HELP AND ADVICE

Chicken help, advice & Mite Control

How long do chickens live?

Between five and ten years depending on the breed and the quality of life provided.

How long do hens lay eggs?
Egg laying is most prolific in the first 1-3 years. Eggs tend to get bigger as the hen ages. 

Are chickens noisy?
Cockerels are noisy, hens less so. When a hen goes to lay she will cackle and then "sing" the egg song. They will also squawk happily when you approach, and when telling the flock when its's bed time. Otherwise. they are quiet for most of the time.

What's the difference between the egg colours?
Egg colour depends on the breed of chicken. Nutritional value and taste and yolk colour is influenced by feeding and management.

How do I get rid of Red Mites and Norther Fowl Mites?
Red poultry mites do not live on the birds but in the house and surrounding area. Mites will suck blood at night and can be a serious threat to your birds. NatuProtect offers natural resistance against parasitic mites and can be given all year round. If you do get an infestation, a two pronged biological attack using Androlis Predator Mites and NatuProtect is a very effective, natural and chemical free solution. We do not recommend Diatomaceous Earth products as they can pose a respiratory challenge to birds as well as humans.

How do I introduce new chickens into an existing flock?
Always quarantine new birds for 2-3 weeks. Then introduce at night. It is not advisable to mix vaccinated and unvaccinated stock. Chickens may fight until a pecking order (excuse the pun) is established. If they free range or have plenty of space, this  may not arise. If they continue to fight, a temporary barrier will help the chickens to become familiar with each other. 

What do I do if my hen starts eating her eggs?
Hens do not generally see an undamaged egg as food, however if an egg should become broken and found, it will be eaten. If yolk spills from one broken egg onto an unbroken, the hens may then realise that by pecking an egg, food can be had. It is important also to bear in mind that hens watch each other, therefore if one finds food the others will follow, crowding in. This could cause egg eating to spread through an entire flock. There are several ways to prevent this: Keep nest boxes dark, as hens tend to be less active and eat less in the dark. Avoid overcrowding, one nest for every four hens. Collect eggs regularly to create less chance of damages. 

Care of chickens
Food: Chickens are omnivores and will naturally eat both animal and vegetable foods. It is very important that they eat a balanced diet. The average chicken eats 120g-130g food a day so this volume has to contain all the nutrients they need to stay healthy and productive.The best way to ensure this, is to provide quality pelleted feeds or mash.  Avoid giving scraps and excess grains. Barley in particular has limited nutritional value and cause sticky poop. Healthy treats, like dark, leafy greens and fruit can be fed in the afternoon. Chirbs Nutrient Supplement is recommended for all chickens and chicks and can also be given as a healthy treat. Nutritional deficiencies can be the cause of thin shells, so be sure to provide the correct feed ration

Drink: Fresh, clean water must be available during the daylight hours. Water isn't needed during the night. Both feed and water should be removed at night to prevent predator and rodents visiting.

Grit: Hens don't have teeth and need grit to grind food in their crop. Supply flint grit in a suitable container. Oyster shell should not be given to growing birds as excess calcium can cause organ damage.

Worming:Most chickens will need regular worming. The only legal vermicide is Flubenvet (Flubendazole) which can be purchased in tubs or ready mixed into layers pellets. All other products only have a limited vermifuge (expelling) properties. It is a good idea to get a worm count done before you worm your birds. Unnecessary use of wormer is not ideal and can contribute to resistance.
 
Cleaning: The chicken house will need to dry and clean and not too big. Exactly how often it has to be cleaned depends on the number of birds and the time of year, but ideally, once a week. The floor of the chicken house can be lined with old newspaper. This way everything can be rolled up together before discarding. You can use wood shavings for poop trays and floor.  Only use wood shavings are dust-free as chickens have delicate respiratory systems. For the same reason use clean, dry wheat straw, not hay, in the nesting boxes. Clean any crevices in the house and watch for signs of infestation of red mite or fleas. 

Eggs: Hens don't need a cockerel with them to lay eggs, only for fertile eggs which, if collected regularly, are perfectly OK to eat. The rate of lay will depend on nutrition, contentment, the age of the bird, breed and length of day. Fourteen hours of daylight is the optimum.

After a winter break, chickens traditionally start laying around St Valentine's day but you'll probably get the odd egg all year round. A china egg can help stimulate laying, as can feeding Chirbs. It's very important that chickens have the correct laying environment. The area needs to be dark and reasonably out of view. Collect your eggs at least once a day. Unless you're breeding you don't want birds to start sitting on a clutch or to get a taste for eggs.

Cleaning eggs: Whether to clean eggs or not is a matter for debate. If you do, wipe them with a cloth dipped in clean, tepid water and a little Egg Wash just before you use them. Remember that egg shells are porous so they absorb smells. Use a pencil to mark the date on the shell so you use the oldest first, then enjoy the incomparable taste of a really fresh egg. Washed eggs should be refrigerated.

The Moult: this is when the chickens get new feathers. Around 18 months of age the chickens have their first moult. They will then moult every year thereafter. They go rather "out of sorts" and "off the lay" but after a few weeks you'll see them in a smart new outfit. It's best that birds are in tip-top condition prior to the moult as the process takes a lot out of them so do ensure your worming and parasite control is up to date.  
"We picked the girls up yesterday and they are lovely thank you so much!"
C.C.
Share by: