10 Questions Every New Chicken Keeper Asks
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Backyard chickens are having a moment. More people in suburbs and cities are building coops, ordering chicks, and collecting their own eggs every morning. The reasons vary. Some want fresher, healthier food. Some want a fun hobby. Some just like the idea of stepping outside with a cup of coffee and watching a small flock scratch around the yard. The learning curve is real, though. New chicken keepers tend to ask the same questions over and over. Chickens are simple animals, but they do have specific needs. If you get those basics right, the whole experience becomes easier and more rewarding. One common fear that stops people from ever starting is the belief that chickens need a farm. They don’t. If your backyard is big enough for a dog, it’s big enough for chickens. If you don’t have a farm store nearby, feed, coops, and supplies are all available online. And if you have Amazon Prime, you can have your supplies delivered in a matter of a few short days. Even if you don’t have Prime, other suppliers can deliver your items within a week. There are two books that I recommend that belong on every chicken keeper’s shelf. They are Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow and The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow and Jeanne Smith, DVM. Both are practical, clear, and worth the price. In my two decades of raising chickens, I hear 10 questions most often from new and some not-so-new chicken keepers. 1. Do hens need a rooster to lay eggs? No. This is the single biggest misconception about chickens. A rooster is only needed if you want fertilized eggs that hatch into chicks. Your hens will produce eggs just fine without a rooster in the flock. 2. How many eggs will my chickens lay? It depends on three things: breed, age, and season. Hens are born with a set number of eggs, and once that set number runs out, there are no more eggs for a hen to lay. Some breeds were developed for high egg production. If the chickens are healthy, a hen from one of those breeds can lay an egg almost every day, but on average, they lay 4 to 5 eggs per week. A simple rule of thumb is that three hens will give you about two eggs a day. Age matters too. Hens start laying between 4 and 6 months old. Their first year is the most productive, and after that, egg output drops a little each year. Seasons also play a big role in egg production. Shorter daylight hours in winter slow production way down, and summer is peak laying time. 3. How long do chickens live? If protected from predators, most standard breeds live 8 to 10 years. Some can reach 15 years, but that’s rare. Chickens are hardy animals with a surprisingly long lifespan for their size. 4. How much daily care do chickens need? Chickens are low-maintenance animals and require less care than a dog. The daily care routine is relatively short, with collecting eggs, refreshing water, and feeding. I change the bedding every one to two weeks, depending on the weather and how dirty the coop gets. During our rainy season, the girls track in mud, and I find myself cleaning once each week. I deep-clean and disinfect the coop twice a year, once in spring and once in late fall. That’s about it. It is really less time-consuming than you might think. 5. What do chickens cost, and where do I get them? Baby chicks run $3 to $5 each, with specialized and rare breeds costing over $20 each. Females cost a bit more than males. Grown hens sell for $20 to $50 each and are usually sourced from local breeders or farm groups. You can buy chicks at a local feed store or order them online. Cackle Hatchery has one of the largest selections of breeds available for shipping. Another great chick shipper is Meyer Hatchery. 6. What do new chicks need? For the first four weeks, baby chicks need warmth. Set up a brooder with a single infrared heat lamp and keep the temperature at a steady 95°F by monitoring it with a thermometer. An 18-inch corrugated paper chick corral makes a cheap, effective pen, or check out my instructions for building an inexpensive plastic bin brooder. After 4 to 5 weeks, the chicks are ready to move into their outdoor coop and run. 7. When will my hens start laying? Most hens begin laying between 5 and 6 months of age. A good layer will produce 200 to 300 eggs per year. Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons are popular for their large brown eggs. White Leghorns lay large white eggs at a fast pace. Either one of these breeds is great for laying and won’t disappoint. For my pick of the top 5 egg layers, see the post Best Laying Hen Breeds. 