Feeding a hen it's a hen-house of adequate size are the 2 main aspects to consider when planning to raise one or more hens. To have one daily egg production, it is necessary to give to the hens a complete and balanced diet, which includes the classic food, the possibility of scratching on the ground, seasonal vegetables and occasionally even the leftovers of our meals, paying attention to any toxic foods (avocado, citrus fruits, onions, sweets, dry beans, potato peel, moldy fruit and vegetables).
Una laying hen, which weighs about 2kg, needs to ingest about 120-130 grams of feed every day, although this quantity may depend on whether or not it can be scratched on the ground. It is not necessary to insert more feed than necessary, in fact if left there overnight there is a risk that molds will be created and other animals will try to enter the area where the feeders are located.
Accessories for feeding your chickens
Inside the hen-house and in the vicinity, mangers must be positioned, where the hens can find everything they need to feed themselves at their best. The best solution on the market is the mangers that prevent the hens from walking in and that they are anti-tipping. It is then necessary to place a number of feeders in relation to the number of hens, so that all can feed properly, without the dominant hens eating most of the food.
We must not forget to make fresh water available, which must be changed daily. Beware of freezing when temperatures go below zero and you must also consider that the water could get dirty, therefore you must use a watering place that does not allow dirt to enter.
What foods are part of the chicken diet?
First of all, a distinction must be made, given that some hens have the possibility of running around outdoors while only moving inside a hen-house and a small outdoor enclosure. In the first case the hens will independently feed on a different number of wild herbs and they will be able to supplement their diet with some sources of protein such as small insects and earthworms, while in the other case the daily diet will consist exclusively of special feed or in any case everything that those who raise the hens will provide.
The staple food for hens consists grains (wheat, corn, millet, barley, panic, sorghum etc ...). Another particularly important food for chickens' diets are legumes which contain a higher percentage of protein intake than the grains listed above.
I oil seeds (sunflower, hemp, flax etc ...) are necessary in the hens' diet considering that they are rich in fiber, protein and omega 3. Fresh herbs and vegetables must then be provided, especially for hens that do not have the possibility of scratching on the ground. Better to hang them than to place them on the ground, so that they are not soiled and ruined by the hens in the chicken coop. Finally, it must be borne in mind that it is important to provide elements rich in calcium, present in foods such as grit (useful both for the formation of egg shell than to aid digestion), sand or cuttlefish bone.
As mentioned earlier, it is okay to provide kitchen leftovers sporadically as well, as long as they are not toxic to chickens.
A healthy hen
Hens are very delicate animals and you have to be careful about their well-being.
There are numerous aspects to monitor and observe, to be certain of good health of our animals.
The plumage: must be shiny and thick. If the hen has areas without feathers or ruffled (during the period in which it is not used to moult) it can be a symptom of the presence of parasites or attacks by the group. The mental health of the chicken is also important!
La Cresta: a healthy hen must have a comb of a nice bright red color and straight.
The ears: an old hen has dry and pale pink ears, while a brooding hen is moist and bright pink. Lice and mites love to hide in the ears, which is why it is very important to check often for crusts or black spots.
The goiter: in the morning it must be empty, if it is swollen it could be an obstruction.
The paws: the scales must be dry and smooth, dry scales could indicate infections or the presence of mites. You have to be very careful to keep the chickens' feet clean as there could be very serious infections such as pododermatitis.
Even chickens get colds!
Especially during seasonal changes, hens can run into respiratory diseases from the lightest such as a cold to the most serious such as bronchitis.
To avoid all this, a hen-house hot, dry e sure for our beloved animals.
Il Polly Duplex that's all your hens need! It is a raised chicken coop 50 cm from the ground with an external shelter. Feeders and drinking troughs can be inserted under the chicken coop so that it can be used as a shelter from the rain. A comfortable ladder allows the hens to enter the chicken coop for night rest and egg laying. The polly-duplex it has different sizes, according to the number of hens, ranging from a size L to a 4XL.
