CHICKENS
CHICKEN
WHAT IS A CHICKEN?
TOP 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD
KNOW BEFORE RAISING CHICKEN
HOW TO CARE FOR CHICKEN LINKS
HOW TO RAISE CHICKEN LINKS
CHICKEN LINKS
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SECTION 1
CHICKEN
The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a domesticated subspecies
of the red junglefowl originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or
cock is a term for an adult male bird, and younger male may be called
a cockerel. A male that has been castrated is a capon. An adult female
bird is called a hen and a sexually immature female is called a pullet.
Chicken
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken
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SECTION 2
WHAT IS A
CHICKEN?
A chicken is a bird. One of the features that differentiate it from
most other birds is that it has a comb and two wattles.
The comb is the red appendage on the top of the head, and the wattles
are the two appendages under the chin.
These are secondary sexual characteristics and are more prominent
in the male.
What Is a Chicken?
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res08-whatis.html
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Chickens 101
https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/chickens-101/
How to Determine
Your Chicken Flock
Size and Space Needs
https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/hobby-farming/chickens/how-to-determine-your-flock-size-and-space-requirements-163005/
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RAISING CHICKENS 101:
CHOOSING THE RIGHT
CHICKEN BREEDS
https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-choosing-chicken-breeds
RAISING CHICKENS 101:
HOW TO GET STARTED
https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-how-get-started
RAISING CHICKENS 101:
WHEN CHICKENS
STOP LAYING EGGS
https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-when-chickens-stop-laying-eggs
RAISING CHICKENS 101:
HOW TO RAISE
BABY CHICKENS
https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-how-raise-baby-chickens
RAISING CHICKENS 101:
COLLECTING, CLEANING,
STORING, HATCHING EGGS!
https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-collecting-storing-and-hatching-chicken-eggs
CHICKEN BEHAVIORS:
DUST BATHING, MATING,
PREENING, AND MORE
https://www.almanac.com/chicken-behaviors-dust-bathing-mating-preening-and-more
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Raising Chickens 101:
10 Things to Know
Before Purchasing Your
First Flock of Laying Hens
https://rethinkrural.raydientplaces.com/blog/raising-chickens
How the Chicken
Conquered the World
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-chicken-conquered-the-world-87583657/
My
Pet
Chicken
https://blog.mypetchicken.com/
List of
Chicken
Breeds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chicken_breeds
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SECTION 3
TOP 10 THINGS
YOU SHOULD
KNOW BEFORE
RAISING CHICKENS
Raising a small flock of backyard chickens can be a rewarding and
exciting experience for the whole family, but before you dive in,
there are a few things you should know.
1. Check the Laws.
Each town and municipality has their own rules about backyard chickens
ranging from how many are allowed, if roosters are allowed or only hens,
and whether permits are needed for the chickens or their coop. Before
you bring home your chicks, you’ll want to know the laws where you live.
And it’s best to get them in writing.
2. You Don’t Need a Rooster.
Speaking of roosters, did you know that you don’t need a rooster in order
for your hens to lay eggs? They’ll lay eggs for you whether or not there’s
a male around. The eggs just won’t be fertile and will never hatch into
chicks.
3. The Right Size Coop.
Your chickens will need a safe coop to sleep in and lay their eggs. You can
build, buy or repurpose, but be sure to allow for 3-5 square feet of floor
space in the coop for each chicken. You will also need 8” of roosting bar
per chicken and one nesting box for every 3-4 hens in which to lay their eggs.
4. Hens Only Lay for a Few Years.
Speaking of eggs, a chicken will only lay regularly for about 2-3 years. After
that, her production will drop by about 20% a year until she stops altogether,
but with proper care and protection from predators, a chicken can live to be
ten plus years old.
5. Hens Don’t Lay Year Round.
Although during the prime spring and summer laying months, good layers will lay
an egg every day, no chicken lays year round. Once the days get shorter in the
fall, they will start “molting,” which means dropping their feathers and growing
in new ones for winter. Most hens stop laying during the molt. The shorter days
also mean they aren’t getting the 14 hours of daylight needed to stimulate the
ovaries, so you might not see eggs again until spring. (You can add light to your
coop to keep your chickens laying through the winter, but that doesn’t give their
bodies that natural break).
6. Eggs Don’t Need to be Washed.
Commercial eggs are washed before being shipped off to the grocery store, but eggs
from your own flock don’t need to be – and shouldn’t be – washed until just before
you use them. Every egg is laid with an invisible protective coating called the
“bloom” that prevents air and bacteria from entering the egg through the pores in
the shell. Washing removes that coating, so best to save the washing for later. And
when you do wash your eggs, a gentle rinse under warm running water should be
sufficient.
7. Eggs Don’t Need to be Refrigerated.
As long as you haven’t washed your eggs, they don’t need to be refrigerated. The
bloom helps to keep the egg fresh and it will still be safe to eat even after
several weeks out at room temperature. An egg will keep longer in the refrigerator
though, so if you aren’t planning on eating your eggs fairly soon, chilling is
always better.
