple matter to sort out. However, if it is discovered much later on then it is slightly more tricky, and if it is left then the affected bird will have severe leg problems and will become lame.

Treatment/Prevention: I found this problem at the early stage when it was hardly noticeable, so I came off lightly. I treated it with Benzyl Benzoate which I got from the chemist but it is also available at some vets. There are also special 'Scaly leg treatments' which you can get at farm shops. Benzyl Benzoate is often used on horses, but the lady at the chemist asked if it was for our faces! "No," we replied, "it is for a chicken's legs." She gave us a rather quizzical look...
Soak the chicken's legs and paint on the Benzyl Benzoate which should look like a kind of cream. Use a fine paint brush for this. I repeated it every few days for a couple of weeks to make quite sure it was properly solved and have had no more problems with it yet. However, scaly leg is highly contagious so it would be a good idea to separate the affected birds and treat all the chickens even if they haven't got it. It is also advisable to thoroughly wash the coop as well and move the chickens on to new ground, but I was unable to do this and I solved it so it is not necessary, but it does take more work and is less likely to be quite so thorough if you don't.
Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly can also be used: rub this onto the legs after cleaning them, then wrap in a bandage so it doesn't rub off. This will suffocate the mites, but in my experience is not as affective as Benzyl Benzoate.


Common Name: Northern Fowl Mite.

Type: External Parasite.

Look for: Matted, wet or greasy looking feathers. Dirty vent feathers. Pale comb. Scabs around vent and under feathers.

Caused by: Northern Fowl Mites are 1mm long mites that live entirely on the birds. Unlike red mites, they feed on the chicken's blood day and night and stay on the birds. They are brown, red or black in colour and quite round-looking. You may see them scuttling around on the skin or feathers. They cause irritation, blood loss and anaemia.

Treatment/prevention: A monthly dusting of a suitable anti-mite dust or spray should hopefully prevent the problem, but if you do notice any mites increase frequency to every few days. Treat the birds as well as the coop, paying particular attention to the vent area, under the wings and neck. Remember to treat the crest if your bird has one too!
PLEASE CHECK ALL YOUR BIRDS FOR MITES as they seem to prefer some birds more than others. I have never found a single mite on Daffy or Pepper, for example, when at the same time there have been a few on Nutmeg and Bonnie. If I had just checked Pepper and Daffy I would have said that none of my hens had any mites, so all birds should be checked.

Common Name: Red Mite.

Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae).
Credit: Luis Fernandez Garcia Permission: CC BY-SA-2.5-ES
Via Wikimedia Commons

Look for: Red Mites actually live in the coop itself. They come out at  night to feed on the blood of the birds while they are on the roost, so are quite difficult to spot. I check every night for signs of them, just flash a torch around the coop walls and on/underneath the perches. In bad cases, your chickens may refuse to go into the coop to roost, spending the nights outside.

Caused by: Small mites, similar to northern fowl mites, that live in the coop. They are called Dermanyssus gallinae.

Treatment/Prevention: Sprinkle some anti-mite powder along the roosts and in the bedding, and along any shelves, crevices, etc. regularly. Don't use long straw, as they can hide inside the pieces.
If you notice any signs of red mite, move your birds out of the  coop and treat with a proven anti-mite spray or powder. Hose down the coop, scrub and clean, then disinfect with an anti-mite spray or bleach solution. Wait until it is properly dry before reintroducing your birds, and treat the coop frequently afterwards.

Common Name: Poultry Lice.

Type: External Parasite.

Look For: Excessive preening. Easier to spot than mites, can be found clustered on feathers or crawling on the skin. Egg clusters on vent feathers can be spotted by parting the feathers near the vent. Eggs look like white blobs attached to the feathers. Also check under wing for adults and eggs.

Caused By: There are about forty to fifty different species of lice that can affect chickens, but they can all be treated in basically the same way. They are straw-coloured insects that don't actually suck the blood of the birds, but eat the dead skin and feather shafts. However, they can be just as irritating as mites!

Treatment/Prevention:
Similar to Northern Fowl Mites. Sprinkle a good quality lice powder under the feathers, paying particular attention to the vent area and under the wings. They live entirely on the chickens. If you notice a lot of louse eggs (nits), bathe the affected hen with a mild pet or baby shampoo, and try to loosen the eggs to coming off. Careful not to pull, as this will hurt the bird! Otherwise, you can rub Vaseline/petroleum jelly over the eggs. This will smother them and they will eventually fall off, but I haven't found this quite so effective as directly removing the eggs.

