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Chickens and how they respond to Cold Water

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SFC Admin
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Chickens and how they respond to Cold Water

Chickens respond to cold water in hot weather in a very similar to the desire that humans have for a chilled drink after a long walk under the sun. Compared to other types of chicken, the similarity to cold water is very strong in meat birds, usually referred to as broilers. Broilers are expected to consume a lot of water and feed during their lifetime, which is comparatively shorter than layers

Why do broiler respond to cold water in this manner?

The science behind this craving is the need to maintain the temperature of the body of the birds. This operation puts a great deal of pressure on the broiler than layers.

Anyone who has successfully raised broilers to maturity can tell the bird’s remarkable growth rate as being impressive. The growth of a broiler is almost visible on a daily basis. This is due to the ability of this type of chicken to turn the large quantity of food consumed into meat.

Still referring to the bird as a meat-making machine, it is only reasonable to assume that a lot of heat must be produced during the feed conversion cycle. If you already have access to a broiler, you can put your hand under its wings and see how hot it is.

How to help your chicken respond to cold water responsibly

Having determined that the body temperature of the broiler is relatively hot, let’s consider ways to help them cool down.

  • To help chicken respond to cold water effectively, provide enough shade

Heat is a very important thing to remember when preparing a form of housing for your broiler chickens. If you’re going to commercially produce broiler chickens or just need a backyard environment, housing is important. The type of housing to be used for broilers must make room for good ventilation.

The amount of shade you offer around the broiler cage is also significant. Enough shade keeps your chickens cool and helps them to eat more. Keep in mind that the more they feed, the more they expand, and the better the outcome.

More importantly, never put the water of your chickens under the light. When you can’t give shade to anything, it shouldn’t be their sun.

  • To help chicken respond to cold water effectively, provide enough cold water in the afternoon

When it comes to keeping the body temperature of your broilers cool during hot weather, you can’t possibly overdo it. Besides having shade for their skin, you can also give them cold water in the hot afternoon. Only add the ice to their bowl of water. If you have a nipple drinker system for your broiler, with an easily accessible bowl, you can add the ice to your bucket of water. This will ensure that the water stays cool during extremely hot periods.

  • To help chicken respond to cold water effectively, feed them well.

Feeding plays an important role in the survival and development of any species, and chickens are no exception. Of course, a hungry chicken doesn’t have any interest in the food you give. Additionally, warm water is not ideal for the already warm body of a broiler. Therefore, there is a need to always serve cool freshwater to promote healthy metabolism and avoid heat stress.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In the Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

 

 

Why chickens are always raised inside

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SFC Admin
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1
Why chickens are always raised inside

As a chicken farmer, sometimes I asked myself why farmers are raising chickens inside poultry houses. While most people imagine chickens living outdoors and grazing on rolling hills and green pastures, the fact is that about 99 percent of chickens are raised indoors.

There are three key reasons why farmers are raising chickens inside, these include, protection from extreme weather, pests, and disease.

Chickens, in particular, need to be kept warm while they are babies because they cannot control their own body temperature. Once the baby chicks arrive at the farm, the thermostat is set at 92 degrees tropical. But as the chicks grow bigger and the feather out, they bring out more heat and need to cool down.

Through using ventilation systems and sophisticated climate control inside the barns, we can monitor the temperature inside to keep birds warm and safe all year round. Not all poultry houses are fitted with the same ventilation systems.

  • Protection against the Climate

Chickens will live happily inside and outside! Yet one of the key reasons that farmers, including me, keep chickens indoors is to shield them from the heat. Know that chickens have a very difficult time feeding for food outside during the winter. It will also be really hard for our chickens to keep cool and hydrated when it’s over 100 degrees in the heat.

  • Protection from predators

Another reason for raising chickens inside is to shield them from predators. Chickens are easy to prey on they don’t have good defensive mechanisms, they don’t have great camouflage, and they’re tasty. Predatory animals such as hawks, eagles, raccoons, and foxes will be able to feed on a chicken left unattended outside.

