Reviving Chickens: Bringing Your Hens Back To Life

If your chicks and hens are dying, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, ensure they are kept in a suitable environment, with adequate warmth, dry bedding, and easy access to food and water. If your chicks are chilled, you can try to warm them using a heat lamp or brooder heater. Additionally, check for any signs of pest infestation, such as aphids, mealybugs, or spider mites, and remove them promptly. If your chicks have knocked over their box, as described in your previous request, you may need to take immediate action to prevent further harm. For hens, it is important to note that they are monocarpic, meaning they bloom once before dying. Therefore, understanding their natural life cycle is crucial.

Provide warmth and dry bedding

Providing warmth and dry bedding is crucial for the survival and well-being of chicks and hens. Here are some detailed instructions to achieve this:

Choose the Right Bedding Material

The choice of bedding material is essential for providing warmth and dryness. Avoid using newspaper, as it can be slippery for chicks, leading to leg injuries. Hay is also not recommended due to the risk of ingestion, which can cause impacted crops. Additionally, hay can develop mould spores, posing further health risks.

Recommended Bedding Options:

• Straw: Straw is the most popular choice, providing good insulation, absorbing moisture, and offering excellent scratching material for hens. It is inexpensive, natural, and easy to obtain.
• Wood Shavings: Wood shavings are another popular option, known for their absorbency and pleasant smell. They help eliminate excess moisture from the coop.
• Hemp Bedding: Hemp is gaining popularity for its ability to rid the hen house of odours. It is highly absorbent and provides excellent insulation. However, it may be more expensive and challenging to find.
• Sand: Sand is an excellent option for cleanliness and foot health. It dries out quickly, reducing the risk of bacterial diseases. It acts as a natural emery paper, keeping chicks' feet and nails healthy. However, ensure the sand is completely dry before use, as wet sand can take days to dry out.
• Shredded Paper: While not a common choice, shredded paper is highly absorbent and the cleanest option for dealing with chick poop. Chicks also prefer paper bedding for comfort.

Maintain Bedding Hygiene

Regardless of the bedding material you choose, it is crucial to maintain hygiene. Never let the bedding get wet, and always remove droppings promptly. Clean out the bedding regularly, especially if using sand, to prevent compaction and the formation of a hard surface.

Provide Supplemental Heat

In addition to bedding, provide external sources of warmth, especially for chicks, who need help regulating their body temperature. Use a heat lamp or brooder heater, positioned at a safe distance, to provide supplemental heat. A radiant heat source, such as Brinsea's EcoGlow, is recommended if using sand to avoid excessive heat.

Ensure access to food and water

Ensuring that your chicks and hens have access to food and water is crucial for their health and well-being. Here are some detailed instructions and guidelines to help you provide proper nutrition and hydration for your feathered friends:

Water Access:

Providing clean and fresh water is essential for chicks and hens. Here are some specific recommendations:

• Use an appropriate waterer: Choose a waterer that is the correct size for the number and age of your chicks and hens. It should be large enough to provide sufficient water but not so large that chicks can roost over or step into it.
• Waterer Height: Adjust the waterer's height so that the water level is between the chick's eye and the height of its back. This encourages drinking while minimizing spills.
• Avoid open dishes: Do not use open dishes or saucers as chicks may walk through them, spreading litter and droppings, which can lead to disease.
• Cleanliness: Clean the waterer daily with warm water and vinegar or a poultry-approved sanitizer.
• Proximity to Heat Source: Initially, place the waterer close to the heat source, no more than 24 inches (60 cm) away, to prevent chicks from wandering too far and getting chilled.
• Water Availability: Chicks should have access to water at all times during the day. However, they do not need access to water at night, and it is beneficial to provide simulated night-time or natural darkness to encourage healthy sleep patterns.

Food and Nutrition:

Proper nutrition is crucial for the health and development of chicks and hens. Here are some guidelines:

• Starter Feed and Grit: Chicks require a nutritious diet, and chick starter feed provides the necessary nutrients. Additionally, grit helps their digestive system.
• Probiotics: To enhance immunity, provide probiotics that can be dissolved in water or sprinkled on feed. Live-culture yogurt can also be given in small amounts.
• Vitamin Supplements: Consider adding supplements like Chicken E-lixir to the drinking water to promote digestive health and provide essential vitamins and minerals.
• Separate Feeding Areas: If you have both chicks and hens, provide separate feeding areas to ensure each group gets the nutrition they need without competition. Gradually introduce the groups to each other over several days.
• Feeding Schedule: While some chicken owners provide feed twice a day to reduce pests, others argue for 24/7 access, especially for larger flocks, to ensure all birds get their fill.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your chicks and hens have sufficient access to food and water, contributing to their overall health and well-being.