Information: How to fox-proof your chicken run.

There are various ways to fox-proof your chicken run. The one you choose in the end depends on how much space you have, if your run is already built, and your budget. Here are a few I know of, explaining how to stop foxes digging under. However, they can also climb so either covering your run with wire, a solid roof or fruit netting is a good option, and will also protect from hawks. Otherwise you could run a bit of electric fencing along the top of the fence. This will not protect from hawks though.

1. Basically just use small chicken wire, tacked to the bottom of the run (what I did for my bantam run) to basically make a wire floor. This doesn't really work if you plan on having a tractor (movable run) because they can't scratch or dust bath, but it is good for small, stationary runs because you can put woodchips/shavings/etc. over the top so that they can scratch. It must be one of the safest options. but can only be used for small runs, before it becomes very expensive.

Using a fox-proof "skirt" around the chicken coop and run.
Credit:  Moosicorn Permission:  CC BY-NC-ND 2.

2. I use this for the large fowl run. Attach wire to the side of the run near the floor. Then bend it so that it sticks out at the side for a little over a foot (not on inside of the run). If the wire isn't stiff you'll need to put  some soil over it and hold it down with a few bricks/stones or tent pegs. Obviously the run has to then be stationary, but you can also move it around if you use tent pegs to hold the wire down. This creates a kind of "skirt" around the base of the run, and is a good option for large, stationary runs.

3. Paving: this is another option. You could lay slabs down or concrete and place the run on top. There will then be no way for the fox to dig underneath. Then lay something down on top for scratching in. If you do want to move the run around then you could do so, and just put it on the slabs if you go away so your "chicken-sitters" don't need to worry about foxes!

4. This is similar to no.2, but instead of pegging the "skirt" down, you dig the mesh vertically into the ground, before filling it in. I've never tried it, but it is a very safe option.

5. You could try electric fencing, or an electric wire running along the bottom of the fence and again another one at the top, but it wont be as safe as the others.

Secure chicken run on slabs.
Credit: David Clegg Permission: CC BY NC-SA 2.0

The only time you really need to worry about fox-proofing is when you are away or if you don't want to lock them in and let them out of the coop twice a day. However, foxes do come out in the day, particularly if you live in an urban area where they won't be as shy. If you can, you might as well make sure your birds are safe from foxes and other predators also!

Chicken Care: Daily Routines

Why?

Your chickens benefit greatly from a daily routine, as they

 are creatures of habit.

Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

It is really important to establish a daily routine with your birds. Chickens love order and are very habitual. They like to know what-happens-when, and it is good also for you. A daily routine is made based on you and your hens' needs. It should be reliable and realistic.

What do I need to do on a daily basis?

This reallly depends, but the most you'll need to do is:

1. Check for eggs
2. Spot clean coop
3. Fill up food hopper
4. Check water
5. Feed kitchen scaps/greens/corn
6. Lock them up at night
7. Let the out in the morning

What do you do?

I do all the above.  A routine will come naturally once you have had your chickens for a while. Here are my basic chicken jobs timetable for the summer, though. It starts at 06:30 am - 07:30 am.

Early Morning: Let hens out. Spot clean the nestbox (Bonnie sleeps in one at night so I have to clean it before they lay otherwise the eggs get soiled). Bring up/check water. Scatter a jar of mixed corn around the runs ( I feed a little under a jar for six hens).

Mid morning: Fill up feed hopper (there's usually some pellets left over from the day before so there is food when they come out the coop first thing.)  Feed any greens. Check for eggs.

Early afternoon:  Spot clean the rest of the coop. Give any kitchen scraps. Another egg-check.

Evening: Lock them up in the coop for the night. Check water/bring down if needs cleaning to return in the morning.
I will often then go up throughout the day just to see them.

What if I'm away most of the day at work/school?

 If you aren't at home most of the day, like me, then you can easily do it all in just a couple of trips, one morning and one evening. Such as this:

Early Morning: Let them out. Spot clean coop (though this isn't necessary: you could use a deep litter system so you need to clean much less often). Fill/check food and water. Give them any scraps.

Evening: Check for eggs. Lock them up. If you're back early enough then maybe you could feed them extra treats now.

Less Frequently.