Using an enclosed shelter also gives chickens a good sense of health. It has also been shown that when chickens are given the option of being free-range outside the barn, they simply chose not to be free-range. Also, chickens never leave the comfort of the chicken house.

  • Protection from disease

While farm animals don’t get the same diseases we get, there are still a lot of things that can make them sick. Prevention of disease, also known as biosecurity, is another reason why we raise chickens inside.

Avian influenza is one of the most widely recognized diseases that can affect chickens, although there are other diseases that chickens are vulnerable to, such as bacterial bronchitis and Newcastle disease.

Keeping chickens in chicken houses with restricted exposure to other animals helps discourage chickens from becoming ill and also prevents the spread of disease to other flocks.

Whether farmers raise chickens inside or outside, the safety and well-being of the chicken flock is our number one concern. Farmers are spending a lot of time, confidence, energy, and money on our chickens. We rely on our flock to provide for our families, and we do all we can to ensure that our flock is secure and healthy.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In the Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

 

 

Why is ventilation important in the chicken coop?

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SFC Admin
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1
Why is ventilation an important factor in the chicken coop?

Although having a chicken coop heater is very necessary in winter, proper ventilation is a coop requirement all year round. Since chickens produce a lot of dust and ammonia, you will need to allow fresh air to prevent lung infections and respiratory diseases from affecting your birds on a regular basis.

What does it take to raise healthy chickens?

Although chicken farming has recently become quite a phenomenon, many people seem to get into it without fully educating themselves about what it takes to raise healthy and happy birds. It’s not enough just to let them free-range and throw some feed over the fence! If you do it correctly, the benefits you’re going to get from this will be incredible.

This is because the freshness of the eggs you’re going to get from them will be unmatched, as you really can’t compare them to what you can buy from the store.

While your birds do have a lot of needs to be happy, there is one that stands tall and proud above the others: the chicken coop ventilation.

Why is the chicken coop ventilation such a big deal?

Since chickens are excellent sources of moisture, ammonia, and heat, ventilation plays a crucial role in their coop existence, and you simply need to get rid of that scent.

First of all, proper ventilation removes dampness and moisture from the coop. These birds generate frightening amounts of water vapor, mostly by breathing out as we all do

One manner in which they do so is by pooping so the chickens do not urinate because much of the water that they have to wash comes out of their excrement. They handle a lot more water than you would expect, and all this handle appears to make the coop a really wet place to stay in.

High relative humidity, especially for owners living in areas with cooler temperatures, can make chickens more susceptible to respiratory diseases and even increase the chance of frostbite. Don’t be fooled, because these birds can withstand a considerable cold without frostbite if the air is dry. Yet if the air is clammy, that’s another ball game.

How ventilation eliminates ammonia

Thorough ventilation eliminates ammonia emissions from the coop, which can be harmful to your pets. The fact is, when you sit there all the time, ready to whisk away any plop of poo as soon as it comes out of the chicken, some ammonia will be released into the atmosphere of the shelter.

The problem is that it does not take much of this substance to cause subclinical damage to the tissues of the bird’s respiratory tract. As a result, improper coop cleaning and a high concentration of ammonia will make your birds extremely vulnerable to any respiratory bugs that may be found around the environment.

The rule of thumb will be to take a sniff every time you reach the coop in the morning. When the human nose can taste ammonia, it’s possibly enough to be toxic to the lung tissues.

Another important role of ventilation

Last but not least, ventilation also prevents the coop from getting too hot in the summer, which could be a major problem. The bodies of these birds are designed to work at a height below 75 degrees. Anything over 90 would be enough to cause them to have serious problems, to suffer heat stress, and to die sometimes, particularly for larger, heavier-feathered breeds.

Also, even in cold weather, you need ventilation. Even in the north-your-feet-freeze-if-you-step-outside kind of weather, you’re always going to want some openings in your coop. Sure, there may be a night now, and then when it’s so cold that you shut it down, but look at it as the exception rather than the law.

