Raising chickens can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re a homesteader or have an urban farm. Not only are chickens a great source of fresh eggs, but they also make wonderful pets with their quirky personalities. However, keeping your feathered friends healthy and ensuring a steady egg supply requires some care and attention. In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks for maintaining the health of your chickens and increasing egg production.
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1. Providing A Balanced Diet
Ensuring your chickens have access to a balanced diet that includes a mix of layer pellets, grains, and fresh greens is half the battle. This will help keep them healthy and increase egg production. Not only does giving chickens fruits and vegetables as treats increase egg production, but it also increases the quality of the egg. Any good stuff your chickens eat, you do as well through their eggs. Here’s a great post on what treats you can give your chickens: here – Homestead and Chill is one of my favourite homesteading blogs, so make sure to check Deanna out!
2. Clean and Spacious Housing
Keep the chicken coop clean and well-ventilated to prevent the spread of diseases and illness. Make sure it is spacious enough for the chickens to move around comfortably. This also applies to their run. A clean home with lots of space reduces stress and increases egg production. Happy and healthy chickens = more eggs of good quality.
3. Monitoring Your Chickens’ Health
It’s a good idea to monitor your flock’s health often. I’m not saying they usually need to see a vet; this is a last resort (unless you can afford that). I always look for any chickens acting out of the ordinary or making weird noises. Keeping an eye out and getting ahead of bumble foot or any respiratory issues will help you keep your flock happy and healthy. I also deworm once to twice a year to give chickens detox from anything they may have picked up in the yard. When your chickens have worms, it can lead to lethargic hens and fewer eggs. Consult your vet for the right dewormer to use. I get mine on a Canadian online store – here.
4. Moulting
No chicken can avoid moulting. This is when they shed their feathers, and it usually happens once every two years. My hens always choose the worst time to do it (usually in the middle of winter). When a chicken moults, it stops laying and becomes lethargic. This is natural! Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to speed this process up. What you can do is provide a draft-free coop and everything else listed to reduce stress for the hen at this stage. They will get through it in a couple of weeks and look like a brand new hen!
5. Minimize Stress
Chickens naturally spook pretty easily, so reducing stress factors such as overcrowding, loud noises, or sudden changes in their environment is important. A stress-free environment can positively impact egg production. Minimizing stress in the winter months when they’re unable to get outside as much is crucial. To keep them entertained, you can add chicken toys to their run and coop. Keeping chickens busy will keep them from picking on each other, which means happier hens. I’ll include some toys below that you can use for your chickens’ enrichment.
6. Supplements
I always mix dried herbs and bird seed into my flock’s layer mesh; from what I’ve noticed, it increases the egg production of my girls. This provides a nice balance, and it makes it more palatable. It also helps guard the chickens from disease or illness. Here are some of the what I add to my feed:
- Garlic
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Oregano
- Basil
- Paprika
- Diatomaceous Earth – will help keep worms at bay in between deworming – I also add it to their dust baths to help them get rid of mites
- Nyjer seed – a great source of vitamin A
It’s also wise to offer calcium supplements such as crushed oyster shells to support strong eggshells and overall health. This will also reduce the risk of any of your hens becoming egg-bound.
7. Outdoor Time
Ensure that your chickens have access to natural light and spend time in their run or yard if they’re free-range. Ignore this if it’s winter, but I recommend having windows in your coop for the cold months to help with their happiness. This can help regulate their laying patterns and increase egg production.
By implementing these tips, you can create a healthy and happy environment for your chickens while boosting their egg-laying potential. Remember, a little care and attention go a long way in ensuring the well-being of your feathered companions.
Let me know in the comments what helped your chickens and if you have any questions!
Resources
The Herbal Henhouse: Nurturing Your Chickens With Nature’s Remedies by Mary Butler – a great resource on natural remedies for your flock