As well as everything you do daily, there are things that need to be done weekly, monthly and yearly also. These include:

• Cleaning out coop - which I do every couple of months, but if you do a deep litter system you'll only have to do that a couple of times a year.
• Disinfect and wash the coop. This needs doing once a year, unless you've had problems with red mite or illness.
• Clean Feed hopper. This needs doing less frequently than water. I do it every month or so (read about it at the bottom of this post); depending on how large it is, how many chickens you have, how much food you put in and what feed you use.
• Health check. It is good to do this every few days. I will write a post about this soon, and add a link here when I do.
• Treat for worms and mites. Treat for worms a couple of times a year but some people don't bother at all unless they see signs. The only product I would use for worming is Flubenvet as it is the only properly tested product. Do Not use Verm-X because it killed one of my hens which would still be alive and well if I'd used Flubenvet (long story)!
• Replace run litter. Depending on what you use (another thing I need to write about), it needs to be replace once to four times a year.

Notes.

Don't let them out really early some mornings, and then later other mornings. They are likely to start shouting when they aren't let out early and can disturb neighbours/you/your family!!

If your birds are partly free-range it is good to also set up a routine for when they will be allowed to do this and for how long.

Information: Broody hens

What is a Broody?

Adjective: (0f a hen) Wishing or inclined to incubate eggs.

Meaning that a hen, when she feels that she has sufficient eggs to hatch, will attempt to hatch the eggs. She will lose the down feathers around her breast area, which are very insulating; this way she can transfer enough heat from her body to the eggs to hatch them. Checking the brood patch is a good way to tell if the hen is definitely broody.  A broody hen is sometimes called a clocker.

Nutmeg my broody bantam hen.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

Signs of a broody hen are:

• Sleeping in the nestbox instead of perching.
• Clucking when you come near.
• Sitting in the nest most of the day.
• Looking fluffed up and flat whilst on the nest.
• When placed away from the nest, will keep her wings and even tail spread out before going back to the nest.
• She may peck you if you go near to the nest, or to collect the eggs.
• Brood patch (feathers missing from breast area)

My bantam, Nutmeg, is currently broody. However, hens may not even sit on any eggs when they become broody: they may sit on golf balls, small stones, or she may not even sit on anything! Nutmeg is currently sitting on a golf ball and an old egg. I believe I stimulated her into becoming broody by keeping the golf ball in there (it was in the nestbox in the first place just to show them where to lay, and I never got round to taking it out) She must have felt she had sufficient eggs to start a nest (I believe she had two eggs and a golf ball when she started). 

In this video, I take out the golf ball from under her. She quickly moves it back under to keep it warm.      


Bantam hens can sit on about six eggs, whereas Large fowl can sit on up to 12 eggs. Bantam eggs take less time to hatch (about 18-20 days) than large fowl eggs (about 21 days).

Caring for a Broody Hen and her Eggs.

Some hens may not come off the nest much at all during the incubation period, and will lose condition whilst sitting. You should take her off the nest once or twice a day so that she can eat, drink, exercise and relieve herself (they do not like to soil the nest). She may even appreciate a dust bath.
 Don't be at all surprised if she loses condition and weight.
 If you plan on hatching eggs under her, be certain that she is very broody as she may otherwise give up halfway through. If you do plan on hatching eggs, it is recommended that you separate her from the other hens in a specially designed broody coop. This coop should have a wire floor and is rested on the soil, with bedding such as straw on top to make a comfortable nest (it is not recommended to use hay as bedding because it can carry harmful bacteria or fungi.) This allows enough moisture to reach the eggs from the soil. Another option is to sprinkle the eggs lightly with a few drops of warm water once a day (best in the evening).
 A rabbit hutch, dog crate or anything to keep her separated can work instead of a specially designed broody coop.
 To move nests, just take the eggs she was sitting on, place them in the new location,  place the hen on the new nest then keep it dark for a day or two so that she is settled once more. She should hopefully settle and stay broody. If not, then she is unlikely to be a very good mother anyway. 

If any eggs do get soiled, it is important to clean them. Use a wire brush or scourer (careful not to damage the eggs) instead of washing them (this removes the protective layer of the shell, allowing harmful bacteria to get in.)

                                             
You will need to pay particular attention for mites and lice whilst you hen is broody, because:

•  she can lose condition more quickly
•  it can irritate her, resulting in abandoning the nest
•  the mites and lice will pass on to the chicks, and can then result in death                               

To prevent this, frequently dust her with a mite or louse powder, as well as a little in the nestbox itself.

 Do not disturb her or the eggs on the last couple of days before hatching. Place a shallow dish of water and chick crumbs next to her for when the chicks hatch.

Breaking a broody.

