Learning About Raising Chickens

We have visited the home of the women raising the chickens and now have a better understanding of how to raise the chickens. During the trip, we learned about how to handle chickens, as well as what chickens eat, when they need water, what they need to survive properly.


Food

• Certain foods that must be in their diet in order for the chickens to form the firm shell on their eggs
• Vegetables must be in their diet to keep the yolk in their eggs orange
• Table scraps such as old bread, wilted vegetables, and fruit can be used in the feed 
• Their old egg shells can be used in the feed 
• Foods the chickens cannot be fed include citrus and avocado
• The chickens must be fed every day 

General Care

• Chicken coops must have nesting boxes
• The coop must be cleaned regularly 
• There must always be fresh water in the coop that is replaced daily 
• The coop must have a chicken run for the chickens to move around in 
• The coop and run must be enclosed completely to keep the chickens in and predators out 

Other 

• When carrying a chicken you must gently hold down the wings to keep the animal from panicking and flapping