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Of the many hobbies (or, for some people, careers) that you could have chosen, you've picked the best one! Raising chickens is a lot of fun. People raise chickens for many reasons. Some raise chickens for eggs. Others are raising chickens for meat and for show. And still others, like myself, raise chickens just for the fun of it! Whatever your reason, the resources here at poultryOne.com can help make you successful at raising your own flock of chickens.
Feeding Chickens - Feeding chickens is pretty basic. The requirements of most birds are usually the same, although slight variations may occur (depending on the age, breed, purpose of the chicken, etc.). The problem is that some poultry feeds do not meet the exact requirements of a chicken's nutritional needs, therefore resulting in slow growth, reduced laying ability, and a general decrease in health.
Housing Chickens (Building Chicken Coops) - An extremely popular page. This page contains two poultry articles previously published seperately. Also, due to popular requests, a few pictures have been included.
General Care of Chickens - Do you realize that a chicken is designed to live thirty years? Did you know that a healthy hen can lay for up to 18 years? Most chickens do not live that long because they succumb to a multitude of stresses, disease, and predation. But with a little common sense care and good nutrition, your birds can live a long, happy life.
A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens (Part 1) - A quick look at why you should start raising chickens!
An Introduction to Raising Chickens - Yet another helpful article for beginners interested in raising chickens.
More chicken husbandry articles below this ad:
Basic Chick Care (Part 1) - Raising chicks is fun. Watching them chirp and shake their fuzzy, yellow down...ah, the joys of parenthood. With our guidance, you'll have fun raising your little chicks into proud hens and roosters!
Formulating and Mixing Your Own Chicken Feed - Although many people buy their chicken feed, others prefer to have control over what goes into the mixture. Formulating your own feed doesn't just give you control, it can also be cheaper. However, there are many factors in this somewhat complicated procedure.
Culling Your Chicken Flock - What is "culling"? Culling is another word for "harvesting" or "weeding out", "getting rid of the inferior, unwanted, or over-populated".
Brooding Chicks and Quail - Poultry and game bird producers realize that chicks must be kept warm or brooded during the first weeks of life. Surprisingly, improper brooding is one of the most common causes of stress in poultry flocks.
Feeding Quail - Young game birds kept for meat production or sport hunting are fed differently than birds saved for egg production or breeding.
Reducing Heating Costs in Your Chicken Coop - The following management tips suggest points to consider when evaluating energy programs. These tips can help producers lower energy usage and costs.
Your Complete Guide to How NOT to Raise Chickens - Raising Chickens for the first time can be intimidating. When I first called the Feed Shop, I was trying to sound like a pro. I asked, "Do you sell pullets?" "Yes", the man replied. "Are they all females?" It's been an uphill battle ever since.
Information on the National Animal Identification System - Get a complete overview on the NAIS and how it might affect how you raise chickens.
Poultry Manure as Fertilizer - Save your money by using your poultry manure as a wonderful soil amendment that can do much to increase the value of your soil and generate revenue in the form of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Structure of a Chicken (Part 1 and 2) - Structurally, birds are among the most highly specialized vertebrates. Their structure includes modifications or adaptations for flight.
Chicken Stress Management - Learn how to keep your chickens healthy and happy by reducing their stress!
Your Coop's Poultry Biosecurity - Protect your chickens with smart poultry biosecurity.
What Are Probiotics? - What are "probiotics", and how can they help you keep your chicken flock healthy?
Preventing and Handling Coccidiosis Disease - Coccidiosis can wipe out an entire chicken flock. Educate yourself on how to prevent this disease from affecting your birds.
Preventing and Handling Marek's Disease - Marek's Disase can kill your entire coop of chickens. Protect your birds by reading this article!
Upper Respiratory Fungal Infections - Don't think that occasional, unexplained deaths are normal.
Free-ranging Your Chickens - Free ranging is a popular method of housing chickens and housing poultry in general. Why? Not only are the birds healthier from being able to exercise freely, but the costs of feed is reduced since the flock is allowed to forage for a portion of its nutritional needs.
Chickens and Handling Hot Weather - Summer rolls in, and with it the merciless heat of the noonday sun. This is a big concern for farmers conscious of the welfare of their animals. As the summer heat gets hotter and hotter, you begin to wonder how well your flock is handling it.
The Emotional Side of Raising Chickens - Once you've cared for a living thing like a chicken, it's hard not to become attached to them as you would any other pet.
Iodine and controlling pests in chicken feed - Courtesy of Dr. Hayes' gamebird ezine.
Chickens and Predators - People enjoy eating chicken, and in case you haven't noticed, they're not the only ones out there who'd love to chow down on a plump pullet!
Chicken Nutritional Supplements and Vitamins - Depending on how they are managed, your chicken flock may need supplements of calcium, grit, phosphorus, or salt, not including some vitamins.
Vaccinating Against Mareks Diseaes - The sooner you vaccinate your chicks, the more effective the vaccine will be. This is because the Mareks virus is virtually everywhere, travels on the wind, and can be anywhere in your environment. It's true that you can take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to your chicks until you have a chance to vaccinate, but basically, the longer you wait, the higher the risk.
Controlling Mites - Once you find a mite infestation on your bird, the treatment course will vary depending on the severity of the problem. If you have a minor problem, simply spraying the bird or dusting it once and then again three days later can usually do the trick. You may also want to replace their bedding and use poultry/livestock dust or Seven dust underneath the new bedding.
Showing Your Chickens - How to show your chickens to win awards.
Feeding Chickens for Show - What to feed your chickens that you plan to show in a chicken exhibit.
