Raising chickens has become very popular in recent years. Not just among homesteaders, but among suburbanites. Anywhere raising chickens is allowed, you can be sure that at least a few people are doing it. But with all these new chicken owners, lots of people are making deadly mistakes.
Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!
In this episode of Becky's Homestead, Becky talks about five common mistakes to avoid when raising chickens. The mistakes are:
1. Putting smaller chickens in with full-grown chickens. The larger chickens will peck and kill the little ones.
2. Not putting out grit for your chickens to eat. They need it to grind up foods such as whole corn.
3. Forgetting to add diatomaceous earth to your chicken feed. Do this three times a year to prevent worms.
4. Neglecting to provide your chickens with both sunshine and shade. They need both to be healthy.
5. Not putting the nesting boxes in a quiet private spot where chickens will feel relaxed so they'll lay more eggs.
Be sure to watch the video below to hear Becky elaborate on these points.
Want to start a homestead but not sure how?
Sign Up & get a FREE book, "How To Homestead No Matter Where You Live."
Nedra says
I have read diatomaceous earth shouldn’t be used( although I have carefully applied a small amount to the sand in my coop and mixed it in while my girls are in their other small run area to keep fleas and mites out), the dust can cause resperatory problem if not careful applying it. There are warnings in using this any where, some use it to treat yards for fleas as well. I’ve not seen any instructions (amounts to use, how to apply, etc) but from research and from others who have and do use it, be careful! breathing in to much dust can even cause human problems. How odd is this being a food grade diatomaceous earth?
Barbara V says
Your very correct, and take it from me, an accidental inhaler, nearly cost me my own life due to inhaling it and it takes next to nothing to suffocate you! which is its job when sprinkling around yard or coops for ants, mites, etc. PLEASE use ONLY FOOD GRADE D.E. powder on you hens, even if butt dusting them for mites… pool grade ,as example is coarser, and trying to cough that back up if inhaled will cut your lungs. coarse is great for outside bug problems….wear a mask. I dusted my hens, not feeling wind blowing dust back .. and nearly paid with my life for not wearing a dust mask. Never want to go for days gasping for air while coughing up wet clay stuck in lungs ever again.
William says
I have 16 hens and 2 Rosters. I feed them non GMO feed and Crushed Corn feed. In the morning and evening I serve them cut, sliced and diced cabbage and occasionally apple slices.
I also throw just plain sratch mornings and evenings. It cost me about $50.00 a month max. So only of one has double the amount of hens and or, rosters will it go to $100.00 a month.
toribia sescon says
Very informative. Thank you so much for the video presentation.