Chicken Care & Coop Maintenance Tips To Increase Hen Egg-Laying Productivity
You won’t perform at your best if you’re constantly surrounded by filth, right? The same goes for chickens. A dirty coop can really wreck your chickens’ health, and if that isn’t unconscionable enough, it also means you won’t be getting as many eggs out of them. But that’s why Chicken Raising 101 is here. Read their latest guide to see what you can do to keep your hens happy, healthy, and laying eggs for you!
It’s not just a myth. Adequate coop upkeep is paramount to ensuring that hens remain productive, as they require a clean, safe, and stress-free environment to produce eggs. It makes sense; they’re essentially making a whole new chicken every time they produce an egg. That takes a lot of energy!
And that’s why it’s really important to make sure your chickens are healthy and comfortable…which is the exact opposite of what excessive filth can do to them. A dirty coop can elevate hens’ stress levels, and such environments can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites and attract pests and predators. This may result in disease, poor overall hen health, and a reduction or cessation of egg-laying.
Unclean coops may also affect chicken health and productivity in other ways.
Soiled bedding can become damp, reducing the insulating properties of the material and prompting chickens to expend more energy on retaining body warmth instead of laying eggs.
Accumulated droppings and dust can lead to poor air quality and result in ammonia buildup; this can cause hens to develop respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, eye and skin irritation, and other health issues that decrease their productivity. Imagine having to spend your days in such an environment!
Additionally, chickens may accidentally ingest their own droppings in a dirty coop, which can lead to salmonella and coccidiosis.
Other poor living conditions, such as overcrowding, inadequate lighting or ventilation, and extreme temperatures, can also affect egg production.
And if you put all of these together, you get very unhealthy chickens that probably aren’t even well enough to lay a single egg.
After learning about what dirty coops can do to those poor chickens, you probably want to make sure your hens don’t ever experience such awful conditions. Luckily, you can take a few simple measures to ensure that they remain healthy and productive.
For one, you can purchase chicken coops that provide your birds with optimal space, nesting boxes, and a secure and stress-free environment. Chicken Raising 101 lists several product recommendations in their guide, and these can be purchased on Amazon.
Once the proper housing has been installed, Chicken Raising 101 suggests cleaning it regularly, using proper feeders and drinkers to avoid spills, installing roost bars, and allowing only egg-laying hens into the coop. You’d be surprised at how much these small steps help keep messes to a minimum!
You should also routinely inspect the coop for pests and schedule periodic health checks for your chickens to detect any potential issues early. The sooner you catch wind of something, the easier it will be to fix it.
Want more in-depth information? If you’re into DIY, Chicken Raising 101 is also offering an online course for enthusiasts looking to build their own chicken coops. This course will be available at a later date.
In the meantime, there’s plenty more expert advice to be had on Chicken Raising 101’s website! Visit the link in the description to read the full guide, or check out their other entries on chicken rearing and homesteading and start your journey to self-sufficiency today! chickenraising101 City: Sacramento Address: 1365 Trail End Way Website https://chickenraising101.com Phone +1-306-541-4862 Email polluxcom@gmail.com