Okay, my chicken laid her first egg and then stopped. As an experienced chicken owner, I’ve navigated the ups and downs of poultry parenting with joy, curiosity, and a fair share of surprises. One of the most puzzling moments came when one of my hens, whom I’ll affectionately call Daisy, laid her first egg and then… nothing. No more eggs.
Hatching, Breeding Chickens, and Keeping Chickens for Meat and Eggs (Farming)
Hatching, breeding chickens, and keeping them for meat and eggs encompass a comprehensive and rewarding aspect of farming that involves the cycle of life from egg to adult bird. This category delves into the intricate processes and practices essential for successfully managing a poultry farm, whether on a small scale for self-sufficiency or as a larger commercial operation.
Hatching involves incubating chicken eggs until they develop and hatch into chicks. This process requires careful temperature and humidity control, along with monitoring and turning the eggs to ensure healthy development. It’s a delicate phase that sets the foundation for a healthy flock.
Breeding chickens focuses on the selective mating of birds to maintain or improve specific traits such as egg production, meat quality, disease resistance, and temperament. Successful breeding requires a deep understanding of genetics, chicken breeds, and the goals of the breeding program.
Keeping chickens for meat and eggs is the day-to-day management of the flock to ensure they are healthy, productive, and well-cared for. This includes providing proper nutrition, housing, and healthcare, as well as implementing practices that promote the welfare of the chickens. For meat production, it involves raising broiler chickens with the aim of achieving optimal growth and meat quality. For egg production, it entails managing layers to maximize their laying potential while ensuring their health and longevity.
Together, these activities form the backbone of poultry farming, offering a sustainable source of food through eggs and meat, as well as the satisfaction of nurturing life. This category offers insights into best practices, challenges, and solutions for those passionate about raising chickens, whether for personal fulfillment, self-sufficiency, or commercial gain.
Keeping Your Incubator at the Perfect Temperature for Chicken Eggs
Incubating eggs can be a tricky business for beginners. There are very specific conditions you need to maintain to ensure the highest hatch rates for your eggs. The window of appropriate temperatures is fairly small.
Soren, a lifelong chicken enthusiast, shares his passion and expertise through BackyardChickenScoop.com. Raising chickens since childhood, he now teaches his two sons about care, life, and food origins.
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Does Laying Eggs Cause Pain or Hurt Chickens? Unpacking the Health Impact
Laying eggs should not harm or affect the health of the chickens. This is how chickens are supposed to keep their species and population growth. But do eggs harm chickens?
Soren, a lifelong chicken enthusiast, shares his passion and expertise through BackyardChickenScoop.com. Raising chickens since childhood, he now teaches his two sons about care, life, and food origins.
Read more about us here…
Should You Ever Help a Chick Hatch? Doing More Harm Than Good?
Keeping chickens as pets can be a great addition to your life and family, and like with all animals, it is essential that you know how to care for them correctly in all aspects. For some, a big part of raising chickens can be raising their chicks also, but how involved should you be when it comes time for a chick to hatch?
Soren, a lifelong chicken enthusiast, shares his passion and expertise through BackyardChickenScoop.com. Raising chickens since childhood, he now teaches his two sons about care, life, and food origins.
Read more about us here…
Mating Trauma in Chickens: Fainting and Deaths Explained
Having a chicken faint or die after mating is worrying. The first time I saw this, I was very surprised and of course, worried. So I did a bit of studying.
Soren, a lifelong chicken enthusiast, shares his passion and expertise through BackyardChickenScoop.com. Raising chickens since childhood, he now teaches his two sons about care, life, and food origins.
Read more about us here…
DIY incubator for chicken eggs
The environmental benefits of organic chicken farming and the financial rewards and enjoyment that come with it make it a remarkable life and career choice. The question is, though, can all chicken breeds be organic? Some species of animals are more suited to organic farming since they have been selected for the unique features that they bring to the table in the field of agriculture.
Choose your weapon: Axe, knife or broomstick for humanly killing chickens
If you keep chickens, you’ve probably pondered the possibility of having to put one down at some point. When I first kept chicken, my son would teasingly ask me when I would make chicken dinner from my rooster.
Can You Use a Reptile Incubator for Chicken Eggs? (Pros And Cons)
When hatching eggs, using regular chicken incubators is not the only option. Whether this is a first time or your fifth time, there are alternatives that you can use. Durable and full-featured chicken incubators can be costly, so you might opt for cheaper options.
Why Are My Eggs Not Hatching – The Vets Complete Troubleshooting Guide
The reasons for eggs not hatching is not well known to many. It’s very disappointing for poultry farmers when they build huge expectations during the incubation period, but end up without chicks.