Raising even a few chickens is profitable many times over. In addition to always having fresh eggs and meat, they are a very good soil cleaner. There are several mistakes that people make when they start raising chickens. If you don’t make them, your hens will be happy, and you will be satisfied with the amount of eggs they will lay.
Setting up a chicken coop on the ground
Many beginners the real ones chicken coop directly on the ground. The reasons are completely understandable and practical. The chickens will be able to peck at the worms, and the maintenance seems easy. However, predators like the fox they can dig a hole and enter the chicken coop very easily.
If there is an underground hole that you don’t know about, you can easily lose chickens and chicks. That is why it is important that the chicken coop is raised above the ground. Many people install a floor that can be removed or rotated to make the chicken coop easy to clean. It’s nothing complicated or difficult, and it will work for you facilitate the maintenance of the chicken coop.
Selection of materials for building a chicken coop
Most people use recycled lumber but it is not the best material for building a chicken coop. Namely, rough plates with small and large unevenness are very difficult to clean. So later, the maintenance of the chicken coop turns into a horror movie. That is why it is better to think about the materials they have in time flat and smooth surface because it will be much easier for you to clean them with a broom and wash them.
External access to the chicken coop
Some models of large chicken coops have the ability to enter them to collect eggs. However, this can cause several problems. First, by entering the chicken coop, you can’t avoid chicken droppings and you can transfer to the house. Second, you are very likely to disturb the birds as they search for a free nesting box and chaos can easily ensue. Instead, you can make an external box that opens and through which you can collect the eggs, and without disturbance of birds while strolling around the chicken coop.
Treats and food
It is very important that you determine which one type of food you will give to your hens and chickens. It is recommended that you get food that is specially made for chickens, as well as food that has added protein which you will need during winter season. Chickens also like fresh and dried worms, white grapes, pomegranate or rosehip seeds, raspberries, cherry tomatoes. When the hens start laying eggs, they will need more calcium in the diet. Adding a few oyster shells to their diet will also help them.
Heating
Depending on where you live, it is necessary to maintain certain temperature in the chicken coop. If you install heating lamps, make sure that you place them high enough so that the poultry does not overheat. Collect eggs regularly even in winter because they can to freeze.
Water dispenser
Chickens can survive without food for several days, but I can’t do without water. Many new chicken farmers just put a water dispenser in the coop, which is tall enough for the hens to drink from and heavy enough that they can’t tip over easily.
However, such a dispenser motivates curious chickens to sit on it and drink water directly from the top, which will lead to knocking it down after a while. Think now about hanging water source. This will prevent the birds from sitting on the dispenser and you won’t have to worry that they didn’t run out of water unplanned.
The ratio of the number of roosters and hens in the hen house
It would be best to have 1 rooster for 12 hens, although it also depends on the nature of the rooster itself. Never build a chicken coop with fewer chickens. If you have a lower ratio than this, the rooster may become too aggressive towards them. In such situations, you will notice that coca have exposed parts of the back. If the rooster is aggressive, egg production will be sporadic.
Poultry counting
every night, before closing the chicken coop be sure to count whether all the chickens are numbered. Don’t make him hate you. Most chickens will rush into the coop at first dark. However, some of them will try to build a nest outside the coop. It can be nearby bushes or some other hidden place nearby. By counting poultry you will be sure that everything is there and that you did not leave any bird unprotected during the night.
Protection from other pets
We all love to see a picture of chickens pecking freely in and out of the yard. However, if you have a dog on a chain in the yard or you are in an environment where people walk dogs on leashes, consider a good protect chickens in the yard. It is a common situation that the dog is snatched from the owner’s leash, that the owner cannot keep the dog, and that the dog’s only goal is to catch your cock.
Source: www.agromedia.rs