8. Are brown eggs healthier than white eggs? No. Shell color comes from the breed of the hen and has nothing to do with taste or nutrition. What does matter is diet and lifestyle. Or so the experts say. I prefer brown eggs, and call me crazy, but I think they taste better. If you want truly great-tasting eggs, studies show that eggs from free-range hens are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and lower in cholesterol than eggs from caged birds. And they do taste better. Even if your hens can’t roam completely free, their eggs will still taste better and contain more nutrients than most store-bought options. 9. Will keeping chickens save me money? No. This catches many new keepers off guard. Once you add up the cost of feed, water, bedding, coop materials, and your time, you’ll break even compared to buying cage-free organic eggs at the
Raising Chickens For Food
I remember when raising chickens was a practice reserved for rural areas, far from the hustle of city life. But times have changed. Nowadays, seeing a chicken coop nestled in a suburban backyard isn’t just a novelty; it’s a growing trend. This movement is more than fresh eggs for breakfast. The bigger picture is a desire for sustainable living and the allure of food independence. I’ve seen an uptick in urban and suburban dwellers turning to backyard chicken farming. It makes sense, given the increased concern for sustainability and the desire for self-sufficiency. Whether it’s a reaction to supply concerns, the high cost and low quality of food we see now, or the enjoyment many of us get from farming, chickens are part of family life. The benefits of raising chickens reach beyond the kitchen table. There’s the joy of watching them scratch and peck in the backyard, the reduction of kitchen waste thanks to their omnivorous appetites, and the educational opportunities for children. It’s about connecting with the food we eat and understanding the responsibilities of caring for another living creature. As you engage with the idea of chickens as part of a sustainable lifestyle, consider how these feathered friends impact the environment. In the next section, ‘The Environmental Footprint: Chickens as Eco-Friendly Companions,’ we’ll explore how chickens contribute to eco-friendly living, becoming charming little allies in our quest for a greener world. The Environmental Footprint: Chickens an Eco-Friendly Food Source I think a lot about the carbon footprint of our food. By raising backyard chickens, your eggs travel mere feet instead of hundreds of miles to reach your kitchen with store-bought eggs. That alone substantially trims down your carbon output. You’re raising chickens and nurturing a more sustainable food system at home. Chickens pull double duty. They are natural gardeners, pecking away at pesky bugs and reducing the need for chemical pesticides. I consider their manure black gold for gardens, packed with nutrients that chemical fertilizers can’t match. Integrating chickens into garden care promotes a balanced ecosystem and enriches the soil for growing your food. After our spring coop and run cleaning, we pile up the manure and start a new compost pile, which sits for a year before being used in the following year’s garden. Compost is easier to make than you think, using the manure and green and brown scraps from the yard, house, and kitchen. We have a simple formula, which I will share soon in a spring cleaning and gardening post. Small-scale, responsible chicken farming can significantly enhance biodiversity. Your backyard flock supports a broad range of plant and insect life, contrasting the monoculture landscapes of industrial farms. It keeps soils alive and teeming with the microorganisms essential for a thriving ecosystem. Chickens for Health and Nutrition I want to highlight how raising backyard chickens can massively improve the food quality on your table. You’re in control, which means you know exactly what your chickens eat, how they live, and how they are treated. When raised in your backyard, chickens aren’t subjected to the conditions of large-scale farms. They’re typically healthier, and so are their eggs. Their diet can be free of the antibiotics and growth hormones widely used in industrially farmed poultry. Raising chickens in your backyard produces more natural and nutritious eggs and meat for you and your family. Your chickens can feast on various foods, including grains, vegetables, and insects, contributing to their eggs’ rich flavor and nutritional value. This diversified diet produces eggs with yellower yolks, more omega-3 fatty acids, and a fresher overall taste than store-bought eggs. For meat, chickens that exercise and roam freely produce leaner meat with a better texture. The consumption of