Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
able to use dormant periods to recover lost minerals and
nutrients. In this way, it is not at all unusual for
nonspecialized bird breeds to live several years with moderate
productivity.
One other thing to consider if you live further north is the
need for heat in the coop. Where we live, temperatures below
zero are not uncommon, and there can be days in a row with
temperatures never budging out of the teens. In these
conditions, their water can freeze, and they can suffer
frostbite. The water is easily dealt with via a simple water
fount heater available at agricultural supply stores. For
general heating of the coop, mine is insulated using thermal
reflective insulation, and I've installed a simple 400W
flat-panel radiant heater behind the roosts so the chickens can
stay warm at night.
A radiant heater behind the roosts keeps chickens warm in
cold winter climates.
Collecting and Cleaning Eggs
Chickens usually lay midmorning, but there's no predicting it
completely. They're chickens, after all, and lay when they are
good and ready. Ideally, you should collect the eggs
immediately, but this is seldom practical—especially if, like
