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 increase egg production.
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1. Providing A Balanced Diet
Please ensure your chickens have access to a balanced diet that includes a mix of layer pellets, grains, and fresh greens. 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. Regular Health Check-Ups
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 for bumble foot or any respiratory issues helps you avoid it and allows chickens to remain healthy and happy.
4. Molting
No chicken can avoid molting. This is when they shed their feathers, and it usually happens once a year. My hens always choose the worst time to do it (usually in the middle of winter). When a chicken molts, 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.
5. Minimize Stress
Chickens naturally spook pretty quickly, 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. To keep them entertained, you can add chicken toys to their run and coop. Keeping chickens busy is especially important in the winter to reduce stress.
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 as well. Here are some of the dried herbs I use:
- Garlic
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Oregano
- Basil
- Paprika
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.
Here’s to healthy chickens and bountiful egg baskets!
