Category: Managing the Flock

10 Essential Tips for Healthy Chickens

Provide a clean and spacious coop: Chickens need a clean and dry living environment to prevent diseases. Regularly clean the coop, remove any droppings, and provide fresh bedding.
Provide fresh food and water: Chickens need access to fresh food and water at all times. Provide them with a balanced diet that includes grains, proteins, and minerals, and make sure they have access to clean water to stay hydrated.
Practice good biosecurity: Implement good biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases. Limit access to your chicken coop, avoid introducing new birds without proper quarantine and testing, and practice good hygiene when handling chickens.
Keep chickens protected from predators: Predators like foxes, raccoons, and birds of prey can pose a threat to your chickens. Make sure your coop is securely fenced and protected with sturdy wire mesh to keep predators out.
Allow chickens to free-range: Giving chickens access to a fenced or enclosed area where they can forage for insects, worms, and greens can improve their overall health and well-being. Free-ranging also helps to prevent boredom and encourages natural behaviors.
Keep the coop well-ventilated: Proper ventilation in the coop is crucial for preventing respiratory issues and reducing ammonia buildup from chicken droppings. Make sure the coop has windows or vents that can be opened to allow fresh air to circulate.
Keep the coop and nesting boxes clean: Regularly clean the coop and nesting boxes to prevent the buildup of droppings, which can attract pests and lead to diseases. Replace soiled bedding with fresh bedding regularly.
Provide dust baths: Chickens love to take dust baths, which help them to clean their feathers and prevent mites and lice. Provide a dry, sandy area in the coop or run for them to take dust baths.
Don’t overcrowd: Make sure the coop is spacious enough to allow chickens to move around freely. At least 2ft. of ground space for each bird is preferred.
Limit Treats: A nutritionally balanced diet is compromised by treats. Treats should never compromise more than 5% of a hen’s dietary intake. This includes healthy foods & supplements, which can replace a portion of essential dietary elements found in manufactured feed.

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Perosis Disease in Chickens

Cause: Perosis is a nutritional deficiency of choline, manganese, and/or B vitamins (such as niacin, biotin, and folic acid).
Thankfully, nutritional deficiencies can be avoided by making sure your flock has free-choice access to complete, nutritionally-balanced feed. Chicken scratch or kitchen scraps alone are not considered a balanced diet.

Perosis disease, also known as slipped tendon or chondrodystrophy, is a condition that affects the skeletal development of chickens, specifically their legs. It is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in manganese, which is an essential trace mineral required for normal bone and cartilage development.
In chickens, Perosis disease typically affects young, rapidly growing birds between the ages of 2 to 8 weeks, which are in the critical stage of skeletal development. It is commonly seen in broiler chickens, which are raised for meat production, but can also occur in other types of chickens such as layers or breeders.
The main symptom of Perosis disease is the deformation and weakening of the leg joints, especially the hock joint (the equivalent of the ankle joint in humans). The tendons that hold the joint in place become stretched or slip out of their normal position, causing the affected bird to have difficulty standing or walking. The legs may appear twisted or bent, and the affected chickens often have an abnormal gait or may be unable to walk at all.
Perosis disease is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Diets deficient in manganese, or imbalanced ratios of other nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, can contribute to the development of Perosis disease.
Prevention and treatment of Perosis disease involve addressing the underlying nutritional deficiencies. This may include providing a balanced diet that meets the specific nutrient requirements of chickens, including adequate levels of manganese, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. Nutritional supplements or additives may be added to the feed to correct any deficiencies.
If Perosis disease is diagnosed in a chicken, early intervention is crucial. Treatment may involve providing supportive care, such as splinting or bracing the affected legs, to help the bird maintain mobility. In severe cases, affected chickens may need to be euthanized to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Good nutrition, proper management practices, and early intervention can help reduce the incidence and severity of Perosis disease in poultry flocks.

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How Long Are Eggs Good For?

The freshness and safety of eggs can vary depending on several factors, including how they are stored and whether they are raw or cooked. However, I can offer you the basic safety guidelines to follow. There is also an easy float test that can determine the age of an egg, so let’s get started.
Fresh eggs (in the shell): Fresh eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 weeks from the date of purchase. However, it’s best to use them within the first 3 weeks for optimal quality and taste.
Hard-boiled eggs: Hard-boiled eggs, with the shell intact, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. It’s important to keep them refrigerated and avoid leaving them at room temperature for too long.
Raw eggs (cracked): If you crack eggs and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they should be used within 1-2 days. However, it’s generally recommended to use fresh, uncracked eggs for the best results.
Cooked eggs (scrambled, fried, etc.): Cooked eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to store them in a covered container to prevent cross-contamination with other foods.
Egg dishes (quiche, frittatas, casseroles, etc.): If eggs are used in cooked dishes like quiche, frittatas, or casseroles, they should be consumed within 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator.

Float Test to Determine Freshness

This is a Simple Way to Determine the Freshness of an Egg
Fill a bowl with water with enough water to fully submerge an egg.
Carefully place the egg in the water until fully submerged.
Fresh Eggs Behave Differently From Older Eggs
Fresh eggs: If an egg sinks to the bottom and lies flat on its side, it is very fresh and safe to eat. The egg yolk will be plump and the white will be thick.
Less fresh eggs: If an egg stands upright on the bottom of the bowl, it is not as fresh, but still safe to eat. The egg yolk may be slightly less plump and the white may be slightly thinner.
Old eggs: If an egg floats to the surface or stands upright on the surface of the water, it is not fresh and should be discarded. The egg yolk will be flat and the white will be watery.

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