8. Check Your Egg Laws.
If you are planning on selling your extra eggs, be sure to learn the Egg Laws in
your state. Your local extension service or state university poultry department
are good places to start. Each state has different rules governing how eggs must
be handled and labeled in order to be sold.
9. Everything Wants to Eat a Chicken.
Chickens can’t fly, so they are extremely vulnerable to all kinds of predators
including fox, hawks, coyotes, raccoon and even the family dog. In fact, dogs
are the #1 killer of backyard chickens. To ensure their safety, chickens should
have a secure enclosed pen for daytime or a dedicated guardian animal if you
plan on letting them roam freely.
10. Chickens Make Wonderful Pets.
Once you start your flock, you will probably be surprised at how intelligent,
affectionate and friendly chickens are. In deciding to raise chickens, you have
added some new pets to your family that just happen to provide you fresh,
delicious eggs for breakfast!
Top 10 Things
You Should Know
Before Raising Chickens
https://blog.lehmans.com/top-10-things-you-should-know-before-raising-chickens/
Raising
Chickens
For Dummies
Cheat Sheet
https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/hobby-farming/chickens/raising-chickens-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-209469/
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SECTION 4
HOW TO
CARE FOR
CHICKENS
LINKS
How to Raise
Chickens for Meat
https://www.thespruce.com/raise-chickens-for-meat-3016587
Start a Chicken
Broiler Business
on Your Small Farm
https://www.thespruce.com/start-a-chicken-broiler-business-3016901
Supplies You
Need for
Keeping Chickens
https://www.thespruce.com/supplies-you-need-for-keeping-chickens-3016826
Start a Chicken
Broiler Business
on Your Small Farm
https://www.thespruce.com/start-a-chicken-broiler-business-3016901
Chicken Breeds:
Rhode Island Red
https://www.thespruce.com/chicken-breeds-rhode-island-red-3016554
What to Feed
Chickens or
Laying Hens
https://www.thespruce.com/feeding-your-chickens-or-laying-hens-3016556
Watering
Backyard
Chickens
https://www.thespruce.com/water-your-chickens-3016561
How to Raise
and Keep Broody
Hens for Eggs
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-keep-chickens-3016831
Protect Your
Chickens From
Predators
https://www.thespruce.com/protect-your-chickens-from-predators-3016834
Why Chickens
Eat Eggs and
How to Stop It
https://www.thespruce.com/why-chickens-eat-eggs-stopping-it-3016829
How to Get
Hens to Lay
Eggs in Nest Boxes
https://www.thespruce.com/get-hens-lay-eggs-nest-boxes-3016774
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SECTION 5
HOW TO
RAISE
CHICKENS
LINKS
How to Raise
Meat Chickens
https://www.wikihow.com/Raise-Meat-Chickens
How to Raise
Chickens for Eggs
https://www.wikihow.com/Raise-Chickens-for-Eggs
How to Cure a
Chicken from Egg Bound
https://www.wikihow.com/Cure-a-Chicken-from-Egg-Bound
How to Make
Feed for Chickens
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Feed-for-Chickens
How to Take
Care of Chickens
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-Chickens
How to Stop a
Rooster from Crowing
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-a-Rooster-from-Crowing
How to Pet a Chicken
https://www.wikihow.com/Pet-a-Chicken
How to Color Chickens
https://www.wikihow.com/Color-Chickens
How to Care
for a Chick
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Chick
How to Feed
Eggshells to Chickens
https://www.wikihow.com/Feed-Eggshells-to-Chickens
How to Bathe a Chicken
https://www.wikihow.com/Bathe-a-Chicken
How to Start a
Chicken Farm Business
https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Chicken-Farm-Business
How to Care For
Silkie Chickens
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-For-Silkie-Chickens
How to Tell when a
Hen Is Ready to Lay
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-when-a-Hen-Is-Ready-to-Lay
How to Build
Nesting Boxes
https://www.wikihow.com/Build-Nesting-Boxes
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SECTION 6
CHICKEN
LINKS
4 Reasons Growing
Chicken Food is
a Good Idea
https://homesteading.com/reasons-growing-chicken-food-good-idea/
5 Things That Work To Get
Rid Of Flies In The Chicken
Coop (& 3 That Don’t!)
