Backyard Chickens Eggs

by chicken house plans on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | Comments Off

Do not be surprised but there are now a lot of people who would rather raise their own livestock for their tables. The same goes for organic vegetables which can be easily grown in the garden. This is because they want to make sure that the food they eat are indeed fresh, clean and healthy so that their families would be safe from any diseases as well. One popular type of livestock that is easy to raise and grow is chickens. Raising backyard chickens have become very popular these days in several countries around the world especially in those areas where most of the people enjoy organic food on their tables. Raising backyard chickens is relatively easy as their needs are simple and can be easily obtained at any pet store. Below are the basic guides on raising backyard chickens.

If you are a novice at raising backyard chickens, the first thing to consider when raising backyard chickens is the type of hen that you want to raise or keep. There are several brands or types of hens that you can choose from depending on the reason as to why you want to keep them. If you are planning on raising backyard chickens for their eggs then there are two types of hens that you can choose from; the full size hen and the bantam hen. The full size hen lays bigger eggs than that of a bantam hen. So if you want bigger eggs at the table, you may want to purchase full size hens to raise.

The next thing to consider when raising backyard chickens is the food that they eat. While hens generally eat the same thing, which is crumbs, pellets and grit, there are some chicken feed that is designed for certain types of hen. For example, egg laying types of hens eat a different set of pellets from the meat type of hens. Do consider this information as well before purchasing your feed from the pet store. If you are still not sure as to what to feed your chickens, it would be best to consult a veterinarian so that you do not make the mistake of feeding them the wrong type of chicken feed.

Other things that you may want to consider when raising chickens in your backyard are their coop and the place where they can run free range. There are times when you will need to set your hens loose so that they are able to scratch on the soil and get enough exercise too. Raising backyard chickens is a nice hobby to take up that can eventually lead to something beneficial and profitable for the family.

Looking for more tips on raising backyard chickens? Visit the how to raise chicken website today to discover everything you need to know and how easy it is to raise your own chickens. Separate yourself from the usual chicken owners and avoid costly mistakes, just go to: http://howtoraisechicken.com

My chickens stopped laying eggs and they usually lay allot?

I know its not the season to lay right now,but they stopped laying even when it was the season to lay.They are on egg laying and scratch feed,they get let out in the backyard.What could be the reason?

http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/Zebrafinchbreeder/100_0510.jpg

Contrary to what people may have you believe, it is not necessarily what the chickens eat that makes them lay, but the length of daylight they receive.Are they getting enough light? Egg production is stimulated by hormones activated by quality light availability, not just quality food.

check this out it may help your thoughts.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/859/lighting-programs-for-backyard-egg-production

Here is a site for a free book on chickens very helpful it is too

http://www.petdirectory.com.au/?page=FreePetProduct_Ridley_TheChookBook

Edit

Thankyou Billie for your insight - if you have another look at my answer I have stated that feed is not ALL the answer, the need for enough light is often overlooked - in fact it is indeed the light which stimulates the egg production hormones in the chickens ( the rest is artificially induced and maintained in the commercial feeds).
There ar many reasons why chickens stop laying - moulting, heat (or cold), change in routine, lack of light stimulus, change in feed, a scare, a breezy nesting area you name it anything could cause it - I was just offering up one solution as a possible cause.
As it happens I have spent a lifetime around farm life and have learnt a little bit, not just from a book but years of doing and gleaned knowledge from others of experience.