2010 brings about many changes
for Ranch Hag Hens.

In the Spring of 2010 Ranch Hag Hens, family and farm animals are moving to higher elevations in a remote location in Northern California. As a result, Ranch Hag Hens will focus primarily on Treats for Chickens, their heritage breeding program, and the ‘Ranch Hag’ herself will be completing the Great American Novel – her chicken care and behavior book – due late 2010, early 2011.

At this time we are offering a limited number of pullets and ‘first year’ laying hens to our customers by appointment. Check the blog for updated listings on availability of breeds, extra sale dates, etc.

We will not be incubating/hatching/offering day-old chicks and encourage prospective owners to locate and purchase your flock and natural products from a reputable source.

We realize these changes are going to affect your family so we have compiled information to assist you in making good decisions when choosing your chickens.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, Quick N Easy Tips, Flock of Chicken Terms & Fun Facts.

These pages are informative and we are hopeful many of your questions will be answered.

Additionally, here are some more helpful tips to aid you this Spring as you expand your home flock!

Traits to look for when selecting your day-old chicks:

• Active
• Straight beak
• Clean bottoms
• No missing feathers/fluff
• Clean bright eyes
• Vaccinated for Marek’s Disease
• Drinks water on own
• Eats food on own
• Claws/toes straight, not bent or curled

General Care Tips for Day-Old Chicks:

• Housing: Chicks do well in a brooder or cardboard box for the first four weeks. Increase their housing space to prevent overcrowding and stress as they grow older. Proper housing does not have drafts.
• Heat: Use a brooder lamp (at least 18 inches from bottom of brooder) and a heat bulb. If your chicks are cold they will be directly under the heat source huddled together. Too hot? You’ll find them at the outermost perimeter of the heat source trying to cool down and likely panting.
• Maintain a temperature of 90 to 95 degrees F the first week; reduce by several degrees each week until you get to 70 degrees F; approximately four to five weeks.
• Bedding: No newspaper, it’s too slippery. Shavings are a good start. Stay away from cedar as it is poisonous to poultry. Paper towels provide good footing as well. Bedding is to be kept clean, dry and free of debris.
• Water: Chicks need fresh clean water at all times. It’s a good idea to put marbles or small round pebbles into the base of the water fountain to prevent any accidents. Think ‘small children around water’.
• Add vitamins & electrolytes to water with every water change. Just a pinch of V&E will do.
• Feed: Organic 20% Chick Starter for at least eight weeks. Organic starter will provide the nutrients needed without the unnecessary animal byproducts and antibiotics found in most feed products. Chickens know their limits and will not overeat. Just be sure their supply doesn’t run out.
• Fun in the Sun: The closer to four weeks your chicks become, take them outside on a sunny day for a quick play in the grass or garden. Do not leave them unattended.
• Once they are feathered it’s time to leave your house and journey to their chicken house. Please be mindful of drastic weather changes as it may be shocking to their systems. If you are concerned about their well-being during cold weather hang a heat bulb in their coop at night.

General Care Tips for Pullets & Laying Hens:

• Housing: An absolute minimum of two square feet per chicken is required. You do not want your girls crowded. The larger the space the better. They do tend to scrunch together when they roost at night to retain heat.
• Heat: Your girls are feathered and likely do not need heat. Concerned about a decrease in temperatures? Hang a brooder heat lamp in their coop for added warmth. Please use common sense and do not overheat them.
• Bedding: Rice hulls, pine shavings, straw, dry leaves and grass clippings are good bedding sources and are easy to compost.
• Water: Fresh and clean. If you wouldn’t drink the water – they shouldn’t either.
• Don’t forget to add the vitamins and minerals to add a little pep in their step.
• Feed: At about 8 weeks of age, change the feed to Organic 16% crumbles. There is a slight difference in protein and the consistency of the feed is a little larger.
• Shortly after 16 weeks/3 months change to Organic 16% pellets. Mix the pellets with existing crumble to create ‘trail mix’ until they become acclimated to the new food source.
• Supplement feed with vegetables, produce, kitchen leftovers, etc. Try to stay away from spicy, citrus or onion related foods.
• Eggs: Collect eggs daily and enjoy.
• DE: Use food grade Diatomaceous Earth in their dust bathing area, sprinkle in the coop and in nesting boxes to aid in their comfort of removing bugs, mites, etc from their bodies.

Tips for Any Age Chickens

• Change water daily. If you don’t want to drink it, they don’t either.
• Organic feed is the most nutritious choice for your chickens and for your family.
• Collect eggs daily.
• Keeping the coop tidy prevents illness, reduces flies and keeps your ladies healthy. Compost the manure.
• Nesting boxes are to be kept clean, dry and free from debris and waste.
• Every night at dusk secure their coop/run for the evening to ensure safety from predators.
• Discontinue the use of pesticides. Instead use Diatomaceous Earth.
• Let your flock out as often as you can. Don’t keep them ‘cooped up.’
• Do NOT chase chickens, Ever!

TIPS FOR WHEN YOU FIRST GET YOUR CHICKENS HOME

Set everything up FIRST (coop/brooder, lamp, run, shavings, straw, feeder, water fountain) **BEFORE** you place your chickens into their new environment.

Wash hands with warm water and soap before and after holding your chicks.

Dip the beak of each chick into the water fountain to familiarize her with the fountain. Allow chicks to settle in for several days before handling them.

Outdoor Chickens: should stay enclosed in their coop/run for a minimum of two days to become acclimated with their new home, environment and boundaries.