Chicken]
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Picture source:
BackyardChickens com ©
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When buying chickens, make sure you buy them from an experienced and qualified keeper. It is important that they have been sexed properly. It is always more reliable and relevant to buy just born chickens or to buy a hen just about to lay eggs. Newly born chickens are not capable of producing enough warmth to prevent cooling and therefore, there must be a cardboard receptacle or a wooden chicken box with a 60-200 watt bulb inside.
The initial temperature must be 35 degrees. Then it is usually reduced by 5 degrees every week. There should be enough space in the box for chickens to stay away from or close to the source of heat as they may prefer. After 4 weeks of age chickens start showing energy and liveliness. Freedom should not be restricted, but care must be taken that no dogs, cats or other predators have access to the place where your chickens are being raised.
After 4 weeks of age, chickens no longer need artificial heat producing devices. On this stage they should be placed in adult cages. Those must be set in draft and predator safe places and can be made of wire mesh. On the floor there must be a piece of wood, which should occupy no less than 50% of the floor.
Chickens - Feeding
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Picture source:
BackyardChickens com ©
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Newborn chickens require much water and proteins. Then the newborn ration is changed to a growth diet, and then diet courses change when periods of molting and laying arrives. (The latter implies there must be calcium included in the diet.) Those chickens, which have just been bought may be suffering a stress, therefore it is vital that you first feed them properly.
Water must be in a clean dish. If the chicks are still refusing to take water, try dissolving a spoonful of sugar. Vitamins can also be added to the ratio, but in this case it is better to consult a vet specialist.
Chickens - Health Concerns
Chickens may suffer from infections and parasites. They can be treated at home and under the supervision of a veterinarian. Watery and crusted eyes indicate an infection. They must be treated with antibiotics. Lice and mites can be killed by chemical insecticides. When molting, hens usually stop laying eggs. During this time it is not too of a easy period; it is effective to provide substantial nutrition to your chickens to help them overcome this stage.
Chickens - Breeders Links
Ameraucana Breeders Club - US breed club site with FAQ's. Membership info and photos of different varieties.
American Brown Leghorn Club - National organization representing the interests of light and dark brown leghorns since 1901. Club information, discussion board, pictures, and breed information.
Chickens: Bartlett Meadows - Breeder of rare production breeds including Marans, Welsumers, and Penedesencas. Offering adult stock, chicks, and hatching eggs. Northwest Florida.
Belgian d'Uccle and Booted Bantam Club - Club information, d'Uccle meets, show results, where to purchase, discussion board, photos, breed information, list of recognized varieties, and store.
Best Breeds of Chickens - Mississippi State University Extension Service discussion on the selection of a particular breed for a home flock.
Black Forest Poultry - Breeder of many varieties and breeds of bantam chickens and ducks sells birds and eggs. Poultry information included. Based in Kentucky.
Chickens: Bravo Bantams - Breeder of Old English Game bantams for showing, Brown Red, Blue Red, White, and Black Breasted Red varieties. Pictures. California, USA.
Briarpatch Farm Articles - Articles on several poultry husbandry topics.
Christian & Dobbs - Old English Game bantam breeders specializing in Black, Crele, and Silver Duckwing varieties with a few select birds for sale in West Virginia.
Da Barn - Breeder and exhibitor of Dutch, Japanese, d'Uccle, and d'Anvers bantam chickens and migratory waterfowl. Photographs, links, poultry games and puzzles. Mississippi, USA.
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International Cornish Breeders Association - Includes newsletter, events, articles, and breeders' listing of this utility breed.
Kemp's Koops - Chickens - Information on Old English Game bantams featuring photo series of hatching process, articles on breeding and raising, photos from the 1997 National Meet, and photos of varieties.
McCutchen's Old English - Breeder and exhibitor of White, Black, Brassy Back, and Black Breasted Red Old English Game bantams and Dark Cornish bantams in Oklahoma, USA. Includes photo gallery and links to other fanciers, clubs, and suppliers.
Mongold's New Hampshire Bantams - Breeder shares information and pictures.
Orpington Poultry - Information source for Orpington chickens with breed information and pictures of varieties, breeding information, and history.
Poultry Extension Information Services - Research information on many topic areas in poultry husbandry by Mississippi State University.
Chickens: Random Rosecombs - Rosecomb bantam breeder and exhibitor raises many varieties. Photos of varieties, coops, horses, and other pets in California, USA.
Raymo's Roost - Old English Game bantam breeders raising several varieties in New York sell birds and eggs.
Red Square - Chicken - Rhode Island Red resource page. Breeders of single comb Rhode Island Reds share photo album and articles on breeding and breed characteristics.
Shagbark Bantams - Chickens - Bantam chicken and duck breeder raising Belgian Bearded d'Uccles, Call Ducks, and Malaysian Seramas, the 'World's Smallest Chicken'. Belgian d'Uccle breed history and poultry health articles. Illinois, USA.
Utility Poultry Breeders Association - Organization of breeders to conserve pure bred utility poultry by monitoring production and breeding for same. Genetic, recording, and breed information, poultry history, and forum. Scotland.