How much ventilation do you need to have?

The correct answer here is possibly as much as you can bring together, or even slightly more than that. If you want to go for a simple option of passive ventilation, do as much as you can because it’s easier to have more than you need than to use more than you have.

This is particularly true because needing more than you have in this case is going to be a trip back with a nice saw to hack big ugly holes in your clean, trimmed coop in the depths of December. Discretion is the best part of the worth, and chicken coop ventilation is as good an example as any.

If the summer heat is not a major issue where you live, you’ll probably be fine with around 1 square foot of vent opening per chicken, or if it doesn’t work for you, measure it with 1 square foot of vent opening per 10 square feet of floor space.

For a hot place, summertime is going to take more than that, so you may have to splurge out and get one of the walls made entirely of hardware fabric.

Whether you have a smaller number of chickens compared to the size of your coop or if you live in a really dry place, you’ll get less ventilation.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In the Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

Proven ways to help chickens recover from molting

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SFC Admin
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0
Proven ways to help chickens recover quickly from molting

For backyard chickens around the world, shorter days also mean a break. Birds may stop laying eggs, lose old feathers, and develop new ones too. This annual egg-laying holiday is called molt, and the process is called molting.

When does molting occur?

Molt is seasonally influenced and typically occurs in the fall when sunlight is raising. For these birds, fall means that it’s time to prepare for the winter, which needs quality feathers. That’s why hens take a break from laying eggs and devote their energies to growing feathers.

This feather loss occurrence happens first when birds are approximately 18 months old, and from then on, happens annually. Backyard flock owners should expect about 8 weeks of feather loss and recurrence, but can take up to 16 weeks for some birds.

Are all molting seasons equivalent for all chickens?

While the general cycle is identical, not all the molting seasons are equivalent. The onset and length of molt is different for each bird. How long chickens are molten depends on factors such as age, nutrient intake, and the climate. You will also note for the first time that feathers are losing their shine. Hens could lose a few feathers slowly, or it could happen overnight.

 

What are those ways you can help chickens recover quickly form molting?

It is discovered that more active egg-layers and younger hens recover from molting faster than older or less active hens. In either case, proper nutrition and management will help with molting birds. Therefore, the different ways you can help the chickens recover quickly include;

  • Packing up the protein

Like humans, birds need a different diet depending on their current behavior or life cycle. Protein is the main nutrient to be included in a flock diet during molting.

The number one element shifts from calcium to protein during molting. That is because the feathers are made of 80-85 percent protein, while the eggshells are mostly calcium.

High-protein complete feed will help hens channel nutrients into feather growth and get back to laying eggs.

  • Keeping the stress down

When on holiday, people usually want a lot of warmth and a place to relax. It’s not that different inside the coop when it’s molting season. Ensure that you keep chickens grinding happy by minimizing the heat in the coop.

The region where the feather shaft meets the skin can be very sensitive during molting, thereby minimizing handling and providing plenty of clean bedding. Offer enough room for your birds to rest and relax in private. For each bird, four square feet inside the coop and 10 square feet outside the coop will keep them happy.

In addition, have access to a lot of new, clean water and good air ventilation. Hydration and ventilation will help keep the backyard coop spa-like for feather production.

Also, probably introduce new members of the flock throughout this time, as adding new friends and possibly restructuring the pecking order could increase friction.

  • Return back to providing the chickens with layer feed

When birds are ready to come back from vacation and actually grow eggs, it’s important to switch their food profile to satisfy their energy needs soon.

When hens start laying eggs, go back to a full layer feed that suits your goals. Gradually combine the entire layer feed with the high-protein feed for 7 to 10 days. This will help prevent digestive disorders and encourage birds to get used to the taste and texture of their new food.

