5 Ways to Raise Hens for Eggs

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5 Ways to Raise Hens for Eggs
5 Ways to Raise Hens for Eggs
Anonim

Raising chickens can be a fun family activity, for those who have a house with a garden or a farmhouse in the countryside. Many people come to see their chickens as pets, as well as a food source. To keep your hens and eggs safe, you will need to have a chicken coop and an incubator, protect the hens from predators and protect yourself and animals from harmful bacteria. Follow these tips for raising chickens for eggs.

Steps

Part 1 of 5: Planning a Chicken Coop

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 1
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 1

Step 1. Find out if it is legal to keep chickens on your farm

Many cities have ordinances that prohibit raising chickens within municipal boundaries. Look for information on the net about it.

  • Finding out about the presence of any city decrees is a good idea, as is asking your own association of real estate owners: there may be further restrictions.
  • Many cities have more restrictive regulations for roosters than for hens. If you want a rooster, so that you can raise chickens for meat as well, you may have problems.
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 2
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 2

Step 2. Talk to the neighbors

The chickens make a lot of noise. To allay their fears, if they live very close, avoid taking roosters.

  • Even if the hens squawk, but at least they don't crow like roosters!
  • Consider giving your neighbors fresh eggs from time to time. They may be less hostile to your idea if they get some benefit from it.
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 3
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 3

Step 3. Make sure you have enough time to care for chicks and chickens

You will have to stay at home the day the chicks arrive, and clean and collect the eggs almost every day of the year.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 4
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 4

Step 4. Mark an area of the backyard for the chicken coop

If you intend to raise these birds since they were chicks, you will have some time to build them as they grow. If you are buying adult hens, you will need the chicken coop immediately.

Part 2 of 5: Making a Chicken Coop / Incubator

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 5
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 5

Step 1. Purchase a chicken coop before your chickens are 2 months old

Find out if there is someone building them in your area, so you can go and get a brand new model without having to send it to you. You can also inquire online on how to build one yourself.

  • Look for a chicken coop that has plenty of light so your chickens will be happy.
  • Choose a chicken coop with a fenced outdoor area so the chickens can roam and stay protected during the day.
  • You can buy a chicken coop on Amazon, Pandtpoultry and many other online and non-online stores.
  • You can find chicken coop projects at
  • You can also get yourself a portable chicken coop.
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 6
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 6

Step 2. Strengthen your chicken coop

Predators such as foxes, cats and stray dogs can take advantage of holes and crevices or go under the net. Make an investment and buy extra netting, nails and edging in wood or stone.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 7
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 7

Step 3. Prepare the incubator and chicken coop before bringing the chicks home

Part 3 of 5: Choosing the Hens

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 8
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 8

Step 1. Consider buying the chickens directly

They are often found in the fall, after many have raised more chicks than they actually needed. However, it is difficult to distinguish between hens that are approaching the end of the years in which they lay eggs (over two years of age) from the young ones that have several years of prolificacy ahead of them, so check carefully before buying.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 9
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 9

Step 2. Choose to buy chicks rather than hatching eggs the first year you raise chickens

Hatching eggs can be purchased online and in stores. Although they are cheaper than chicks, the sex is unknown and some may not even hatch.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 10
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 10

Step 3. Install the incubator before bringing the chicks home

An incubator is a heated area in which to make the nest that will keep the chicks warm. In fact, the chicks cannot regulate their body temperature in the first weeks of life.

  • Look for very thick cardboard or a plastic box. Start with a small one, when the chicks are also small, and replace it with a larger one as they grow.
  • Place the box in an area of the house that has a constant temperature.
  • Place 2.5cm of pine shavings at the bottom of the box.
  • Place a heat lamp on the side of the box. Use a thermometer to keep the temperature constant at 35 ° C.
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 11
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 11

Step 4. Purchase a drinking trough and chick feeder and suitable feed at your nearest feed store

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 12
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 12

Step 5. Purchase newborn chicks from a local or online store

They are usually found between February and April. Look for females, of course.

