Blog 1

Feeding

Q. What Should I feed My Hens?

A. A good quality layers pellet or mash should contain all the nutrients, vitamins and grit that a hen needs to lay an egg with a strong shell, inside the egg the contents will be good as well - but if you would like to make the contents even better with a deep yellow / orange yolk then let them have access to some grass, they will enjoy pecking at the grass and eating it. 

Q. Treats -- to feed or not

A. I am asked quite often about feeding treats - such as sunflower seeds - yes, why not, but​ as I say to people, remember your hen(s) are working hard to lay you eggs, so not too many​ treats which could affect their appetite and so reduce their required intake of layers pellets.

​     

Treats are also a good way to train your hens, should you wish to get them to come to you​ or you want to shut them in the coop -- put some treats / seeds in a tin, shake the tin, give ​them some 'treat' -- in a short  period of time they will come to you when they hear the tin ​being shaken  -- bribery & corruption works well !!!

​​​ Blog 12 ​
 Chicks' Feather Development

 The yellow fluffy 'Easter Chick' does not stay or look like that for long - during week 1 the wing feathers develop ~ These feathers help with chick mobility.

Tail and shoulder feathers appear next ~ These feathers help with balance.

Back and breast feathers appear next ~ Chick will be about 3 weeks old.

Finally after about 5 weeks the head feathers appear.​

Chicken

Feathers

​​​​ Blog 14​ 

Grit - v - Oystershell  (as a digestive aid)

 A question often asked is should we feed grit ? - if you use a good quality layers pellet, (100% diet) then the answer I give is: No , but if you wish to / give it a go, carry on - if the hens eat it, that's OK, if the hens are not interested in the grit, then don't feed any more.

Hens that get a lot of space to roam around will find grit naturally.

-- Grit and Oystershell are different: 

- proper Grit is insoluble (hard flint mix is best) making it a suitable digestive aid.

- Oystershell is soluble, so will readily breakdown, making it unsuitable as a digestive aid. (Oystershell is full of calcium)

So if you are looking for a digestive aid buy Grit 

Welcome to our page on chicken care and chicken health. We regularly cover  different topics about poultry keeping,from looking after newly hatched chicks to what to do about hens with a cough.​ If you have a particular topic you'd like us to talk about, please e-mail us at:    

                                        chickenfeathers.co.uk@gmail.com

​Blog 2
Wing Clipping 

Q. I've heard that sometimes hens need their wings clipped. When is this necessary and how do I do it ?

A. The only reason to clip a hen's wings is to prevent it flying out its pen, so if you have a large covered run, a high fence or docile hens that don't try to escape, there is no need to clip the wings.

​If you do find certain hens have a tendency to fly out the pen then clipping will solve this. Only one wing needs to be clipped and as only the flight feathers are clipped this will not spoil the appearance of the hen. Clipping a hen's wing is like cutting toenails - it does not hurt the hen at all.​

To clip the wing, ​if you are right handed, hold the hen against your legs using your left hand, at the same time using your left hand push the left hand wing of the hen out - so that it appears to look like a fan (fans out) - you will now see the primary flight feathers and secondary flight feathers - it is the primary flight feathers you need to trim, the longer ones (the ones at the front of the wing, outer edge, nearest the birds head) using a pair of scissors, cut about 80% of the feather(s) off, it will not hurt the bird, it is like cutting your toe / finger nails. Job done. If you are left handed hold the bird in your right hand and fan the feathers out with your left.

​

​There are some very good videos on U Tube showing wing clipping.

Tel: 01501 229735

​​​​ Blog 13​
Egg Consumption

 The International Egg Commission (IEC) (- yes there is such committee)

Has launched a 10 year project to double global egg consumption to 365 eggs per person per year - OK, it's a big ask, especially in countries where eggs have not traditionally formed part of the diet - but even if they get part way there, they will have had some success.

~ IEC focusing on 'the incredible nutritional value and significant environmental credentials' of the egg -- yee ha!! , go for it IEC

  Blog 5

Dealing with red mite

Q. What is red mite?

A. Red mite is a very small spider type creature, one on it's own is hard to see, but when / if you get them they are in their hundreds and you can see them.

They like to climb on the hens and bite them, similar to a mosquito - which irritates the hens -- if you have a bad infestation it can stop the hens going in the coop.

Q. What to do ?

A. There are many powders and potions on the market, you can use them.

The red mite likes to live in nooks and crannies. If you have a roof that lifts up, then between the roof and the frame that the lid rests on or if a door then on that frame work.​ Check perches and nest box area.If you have a felt roof they could be between that and the wood.