When they’re back on a full-layer feed and have bright new feathers, get your family ready for fresh farm eggs again.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In the Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

Feeding and watering for newly hatched chickens

By
SFC Admin
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3
Four things to consider when preparing to buy and hatch baby chicks

Newly hatched chickens are not absolutely helpless, but you’ll need to keep them moist, dry, and healthy until they grow a full complement of feathers. Like any other infant, they must also be kept clean, and well-fed. Below are a few tips to make sure you satisfy the food and water needs of your newly hatched chickens.

Make sure the newly hatched chickens have access to fresh, clean water at all times.

The waterer should be the appropriate size for the size and age of your flock, the chickens should not use the available water quickly or be able to tip over the fount. The basin should be high enough to keep the water level between the chicken’s eye and the height of its back.

Why newly hatched chickens should have such a waterer in their yard

This is so that a chick drinks more and spills less. Chicks aren’t expected to be able to roost over or jump into the mud.

Should you cut corners with your watering equipment?

No! Don’t be tempted to cut corners and put water in an open dish or saucer. Chicks are going to walk in, track litter, and drops that will spread diseases. They tend to get wet and chilly, and stress will open the way to all manner of diseases. Some of the chicks could drown. Damp conditions in the poultry farm whether caused by spilled water or a leaky waterer are to be avoided at all costs.

How should you clean the watering equipment for your newly hatched chickens?

Do clean waterers on a regular basis, this can be done by using warm water, and vinegar, or other poultry sanitizer approved for use. When choosing a piece of watering equipment for your chicks, make sure to choose one with a drinker that is easy to clean. A piece of equipment that’s hard to clean isn’t going to be sanitized as much as it should be.

How far should the watering equipment be from your newly hatched chickens?

Don’t get the chicks to travel far for their water. Initially position drinkers no more than 24 inches that are 60 cm away from the chicken’s heat source. Later, as you move the chickens to a larger house, make sure they don’t have to travel more than 10 feet that is 3 m to get a drink. Once upgraded to a larger waterer, keep old waterers in place for a few days, at least before the chicks get used to drinking from the new source.

When is the proper time for the chickens to drink water?

Make sure the chicks are drinking until they start feeding. They seem to have less of a problem with sticky bottoms if they have a good dose of water before they get a belly full of feed, particularly when the feed is commercially formulated as a chick starter.

Should you feed your newly hatched chickens layer rations?

Don’t feed the layer ration to the chickens, even if you run out of the starter ration. The high calcium content of the layer ration will cause severe harm to the kidneys of the newly hatched chickens.

What should you do when you run out of starter feed then?

When you run out of starter or fail to pick up some to feed them, you can make an emergency starter ration by cracking the scratch grains in the blender or, if you don’t have any scratches, by running a little uncooked oatmeal through the blender and mixing it 50/50 with cornmeal.

 

Is it proper to use this mixture for your hatched chickens long enough?

You should not use this mixture longer than required, though the grains are high in calories and low in calcium, vitamins, and minerals that the chick requires for good growth and health.

This is important because shortly after they hatch, the chicks start searching for stuff to peck on the ground. If they don’t see anything else on the ground, they’re going to peck their own feet.

Should the feeder be left empty at least for a while?

Don’t leave the feeders empty for too long, and be careful not to allow the uneaten food to accumulate. Load the feeders in the morning, and let the chicks drain them until they load them again. Leaving feeders empty for a long time allows you to pick up, but allowing old or dirty food to collect is unhealthful, so you need to have a good balance. Clean and scrub the feeder at least once in every week.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In the Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

 

How producing organic chicken eggs can be possible

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SFC Admin
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0
How producing organic chicken eggs can be possible

The difference between the various alternatives needed to produce organic eggs is that they are very significant and will have an effect on your transition process. Therefore, if you’re just trying to make eggs for your family and friends, it’s an easy operation.

Start with organic feeds to gain organic chicken eggs

To obtain eggs from hens fed them with organic feed, you can start chicks with organic starter-growers or turn to organic feed later in the course of raising them. When you make a transition, the cycle will happen quickly without stress. Only combine organic chicken feed with your previous feed for 7-10 days at most.

