Frequently asked questions about chickens
Knowing why a chicken may stop laying eggs is important; knowing if it is serious or not will make all the difference to being a happy chicken owner. But when do chickens stop laying eggs? Depending on the breed, chickens typically stop laying eggs between the ages of five and six. There are several reasons … Read more
Rats can wreak serious havoc inside a chicken coop. Besides eating the chicken feed, they may attack baby chicks, steal eggs, or transmit harmful diseases to your flock. If a rodent infestation is severe and food is scarce, rats may even break into a coop at night to kill juvenile and adult chickens. Having dealt … Read more
Many chicken keepers ask a question that concerns them greatly: why their chicken coop smells so bad? The bad smell is usually an ammonia smell. It’s essential to respond quickly if you smell ammonia because inhaling ammonia is dangerous to your chickens’ health. The smell in a chicken coop is often caused by ammonia. This is because … Read more
If you’re thinking about getting chickens, you’re probably wondering which breeds are the best egg layers. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a breed of chicken, but egg production is one of the most important. If you’re a chicken keeper looking for the best egg laying chicken breed for your backyard … Read more
When dusk falls, chickens head into their coop. At least, that is what is supposed to happen. But some evenings, you may find your hens perched up in a tree unwilling to come down and you may wonder: “Can my chickens sleep outside? Can I just leave them up there and go to bed?” Let’s … Read more
The days your layer hens produced eggs on the double are starting to reduce, and the days you will find no eggs are slowly approaching. What to do with these hens? Can you eat egg laying chickens? Yes, you can eat chickens that have stopped laying eggs. In fact, they can make for a tasty … Read more
Chickens are extremely social animals and live in flocks. Within those flocks, there is a definite hierarchy or pecking order, that is established and maintained. The top chicken is the alpha chicken, and the others fall in line based on their ranking within the flock. The pecking order is not set in stone, however, and … Read more
It’s a common question among chicken owners: can my chickens fly over the fence? Chickens are actually quite good at flying, and they use their wings to help them maneuver around obstacles and catch insects. However, they don’t typically fly very high or for very long distances. This is because their wings are relatively short … Read more
Have you ever thought do free range chickens need a coop? You’re not alone! A lot of people are interested in this topic, and for good reason. After all, you want to make sure your chickens are safe and happy, and giving them plenty of space to roam is a big part of that. The … Read more
If you have had dealings with hens, you have likely seen a broody hen. When hens decide they want chicks, there is not much that can get in the way of their dreams of motherhood. Unfortunately, this is not always the best situation for chicken owners, especially if you do not own a cockerel. Knowing … Read more