Regularly cleaning out the coop / giving it a wash out. Warm water, washing up liquid, scrubbing brush - all helps in keeping Red Mite numbers down.​

​

Q. What do I do ?

A. I get a paint scraper and squash then. Lift out the perches, using a small paint brush put some creosote or old engine oil in the area the perches fit / lock on to the side of the coop.

Red mite can be persistent, if you are unlucky, keep the paint scraper handy 

Blog 6

Looking after hens in hot weather

​

Q. What do I need to do to look after my hens when the weather is hot ?

A.  - Make sure your hens have enough water 

       Hens will drink more when its hot so consider adding additional water bowls and ensure they never run out.

       Avoid the build-up of algae by tipping out the bowls and refilling completely, rather than just topping them up.

    -  Provide shade

        An outdoor covered area will be welcomed by your hens on hot days. A simple wooden structure is all that is

        needed -  an old table can work well.

    - Consider ventilation

      Think about the ventilation in your chicken coop  - if it seems very hot and stuffy, ventilation can be improved

      by cutting out a couple of small sections on any side that doesn't face the rain and covering with mesh -                  alternatively, simply drilling some large holes will help.​

​ Blog 10
 Eggs And Cold Weather

Q. Can eggs freeze ?

A. Yes, when the temperature drops to about minus 10c

Q. Can you eat an egg that's been frozen ?

A. Lets 'play safe' here - as the contents in the egg freezes and expands, this causes pressure on the shell - which may cause the shell to crack - 

- to 'play safe' , don't eat / cook with the egg.

- if it's not cracked - yeah - eat it , you can always crack the egg in to a bowl before eating, if you wish.

​It's a personal choice, but I have eaten eggs with a cracked shell, in non freezing conditions - and I am still alive & normal - - well I think so !!​​

​​​​ Blog 15​
Hens / Vets / Seeking Advice / Health Care And Products

 A good place to start is 'The Chicken Vet  :  chickenvet.co.uk

These Vets are specialist hen vets (there are quite a few vets out there that don't know much about hens, but these guys & girls do)

Their HQ is based in SW England, but don't let that put you off, they have Vets based all over the UK.

​They offer advice on hen care / health & well being / health care products / vet advice

Chicken Care & Chicken Health

:

Blog 7

Hatching chicks using a broody hen

​

Q. I've heard you can hatch chicks using a broody hen - what do I need to know?

A.  - Putting fertile eggs under a broody hen is the easiest way to hatch chicks and can be fun. You cannot "make" a hen turn broody but you can  tell that one of your hens is broody as she will spend all her time sitting on eggs in the nest box or sitting in a corner of the coop.      

    -  Before deciding to go ahead, consider how you will manage the additional hens once they hatch - they don't stay little for very long!  Also consider that 50% of the chicks are likely to be cockerels, so depending on where you live you need to think about whether you will be able to accommodate this.

    - Fertile eggs can be bought online or may be available locally if you don't have any of your own. They don't need to be the same breed as your broody hen but consider the size of your hen before purchasing eggs - how many can she sit on ? Six to eight eggs is enough for an average hen.

    - Put the broody hen in a separate coop on its own and observe where she likes to sit. Do this before purchasing the eggs as sometimes moving the hen can cause her to stop being broody. Put the fertile eggs under the hen and leave her to it! Provide food and water in the coop  - the hen will leave the eggs a couple of times a day to eat and drink. The rest of the time the hen will just sit there in a trance-like state - this is normal. Hatching takes 21 days - the hen will detect any of the eggs that are not progressing and expel them from the nest. Do not put them back in.

   - Once hatched, the hen will care for the chicks - there is no need to provide heat lamps. You will need to provide chick crumb and water for the chicks in dishes that they can reach - ensure water is not too deep so they cannot fall in.​ The hen can eat chick crumb as well.

  - Feed chick crumb for 4 to 6 weeks. If you want to give the chicks & hen a treat - hard boil an egg, peel the shell off, mash it up, put on a saucer - they will love it.​​

​​​ ​
Blog Index    

15) Hens / Vets / Seeking Advice / Health Care And Products

​14) Grit v Oystershell

13) Egg Consumption  

12) Chicks' Feather Development  

11) Hen Vision / Eye Sight 

10) Eggs & Cold Weather

9) Mixing In New Hens

8) Apple Cider Vinegar  or  ACV

7) Hatching Chicks Using A Broody Hen

6) Looking After Hens In Hot Weather 

5) Dealing With Red Mite

4) Tips For Maintaining A Good Egg Supply

3) Looking After Hens In Cold Weather

2) Wing Clipping

1) Feeding

​ Blog 11
 Hen Vision / Eye Sight 

 With eyes on the side of the head - hens can see 300 degrees around.

