Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Things to Think about when Building a Chicken House
| When you are searching for the best chicken coop plans, there are a lot of things you should consider for you to come up with the right decision. There are different kinds of chicken coop plans. The choices are too vast that you may get confused on which one you should choose. Investing on a chicken coop plan is not a simple matter because it will highly influence the output of your business. You should grab a plan that will satisfy your needs. Here are some of the things you should think about when getting a chicken coop plan The Total Size of the Flock This is the most important issue because your entire chicken coop plan will depend on how many chickens you plan to keep. Be sure that the every chicken will have enough room. For example, a small chicken coop will be too crowded if you will be housing more than five chickens. This may cause a decline on the birds’ health and overall egg production. Get a medium or a large chicken coop to accommodate your chickens. By doing so, you can maximize their ability to lay eggs. The Ventilation of the Chicken Coop The second thing you need to pay attention to is the ventilation of your chicken coop plans. If you reside in a humid environment, the chicken coops should have proper ventilation. This will help prevent your chicken coops from getting excessively hot for the chickens. Warm environments can cause chicken coops to smell bad so it is important to situate proper ventilation so that air can flow through. When proper ventilation is installed, the air flow will reduce the foul smell. It will now be easier for you to be around. Cleaning the chicken coop will now be an easier task. A chicken coop plan with a good ventilation system will make the chickens comfortable. The Light Source of the Chicken Coop The third thing you need to have is good lighting for the chickens. Sunlight is practical and ideal to use in a chicken coop plan. Take advantage of sunlight when you make a chicken coop design. Light and a certain amount of heat can keep the chicken coops cozy. If your area does not offer much sunlight or your chicken houses are impenetrable to light, you can always use alternative lighting. Non-natural lighting will work much like the sunlight but will add up to your electric costs. Lighting will also help you check on your chickens as far as visibility is concerned. The Feeding Set-Up of the Chicken Coop The fourth and final thing you should consider is the feeding set-up. Perhaps the most important factor in maintaining the health of your chicken is by making sure that they are eating a proper diet. If the feeding setup is not place correctly your chickens may have a difficult time eating. Setting it high or low may cause your chickens to be uncomfortable leading them to lose body weight and making them vulnerable to diseases. Your chickens can also acquire injuries and muscle strains due to misplaced feeders. With these complications the rate of production and survivability of your chickens will go down. When you are buying a chicken coop plan, select the one that offers comfort to the chickens. Your chicken’s egg production will depend on how well you treat them. When nurtured properly they will have better outputs. Make sure that they receive everything they need from a good shelter, food up to the smallest of details. Consider this as an investment which will pay off eventually in the future. |
| Author Resource:- I’ve discovered a quick and easy way for anyone to build a chicken coop. By following this program you’ll discover exactly what you need to do to get your chicken coop built in the fastest easiest way possible. You’ll have the best coop on the block and the happiest, healthiest chickens. You can find this plan at http://chickencoopplan.org |
| Article From New Ezine Articles |
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Raising Chicken Tips: How to Prevent the Spread of Bird Flu
Chicken raising has its sacrifices and benefits. Usually what the owner sees is the benefit beyond the sacrifices and problems. That would be fine for as long as you can handle whatever circumstances may occur. In cases of bird flu, the only way out is proper handling of your poultry and making sure that the place is spiffy clean.
Poultry farm owners sometimes underestimate cleanliness. But sometimes, the more people tend to underestimate things, the more it becomes a serious matter. Sometimes, when its severity had come to its boiling point, it’s too late to cool it down.
There are two causes of bird flu (also known as Avian Influenza) - cold weather and dirty places. Why should you know the cause? To prevent the spread of the disease even before it develops at your very own backyard. Once you know the cause, it will be easier on your part to identify the different measure you have to make to prevent the disease from spreading. Get rid of the cause then none of this will happen. That will be more convenient and less expensive than waiting for the outburst of the virus to act and terminate it because once it starts, the harder it is to kill.
You can’t change the weather. That is a fact. Between the two causes, the weather, including the whole atmospheric environment is one thing that you can’t point a finger at. All you have to do is adjust with the present environment. Flu, in general, is acquired mostly in cold areas. The colder, the more amiable it is for the virus to stay. Thus, it stays and it reproduces and it reprimands and it affects and the tally goes on. But you can do something about it. You can’t definitely change the weather but you can adapt to it. Let your chickens adapt to the environment. How? By giving nutritious food and immunization. Vitamins are also big advantages for your chicken’s welfare. If your chickens have all these intact, their immune system will be strong enough to fight invading microorganisms.
Cleaning is common sense. You have to see to it that the environment inside and outside their pen is immaculate. Pads must be replaced with new ones. Haystacks filled with chicken poop should also be replaced. Be sure to use protective wears like boots made of rubber, gloves, and facemasks that fit properly. In this way, if the poultry have already caught the virus, you would have your first defense against it.
If all else fails and the disease is already spreading, you have to protect yourself from it. With or without the disease, you should follow these safety precautions. Just in case.
Hand washing is the universal precautionary measure to partake. After being in contact with your poultry always wash your hands with soap and clean water. Go through the routine of eating a healthy diet, vaccinations, and have a flu shot. Exercise shouldn’t be compromised.
