Are Laying Hens Easy to Take Care of?
Chickens can be an amazing addition to your homestead. They eat kitchen scraps, lay eggs and generally make great pets. But you can’t have just one laying hen, you have to have a flock as these are social animals. So, are laying hens easy to take care of? Well, we aim to answer that very question in this article.
The first thing you should know is that compared to other animals, chickens are a reasonably easy bird to care for. As long as you give them the right food, clean drinking water and a coop that is safe and clean they should live happy and long lives.
But there is more that We need to cover. So without further ado, let’s dive right in and get into the meat of this article.
What Food Do Laying Hens Need?
Making sure your chickens get all the nutrients they need to thrive is essential. It’s not hard to ensure your hens get the right food. All you need is chicken feed from a store, these products are designed with all the nutrients your laying hens need. But there is more to it than that.
Chickens are grazers, which means that they love to forage for grubs and other treats crawling around your garden. You can even give your laying hens grass clippings as long as you ensure that the grass does not have traces of pesticides and commercial fertiliser.
You can also give your chickens kitchen scraps. Just make sure that you do NOT give them the following:
- Amaranth
- Avocado
- Butter
- Chocolate
- Citrus
- Garlic
- Onions
- Dry Beans
- Raw Egg
- Potato Leaves or Stems
- Tomato Leaves or Stems
- Aubergine Leaves or Stems
- Pepper Leaves or Stems
There are other foods that you should not give to your chicken as well, so make sure to thoroughly research what could be toxic to them.
What Housing Requirements Do Laying Hens Need?
The first thing you need to know about the housing and space laying hens require is that more space will be better. You will get better quality eggs if your hens get more sunlight so make sure they have a safe enclosure outdoors as well as a coop that is safe from predators.
We recommend a minimum of ten square feet of yard space per four birds and enough roosting space so that the chickens do not crowd each other.
You may need artificial light for eating in the winter so make sure that you have those installed if you have especially cold winters. But you should also have windows to allow fresh air and light into the space. This will ensure that the coop stays fresh and clean for longer.
Dos and Don’ts of Keeping Laying Hens
Even with the basics down, there are still a few dos and don’ts that you need to keep in mind when you are keeping laying hens. In this section, we are going to go over a few tips that you need to keep in mind before you get laying hens.
What SHOULD You Do?
Below are a few things you should do if you intend to keep laying hens on your property:
- Regularly collect the eggs so that your hens do not get broody. We recommend going out twice a day to collect any eggs you might have.
- Clean water is essential. In winter you need to take care to make sure the water is not frozen and in summer there is no algae built up.
- It is wise to remember that mixed corn like layered pellets should be given to your hens as a treat and should not be available all the time.
- Regularly check the coop for mites, as they tend to congregate on the perch ends. If your hens get infected with red mites it can be catastrophic.
- Regularly clean the coop, we recommend once a week. You should also disinfect the coop at least once a month with a poultry disinfectant.
What Should You NOT Do?
We have listed a few things below that you should NOT do if you want to own a flock of laying hens:
- It is important that you do not overfeed your hens with treat foods like pasta, sweetcorn, mealworms and other similar foods. An overweight chicken is not healthy for them.
- Hay for bedding is not a good idea as it can get damp easily, and this environment can then become a hope to pests like red mites.
- Don’t add a solitary hen to your flock, they will be bullied and even killed. It would be better to add a group to your flock. Three hens added to three for example.
- Take care that the chicken run does not become muddy as the bacteria that builds up can be detrimental to your laying hens.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about laying hens and how you should care for them. As you will know by now, these animals are reasonably easy to care for and with the right house, good food and clean water you should have a happy and healthy flock.
If you enjoyed this article make sure to check out some of our other work. We cover a range of topics from taking care of goats to everything you need to know about keeping laying hens and more. So, take a moment to peruse, and you should find something there that will pique your interest.
Thanks for reading!