Do Your Hens Need a Little Boost in Their Nutrition?
Supplements for a Healthy Flock
Probiotics: Probiotics help improve gut health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the chicken’s digestive system. This can lead to better digestion, absorption of nutrients, and immune system function.
Vitamin D: Chickens need exposure to sunlight or a source of supplemental vitamin D to maintain healthy bones and egg production.
Calcium: Calcium is essential for strong eggshells and overall bone health in chickens. Calcium can be provided in the form of oyster shells or calcium carbonate supplements.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids can improve the nutritional quality of eggs, making them more beneficial for human consumption.
Electrolytes: Electrolytes can be added to chicken’s drinking water during periods of hot weather or stress to help maintain hydration and electrolyte balance.
It’s important to note that supplements should not replace a balanced and varied diet for chickens, which should include a combination of high-quality feed, fresh water, and access to grazing or foraging.
The deep litter method is a system of managing chicken litter (the mixture of bedding material and chicken manure) in a coop. Instead of regularly removing all the litter and replacing it with fresh bedding, the deep litter method involves adding fresh bedding material on top of the existing litter to create a deep bed. As the chickens scratch and peck through the litter, their manure gets mixed in with the bedding material, which begins to decompose and create heat. The heat and decomposition process helps to break down the manure and create a natural compost, which in turn provides warmth and insulation for the chickens during cold weather. Over time, the deep litter bed will build up to a depth of several inches. As long as the litter is kept dry, it will continue to break down and provide a healthy environment for the chickens. The deep litter method requires less frequent cleaning and can be a more natural and sustainable way to manage chicken litter, while also providing some natural pest control and reducing odors. However, it is important to monitor the litter moisture levels and ensure it does not become too wet or compacted, which can lead to health issues for the chickens.
What Does it Cost To Raise A Few Hens for Eggs? What You’ll Need and the Cost of Starting a Backyard Flock Let’s Do The Math!
Can You Have Chickens Where You Live?
Before you buy anything, make sure you’re allowed to have a backyard flock where you live. Check your local city ordinances, and remember, homeowner’s associations and residential subdivisions may have laws that aren’t included in government city ordinances.
The Cost of Getting Started
I certainly understand the cost of eggs has soared to an unreasonable price, and having your own fresh eggs every day sounds pretty nice. But like anything else, there’s a cost for that luxury. It has been said the cost of your first egg is $750, however, in today’s world, a $1,000 minimum may be closer to reality. Your baby chicks are going to need a brooder until they are 7-8 weeks old, then a suitable coop for the climate where you live. Don’t forget, there are numerous supplies needed to care for your chicks/chickens which we’ll address later in this article.
In short, you can buy an awful lot of eggs for the cost of having fresh eggs in your backyard, let’s face it, you’re going to pay for eggs one way or another. Don’t forget there’s also a monthly cost of keeping chickens, there’s feed, shavings for the coop, and other necessities and/or miscellaneous supplies.
Still Interested? Then Let’s Get Started…
The Brooder for Baby Chicks
A place to raise your baby chicks can be rather simple, a box will do, but chicks also need a drinker, feeder, and a heat source. Today, we use radiant heat, heat lamps are seldom used as they are difficult to regulate a consistent temperature, not to mention they are fire hazards. This means raising your baby chicks should be in the Spring, or when temperatures are moderate. Radiant heat is most efficient in temperatures above 55. Learn more about Radiant Heat Brooders.
The Chicken Coop
First-time buyers always buy a too-small coop, this will prove to be a mistake in the long run. Chickens need space in order to live in harmony, and happy chickens are what fill the egg basket. A coop should be easy for you to clean, and easy to gather eggs. It should be a suitable shelter for inclement weather and be predator-proof. And remember, you get what you pay for, buy quality, you’re not saving money if you have to buy a coop twice. View Coop Types How Much Space Do Chickens Need?
Where to Get Your Chicks and Choosing the Right Breed
Choosing a breed depends on what your chickens’ purpose is, egg production is the focus here, so learning about which hens are prolific egg layers is most important. Some breeds, especiallyexhibition or ornamental breeds have broody tendencies and are not a good choice for egg production. (A broody hen has a strong urge to hatch eggs, and a strong desire to sit on and incubate eggs. A broody hen will remain on the nest for extended periods of time, even when there are no eggs present. During this time she will not lay eggs.)
The Most Common Broody Breedsto Avoid
Buff Rocks, Cochins, Buff Orpington, Brahmas, Silkies, Sussex, Dominique, & Dorking. Note: The Silkie is probably the most broody of all.
The Most Common Prolific Egg Layers
White Leghorn: An excellent egg layer, leghorns produce 280+ eggs annually. They lay large quantities of big white eggs.
Rhode Island Red: An excellent choice for laying 260 large brown eggs annually.
Ameraucana: (Easter Egger) Producing around 250 eggs per year. The eggs are medium in size and can be blue, green, white, or tinted pink in color.
Polish Chicken (Top Hat) Looking for a hen with a little more character? The Polish hens lay about 200 eggs annually. This breed is not usually found in feed stores, but are available through online hatcheries.
White LeghornRhode Island Red Easter EggerWhite Crested PolishSilver Laced Polish
Where to Buy Chicks
You can usually find baby chicks in your local feed stores, but you won’t have the opportunity to choose a specific breed. There are many hatcheries online that sell just about any breed you want, and your baby chicks will be shipped to your local post office. You will be notified when they’re shipped, and when they arrive. This is primarily how I buy all my birds. Here’s a list of Hatcheries to choose from. Wondering how many chicks to buy?
Mail order chicks arrive in a box like this & are shipped to your local post office.
Today in Phoenix, Arizona, the price of one dozen eggs is $7.82. If you bought one dozen per week that totals $406.00 per year. Overhead on four hens for feed & shavings alone would average approximately $347.76 annually. That doesn’t include supplements, miscellaneous supplies, and YOUR TIME AND LABOR. Now add your start-up cost….is it worth it?
The real question you should be asking yourself isn’t about saving money on the cost of eggs… it’s whether or not you want to raise chickens and enjoy fresh eggs.
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 