https://www.ruralsprout.com/flies-in-the-chicken-coop/?fbclid=IwAR2wWxHyhC-pmLEC3jYr-EL8RaPZZ4Dk44pvAnNu_ICBU8ABv0xm9e4yZDM
8 OF THE BEST CHICKEN
BREEDS FOR EGGS
https://www.simplelifeofacountrywife.com/8-best-chicken-breeds-for-eggs/?fbclid=IwAR0mNmrziLBpF6E6r4xiOWOoGQee6lyrNgJc3hm2dSjBZH1bZOlLGHPrMX0
13 Common Chicken Diseases
Every Chicken Keeper
Should Know About
(and How to Treat Them)
https://morningchores.com/chicken-diseases/
14 Ways to Make Money From
Your Backyard Chickens
https://www.ruralsprout.com/make-money-from-backyard-chickens/?fbclid=IwAR2qrKX2Gi6WB2EzUZ19NY0Za3jQwf1M3OsOnjCPKjFUc6vxIxTq0C8kIpI
15 Common Chicken Diseases
Causes And Symptoms
https://www.animalwised.com/15-common-chicken-diseases-causes-and-symptoms-3278.html
50+ Chicken Breeds
& Types – Photos,
Characteristics & Info
https://learnpoultry.com/chicken-breeds-types/
About Raising Chickens
https://www.aboutraisingchickens.com/
Advantages And Disadvantages
Of Free Range Chickens:
What You Need To Know
https://homesteading.com/free-range-chickens/?fbclid=IwAR0eytjyzBhGQ8dPRJmQvENNir38qc8w7RaqNcHbNVlsiBZZnSYf3d08Vqc
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The A-Z of Chicken
Breeds and Choosing
the Perfect One
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-breeds/
Backyard Chicken project
https://backyardchickenproject.com/
Beginner’s Guide to
Raising Laying Hens
https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2020/03/raising-laying-hens.html
Chicken Breeds
https://poultrykeeper.com/chicken-breeds/
Chicken Breed Chart to
Help Choose Your Chicken
https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/234/69325/Chicken_Breed_Chart_to_Help_Choose_Your_Chicken.pdf
Chicken breeds list
https://chickenbreedslist.com/chicken-breeds/
Chicken Breeds List
Comparison Chart
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/chicken-breeds/
Chicken Diseases:
5 Common Flock Problems
And How To Treat Them
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-diseases/
Chicken Diseases:
The Complete List
(And How To Treat Them)
https://www.chickensandmore.com/chicken-diseases/
Chicken mag
https://chickenmag.com/
Chickens and more
https://www.chickensandmore.com/
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Chicken Scratch
& The Foundry
https://cs-tf.com/
Chickscope
http://chickscope.beckman.illinois.edu/
Common Chicken Diseases
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/chickendiseases.html
Community Chickens
https://www.communitychickens.com/
The Complete List
Of Chicken Breeds
http://
The Dutch Bantam Site
http://the-coop.org/dutch/dutch1.html
The Hens Loft
https://thehensloft.com/
How to Care for
Laying Hens on
the Small Farm
https://www.thespruce.com/definition-of-laying-hen-3016765
How to Keep Chickens:
Tips and Walkthrough
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-raise-chickens
How to Prevent and
Treat the 5 Most
Common Chicken Diseases
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/blog/how-to-prevent-and-treat-the-5-most-common-chicken-diseases/
HOW TO RAISE CHICKENS
FOR EGGS? 13 THINGS
(2022) YOU SHOULD KNOW
https://gokcecapital.com/raise-chickens/
How to Raise Chickens
for Your Garden
http://realfarmacy.com/raise-chickens-garden/
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How to Raise
Chickens for Meat
https://www.thespruce.com/raise-chickens-for-meat-3016587
How to Raise
and Keep Broody
Hens for Eggs
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-keep-chickens-3016831
Jane's Backyard Chickens
http://janesbackyardchickens.com/
Keeping Chickens
at Home Blog
http://keepingchickens.blogspot.com/
Listing of Chicken Breeds
http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/poultry/chickens
Protect Your
Chickens From
Predators
https://www.thespruce.com/protect-your-chickens-from-predators-3016834
Raising Chickens
10 Things You
Need to Know
https://www.busymomcenter.com/raising-chickens/
Raising chickens
for eggs
https://extension.umn.edu/small-scale-poultry/raising-chickens-eggs
Rosecomb Bantam Federation
http://www.rosecombs.com/
Sick Chicken? Here Are
The 15 Most Common
Chicken Diseases
(Plus, Prevention & Cure)
https://www.ecopeanut.com/chicken-diseases/
Start a Chicken
Broiler Business
on Your Small Farm
https://www.thespruce.com/start-a-chicken-broiler-business-3016901
Start Raising Chickens
http://www.beginningfarmers.org/information-about-raising-chickens/
Supplies You Need
for Keeping Chickens
https://www.thespruce.com/supplies-you-need-for-keeping-chickens-3016826
Top 5 Breeds Of Chickens
That Lay LARGE Eggs
(The Best Egg Laying Chickens)
https://thehensloft.com/chickens-that-lay-large-eggs/?fbclid=IwAR3RIUzFzXaIgT8QFCQB1u8gbtEregsePm5-QkR2-S5xmakAZiBA5RRaygU
Types of Chickens
https://www.knowyourchickens.com/types-of-chickens/
Types of Chicken Breeds
https://www.thefarmliving.com/types-of-chicken-breeds/
Watering Backyard Chickens
https://www.thespruce.com/water-your-chickens-3016561
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Handbook on
Poultry
Diseases
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/55/handbook-on-poultry-diseases
Animals:
Common and Scientific Names
http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/swetc/azso/back.1_div.3.html
American Society
Of
Animal Science
ASAS
https://www.animalimagegallery.org/
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Feedipedia
http://www.feedipedia.org/
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