How to Care for Chickens

By eHow Pets Editor

Rate: (54 Ratings)

Chickens make a good 4-H project for people with limited space and younger children. The birds can also provide your family with meat, eggs and entertainment.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Chicken Coops
Chicken Feed
Chicken Feeders
Chicken Waterers
Chicken Wire
Grit And Oyster Shell Feeder
Light Fixtures And 100-watt Bulb
Small Pan
Baby Chicks
Chicken Dusting Powder
Chicken Laying Mash

Step1

Provide a house or shelter that will protect against wind, rain, and extreme temperatures. Include a secure, fenced-in outside run for hens.

Step2

Make perches for hens, as well as laying nests - one nest for every four hens.

Step3

Keep dry bedding in nests - about 3 to 4 inches deep.

Step4

Provide 14 to 16 hours of light for hens to lay regularly. A 100-watt bulb for every 400 square feet of floor space is adequate.

Step5

Feed laying hens a laying mash when they start to lay eggs. Feed at a regular time each day, and provide clean water daily.

Step6

Provide oyster shell in a small pan at all times to help hens produce strong eggshells.

Step7

Gather eggs daily, and store them in a cool place with the small end of the egg pointing down. Discard any cracked eggs.

Step8

Watch for disease (get appropriate information from your veterinarian for clues), and treat or remove sick birds.

Step9

Check birds for lice or mites, and dust with a powder if necessary.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 It's true - I've had four enormous Orpington chickens for almost a year now, and I have managed to train them! One thing I have taught them (that is great for pleasing guests), is that we let them run free in the garden, then open the kitchen window and shout 'GIRLS?!', so all four of them come running up into the garden to get the food we have to offer them. It took a lot of patience to teach them this, although it has paid off as it is hilarious watching the big fat things sprinting up through the garden.
The first step is to be in sight of the chickens, and to make sure they aren't afraid of you. Get the grain/bread (whatever you are feeding them) and throw it for them - nice and high so they can see it. As they come running, call out the word you want them to respond to so that they are familiar with this word. It should be simple, so they remember it. Chickens are extremely stupid, y'know.
Practice this routine of calling your chickens frequently. They should get the hang of it soon enough!

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 If you're stuck for a treat to give to your hens, boil up some spaghetti and feed it to them - chickens go crazy for it! You should see them gobbling it down. I'm no veterinarian, but it's probably not a good idea to feed them too much, as it probably isn't too good for them.

Anonymous said

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on 8/29/2007 Got that annoying chicken which destroys your eggs by pecking holes in them? The solution: Empty an egg shell, and put a small amount of mustard inside. Nest time a hen goes in for a peck, they're in for a shock! They won't repeat that experience again!

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Never let your chicks live without a lot of food (to get them fat), they will not get as cold. Also get a red light for them decrease it by 5 degrees every week till you are at 70F. Keep them out of reach from hawks, dogs, cats, snakes and other predators that might eat them.