fresh eggs and poultry meat from chickens you’ve raised can also affect your and your family’s health in subtle ways. According to numerous studies, the difference in nutrient content is more significant than you might think. This translates to your meals being packed with higher-quality protein, vitamins, and nutrients, making each dish tastier and better for your well-being. Considering the health benefits helps you smoothly transition to thinking about how you’ll start your flock. The following section will provide actionable guidance to help you understand the essentials of chicken farming. From setting up your coop to laying the groundwork for healthy, productive chickens, you’ll be poised to enjoy the rewards of raising chickens responsibly and sustainably. Getting Started with Raising Backyard Chickens So, you’re interested in becoming a chicken farmer. This commitment caters to producing your own food and contributes toward a healthier planet and lifestyle for you and your family. Before getting started, check your local laws. Zoning regulations differ widely, and you must ensure your chicken farming plan aligns with local ordinances. If zoning laws permit raising backyard chickens, and if you live under a Home Owner’s Association, you must check with them before starting your backyard flock. Selecting a chicken breed comes next. Climate tolerance, egg production, and temperament should guide your choice. For my top pick for egg-laying chickens, check out my article, Best Laying Hen Breeds. Creating a chicken-friendly environment is crucial. Your chickens need a secure coop to protect them from predators and space to roam. You can find some great tips for setting up your chicken coop and run in my article Chicken Coop Necessities. Your chickens’ health and happiness are tightly linked to their care. Establish a routine for feeding, cleaning, and monitoring their health. Regular vet visits can catch issues early. Understand that raising chickens is a learning curve. Reach out to local farming communities or online forums for advice when you need it. As always, you can reach out to me here in the comments with any questions or send me an email to info@thebackyardchickenfarmer.com. While you get a lot of enjoyment with backyard chicken farming, be prepared for the reality of what it entails. Raising chickens requires time, money, and effort. But remember, the rewards of fresh eggs, a happier garden, and
The 5 Best Meat Chicken Breeds
Are you thinking about raising meat chickens in a backyard and wondering which meat chicken breeds are best? With the growing popularity of raising backyard chickens comes an increasing interest in raising meat chickens. Dual-purpose chickens, those yielding both eggs and meat, are the most popular. But many backyard chicken farmers are turning to meat chickens for their better flavor. Like egg layers, a different result comes with different meat chicken breeds. Choosing the best meat chicken breeds depends on what you’relooking to achieve. Best Breeds for Raising Meat Chickens in a Backyard Broilers Broilers are chickens raised specifically for meat. They grow much faster than egg-laying hens or dual-purpose breeds. Most broilers have a fast growth rate, high feed conversion ratio, and low activity levels. In five weeks, broilers can reach a dressed weight of 4-5 pounds. Usually raised for meat and egg production, dual-purpose breeds are smaller with a slower growth rate. Cornish Cross The Cornish Cross is an excellent, fast-growing broiler. Harvest time for a 4-pound broiler usually is 7 to 8 weeks. Their body makeup is superb, with broad breasts, large legs and thighs, and rich yellow skin. Jersey Giant Originating in the United States, this bird was developed to replace the turkey. A purebred chicken, the Giant’s weight averages 11-13 pounds. Jersey Giants grow slower than other meat birds, about six months to full maturity, making them undesirable to the commercial industry. While initially a meat chicken, today, the Giant is prized as a dual-purpose bird, laying extra-large brown eggs. Heritage / Heirloom When describing Heritage chickens, the words heirloom, old-fashioned, and antique come to mind. The American Poultry Association began defining these breeds in 1873, setting standards for birds as being well adapted to various climates, hardy and long-lived, and reproducing at a rate to provide a protein source to the growing nation. As chicken breeding became industrialized, fast-growing hybrids replaced these breeds. Today, more than three dozen chicken breeds are in danger of extinction. To avoid irreversible loss caused by the end of a breed, The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy sets