How do you introduce the organic feeds anyways?

Start by sprinkling a handful of new feeds on top of the current feed of the flock on the farm. Over the next few days, each amount of the organic feed should be added every day. Stir the food together, and allow the birds to eat both old, and new food.

By the end of the 7 days, the feeder must contain only organic food. From there, you can start gathering organic eggs from your chicken farm.

Introducing organic feed means selling organic eggs when the birds lay eggs

The reason you should consider feeding organic food to chickens is to be to sell certified organic eggs. This is because raising organic chickens requires a longer dedication to unique specifications.

When you want to start a certified organic flock, the rules are more comprehensive, because for farm eggs or meat to be certified organic, they must be made from birds that have been under continuous organic control, starting no later than the second day of their life.

Why are the rules governing the sales of organic eggs?

It ensures that chicks must be fed organic food from the beginning to produce fresh eggs that are known to be fully organic. Organic poultry, like birds used for meat or eggs, will lose organic status if removed from the organic farm and used for non-organic operation. They can be returned to organic feed, but they cannot be returned to certified organic growth.

In any case, the decision to feed conventional or organic food depends on personal preference. No matter how you choose to raise your flock, it’s important to choose a complete feed that suits the life stage of your birds.

How long do you need to feed your chickens organic feed?

Comprehensive feed, whether traditional or organic is designed to include anything birds need. Feed a complete starter-grower feed to layer chicks from day 1 to week 18 and then move to a complete layer feed at week 18 or when the first egg arrives.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

How to help your chicken lay quality eggs

By
SFC Admin
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1
How to help your chicken lay quality eggs

Helping your chickens to lay quality eggs can be achieved, you just need to read through, and see those things you can do for a change in your chicken farm, apply them, and watch the remarkable results

Starting a chicken farm is supposed to be fun, because you have space, treatment, and quality food for your hens. Your chickens will be supplying you with delicious eggs, and an obvious companionship.

But what’s best for your flock, and how can you help them lay quality eggs for your family? Well, it starts with a well-designed management strategy, and a detailed nutrition program.

Tips to help your chicken lay quality eggs

  • Dieting as key to helping your birds lay quality eggs

For you to have access to quality eggs, you have to provide at least 90 percent of the diet through a full, high-quality layer of feed beginning at 18 weeks of age.

Laying eggs is a full-time job for your chickens, so you need to provide them with the essential nutrients that they need to be the most successful.

The number one resource that you can give them is a full, and healthy diet when they begin to lay eggs around 18 weeks of age. Hens can produce more healthy eggs when they are fed with quality feed, so feeding the chicks well will lead to better nutrition for both your chicks and your family.

The essential include calcium for solid shells; amino acids, vitamins, and minerals for better egg production, and hen health; as well as probiotics and prebiotics for hen digestive function.

The full feed layer should be at least 90% of the hen’s diet. The remaining 10% can come from additional feeds, such as scratch grains, good quality table scraps, and oyster shells too.

You shouldn’t feed them too much extra food, such as scratch grains or table scraps, because it can dilute, and dis-balance the complete nutrition in chicken pellets or crumbs, which will affect their production and health.

  • Collect eggs 2-3 times daily will give you quality eggs

In order to prevent shell cracks, and have quality eggs, start by collecting eggs 2-3 times a day. Once hens start laying eggs, be sure to gather eggs at least in the morning and evening as well. This helps keep the eggs cleaner, and reduces the chances of the eggs being cracked by hen traffic in the nests.

Egg cracks may give bacteria access to the inside of the egg. You will discover that feeding a complete layer of feed will increase the strength of the shell, help to fix microscopic shell cracks, and prevent bacteria from entering the egg.

In addition, collecting the eggs 2-3 times a day, helps keep eggs from being stepped on, and cracked or destroyed, which can lead to egg eating by the birds. Fix the egg by feeding our hens to solid shells and gathering eggs regularly.