Once you have noticed that your chickens are manifesting some of the symptoms, an antiviral must be treated to lessen the severity and symptoms of the disease. But these drugs were not that successful in avoiding death instances.
Practice food safety tips like eating a well-cooked chicken. After using, disinfect your chopping board with chlorine bleach, at least four to five teaspoons for every one-gallon of water.
These are some of the measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Otherwise your chicken raising days are over.
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Keeping your Chicken Healthy while Raising Them
There have been thoughts on what to do with your flock daily. Raising chickens can be quite easy but also needs maintenance to keep their environment safe and clean for both your chickens and your own happiness. Some owners hesitate to do such a grueling task. But in reality it is one of the easiest works you can do to give your chickens the welcome they deserve.
In this section, you’ll learn about what to do and what not to do daily.
a. Keep their feed and water containers full at all times. Do not let them run out of these two essentials. They need these two things everyday to live. If you tend to leave your house for a couple of days, be sure to leave sufficient food and water so that your chickens don’t run out of their needs and will not reach the point of picking on each other.
b. Clean their water canister. If their water becomes cloudy or if they sensed that it’s already dirty, they will refuse to drink it and in the long run, they will become dehydrated and eventually conjure illness and die.
c. Every morning, observe for their health status. Look at their physical attitude. Do they look bright, active, and healthy? If they don’t look anything close to normal, then you should call or see the vet to ask for suggestions and answers.
d. If you are the type who loves collecting eggs for breakfast or for selling, the moment they are laid, you can already get them from the coop. Put the eggs inside the fridge to maintain its freshness.
e. From time to time, you will have the chance to visit their coop and look at your chickens. Before you leave, make sure that things are safe inside and outside the pen. If you see rat holes, block it. If everything seems fine, be sure to close the door. As dusk comes, that’ll be the time when all the chickens are in their nest. Not a single chicken in sight. Secure the area so that predators will not have the opportunity to get in.
Unlike other pets, you can leave the chickens for days. You have to keep in mind that they have to be provided with enough food and water supply. If you came back and found eggs, it’s still okay to collect. It still has its freshness.
Here’s a fact that you should know about an egg’s freshness: it will take you at least 12 days from the day that it was laid before it matures and an embryo develops inside.
Another thing that you should know about eggs is that upon collecting them, there will be chances that you’ll see slight smudges of dirt or feces on the egg’s surface. Do not attempt too scrub the dirt off no matter how the urge is killing you. Because one thing about eggs is that they are not ejected to this world without protective barriers.
Bloom is the term that is given to the membrane that is located at the surface of the egg itself. The use of the bloom is to protect the egg from bacteria and microorganisms that may insist on penetrating through the shell. If you scrub this, you take away the protective covering.
But if you are that type of person who wanted things to always be spiffy clean, like that of the obsessive-compulsive type, you can clean the dirty egg provided it will be under warm water and in a very gentle touch.
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Raising Tips: Give your Chicken Treats
Yogurt is a classic favorite of them birds. They are tasty and are very good to the intestines. This is also a good source of calcium that can contribute greatly to the structure and health of the eggshell. But the most favorite and is very popular among every living chicken is the worm! They will eat it so fast and not a single evidence of it will linger.
Chickens, even with puny brains, have in it the command to like or dislike a certain treat. Below are some of the things that in general, chickens will come running for. If the first one didn’t work, scratch it off then proceed to the next. Bon appetite!
Apple
May come in raw type or in applesauce. The seeds contain a small amount of cyanide but it’s so small that it can’t affect the chicken’s health.
Banana
One of the good treats. This is also high in potassium thus; it is good for muscle activities.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
A fun way of giving them this treat is to tuck it on the side of their cage and let them pick on it till the very last piece comes off.
Cabbage
Given as a whole, you can hang this from the ceiling coop especially during winter days so they have something to put their mind and energy to.
Carrots
Either given in a raw or cooked state, they will, at any cost eat it wholeheartedly. You can even give them the leaves without even worrying that it will just be another rotten veggie inside the coop because they will eat it all up.
Chicken
You, yourself know that it is a sin eating your own kind. They might just like it but then the feeling would be wrong.
Live Crickets
You can choose to hunt it or otherwise buy it in a pet or bait store. This is also a nice treat to give them. You can watch them run around chasing the critters plus it is a good source of protein.
Mature Cucumbers
Give the mature ones because they love it when the seeds and flesh is soft enough to peck on.
Cooked Eggs
Still a good source of protein. Do not give anything that is uncooked because if you do, then you’re teaching them to eat their own eggs in a raw state.
Fish or Seafood
Give moderately so as not to give your eggs a different kind of flavor.
Flowers
Nasturtiums, marigolds, pansies are good treats. But make sure that these flowers are all natural. Meaning no kind of chemical or pesticide has touched it.
Fruits
There are exceptions. But the best fruit treats are peaches, pears, cherries, etc. Some say that it is not wise to give fruits to egg laying hens but some would beg to differ.
Grapes
If you are giving grapes to baby chickens, don’t forget to cut it in pieces to make it easier for them to swallow.
Leftovers
When you say “leftovers”, it must be something that came from a human’s plate minutes after mealtime is over. It must be edible. Anything that came out of your fridge that is considered as moldy or spoiled is not advisable. Don’t give anything salty.
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