standards for marketing these as Heritage. I love Heritage breeds, preferring them to the newer, fast-growing breeds. They are large, meaty chickens, and many also produce many eggs. I usually buy my Heritage breeds online since they are harder to find locally than more popular breeds. Heritage Chicken Breeds: Campine, Chantecler, Crevecoeur, Holland, Modern Game, Nankin, Redcap, Russian Orloff, Spanish, Sultan, Sumatra, Yokohama, Andalusian, Buckeye, Buttercup, Cubalaya, Delaware, Dorking, Faverolles, Java, Lakenvelder, Langshan, Malay, Phoenix, Ancona, Aseel, Brahma, Catalana, Cochin, Cornish, Dominique, Hamburg, Houdan, Jersey Giant, La Fleche, Minorca, New Hampshire, Old English Game, Polish, Rhode Island White, Sebright, Shamo, Australorp, Leghorn- Non-industrial, Orpington, Plymouth Rock , Rhode Island Red – Non-industrial, Sussex, Wyandotte , Araucana, Iowa Blue, Lamona, Manx Rumpy (Persian Rumpless), Naked Neck (Turken). Preferred Heritage Meat Chicken Breeds: Delaware—A heavy-bodied bird, the male can weigh up to 8.5 pounds and the female 6.5 pounds. Originating from the U.S., Delaware is hardy in heat and cold and matures quickly. The meat is delicious, and the hens lay jumbo eggs. Delawares have calm and friendly dispositions. Dorking – This relatively calm bird is non-aggressive and does well around children and small dogs. Another dual-purpose chicken, theDorking is a superior table fowl with tender flesh, meaty breasts, and wings. It is a productive winter layer, providing a steady egg supply when other breeds are not laying. Good broody hens and excellent mothers stay with their chicks much longer than other breeds. Buckeye is the only American breed exclusively created by a woman, developed by Mrs. Nettie Metcalf of Warren, Ohio. This dual-purposebreed is very cold weather hardy and adapts to various living conditions. However, they are very active and do not do well in confined spaces, adapting best to free-range. Hens lay medium-sized brown eggs and weigh an average of 6.5 pounds; roosters average 9 pounds. Conclusion When you plan to raise meat chickens in a backyard, consider your backyard space and setup and the time you must devote. You can use most backyard chicken breeds for meat chickens, but each breed differs in flavor and meat texture. The backyard chicken breeds in this article are suitable for the table. Check out our article Raising Meat Chickens for more information about meat chickens.
Two Faces of Raising Chickens
Raising farm animals like chickens are not so common in citified places. But many people just want to have a feel of the suburban life and recreate this by having their small chicken farms in their backyards.
Raising Show Chickens
Raising Show Chickens and What I Need to Know Backyard chicken farmers raise chickens for various reasons with two of the most common being eggs and pets. However, with the rising popularity of raising show chickens, we need more information about this hobby. First Things First My best advice to anyone wanting to raise show chickens is: research—research—research. Besides reading articles on line and in poultry publications, talk to your local extension and 4-H offices. First you need to find out where the shows are and what criteria you’re required to meet. Show chicken judging uses various criteria and fixed standards for the breed includes: [ultimatetables 3/] Show Chicken Breeds There are many show breeds to choose from, but I am only going to list five of the more popular ones. Start with this list and research the judging criteria for these chickens. Roosters are normally chosen for show poultry because of their feather and coloring characteristics. For beginners, start out with only one or two breeds and don’t add another until you gain experience with these. This is the best advice I can give you yet many ignore it, eventually setting themselves up for failure. Silkie – Fluffy, silky feeling plumage, dark blue flesh and earlobes, and five toes on each foot, makes this chicken a favorite at poultry shows. They come in several colors including, white, buff, black, gray, blue, red, and mottled variations. They are the most docile with a calm and friendly temperament, making them ideal pets and show chickens. Something to consider before deciding to show Silkies is their high maintenance, making them less ideal for the beginner. Polish – Known for the crest of feathers adorning their head, the Polish were originally kept as egg layers but today are primarily kept as show birds. These tame chickens are timid and easily frightened because of limited vision caused by the crest which covers most of their head. This limited vision can impact their temperament. Houdan – Native