Chicken farming tips

Being self reliant means that you have to be able to provide food for your family and whoever else is living with you. Chickens are a great source of food that you can continue to utilize over and over again. From chickens you can get both eggs and meat while having your hens produce new flocks which will replenish your food supply.

It is important to keep a healthy flock if you plan on utilizing this resource. One of the most important things to be sure you have a healthy flock is to make sure you supply your chickens with fresh water and food daily. These are no brainers, hopefully! Getting past the elementary part of chicken raising, I would like to share some good tips with you about maintaining a healthy flock.

1)  Keep a clean coop for them to call home. I clean my coop at least once a week just to be sure I keep away unwanted bugs and small rodents that are attracted to the feces. Cleaning your coop does not mean you have to get out the power washer and squeegee, but what you do need to do is sweep up the feces and remove it from the living quarters. In some cases if your coop is heavily soiled you might need to use soap and water, just be sure that you dry the area after working with the soap and water, this will help keep the scratch and straw from getting wet causing a bigger mess. During this time you also want to clean out the nesting quarters and remove any cracked eggs that might be there. Replace straw or scratch and leave them to spread it around.

2) Clean the waters during the time that you are cleaning the coop, you might as well do it all at once. When cleaning the feeder and waters use mild dish soap and some scrubbing. The waters will get gooey over time and need a good cleaning.

3) Clean your feeders at least once a week. My rule of thumb here is not to fill the feeder from the last filling unless I clean it out. Do this to prevent unwanted bugs from infesting your feed.

4) Keep your feed away from possible infestation. I store my layers feed and scratch feed in a large trash can with a secure lid and my cracked corn in a tote with a lid. You want to make sure this is done to prevent mice from eating and pooping in your feed.

It is important to care for you flock, especially if you are in a post-apocalypse scenario where they will be part of an already scarce source of food.

You also want to be sure you feed them well so that the food that you do get from them is of good quality!