Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Litter management.
Chicken manure is very strong, high in nitrogen, and has the potential to
smell when it builds up. In fact, one of the primary complaints against chickens comes because of
the horrible smell produced by commercial chicken houses. If you do not overcrowd your chickens
in filthy conditions, you'll find that the smell isn't noticeable at all.
We use a thick layer of straw and dried leaves in the flooring of the chicken coop. Because our
chicken coop is raised off the ground with waterproof flooring, we have to clean out the chicken
coop on a regular basis. Once a week we top off the straw with a fresh layer on top and clean out
the nest boxes and areas under the roosts where manure builds up faster. About once a month we
completely clean out the coop and put the soiled straw into the homestead compost heap.
If the coop were on a dirt floor we wouldn't need to change it out very often, but merely add lots of
new hay on top. The bedding at the bottom would, in essence, compost into the soil below. Twice
a year you could remove the composted manure and lay down a new deep layer of bedding. In his
book
The Small-Scale Poultry Flock,
Harvey Ussery suggests using 12 inches of bedding.
A day in the life.
We generally turn our chickens loose after breakfast and let them scrabble about
throughout the day. If we need to move the ark, we move it before turning them loose for the day.
While loose in their outdoor enclosure, the hens have a grand time. Within a few hours on new
ground they have a dust bath area scratched up for their bathing use. They catch any stray bugs
that wander in, and dig up any grubs or earthworms that are close enough to the surface to fall
prey to their quick eye.
We leave the door to the coop open at all times so they can access the nest box and water contain-
ers as necessary. Throughout the day, various hens will visit the nest boxes and the cackling and
hollering that emerges from within is a clue that they are working for us. In the afternoons we
collect the eggs, check the waterer, and scatter a handful of grains or seeds if needed.
As the sun gets lower the hens make their way into the chicken coop. We don't have a rooster to
herd them indoors all together, so the hens tend to wander in one at a time. There's some tussling
for the best roost spaces, and my buff insists on roosting on the nest boxes. In the evening after
dinner we close the door and windows for the night so they are protected from potential predators.
Signs and Prevention of Illness and Disease
I've heard some say that chickens are sickly and prone to diseases. This has not been our experience;
even with the Cornish Cross we haven't had huge loss from disease. When you give your chickens
plenty of space and good-quality foods that are fresh and nutritious, you maximize their health
potential. Having said that, there are a few things to watch out for in your backyard farm.