to France, the Houdan is an attractive bird with many distinctive features. Like the Polish, the Houdan has a crested head and five toes. Their earlobes and wattles are small and hidden by the feathered bearding and crest. They come in two colors, white and mottled (black with white spotting). Silver Spangled Hamburg – This is a beautiful show bird with trim, stylish, and delicate features. They are good flyers and active, making them less suitable to confinement. As well as the silver spangled, Hamburgs are found in gold spangle and silver pencil color variations. Seabright – A true bantam, or miniature bird with no large version of the breed, is a beautiful ornamental chicken. Seabright is strictly an ornamental chicken, and boasts a specialist club for enthusiasts. The plumage on all Seabrights has lacy black edges on a silver white or dark gold base. Their legs are unfeathered with slate-blue skin while their combs, earlobes, and wattles are bright red. Seabrights are tame but males may become protective around hens, possibly turning on their owners however, this can happen with any rooster breed. My best advice if you plan to raise show chickens—always buy chicks and buy from a knowledgeable and reputable breeder. Hatcheries breed for quantity and their birds are not show quality. Your local extension and 4-H offices can help you find a breeder. Picking Your Show Chicken When deciding which of your chickens to show, good fit stock is essential. Always look for: Overall fitness and condition—sound plumage and good physical traits. Conformation or shape—comply with breed standards. Color—comply with breed standards. [callout title=Tip]When showing chickens, especially for children, it’s always good to have backup show birds. Sometimes, molting season comes during a show so backup birds of the same breed can fill in.[/callout] Family Fun As the cost of living rises, more people are looking for alternative family fun, moving away from expensive movies, concerts and other high priced events. With the rise in urban backyard chicken farming, raising show poultry is quickly gaining popularity. Raising show chickens is fun for the whole family and gives parents and kids some all-important bonding time. It’s a great, inexpensive hobby with competitions on the local, state, and national level. If raising backyard chickens interests you, then you’ll love the striking plumage, bright colors, and even some of the weird features of show chickens. Look for future posts about raising show chickens including how to bathe your chickens. Visit The “Chick” Boutique.
Raising Chickens as Pets
When you consider getting a pet, your first thought is a cat or dog. However, keeping chickens as pets is growing in popularity as people become aware of the advantages to having a small, backyard flock. Advantages to Pet Chickens Chickens are fun and educational: more interesting than TV. Like other pets, chickens have varying personalities. They provide hours of enjoyment as they interact with each other and their surroundings. Did you know you can buy diapers for your chickens so they can come in the house? Many breeds are easy to manage and tamed by hand-feeding and handling regularly. Some roosters, which many associate with aggressiveness, are tamable with proper handling. I don’t recommend getting a rooster until you’ve had chickens for at least a year and are comfortable with handling them. Besides the entertainment and educational value, chickens offer several advantages to their upkeep. Inexpensive—Chickens cost less than you think. Your biggest expense is setting up to house your chickens and that can be done relatively cheaply if you use your imagination. Follow our progress as we build a new coop and pen for $200 or less. As well as kitchen scraps, chickens need feed. Most feed costs between $10 and $15 for a 50 lb bag. Depending on how many chickens you have, one 50 lb bag may last for one month. I also provide mealy worms as treats in the wintertime. You can get a container for around $5. Chicks range from $3 to $10 and $10 to over $50 for grown chickens. The price of chickens depends on what you’re raising them for. I have seen grown show roosters go for $50, but for the average backyard chicken farmer, your chicks will cost around $5 each for good laying hens. I buy online from eFowl. They are located in California and have great service and healthy chicks. I just received a shipment of 15 new chicks: Orpingtons and Ameracaunas. They’re healthy, adorable and so much fun. Shipping is free for orders of 25 or more and only $9.99 for less than 25 chicks. Eggs—The best known advantage to raising chickens as pets is their eggs. What other pets do you know that