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Chickens
General Care
Chickens live in a flock. The flock consists of several females
(hens) and a mature male (rooster). The rooster is responsible for
protecting the hens from danger and fertilizing the eggs. Hens that do
not have a rooster in the flock do lay eggs however the eggs are
infertile. We recommend one rooster per flock. Roosters are very
territorial and may fight. Chickens have a very defined “pecking
order“. When introducing new chickens to an established flock use
caution. Quarantine the chickens in a separate area. When they have
finished quarantine and are ready to be introduced place them in a
separate cage (howdy cage) in the chicken yard. This will allow them to
interact but will keep them from fighting and injuring each other.
Watch carefully and after a few days you can probably introduce them.
Monitor the introduction carefully.
The rooster will signal if danger is lurking and the hens will run
for cover. He will chase animals much bigger than himself out of his
territory. Chickens generally roost in a tree or on a perch at night
and the higher the better. The rooster is the first to come down off
his perch in the morning insuring all is safe. He then calls (crows) to
the hens letting them know that it is safe to come down. Roosters crow
to establish their territory.
We feed a mixture of scratch grains, laying hen, sunflower seeds,
chopped kale and seasonal fruits. The kale and sunflower seeds are high
in calcium and help the hens by replacing some of the calcium lost in
laying eggs. We also offer free choice oyster shell and grit. The
oyster shell is a calcium supplement and the grit helps with
digestion. Fresh water must be available at all times.
The shelter should be predator proof, weatherproof and well
ventilated. The chickens should be locked in at night for their safety.
The shelter should include perches and clean hay. We put medium size
dog crates with hay on the bottom that the hens use as nest boxes. The
shelter should be cleaned weekly. We use five foot high fencing to keep
dogs and other predators out.
Chickens clean themselves by taking dirt baths consisting of
throwing dirt on themselves. This helps rid them of parasites. Check
regularly for lice and mites.
Annual examinations by a avian veterinarian are recommended. Fecal exams are recommended every three to four months.
Chickens are fascinating to watch. They have a lot of personality.
They have a very interesting social structure. Please bear in mind they
are a seven day a week twenty four hour a day responsibility. Their
average life span is 10 - 15 years.
Recommended Reading:
Your Chickens A Kids Guide to raising and Showing , Author: Gail Damerow
Barnyard In Your Back Yard, Edited by Gail Damerow
Getting Started with Chickens, From Practical Poultry | 