  • Good lightening is also an effective means of getting quality eggs

You have to provide light for at least 17 hours a day, light is a critical ingredient of egg laying. One primary explanation for hens to avoid laying eggs is to reduce the duration of the day.

Hens need a minimum of 16 hours of daylight to maintain strong production. Despite additional light, eggs that naturally stop laying when the daylight drops below 12 hours a day due to a hormonal reaction in the hen that is caused by light.

In order to resolve this hormonal response and encourage long-term egg production; you have to provide one incandescent 25-watt, or LED 3 to 9-watt bulb per 100 square feet of coop space. Using an automated timer to keep dark and light hours consistent so that hens remain on a laying and sleeping schedule.

As with diet and management, quality is the secret to lighting our hens. Only a day or two of change in either of these factors will impede egg development.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

 

Your first chicken eggs, what should you expect?

By
SFC Admin
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2
Your first chicken eggs, what should you expect?

If raising a backyard flock was a treasure hunt, the main reward would be your first chicken eggs. Now you might feel a little bit of egg-anticipation, and you’re wondering when the chickens are laying eggs?

The first chicken egg is often produced when hens are 18 weeks old, subject to breeding, environment, and nutrition. The rooster is not required for egg production unless you want the eggs to be fertilized for hatching.

When the poles are nearing their first lay, their behavior changes. They can spend more time with the rooster, the crouch for breeding, or the nesting area.

Hold chickens in the coop for a short period at this point. Place golf balls or decoy eggs in nest boxes to help hens understand the use of nesting boxes.

The first few eggs a hen lay can be irregular, possibly small in size, with soft shells, no yolks or double yolks, but, after a week or so, egg production is expected to be more reliable, with peak output at about 30 weeks of age and egg targets varying every year.

It’s usually an exciting time when your hens are mature and ready to lay eggs. Many hens start to lay eggs around the age of 4 to 6 months, but the time may vary depending on the breed and the time of year. As the first chicken owner, what should you really expect from your first eggs?

Does chicken lay eggs often?

The laying of eggs is not an exact science. The frequency of egg-laying will vary depending on several different factors: the breed, the time of year that is daylight hours, and the age of the hen. Stress, feed consumption, and disease can adversely affect egg production. On average, with all that said, you should expect 3 hens to give you 2 eggs a day.

If your goal is to collect a dozen eggs a day, you’re supposed to have 18 hens.

How many times should you collect your chicken eggs?

It’s important to collect your chicken eggs multiple times a day. Frequent egg collection ensures that the eggs are clean and helps prevent bacterial development.

The longer the eggs stay in the chicken house, the more likely they will be to become dirty, damaged, or deteriorate in quality. There is also a greater chance that your chickens may pick up a bad egg-eating habit.

Collecting your chicken eggs twice a day is a good idea, and it is recommended that you actually collect eggs three times a day during the summer heat to ensure the quality of the eggs.

Should your chicken eggs be washed?

Actually, the eggs are really clean until they get contaminated in the nesting box. They have a protective coating that forms a shield against bacteria. Some eggs can be cleaned with a cloth, but if washing is required, rinse the eggs under warm water.

Washing the eggs in cold water allows the inside of the egg to shrink and can allow the bacteria to be absorbed into the egg. After rinsing, be sure to dry the eggs as quickly as possible.

How should you store your chicken eggs?

After you’ve picked and washed your eggs, placed them in the egg cartons. Mark the box with the date of selection and put it in the refrigerator. Your eggs will stay fresh for one month while placed in the refrigerator.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

Rooster and chicken, can you tell the difference?

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SFC Admin
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0
Rooster and chicken, can you tell the difference?

How can you tell the difference between a rooster and a chicken with ease? It will come naturally to you if you deal with the chickens and the roosters always.

Some main distinctions are the combs and wattles, and their characteristics and overall behavior vary. But, we have included a list of differences here so you can easily know whether you’re dealing with a rooster or a chicken.

What are the principal distinctions between a rooster and a chicken?