feed their owners? Farm fresh eggs from chickens allowed to forage provide healthier eggs with lower cholesterol and higher amounts of Omega-3s. Allergies—If you can’t own a dog or cat because of fur and dander allergies, consider chickens. Pest Control—If you try to avoid chemicals and toxins for pest control, then chickens are your best bet. Chickens love bugs and quickly rid your yard of unwanted pests. It’s fun watching them play tag with their latest find; as soon as one drops the bug, the next one has it and the chase is on again. Natural Garbage Disposal—Don’t throw leftovers and out-of-date food away. Chickens will eat almost anything: vegetables, fruits, melons, greens, and bread to name a few. Never give them meat, eggs or anything moldy. My chickens are especially fond of beet greens (cooked) and melons. Mow Your Lawn—Do you have a spot you hate to mow? Let your chickens forage in different areas you want weed control; they’ll take it bare dirt for you. The Black Gold of the Chicken World—Chicken poop is the best fertilizer for gardens. Properly composted poop provides most of the nutrients your soil needs. We compost in the chicken pen. We place scraps, grass clippings, leaves, etc. in one corner and by the end of the day the pile is flat. We continue adding clippings and food stuff throughout the week then on the weekends, we rake the entire pen move everything outside in our composting pile that is close by then start all over. Chicken poop needs to set for at least six months before using or you will burn your plants. Start your compost pile as soon as your chickens move outside and you will have a nice fertilizer by the next growing season. Great Hobby—You can’t go wrong with raising chickens for a hobby. It’s easy and helps teach children pet ownership responsibility. Children and adults find interest in raising show chickens. There are many clubs and organizations offering competitions. It’s a hobby the whole family will enjoy. The breed of show chicken depends on your interest and the age of the person handling the chicken. If your children are going to show them, I suggest small breeds like the Bantam Cochin. If you have fancy in mind, try some of the Japanese breeds. Always practice proper sanitation and hand washing when handling chicks or any other pets. My Top Pet Breed Recommendations Not all chicken breeds make good pets. However, some are friendly and if well cared for may offer you 8 to 12 years of companionship. I advise avoiding roosters until you become an experienced backyard chicken farmer. In some breeds, roosters are aggressive and can hurt you or the other chickens in your flock. Ameraucana/Easter Egger This is the first of my two favorite pet breeds. Thought to have been developed in the United States, much of their popularity comes from laying blue or blue-green colored. Their non aggressive behavior makes them excellent pets for children. Ameraucanas are sometimes confused with the Araucana. Both have pea combs and red earlobes and lay blue/blue-green colored eggs. The Ameraucana is a different breed and recognizable by their facial muffs and beard, full tails, and slate or black legs. Ameraucanas come in large and bantam varieties with eight officially recognized colors by the American Poultry Association: White, Black, Blue, Blue Wheaten, Wheaten, Buff, Red Brown, and Silver. Most hatcheries only offer a mixed color selection. The ones that do offer a color choice are slightly more expensive. A full-size hen weighs 5 ½ pounds while a bantam hen only weighs 26 ounces. The large cock weighs in at 6 ½ pounds compared to its bantam counterpart at only 30 ounces. Orpington Named after Orpington, England the Orpington chicken is kept for
Heat Stress and Keeping Your Chickens Cool
The snow is gone and warm weather is returning; it’s time to start practicing hot weather care for your backyard flock. Knowing how to prevent and treat heat stress and exhaustion is important during the hot summer months. Heat stress and exhaustion is one of the top causes of chicken death. For those new to backyard chicken farming, it is important you learn to recognize the signs of this serious condition and how to keep your chickens cool and hydrated. Chicks, especially, need extra attention to help them remain healthy. For a flock of laying hens, knowing how to prevent heat exhaustion and treat a chicken suffering heat exhaustion is important to preserving their health and the health of their eggs. Once your chicks are old enough to move outdoors, remain vigilant for signs of heat stroke, especially if it’s mid to late summer. Heat stress comes on quickly so it is important to watch them closely. Even older birds need supervision