So you don't want her to be broody? Fair enough if you don't want her to hatch eggs. In fact, despite how protective and cute she looks whilst broody, it is best to "break" her, as it's called, because she will lose condition whilst broody.Even if you do manage to break a broody, she will likely become broody again at some point.

The best way is to make her as uncomfortable as possible, really. The most frequently used method it to place her in a wire bottomed cage without bedding in a light, sheltered place raised off the ground for a couple of days. Remember to give her plenty of food and water!! Once she has been in this contraption for a couple of days, release her back with the other hens.

Remove the eggs as soon as possible (checking at least once or twice a day) to try and prevent her from going broody again. Of course, there will be cases when she goes broody even if there aren't any eggs. 

Common Breeds that go Broody.

There are some breeds that go broody more than others. These include:

• Silkie
• Wyandotte
• Sussex
• Orpington
• Pekin bantam
• Cochin
• Barred Rock
• Sumatran
• Japanese bantam
• Scots Grey
• Scots Dumpy
• Maran
• Faverolle
• Old English Game - this breed is unique in that it is the only breed in which a male may help with the rearing of -and may even take over- the brood.

Of course there are exceptions (my Sussex hens have never gone broody), but the general rule is the heavier, docile breeds are more likely to go broody, whereas the flighty, light breeds are not going to be such good broodies and mothers. If you really want a very good mother your best option is to get a Silkie. 

If you want lots of eggs, choose one of the Hybrid breeds or not such good broodies.

 Some of the not so good broodies are:

• Leghorn
• Hybrids - most hybrid breeds have had the broodiness bred out of them, to increase egg prodution.
•  Lakenvelder
• Campine
• Welsummer
• Hamburgh
• Rhode Island Red

Chickens: My bantams!

Nutmeg my Bufflaced Wyandotte Bantam.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

Well you've probably seen my four large fowl hens, but three weeks ago today I got two bantams.  I haven't got many stories about them yet only having had them a few weeks. However, I can give you their main characters :)

My Buff laced Wyandotte Bantam, Meggie (short for Nutmeg).
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author).

Nutmeg is my Buff-laced Wyandotte Bantam, and is a shy little thing but quite jumpy. It took her a while to get used to me (about a week) but will now happily feed out of my hand. She has just gone broody (*Update*: I've written about that here.) In the first photo her wing is held in a strange position; don't worry! She was preening when I took the photo so it's quite normal:)

Pepper, my Barred Wyandotte bantam.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

Pepper is my Barred Wyandotte Bantam and is from show stock. She did bully Nutmeg a bit at first but once the pecking order was established they get on fine. She loves to perch and comes running when you enter their area. Luckily, she has shown no signs of going broody.. fingers crossed!

Pepper scratching around.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author).

What are bantams?

Bantams are like miniature chickens. You can get true bantams and miniatures of the large fowl breeds. Bantams are just small chickens. They do take up less space but if at all possible give them as much as the large fowl because most are very active. Bantams lay smaller eggs, but eat less and are great with children too. The smallest true bantam is the Dutch Bantam. My hens are both wyandottes, so not true bantams because you get them in large form also. Other true bantams include the Japanese Bantam, Rosecomb, Belgian bantams (Barbu d'anvers, Barbu d'Uccles, Barbu d'watermael and Barbu d'grubbe) Sebright and Pekin.

Dutch Bantam pullet. The smallest true bantam breed.
Credit: Laura Haggarty Permission: CC-BY-SA 3.0
 via Wikimedia Commons

Stories or Problems: Crop Impaction

Chicken digestive system showing crop.
Credit: Sunshineconnelly Permission: CC-BY-3.0
via Wikimedia Commons

Daffy got crop impaction earlier this year. This means that she got some grass stuck in her crop, creating a blockage so that no food can get through. The crop is where the food is stored before going into the gizzard, which is like a muscular "sack" where the food gets ground up. You can feel the crop under the feathers.

Look for: Your bird may do strange neck movements, look tired or dull, stop laying, or become thin. They are likely also to stop eating as much.
 These are all signs but they may not show any of them, or they could be caused by something else. The safest way to know is to check all your birds regularly. Feel the crop and if it feels hard. Check the next morning as by this time if they have't got it they should have digested all their food. If the crop is empty then it is ok, but if it is still full please follow the advice below..

