Top 10 Egg Layers

Keeping Chickens

Chicken rearing is a rewarding pastime. Keeping chickens is an excellent way to supply one’s family with eggs or even meat if desired. Fresh eggs are much tastier than the store-bought ones and so much healthier. The advantages of keeping chickens go beyond the delicious eggs they produce. You can read then for business, especially in selling eggs and meat, or just as pets.

Chickens can also provide entertainment for children, a gardener’s aid, pest control, fertilizer for plants, and more. They are such friendly birds with unique personalities that you’ll soon feel like a chicken whisperer (or at least learning to speak chicken). With the right information and guidance, you should be able to look after chickens with no problems at all. Here are some basics you will need to know to keep chickens.

How To Build A Chicken Coop

Top 10 egg layers breeds

All hens hatch eggs, but some breeds are undoubtedly better layers than others. If your main aim for keeping chickens is to get lots of delicious eggs, then you’ll want to choose a chicken breed known for being a good layer. Here are the top 10 egg-laying chickens:

1. Rhode Island Red: They are hearty chickens that can withstand colder climates and are known for being excellent layers of brown eggs. They require plenty of space to roam and forage, so if you’re keeping them in a smaller backyard, they may not be the best choice.

2. Plymouth Rock: This chicken’s white and black barred feathers make it instantly recognizable. It’s a dual-purpose chicken, meaning it can be used for both egg production and meat. They are good momma hens and sit on their eggs until they hatch.

3. Orpington: This chicken is a large bird that comes in many different colors. They are known for being very docile, making them a good choice if you have children who want to help care for the chickens.

4. Leghorn: This is an active chicken that loves to fly, so make sure their coop has enough space for them to stretch their wings. They are known for being good layers of large white eggs. Regarding egg production, leghorns are some of the most productive layers.

5. Americana: This chicken is a favourite among backyard chicken keepers because of its beautiful blue eggs. They are friendly birds that do well in small flocks.

6. Australorp: This chicken is originally from Australia and was bred to withstand hot climates. They can lay up to 300 eggs annually, making them one of the most productive layers. They are docile and make good pets.

7. Sussex: Despite their big size, they are gentle birds that make good pets. They come in many different colours and patterns and can lay up to 200 eggs annually.

8. Golden Comet: The Golden Comet is a very popular type of chicken. It is often considered to be the best-tasting chicken. It is a crossbreed of the Rhode Island Red and New Hampshire. The Golden Comet is a good chicken for backyard chicken keepers. It is known to be very friendly.

9. Australorp: Arguably the best layer of all the chicken breeds, the Australorp can lay more than 300 eggs annually. They are large birds, with the roosters averaging around 9 pounds and the hens around 7. They are hardy birds that can withstand both hot and cold weather and are known for being very tame and docile.

10. Rhode Island White: As the name suggests, this chicken is originally from Rhode Island. It is a white bird with black tail feathers. At times they can be very friendly, and at other times they can be quite aloof. However, they are generally good-natured birds that can lay up to 200 eggs annually.

Foods not to feed your chicken

There are some foods you should never feed your chicken as they can harm their health. When it comes to chicken feed, you should always check the labels to ensure no harmful ingredients are included. Some of the foods that you should never feed your chicken include:

– Avocados: The pit and skin of an avocado can be toxic to chickens. They can cause gastrointestinal distress and even death.

– Chocolate: Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine, which is toxic to chickens. When consumed, it can cause vomiting, Diarrhea, and even death in some cases. Chocolate is also a risk factor for obesity in chickens, as it is high in sugar and fat.

-Apple seeds: When ingested, apple seeds can release cyanide into a chicken’s system. Cyanide is poisonous and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

– Green potatoes: Green potatoes contain solanine, a compound that is toxic to chickens. Solanine can cause gastrointestinal distress, nervous system damage, and even death.

-Raw beans are toxic to chickens and can also cause them to become very ill. Symptoms of bean poisoning include Diarrhea, vomiting, and even death in some cases. It is best to avoid feeding your chickens raw beans altogether.

