You cannot beat the taste of a fresh egg for breakfast that hasn’t traveled further than a few metres from your back garden. It is such a thrill to open the nesting box door to see if there are fresh eggs, and even now as an adult I still love collecting our chicken eggs every morning.
We are passionate about chickens at Vines Farm Shop and Country store. Iv been keeping chickens myself for a number of years, becoming passionate during my teens when I got my first incubator and hatched my first chicks. It was not only a fun hobby for me, I feel it taught me lots of great life lessons from animal husbandry ensuring they were kept clean and tidy, fed, watered and safe, as well as taking care of them financially by selling the eggs at the road gate and using this to buy their feed. I’m still just as passionate today, and I hope my daughter will love chickens just as much as me and be able to come out and help feed them and collect the eggs and enjoy spending time outside in the fresh air.
Over the years I have learnt a lot about keeping chickens, I won’t claim to be an expert, there is always more to learn, however these are a few things I have learnt along the way that I’m hoping might help with making this fun hobby as enjoyable as possible. If you are completely new to keeping chickens, then we are very happy to help with advice instore on what products and feed you will need to get started on your poultry adventure.
Clean out your coop weekly
Although obvious to some, anyone new to poultry keeping might not be aware of all of the potential issues chickens can be vulnerable to. Providing a clean environment for your birds to eat, sleep and lay their eggs will go a long way in helping to prevent diseases and reduce issues from ectoparasites such as lice and mites and keep them in tip top condition. Weekly cleaning will also give you a chance to take a closer look at your birds and hopefully spot any physical issues. Chickens don’t always show symptoms when they are sick for fear of being picked on by other members of the flock, so its good to be vigilant and give your birds a check over and routinely check for lice and mites.
Choose the right house
We swapped to plastic houses about 10 years ago as they are easy to clean, easier to keep red mite free with less nooks and crannies, will outlast any wooden house and have a good second hand value. Have the correct stocking density for the house to prevent it overheating from too many birds and enough to keep themselves warm in the winter.
Feed a quality layers pellet.
Historically many people fed their chickens just mixed corn, however if you want your birds to lay, they need a complete feed with all the nutrients and vitamins and minerals to help with egg production and help keep them in tip top condition. Mixed corn is great for a treat and to help with a lovely dark yolk, and the maize also helps keep birds warm through the winter months as its slow release energy.
Raise your feeder off the ground
Preferably level with the birds back to discourage scratching it out with their feet which can encourage rodents. If rodents are a problem then keep the feeder in the house as long as it can be kept clean from droppings, or simply pick it up and put it in a secure location over night.
Try not to introduce younger birds into your established flock.
Younger birds are prone to being picked on by the older birds, and this stress can make them more vulnerable to disease. Ideally introduce birds into an adjacent house and run and quarantine them for a couple of weeks, and then keep a close eye when integrating them into the flock. Using treats and fresh fruits and veggies can be a great distraction when integrating birds, and putting them into the house at night so they all come out into the run together in the morning helps establish not only where they are meant to sleep but may help trick the older birds into thinking these birds have always been there.
Establish a worming schedule.
Chickens can be vulnerable to a number of parasitic worms which if untreated can be devastating and even fatal. There are 6 common species of worms which can affect the chickens digestive and respiratory systems. Many of which have few or no symptoms, so its hard to know if your birds are affected. Worms are picked up when pecking the ground, and the life cycle of the worm means that it is often spread through the chickens, wild birds and other creatures droppings. There are various natural remedies that can help deter worms, however it is still important to use a licenced worming products at least every 6 months to ensure your birds a kept worm free and healthy. Flubenvet is the most commonly used product as it has been proven for many years and it is still safe to consume the eggs even under the treatment program. Twice a year normally in the spring and summer we order in the Flubenvet premixed into the poultry feed as the simplest and most cost effective way to administer to your birds. Speak with our suitably qualified person SQP Amy to discuss your requirements.
Younger birds are prone to being picked on by the older birds.
Try not to introduce younger birds into your established flock.
Younger birds are prone to being picked on by the older birds, and this stress can make them more vulnerable to disease. Ideally introduce birds into an adjacent house and run and quarantine them for a couple of weeks, and then keep a close eye when integrating them into the flock. Using treats and fresh fruits and veggies can be a great distraction when integrating birds, and putting them into the house at night so they all come out into the run together in the morning helps establish not only where they are meant to sleep but may help trick the older birds into thinking these birds have always been there.
Establish a worming schedule.
Chickens can be vulnerable to a number of parasitic worms which if untreated can be devastating and even fatal. There are 6 common species of worms which can affect the chickens digestive and respiratory systems. Many of which have few or no symptoms, so its hard to know if your birds are affected. Worms are picked up when pecking the ground, and the life cycle of the worm means that it is often spread through the chickens, wild birds and other creatures droppings. There are various natural remedies that can help deter worms, however it is still important to use a licenced worming products at least every 6 months to ensure your birds a kept worm free and healthy. Flubenvet is the most commonly used product as it has been proven for many years and it is still safe to consume the eggs even under the treatment program. Twice a year normally in the spring and summer we order in the Flubenvet premixed into the poultry feed as the simplest and most cost effective way to administer to your birds. Speak with our suitably qualified person SQP Amy to discuss your requirements.
