Raising a flock of chickens is not the easiest thing in the world. While there are many other farming tasks that may appear to be more difficult, you should make it a point not to take things at face value. The following advice will prove to be quite useful if your goal is to learn how to care for chickens as well as the experts.
One thing that you cannot compromise on is making sure that your chickens have plenty of room to roam around. With that said, you should be cautious when allowing them to come in contact with babies and young children. While this does not mean that you cannot teach your little ones to help out with chores involving the chickens, you want to be careful that no bacteria or parasites are given the opportunity to wreak havoc on your child’s health.
You should do everything in your power to make sure that your chickens are happy. As with any other creature, they thrive on receiving love and attention. The more satisfied they are, the healthier they will be, which means they will be in tip-top shape as far as laying plenty of eggs. Speaking to them in pleasant tones and offering a treat every now and then are both great ways to show them that you care.
If you have flowers and other plants in the same area where you allow your flock to roam, make sure that you do not treat them with any harmful pesticides. Chickens love to munch on things and you do not want them to come into contact with anything that can hurt them. In the event that you must treat these plants with chemicals, you should restrict your flock from entering this area.
Never choose chicken feed based on something as trivial as price. The contents of the product in question and the nutritional value it is supposed to offer your flock is more important than saving a few dollars. When buying food that is really cheap, keep in mind that there are many terrible things added, like fillers and other useless ingredients. Anyone who knows how to care for chickens can attest to the fact that selecting the right food is essential.
Keeping the chicken coop clean is not optional; the health of your chickens depends on it. If waste is allowed to accumulate in this small space, it will become a breeding ground for parasites and/or bacteria, which can be detrimental to the well-being of your flock. Giving the space a once-over each day will ensure that things are kept under control.
Even if you have never raised chickens before, following this advice will make you feel like a pro. Between making sure that your chickens have plenty of space, solid food options and all of the attention that they crave, this is a great deal of responsibility. Make sure that you are up for the challenge prior to getting started.