 Hens are Tetrachromatic - they can see red, blue, green & ultra violet light - so can see more colours & shades than humans.  

 Due to their eye structure they can track movement better than humans.

 Fluorescent lighting is like strobe lighting to humans - and can cause hens to be irritable / annoyed - LED lighting is better.   

 They have a 3rd eyelid that slides horizontally. The left eye is far sight - the right eye near sighted.

 Night vision is terrible.

 Hens can use each eye independently on different tasks simultaneously (which is why I behave myself when the wife is in sight !!)   

​​​Blog 4
 Tips for maintaining a good egg supply

Q. I've noticed my hens are laying less eggs. What can I do?

A. There are a number of things you can do to improve your egg supply, starting with choosing the right type of hen. Hens such as the Hyline, Lomond Brown and Isa Brown have been specifically bred to ensure a good egg supply. At the other extreme, traditional pure breed hens can be more inclined to go off lay particularly in the winter months.

​Replacing your hens at the right time is also important - if you want to maintain a good egg supply, Hylines need to be replaced every 2 years if you want to get 4 - 6 eggs per week, per bird. In that time frame the birds will most likely moult (old feathers fall out, new feathers grow) the birds will most likely stop laying whilst they moult.

​Light - Hens lay eggs because of the amount of light that enters their eyes, so in the winter months when there is less light, the hens may well lay less or stop. You can encourage the hens to continue laying by providing artificial light - LED lighting is best - but any light is OK, mains electric or solar powered. For max egg production a hen needs 14 - 16 hours light per day.

​ Blog 3

Looking After Hens In Cold Weather

Q. With low night-time temperatures, is there anything I need to do to keep my hens healthy?

A. There is no need to provide heating in hen houses – hens are pretty hardy and will bunch together in colder weather to keep warm. Ensure as far as possible that there are no leaks and drips from the roof of your coop and that doors close properly, but do not cover air vents to keep out the wind. During cold or wet weather hens may spend a lot more time inside the coop, so fresh air flow is important to keep your hens healthy.

Q. What about food and water?

A. Frozen water bowls are the main problem when temperatures are low. Hens need a constant supply of fresh water, so check water bowls first thing each morning and if frozen, refill with fresh water. Alternatively, if you have a power supply nearby, heated drinkers can be purchased to get round this problem. Hens do not like to venture far in the snow, so if necessary consider moving outdoor feeders and drinkers closer to the door of the coop.​

​Blog 9
Mixing in new hens

Q. Can I mix together hens of different breeds and ages?

A. Yes you can mix hens of different breeds, it is best if all the hens are approximately the same size, otherwise you may find that smaller hens get bullied.

You can mix hens of different ages, provided the new / younger hens being introduced are fully grown (or nearly) , otherwise likely to get the same problem as mentioned earlier - bullying

​Q. What is the best way to introduce new hens?

A. Bullying is the issue we are dealing with here, you will most likely get some, if lucky none.

There are various ways / things you can do - introduce the new hens to the coop when it is dark, the other hens will be at rest.

If you have a large run / enclosure and a spare coop with run, put the spare coop with run in the enclosure and put the new hens in the coop with run - this allows the old hens and the new hens to see each other but not make contact - leave new hens in coop with run for about a week.

If you can move all the hens, old and new, to some temporary location - where none of them have been before - shed, garage, out building - because it is a new place the older dominant hens will feel less dominant.

If the hens can free range or you have a large enclosure this can help, any one being bullied can run away.

Put in another feeder and drinker, spaced apart, makes it more difficult for dominant hen(s) to guard

Don't let bullying put you off getting new hens -- I am mixing hens all the time!

Blog 8

Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV

I have never been convinced by some of the products you can buy to give to your hens - but one day I was speaking to a chicken specialist vet and asked him what he thought of ACV - his reply ' good stuff ' , it lowers the PH in the hens gut, which makes it less favourable to things like worms - but can't be describe as a wormer.

It helps remove mucous and as hens are prone to respiratory problems then that's a good thing as well.

Use raw / unpasteurised ACV - pasteurised that can be bought in supermarkets is no good as all good bacteria killed off

AVC can be bought in pet shop, country stores, feed merchants (and other places) it is full of vitamins, minerals & trace elements

Put it in the water at a rate of about 20ml per Litre, for one week, once a month

It is recommended to use a plastic container / drinker as ACV is acidic

I am not sure you can claim it increases egg production - but healthy hens lay more eggs       ​