Poultry FAQs

Q. What is the proper male/female ratio to insure fertile eggs?
A. The proper ratio to insure fertility of eggs is 1 rooster to approximately 8-10 hens.

Q. How much room must you have to raise a chicken?
A. You should figure 1/2 square foot per bird for the first two weeks. Then increase to 1 1/2 square foot after that. The more space the better. This helps reduce fighting, disease, and keeps the litter cleaner.

Q. What can I do if my chickens are pecking each other?
A. Chickens peck for many reasons. The Most common reasons are overcrowding, age, and sometimes breed and color. This can happen when adding new chickens to the flock. It is recommended to use a distraction to keep the chickens entertained and away from the others. Also pine tar can be used to cover up the wounds.

Q. What is the best bedding to use for chicks?
A. For bedding, we suggest you use Peat Moss or wood chips. Never, use paper for bedding. For wood chips do not use ceder . This can cause death in small chicks.

Q. What are the best egg layers?
A. The best brown egg layers would include the Red Sexlink, Rhode Island Red, and Barred Rock. If you prefer a white egg, then we would suggest the White Leghorn. Also some commercial hatcheries that produce commercial hens will have Commercial Red Sexlink and Commercial White Leghorn.

Q.. Do I need a rooster to produce eggs.
A. No a rooster is not needed to produce an egg. They are only needed if you would like to have fertile eggs.

Q. What can I do if my chickens are pecking each other?
Pecking can also be from them trying to establish a pecking order.

"Q. What is the best bedding to use for chicks?
A. For bedding, we suggest you use Peat Moss or wood chips. Never, use paper for bedding."
Why not paper? What about shredded? I used newspaper under shavings, I did read that it being 'slippery' could cause spraddled leg. And paper towels are nice to use at a young age because its easy to clean up.

Q. What are the best egg layers? AUSTRALORPS!!!!!!