Chickens and Poultry – Weekly Care For You Birds : poultry houses

Looking After Your Chickens

One basic step you need to follow in order to insure that your chickens are happy and healthy is to check their food containers. It is important that both their feeder and drinking containers are fresh and full. Extreme weather conditions can take their toll on your chickens too. If it’s too cold out, make sure that their water supply is not frozen, if it’s too hot; make sure it’s cool enough for them to drink.
 
Protect your chickens by rubbing some Vaseline on the combs to protect against frostbite. Chickens need a bit of exercise just like the rest of us. Let them out of their henhouse in the morning. If you are going to be home and can watch them, let them of the run and allow them to roam freely. If no one is available to watch them, you are better off leaving them in the run to protect them against predators.
 
Once they are out of the hen-house, collect your eggs! By collecting them on a regular basis, you will prevent your hens from becoming broody and you will get fresher eggs. Make sure that the shade is in place! Since the shade protects the chickens from the elements, you need to make sure it is positioned properly.
 
Weekly Care
 
Check the dropping tray and don’t let it fill over capacity. You can empty the tray directly onto any vegetables growing in your garden, but don’t empty it into flower beds as droppings are too potent for flowers. You can also empty the tray into your compost bin to quicken the process of compost production.
 
Re-position the hen-house to another area regularly. It will help maintain your lawn in good condition and keep any diseases at bay.

Check your chickens every week or so for signs of illness or injuries. Pick them up and check them out.

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