Treatment: Pour a couple of teaspoons of olive-oil down the bird's throat, and massage the crop gently to loosen it up. Hold the bird upside down by the legs and again massage the contents of the crop out. Be careful not to choke her/him! It is best if you can hold the bird's bill open also. The contents should look a little like sick. If you manage to get most of it out and loosen up the contents still inside then you may have solved the problem. Check the next morning straight when you let them out of the coop (take out any food inside the coop so that there is nothing to eat in the early morning/night. If the crop feels empty when you feel it you can be quite sure that it is sorted. If not you will need to repeat the process. If after a few days of this there is no sign of it clearing up you should take them to the vet immediately as the bird will starve to death.

Prevention: Do not use long straw or hay in the coop or run, but chopped is fine. If they have access to grass keep it as short as possible. Do not let them eat string (which they will do!).


I first noticed that Daffy had crop impaction when she was doing strange neck movements (I can't describe them, but you'll notice anything odd). I checked her crop and it was hard, so I did everything mentioned in the treatment section above: massaged, tipped her upside down, gave her olive oil... none of it worked. She stopped laying. She got thinner and thinner. At last I phoned the vet. He confirmed that she had crop impaction and did basically the same thing as I did. He even tried flushing it out with water. After two visits back to the vet there was nothing for it but to do the operation. I hadn't realised this was possible. We took Daffy in early and left her with him. I couldn't concentrate on anything all day.. He hadn't done the operation before, and there was a good chance she wouldn't make it through anyway. I really thought I'd lost her. Then, in the afternoon we got a telephone call. She had made it! We went straight away to pick her up. She looked a little stunned but otherwise fine. When we got her back she just ATE, then slept. She was kept in the conservatory for a few days before going back with the others. She has now fully recovered and is again acting normally. :)

Chickens: My Large Fowl

Just thought I'd post some pics of my chickens. I have four large fowl/standard hens.
The first photo is my Light Sussex hen called Bonnie. She's often under your feet, and I've nearly stood on her before! She is happy to be held and stroked and will come running when she is called. For some reason she has never really taken to perching at night and seems to much prefer to sleep in the nestbox! In the second photo below she is being naughty and drinking out of a bucket for collecting rain water. A metre away is their actually drinker, but she seems to know what she is not meant to do... because she does it!! There'll be many more stories about her in other posts because it would take way too much space to write them all here now!

Teazle is anther of my first hens (as was Bonnie), but unlike Bonnie she not very tame, although once I've managed to catch her she will usually stay calm while you hold her. She is a Welsummer. She really doesn't like new people, so when my friends/family come to see the hens she gets quite upset! I find this very strange, but then she is quite a strange hen! She also doesn't like wind. Apart from these things, she lays well and the eggs are - mostly - a lovely dark brown. She is always looking after herself, despite having a growth problem with her beak. This  means she finds it slightly more difficult to eat, though she can do it. The upper mandible (top part of beak) hardly grows at all, and the end of it is a funny shape. Also the sides of her beak grow at an alarming rate and have to be clipped off regularly. On this photo it is difficult to see the beak problem because of the angle and also it has been clipped recently, making it look nearly normal.

My Welsummer, Teazel. 
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)

Last April (2012) I got two more hens, not long before Dido, my other first Light Sussex and Bonnie's sister, died. I bought them from an auction which can be a little risky as you haven't much idea of who owns them, what conditions they have come from, etc. as often as not you also don't know how old the bird is and, occasionally, what breed it is.
 This was the case with Daffodil and Blackbird. They were obviously mixed breeds, but I had no idea what breeds they had in them then, or even if they were still laying. The only information I had was that they were being sold with the title: "two broodies". See this article for information on broodies. Well, I've never had anything of the sort from them! I have at last found out that Daffy (I hardly ever call her Daffodil) is a Cream Legbar crossed with a White Leghorn. 
She lays beautiful blue eggs and acts like a parrot (sits on your arm etc.), is quite bossy and will willingly peck the others if they are in the way! She is a skinny little thing and had to have an operation (*Update:* I've written about that here).  

My mix breed hen, Daffy.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author).

My Leghor x Legbar mix, Daffodil, resting (which she hardly ever does..)
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author).

Birdie (short for Blackbird) is calm and  obviously quite an old bird. She loves to sleep and dustbathe and preen (keeps herself even tidier than Teazle!). I have found her many times sleeping on the roof of the coop (hen house) at night when she should be inside it! Strangely, she is my only hen which eats the suet pellets meant for thrushes (another reason I called her Blackbird). She can fly better than the others despite being a big bird. She is very unusual-looking and very beautiful.

My other mix breed hen,Birdie.
Credit: birdbrain99 (Author)