  • Combs and wattles: Combs of the roosters are generally very big and red.
  • Hackle feathers and saddle feathers: Roosters appear to be colored more vibrantly than chicken, in general.
  • Tail feathers: These are the best way to convince you that it’s a rooster as their tail feathers are stunning at all times.
  • Behavior: Chickens tend to be timider, but all bets are off if you have a head. Roosters are becoming ever more assertive. Plus they’re crowing!
  • Egg-laying: at about six months, your chickens will lay eggs and by then your rooster should be crowing.
  • There are several types of chicken that are harder to identify as chicks. Many breeds of roosters have very short combs but this is not the standard.
  • Silkies are a very difficult breed to mate so if you have concerns about these bantams turn to a breeder or hatcheries.
  • Different breeds have different tail feathers: Roosters always have pointed tail feathers so take a look at the photos of your chicken breed to see what they look like in just a few months.
  • Pecking order: Rooster tends to be bossy even when it’s a young rooster.
  • Sexing chicks can be difficult, but it’s important to know the difference between a pullet and a cockerel if you can’t have a rooster where you live. Keep in mind that your roosters are crowing, and this is the biggest difference. The larger comb is also a dead give-away.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

 

How to prepare Spicy Chettinad Pepper Chicken

By
SFC Admin
-
0
How to prepare Spicy Chettinad Pepper Chicken

The Spicy Chettinad Pepper Chicken is juicy and succulent, and the masala sticks nicely enough to it that you need no more.  It’s a blend that tempts you to wish it cooked faster. And all of that is in those herbs, so don’t skimp on them when you try it out!

Use curry leaves and whole spices, if you are trying this out. Don’t get lazy and swap coriander powder with coriander seeds because that just won’t cut it. If you have to or order them online, make a trip to the store but take my word, the effort is worth it.

Even if you’re a vegetarian, don’t get upset, please. Make this recipe with potatoes or mushrooms and it should work just as well.

Ingredients for preparing Spicy Chettinad Pepper Chicken

  • Skinless chicken thigh fillets 500g, which will be cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tbsp of ginger, coarsely grated
  • ½ tsp of ground turmeric
  • ½ tsp of Kashmiri chili powder or mild chili powder
  • ½ tsp of fennel seeds
  • 2cm piece of cinnamon stick
  • 2 red dried chilies
  • ½ tsp of black peppercorns
  • 3 tbsp of vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp of black mustard seeds
  • Curry leaves
  • 1onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 small bulb of tomatoes, chopped
  • A handful of coriander, chopped
  • Rotis or parathas to serve

Method of preparing Spicy Chettinad Pepper Chicken

  • Put the chicken and the ginger, turmeric, and chili powder in a large bowl. Stir well, and leave for 20 minutes to marinate.
  • Use a pestle and mortar to beat the seeds of fennel, cinnamon, dried chilies, and peppercorns gently and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a wok, or large frying pan, over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds, then fry for 10 seconds until they start popping. Add the spices crushed, and fry for a minute.
  • Add the curry leaves, and add the onion as they splutter. Fry for 7-8 minutes, always stirring. Add the marinated chicken and gently switching the heat on, frying for 4 minutes. Season to a touch of salt.
  • Lower the heat, cover the chicken, and cook it for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  • Add the tomatoes and cook 4-5 minutes uncovered. Sprinkle over the coriander, and serve with parathas or Rotis.

Where to buy Chickens in Akwa Ibom State

Since chicken is the only meat that has no negative health conditions, you can always use it to prepare any local and continental dishes of your choice. In Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, you can buy chickens from sofreshchikens.com at the following locations;

  • Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State capital:

    Number 215 Udo Umana Street opposite Akpan Andem Market, Uyo

  • Oron, Akwa Ibom State:

    Number 27 Market Square by Aba Street, Oron, Akwa Ibom State

  • Eket, Akwa Ibom State:

3 park road, opposite Chinese market, Eket.

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