Learn More About Raising And Caring For Chickens

The chicken , originally from the wild red forest birds, is descended from the order of chickens, specifically from the family of pheasants.

Height : The length of the chicken is less than 70 cm.

Weight : The weight of the chicken is approximately 2.6 kilograms.

Characteristics of chicken : All types of chicken are characterized by their round bodies, thick feathers, and appendages hanging from their necks.

Average age : The age of chickens raised in residences ranges between 6-8 years.

The most important aspects of raising chickens

chicken food

Among the most important foods that chicken can eat:

Fodder fortified with nutrients such as protein, calcium, and vitamins is the basic food for chickens, especially in warm or hot weather. Fodder comes in the form of granules or crumbs.

Chickens eat vegetables, such as leafy greens and cooked beans, in cold weather, when it is difficult to provide forage.

Chickens eat fruits, such as berries and apples.

Chickens eat grains, such as corn and non-sugar grains.

Foods that are not suitable for chicken

Among the most important foods that should be avoided from giving chickens:

Fatty and fatty foods, which may lead to the accumulation of fat around the liver.

Foods that contain high levels of salt.

Plants of the Solanaceae family, such as potatoes and tomatoes, which contain the compound solanine, which may cause kidney failure in chickens.

onions in large quantities.

Avocados contain the toxic element pericin.

Apple seeds full of cyanide, which kills chickens.

Citrus fruits.

chicken dwelling

Here are some points related to chicken housing:

A small area of the backyard may be sufficient to raise young chickens, but in the case of raising older chickens; A special home must be prepared for her.

It is best to buy or make a chicken feeder before they are two months old.

The design of the dwelling should allow a good amount of light to enter the interior.

It is necessary to choose a residence that includes a running track inside it; This enables the chickens to move and run freely.

Predators may pose a threat to the chicken house, so it must be well protected and wire or wood fences should be built around it.

The house should be provided with mattresses, heat lamps, and feeders for the chickens.

Chicken cleaning

Here are some points related to chicken hygiene and care:

Ensure that the water provided to the chickens is clean, as chickens are selective creatures, and may turn away from dirty water and become dehydrated.

It is recommended to change the bedding in the floor of the dwelling at least once a month for small dwellings.

In large residences, it is recommended to change 7.6-10.1 cm of bedding each time, until it becomes 15 cm or more, then completely change it twice a year. It is possible to compost chicken droppings and use it later as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

Care must be taken to change and renew the nest boxes for chickens to ensure that they are clean of chicken waste.

It is best to sterilize and clean water containers using specialized materials once a month.

It is recommended to deep clean and sterilize the dwelling twice a year, by cleaning the entire dwelling in all its parts, or in the event that a member of the herd is infected with an infectious disease.

Chicken breeding

Here are some points related to chicken breeding:

Chickens usually breed during the summer and spring seasons; It is the warmest months.

Chickens lay eggs during daylight hours, and chicken breeders work to stimulate chickens to lay eggs by providing chicken housing with artificial lights to stimulate them to lay chickens throughout the year.

Ovulation usually occurs 23-26 hours after laying the eggs, meaning that the chicken lays 300 eggs per year.

Fertilized embryos develop rapidly, eggs hatch from chicks 21 days after laying eggs, and the bodies of small chicks are wrapped in fluff, which soon develops into feathers after 4-5 weeks.

Chicken health problems

Among the most common health problems that chickens may suffer from are:

Chicken pox : It is an infectious disease that may affect chickens, and it appears in the form of white spots on the skin, combs, mouth, or windpipe. There is a good possibility that chickens will survive this disease by feeding them some soft food and providing them with a warm and dry place to help them recover. It is possible to avoid infection with this disease by giving the chicken its own vaccine.

Food poisoning : chickens may be infected as a result of the pollution of the surrounding environment and the presence of some dead meat. Anti-poisoning, keep its environment clean.

Bird cholera : It is a bacterial disease that may be transmitted through food and water contaminated with it. The symptoms are chickens suffering from diarrhea, joint pain and difficulty breathing. There is still no effective treatment for this disease. Therefore, it is better to leave the chicken, and dispose of its corpse in the event of death, to prevent the transmission of the disease, and it is worth noting that there is a vaccine used to prevent the transmission of the disease from infected chickens to others.

Chicken handling tips

Here are some tips for handling chickens:

Allow the chickens to come out of their coop during the day and roam the adjacent yard outdoors, then return them to the coop again at night.

Collect eggs daily and fill water bowls regularly.

Ensure the health of chickens by observing their appearance and behavior, and if any strange symptoms are observed, the veterinarian should be contacted directly.

In the event that a herd suffers a wound that leads to bleeding, it must be isolated from the rest of the chickens until the wound heals, and then returned again.

Make sure to provide some dry dirt and sand for the chickens to clean themselves, which is the way to prevent mites or lice from attacking the chickens.

Common mistakes when raising chickens

Here are some common mistakes in raising chickens:

Overfeeding chickens, which may lead to obesity and disease.

Spread the chicken thighs with straw, as the straw may allow the presence of mold spores.

Heating the chicken house in winter, because their bodies do not adapt quickly from thermal changes, and feathers and the high percentage of carbohydrates in their bodies suffice for that.

Adding a new member to the herd, who will be harassed by the rest.

Allowing chickens to roam in areas filled with mud, which will lead to contamination of their bodies with harmful bacteria and parasites.

Clean dirty eggs with plain water or regular cleaning tools, because the porous egg shell may draw bacteria inside and contaminate the embryos with it.