Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
form of canker sores, and Newcastle disease is a respiratory disease. Vaccinate for only one
disease at a time, and leave about three weeks between inoculations. Be sure you vaccinate all
birds. Disease can spread rapidly throughout your brood, so prevention is the key.
If you need to give your birds medication that comes in the form of pills, some chickens will
peck at it and gobble it up. If this is not the case, and you need to find an alternative method,
crush the pill and sprinkle it in a treat for your chicken. To crush a pill, take the back of a
spoon, put the pill on a plate, and press hard. Mash up any large pieces. You can take this
powder, add a little water to it, put it in an eyedropper, and dispense into the bird's mouth. If
you have an entire flock to dispense medication to, you may want to invest in an inexpensive
coffee grinder or small mixer that you can pour the pills into to crush. Then add to treats or
add water to the medication and use an eyedropper to give to the chickens individually.
Chickens tend to be hungriest first thing in the morning and last thing at night, even though
they can eat throughout the day. Feeding them the medication at these times will help to en-
sure the birds consume the entire treat with the medicine in it.
Chicks for Sale
Because of your generous care and devotion to your flock, you could end up with an abund-
ance of happy, healthy chicks, perhaps more than you planned on, so you may consider selling
your birds. You can set up a booth at a local farmers market or flea market. Newspaper ads
and online sites are also a fast way to get the word out that you have chicks for sale. You may
want to contact local farmers who can buy in bulk or ask your neighbors whether they would
like to partake in your hobby.
Selling chicks can be a fun way to supplement your income, and you may even decide to raise
them strictly for sale. You will need to research how much your breed of chick is selling for in
your area. A fancier breed or rare breed will command a higher price. Chicks, pullets, and
cockerels most likely will sell faster than older chickens, and though you may be tempted to
exaggerate the youthfulness of your bird, be honest about the chicken's age. Because you
would not want someone to mislead you if you were the buyer, do not do so to someone else.
Your Chickens' Meat
Many of the breeds discussed here make excellent chickens for the table. You can learn to
butcher your own chickens or find a local butcher to do the job for you.
