What are your business hours?
Please refer to our blog at http://ranchhaghens.blogspot.com for updated seasonal business hours.
How many eggs will a single hen lay?
Generally a hen will lay one egg per day in the Spring thru the Fall. In the winter months, egg production tapers off to one egg every day or two. Egg production can vary on climate and stress of the bird. For example, at 102 degrees outside, it's unlikely that you are going to get your regular ration of eggs. Your girls will have spent most of their day trying to stay cool and hydrated.
How long will it take for my chicks to start laying?
Hens begin laying six months from hatch.
How often do they lay?
Nearly every day. The egg formation process takes approximately 24-26 hours. Once she lays that egg the process starts all over again.
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For how many years can I expect my hen to produce eggs?
Many books suggest that hens have a capacity to lay for up to five years. We have a client that reported her hen still laying at 12 years of age.
How much feed do hens eat?
One chicken will eat about two pounds of feed per week. Bantams will eat slightly less due to their size. You will find that they eat more in the Winter to create energy for staying warm.
Hens like to scratch around at the ground so they can dig up bugs, worms, snails, grass, etc. The more your hens are able to free-range in your yard the better. Always provide your girls with plenty of crumbles or pellets. As an added treat, in the evening give each hen about one cup of scratch (organic cracked corn). Keep in mind that scratch is like candy. They will love it, but it can add on unnecessary pounds to your flock.
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Can I have chickens that don't lay eggs?
You sure can. Prior to being a year old he would be referred to as a Cockerel. Beyond one year of age he's a Rooster.
Can you tell me about Roosters?
For starters, cockerels and roosters are generally not allowed in city limits. Roosters are the more decorative of the chicken species. Their flashy and bold plumage attract the attention of natural predators while also helping to protect the hens against those predators. Roosters are a masculine symbol that has been portrayed in weekend cartoons as only crowing when the sun begins to rise. This is a serious misconception for a rooster will crow at any and all hours of the day, guaranteed. When he begins to crow you may be horribly alarmed by his raspy attempt. Fear not, he will develop a tune you will come to love if you are located in an area where roosters are allowed.
Do I need to have a rooster in my flock for my hens to lay eggs?
No, roosters are not necessary for a hen to lay eggs. You need a rooster if you desire fertilized eggs or if you want to have chicks hatch from your hens eggs.
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Denise turned out to be Dennis! Can you re-home him for us?
We are no longer in a position to re-home your noisy little fellas. Please contact your local Humane Society (be certain to make a donation to their cause), send an e-mail to everyone in your contact list and list your noisy little guy on Craigslist.org.
If you really get yourself in a bind, send us an e-mail and we'll see if we have any suggestions.
DO NOT ABANDON YOUR ROOSTER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!
Do I need to trim my chicken's wings to prevent her from flying away or into my neighbors yard?
Chickens don't have the capacity for sustained flight like many familiar birds that we see out flying in the sky. However, you may have a girl that likes to go up into trees. or high places. If you are concerned, you can curb her from doing so by carefully clipping her wing feathers. Please be mindful that wing clipping upsets the bird's natural balance, and she then becomes more vulnerable to predators. You will need to weigh out the pros and cons of her behavior and her environment.
Why is my chicken panting like a dog?
If they are standing/laying around with their beaks wide open, partially open and their wings lifted up and away from their bodies, she's hot and likely overheated. Chickens don't perspire so they'll need plenty of fresh drinking water to help cool them down. Some birds enjoy a cool mist, while others don't find it refreshing.
It's raining, can my chickens be out in the rain?
Seasonal rain brings out bugs and softens the soil for scratching. Let them out to play like kids in a rain puddle. Be sure you are providing them with a dry sheltered place with no drafts though. You don't want them to catch a cold. If you find that you have a bird that gets soaked you might find it beneficial to bring her inside and dry her with a hair dryer on low and medium heat. Use common sense, please.
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How can we tell if an egg is fresh?
A fresh egg when placed in a jar of water will not float. It will sink. If you drop an egg in water and it floats, toss it out. Do not eat it. It's not fresh. A fresh laid egg has very little air inside.
What is the best bedding material?
There are a variety of bedding materials to choose from. Straw, wood shavings, bark, paper wood chips, rice hulls, etc. It's trial and error. We use straw in our nesting boxes, rice hulls in some of the coops and wood shavings to absorb moisture. We also compost all these materials out in the pasture.
I see you sell Diatomaceous Earth on your site. What is DE and how can I use it with my chickens?
Food Grade DE is a fossil shell flour that can be used as an internal wormer, to control insects and to aide in parasite removal in both animals and people. We have a client that add a teaspoon of Food Grade DE to her yogurt every morning. She swears by it.
With regard to DE and your chickens: DE can be scattered around the coop, mixed in with bedding material in nesting boxes and does wonders in your flocks favorite dusting holes and gullies. Flies don't like the powder and therefore it works wonders to reduce, if not eliminate, those pesky flies. Chickens can get mites on their skin in and around their feather follicles, but mites can't stand up to being "dusted" with DE and therefore perish. It helps to use a flour sifter when trying to cover a large area.