  • An adult hen between the ages of two months and two years will lay about 5 eggs per week. For a dozen a week, buy 3 or 4 chickens.
  • Make sure your chicken coop is large enough to accommodate them all. There should be about 1 square meter of space for each hen inside the chicken coop and about 3 meters outside.
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 13
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 13

Step 6. Buy different types of chickens

A non-homogeneous group will be characterized by different sizes and colors. The following breeds are worthy of consideration:

  • Ameraucana hens, prized for their colorful eggs.
  • Other popular breeds are the Rhodesian reds, the Cochin hens and the Barred Rocks.
  • Breeds called Australorp, Orpington and Faveroll lay during the winter, so it might be a good idea to buy them if you live in a rather cold area.
  • The best looking breeds generally lay fewer eggs. They are genetically selected to develop their appearance rather than their ability to lay eggs.

Part 4 of 5: Raising the Hens

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 14
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 14

Step 1. Remove the heat lamp slightly every week for 8 weeks

Keep it at 35 ° C the first week and decrease by 3 degrees each week until it reaches 18 ° C.

  • The week after you reach 18 ° C, you can take the lamp out entirely.
  • Keep a thermometer in the box so you can accurately check the temperature.
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 15
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 15

Step 2. Push the chicks' beaks into the water the first day you bring them home

Chances are they are dehydrated and don't know how to drink yet. Keep an eye on the water level in the following months, to be sure they are keeping hydrated.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 16
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 16

Step 3. Buy chick food for the first few months

Chicks need food containing a little sand, and specific feeds are specifically designed for this. When replacing chickens in later years, you can try mixing your leftovers with sand.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 17
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 17

Step 4. Move the chicks to the house after 2 months

If it is still very cold where you live, you could wait a little longer.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 18
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 18

Step 5. Feed your chickens in a variety of ways to get more intense yolks

They can feed on store-bought chicken feed, food scraps, lawn bugs, grass and corn. Corn split is essential in winter to keep their body temperature high.

Eggs from free-range hens have a lower cholesterol level and less saturated fat than purchased eggs. They also possess more Omega-3 fatty acids

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 19
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 19

Step 6. Avoid letting the hens walk around outdoors without your supervision

Even if you want them to have their freedom, they risk becoming easy prey.

  • Leave them free when you are tending the lawn or near them.
  • Keep them in the open cage until sunset, then lock them in the chicken coop.

Part 5 of 5: Collect the Eggs

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 20
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 20

Step 1. Place a fake egg in the nest boxes of young hens

Make sure it's not a real one, or they might get into the habit of eating eggs. This will show them where they need to lay their eggs.

In the following years, having hens of different ages will help teach the new ones how to behave. Most experts suggest replacing between 1/4 and 1/3 of the total number of hens each year

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 21
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 21

Step 2. Collect eggs every day to clear the nest boxes

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 22
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 22

Step 3. Clean the eggs with a soft cloth, which removes dirt but not the anti-bacterial film of the egg

The hens produce this coating to protect the eggs from disease.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 23
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 23

Step 4. Store the eggs at around 7 ° C

Better to use a refrigerator, rather than storing them in a room with this temperature. Warmer temperatures can promote the growth of bacteria.

Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 24
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 24

Step 5. Protect yourself from salmonella

The following habits will ensure that your chickens do not produce contaminated eggs.

  • Wash eggs that are coated with chicken feces. Roll them in a sanitizing solution consisting of 15 ml of chlorine in 4 liters of water.
  • Quickly consume the eggs. Older ones have a higher risk of contamination as the egg white spoils.
  • Place the chicken manure in a composter for 45-60 days before using it as a fertilizer for plants. Fresh manure could in fact contaminate vegetables with salmonella.
  • Keep potentially contaminated eggs away from pregnant women, young children and those with chronic diseases (and is therefore poorly resistant to disease).

Things You Will Need

  • Chicken coop
  • Portable chicken coop
  • Incubator
  • Heat lamp
  • Thermometer
  • Feed for chicks
  • Drinking bowl and bowls for chicks
  • Waterfall
  • Newborn chicks
  • Leftovers
  • Broken corn
  • Grains for hens
  • Soft cloth
  • Fridge
  • Chlorine
  • Composter

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