during the hot summer months. Signs of Heat Stress Like dogs, chicks and grown chickens pant to keep cool—the first sign they need shade and water. With heat stress, they are open mouth panting while spreading their wings and squatting close to the ground. They are trying to lose heat by adjusting their feather position. • Gasping and panting • Spreading wings • Lethargic and droopy acting • Extremely pale cones and wattles • Closed eyes • Lying down • Drop in egg production • Reduced egg size, egg weight, and poor shell quality • Increased thirst • Decreased appetite • Lost body weight • Increased cannibalism Laying hens are susceptible to heat exhaustion. Water is the main content of an egg. Laying eggs requires a lot of fluids so keeping your hens hydrated and comfortable is important. Egg layers also require large amounts of calcium to avoid soft eggshells. When hot, your hens may not eat as much so calcium consumption is low. Try adding small amounts of apple cider vinegar to their water 2-3 times a week. This helps to level their pH, making calcium absorption easier. [callout title=WARNING]Never give heat stressed chickens apple cider vinegar. Only give to chickens with no signs of heat stress. [/callout] Tips for Keeping Your Chickens Cool • Fresh, clean water access—I urge you not to use nipple style watering systems as the only water source, summer or winter. Chickens have a natural pecking order with those higher in the order blocking others from the water. Always have many water sources available. Use automatic waters or open pans of water. I prefer hanging the water slightly above the ground when possible to avoid dirt and debris from dirtying the water. • Cool the water down—Add ice cubes or blocks of ice to their water. This helps lower their body temperature. We use empty, gallon milk jugs for blocks of ice. These help cool the water for several hours. • Fruit cubes—Besides placing blocks of ice in their water, we place strawberries and red grapes in ice cube trays, fill with water, and freeze. We then pour the ice cubes in their water pan. They love pecking at the colorful cubes at they float in the water. • Watermelon—Our chickens love watermelon. During the hot part of the summer, I buy them a watermelon once a week. Watermelon is mostly water so it goes a long way to keep them hydrated. • Get a mister—For between $15 and $20, you can get a cobra water mister. Just set around your pen and the wind will carry a fine, cooling mist over your birds. • With the Oklahoma heat topping 100+ degrees for several weeks at a time, we invested in a large, high velocity fan. We connect an extension cord then place the fan under a nearby tree and point toward the chicken pen. Several of our chickens lay as close to the fan as possible, letting the air ruffle their feathers. Try positioning it so the air blows across your frozen water jugs. • Since our night temperatures aren’t much cooler than daytime, usually averaging 80° F, we place frozen water jugs in the chicken coop. We use 4-5 frozen jugs, and the hens like to lay close to them. We usually place them close to the roost and nesting boxes. • Feeding—As with people, chickens need a lighter diet during the summer months to help preserve a lower body temperature. Never feed your chicken scratch grains as just the act of digesting scratch increases body temperature. Their diet should consist of lots of fresh greens, fruits and vegetables. • Water is not enough—Providing water is not enough if your chickens are heat stressed. Water intensifies the problem by stimulating the loss of electrolytes: birds drink more increasing wet droppings which causes electrolyte loss and hastens dehydration. You must include a balanced electrolyte solution by supplying homemade electrolytes or Pedialyte or Gatorade with their water. Electrolyte Solution Found in The Chicken Encyclopedia: ½ teaspoon salt substitute 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon table salt 1 tablespoon sugar 1 gallon water Note: Find salt substitute in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. Give the electrolyte solution for four to six hours each day for a week. Do not give to chickens that are not showing signs of heat stress. Find this recipe and instructions in The Chicken Encyclopedia by Gail Damerow. I strongly urge all backyard chicken farmers to add this book to their library. Gail discusses heat stress as well as giving her readers lots of useful information for raising chickens. [callout title=Tip]If you live in a hot climate, buy heat tolerant breeds. The same goes for people living with harsh winters, try keeping cold tolerant birds. [/callout] [ultimatetables 1 /] Visit The “Chick” Boutique.