Protect from predators and pests

To protect your chicks and hens from predators and pests, it is important to first understand the predators in your area and how they behave. Common predators include foxes, raccoons, possums, skunks, weasels, dogs, and even pigs. Hawks are also a significant threat, especially to chicks, as they can easily kill and carry off a chicken. Owls can do the same at night.

• Use electric fencing: Properly maintained electric fencing can help protect chickens from various predators, including bears, coyotes, and foxes. It is easy to set up and safe for people and pets. For aerial predators like hawks and owls, consider providing overhead cover.
• Secure your coop: Ensure your chicken coop is sturdy and secure. Always shut the doors and windows tightly at night to prevent predators from entering. Install a motion-activated floodlight outside the coop to scare away nocturnal predators and alert your chickens.
• Reduce attractants: Use tight-fitting trash containers to reduce odours that may attract wildlife like bears. Clean up any leftover food that could attract pests and predators.
• Guard animals: Geese and roosters can be effective guard animals. Geese can be trained to protect your flock, and roosters will often sound the alarm and protect hens, even at the cost of their lives.
• Scarecrow and noise devices: A scarecrow can help deter hawks, but remember to move it regularly. Noise-making devices can also scare off predators or alert you to their presence.
• Fencing design: For predators that climb, such as coyotes, consider an outward overhang fence design or a free-spinning PVC pipe on a tight wire at the top of the fence. Bury fencing at least one foot into the ground to prevent digging predators like foxes and coyotes from entering.

Provide adequate sunlight

Providing your chicks and hens with adequate sunlight is essential for their health and well-being. Sunlight plays a critical role in the production of vitamin D, which helps chickens absorb nutrients more effectively, including calcium. Ensuring your chicks and hens get enough sunlight can lead to stronger bones and the laying of eggs with thicker shells.

Chickens, like humans and other animals, require vitamin D to maintain optimal health. A deficiency in vitamin D can have adverse effects on chickens, including aggression, feather pecking, and overall grouchiness. Additionally, inadequate vitamin D levels for extended periods can cause bone weakness, fractures, joint problems, and even death. Therefore, it is crucial to provide your chicks and hens with sufficient sunlight to prevent these issues.

To ensure your chicks and hens receive adequate sunlight, aim for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes of sunshine each day. This can be achieved by allowing them supervised access to outdoor spaces, such as a grassy area or a secure enclosure. Supervised outdoor time is especially important for baby chicks, as it provides them with the necessary vitamin D while also allowing them to explore and adapt to their environment safely.

When planning outdoor time for your chicks and hens, consider the time of day and the intensity of sunlight. Avoid the harsh midday sun, as it can be too intense for young chicks and hens. Instead, opt for morning or late afternoon sun, which provides beneficial rays without the risk of sunburn. Additionally, ensure access to shade during outdoor time, as it helps prevent overheating and provides a comfortable resting area.

If you are unable to provide natural sunlight due to geographical or seasonal constraints, consider supplementing with artificial lighting. Grow lights can be used to ensure your chicks and hens receive the necessary light stimulation, especially during the winter months when daylight hours are shorter. Place the grow lights in a south-facing direction in the Northern Hemisphere to maximize light exposure.

Monitor their health

To monitor the health of your chicks, it is important to ensure their basic needs are being met. Chicks need warmth, dry bedding, and food and water that they can easily access. A lack of warmth can cause a chick to become chilled, and they may need supplemental heat from a lamp or heater. Chicks that are stressed by their environment cannot thrive.

Monitor your chicks for any signs of illness, such as shaking or keeping their eyes closed. If you notice any of these symptoms, you can try giving them sugar water and keeping them wrapped in a cloth.

It is also important to check for any pests that may be affecting the health of your chicks. Many pests can attack the plant, such as aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. These pests feed on the saps and leaves, making the plant look weak and deformed. Remove these pests from your plant as soon as possible.

Additionally, keep an eye on the leaves of your plant. Dried and dead leaves can be a sign of problems related to watering, light, or poor drainage. Removing these leaves will help the plant save energy and focus on growing new, healthy leaves.

By regularly monitoring the health of your chicks and addressing any issues that arise, you can help ensure their well-being and give them the best chance at a full and healthy life.

Frequently asked questions