There are many benefits to raising free-range chickens, the main one being the increase in quality of life your chickens will experience. Chickens raised in crowded environments will produce fewer eggs. They are also more likely to get diseases. Free-range eggs are more profitable. They can be double the price of store-bought eggs, which means raising free-range chickens can be very lucrative. There are also many personal health benefits you should consider. Eggs from free-range hens are much healthier than store-bought eggs. They have more omega and beta-carotene and they taste better.
Free-range eggs have 3x more vitamins including:
- 2/3 more vitamin A
- 7x more beta-carotene
- 2x more omega acids
- 1/4 less fat
When considering raising free range hens. The first thing you need is a big enough piece of land, which means that you need to make sure they have space to graze. You are going to need to let them eat plenty of grass, bugs, and seeds. Don’t try to start with too many chickens at first. It is important you never overload your ground or you will end up with chickens that have diseases and respiratory problems. Also, you should consider that a large amount of chicken feed can get expensive. It is important all of the chickens have the best life possible—the less stress, the more eggs. Chickens like trees for perching and shade so be sure to have a couple in easy-to-reach locations.
Shelter
When building a shelter it’s a good idea to get yourself some type of hen house plans or drawing to help with your design. There are many things to consider when building a hen house, such as nesting boxes. A nesting box is a shelter designed for hens to lay eggs. A nesting box helps hens feel safe and secure. It has roosting boxes, which is where the hens lay eggs. There is also a feeding area. It is recommended you have roosting bars as well, as chickens like to perch on them and use them to determine their rank.
Adding a light on a timer can trick your hens into thinking they have 16 hours’ worth of sun, thinking that it’s spring so they lay eggs. You should feed your chickens 2 times a day, usually in the morning and afternoon. Pellets make great feed. You should also have water inside the shelter. You can use special water containers with a valve to keep the water level up. It’s important during winter you make sure the water isn’t frozen. Sometimes hens can share a nest, which means you can get more eggs per day. Your fencing should be sturdy and complete. Remember, it will be your chicken’s main source of protection from wildlife. Electric fencing is a great alternative to traditional fences.
Picking eggs
Fresh eggs are a fantastic way to start your day and you should gather eggs twice a day. Always consider that roosters are very protective and you should use a stick to slowly move the rooster out of the nesting box when gathering eggs. Make sure to gather the eggs every day to prevent any damage. You can tell what color eggs a chicken will lay by the color of their ears. For example, a white hen will lay white eggs.
Raising chickens
Separating the pullets from cockerels can be very difficult and you should inspect your hens for health problems on a daily basis as you don’t want any diseases to spread. Keep your chicks separate until they are big enough to enter the main chicken coup. You should also give chickens access to dust baths. It may be helpful to have 2 coops, one for older hens and one to accommodate younger hens. Your laying chicks will be fully feathered in a month’s time.
Breeds
There are many different varieties of chickens. Some are better at laying eggs than others. You should spend some time researching what type of hen is best for you. Here are some popular types of chickens that lay over 250 eggs a year.
- Americana Chickens—They lay blue-green eggs.
- Barred Rock Chickens—They lay light brown eggs.
- Welsummer dark—They lay dark brown eggs.
- Speckled Sussex—They lay light brown eggs with white spots.
- Black Austrolorp—They lay red-brown eggs
Troubleshooting issues
Don’t stress your chickens out or they will stop laying eggs. Chickens are very temperamental. You have to act like a chicken psychologist to see what is agitating them. Here are few things that may be contributing to the drop in egg production.
Sometimes, a young hen will stop production when introduced into the coop. Older hens can take control of the coop and can cause the young hens to stress out and prevent them from laying eggs. This is a very common problem known as roost jealousy since hens don’t sleep with their eggs. They can be very territorial about their roost and you may have to install more roosts. Roosts should be varied in height to give the older hens a better position.
As your chickens get older they are going to consume more food and this can cause your hens to get worried. It may be necessary to increase your feeding to 3x a day.
A dirty nesting box can also slow egg production. You should clean you coop often. Relieving these factors can reduce stress. Also, there could be bugs. If you suspect mites, you should use diatomaceous earth. You should only use pinewood chips or hay for your nesting boxes.
Raising free-range chickens can be very rewarding. Nothing beats freshly laid eggs for breakfast. The secret is to remember that your chickens want to live in comfortable conditions. The better your hens feel, the more eggs they will produce. Use these tips to get the most from your free-range chickens without stressing yourself out.
Frequently asked questions regarding egg production and poultry farming requirements