Chick Embryo Development from Egg Formation to Hatching
Fertilisation of the ova (yolk) by the sperm takes place in the infundibulum about 15 minutes after its… [more]
Chicken Manure as a Garden Fertilizer
Keeping chickens will not only provide you with a supply of fresh eggs but also an abundant source of… [more]
Why are My Hens Moulting in Winter?
It is not unusual to see chickens moulting in winter despite the fact that it appears to defy all logic.… [more]
Poultry Egg Fertilisation and First Hours of Development
Fertilisation of the ova (yolk) by the sperm takes place in the infundibulum about 15 minutes after… [more]
Power Failures or Outages During Egg Incubation
Power failure during incubation can be a worry especially if you live in an area that is prone to power… [more]
Turning Incubating Eggs
When eggs for hatching are put in the incubator,they should be laid on their sides and turned at least… [more]
Incubating your Poultry Eggs
Once you have bought your incubator and got hold of your hatching eggs you will be eager to get hatching. But… [more]
Quick Tips for Hatching Poultry Eggs
Here are some quick tips for getting the best results when incubating and hatching poultry eggs. Incubate… [more]
More than 300,000 Ex-Battery Hens Rehomed
Keep Hens Raise Chickens is delighted to report that The British Hen Welfare Trust, has rehomed more… [more]
Todays Most Viewed
Have Your Hens Stopped Laying?
A question we are often asked especially as winter sets in is “Why have my hens stopped laying and is this normal?” Well hopefully the answer to this is “Yes it is normal for hens to stop laying at certain times of the year”. However there are several reasons why hens stop laying and we [...]
Moulting – Order of Moult
Moulting occurs naturally at least once a year and the moult usually happens in a fairly set order. The first feathers are usually lost from the head and neck, then from the saddle, breast and main body, followed by the wings and finally the tail feathers. Often good layers will continue to lay while the feathers are being [...]
Chicken Manual – The complete step-by-step guide to keeping chickens – Laurence Beeken
The Chicken Manual by Laurence Beeken, provides a complete and easy-to-follow reference for those wanting to keep chickens for both food and pleasure. The comprehensive contents of The Chicken Manual are as follows: 1) Introduction – Why keep chickens? History of the Chicken. 2) Getting Started – Preliminary considerations, Choosing a breed, the breeds, getting your [...]
Clipping Chickens’ Wings
Wing clipping is necessary if you wish to prevent your chickens flying off and annoying the neighbours or falling prey to predators. If done correctly the bird will not feel any pain and wing clipping is easily done. You should only clip one wing as this will throw the birds balance out and prevent it from flying. [...]
Moulting – My Chicken is Going Bald
New chicken keepers are often shocked when they witness their birds first moult. They take one look at the pile of feathers in the coop and assume a fox or other predator has been in and attacked the chickens. But don’t worry if it is late summer/ early autumn chances are your chickens are only doing what [...]
Choosing the Right Type of Egg Incubator
If you do not have access to a broody hen and want to go with artificial egg incubation, then it is important to spend a little time working out the best incubator for your needs. There are a lot of incubators on the market for both the small backyard chicken keeper and bigger poultry operations. Here is a guide [...]
Freezing Surplus Poultry Eggs
Sometimes you may not be able to keep up with your flock’s egg laying and you will find yourself with surplus eggs, which you can either sell or give away. However an alternative is to freeze these eggs. It is nice to be able to set aside surplus eggs to use later, especially for times when [...]
