Chicken Health - Keep a Close Eye on Your Flock

A couple of chicken questions I've been asked lately:

1. Do chickens get more or less healthy as they age?

Though they develop a resistance to some diseases, they also become more susceptible to other diseases that commonly affect older birds. Some factors that affect the health of your flock are bringing in new birds frequently, having neighboring birds nearby, and fitting and showing your chickens.

2. How do you tell whether your chickens are healthy? Check how they look: Are their eyes bright and lively? Are their combs bright, waxy in appearance? Check their feathers; have they retained their sheen? Check their legs and vents, as well as underneath their wings, no parasites? Great!

Chickens Sense Fall is in the Air

Are your chickens growing feathers like mad? Mine, at least the ones that recently molted, look like they're getting prepared for a rough winter . . . with a warm coat of feathers.

The last few months they've been getting kitty kibble along with their normal fare. Takes a lot of protein to regrow all those feathers. Fortunately, some of my younger hens kept me in eggs these last months. With daylight fading, they'll all slow down the laying, but since I can't use all the eggs anyway it's not a big problem. Well, maybe for the people I give them to, but they understand.

Will light up my main chicken house a couple of extra hours a day as we get closer to winter so my best layers will be able to even out their productivity.