– Mouldy or spoiled food: This can be harmful to chickens, as it can contain harmful bacteria that can make them sick. It is best to avoid feeding your chickens mouldy or spoiled food.

– Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant and can be harmful to chickens. When consumed, it can cause increased heart rate and restlessness.

Space Requirement

Chicken rearing can be a laborious process, especially if you want to raise large numbers of chickens. A small backyard isn’t necessarily the best place to keep chickens, as you will need adequate space for them to roam around. You should make sure that your backyard has enough room for the chicken clutch for them to lay their eggs and raise hatchlings. Here are some of the essential space requirements for each type of chicken:

Laying hens

Chickens require a minimum of 3 square feet per bird to live comfortably. However, if you plan to keep a rooster, you will need to provide at least 5 square feet per bird. Additionally, chickens need access to fresh water and shade at all times.

Meat birds

The amount of space required for chickens raised for meat is significantly higher than that of laying hens. Each chicken needs at least 8 square feet of space. However, if you raise larger birds, such as the Brahma chicken, you will need to provide at least 10 square feet per chicken.

Bantam chickens

These smaller breeds of chickens only require around 2-3 square feet of space per bird.

Free-range chickens

If you are planning on letting your chickens free-range, you will need to provide a minimum of 10 square feet per bird. However, it is best to provide more space if possible as chickens will enjoy having a larger area to roam around in.

As you can see, chickens require a fair amount of space to live comfortably. If you cannot provide enough space for all of the chickens that you want to keep, you may need to consider raising fewer chickens or choosing a smaller breed. Additionally, you will need to make sure that your chickens have access to food and water at all times. Chickens are also susceptible to predators, so you will need to take steps to protect them from birds of prey and other animals.

When raising chickens, you will need to provide them with a comfortable place to sleep. Chickens typically sleep in a nest that is located off the ground. The nest should be lined with straw or other soft material to provide insulation and comfort. Chickens will also need a place to roost, which is a horizontal bar that they can perch on at night.

Top 5 best natural foods for chickens

Chickens are omnivores and eat a variety of different things. However, some foods are better for them than others. Here are five of the best natural foods for chickens:

1. Worms – Chickens love to eat worms, and they are a great source of protein.

2. Insects – Chickens eat just about any insect, including beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers.

3. Greens – Chickens love to eat greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale.

4. Fruit – Chickens enjoy eating fruit, especially berries.

5. Seeds – Be sure to give your chickens a variety of different seeds, such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

These are just a few of the best natural foods for chickens. Be sure to give your chickens various foods to ensure that they get all the nutrients they need.

Problems associated with chicken Rearing

Chicken rearing can be a rewarding experience, but it is not without its challenges. Here are some of the most common problems associated with chicken rearing:

1. Predation: When chickens are free-ranging, they are susceptible to attack from predators such as dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and snakes. To protect your chickens from predators, it is important to keep them in a well-protected enclosure, such as a chicken coop with a secure fence.

2. Disease: Chickens can carry and transmit a variety of diseases, some of which can be deadly. To protect your chickens from disease, it is important to keep their living area clean and disinfected and to quarantine new birds before introducing

3. Parasite: You will know your chickens have parasites if they are lethargic, have Diarrhea, or lose weight. Internal parasites can be treated with medication, but external parasites, such as mites and lice, must be physically removed.

4. Heat Stress: Chickens are sensitive to heat and can easily become overheated, especially in hot weather. To prevent heat stress, it is important to provide your chickens with plenty of shade and cool water.

5. Poor nutrition: They need a balanced diet to stay healthy. If your chickens are not getting the right nutrition, they may not lay eggs as required.

6. Improper housing: If your chickens are not housed properly, they may become stressed and stop laying eggs. Their housing should be dry, draft-free, and well-ventilated.

Chicken rearing can be a rewarding experience. Chickens can provide fresh and nutritious eggs, meat, manure, and companionship. They also have the added benefit of keeping your property rodent-free. However, chicken rearing is not without its challenges. You will need to take steps to ensure that your chickens are healthy and comfortable at all times. This is not an easy task, especially if you are new to raising chickens.

How To Build A Chicken Coop