QUESTIONS:

How many stages are there in the life cycle of

a chicken?
On average, a chicken will live between three
to five years (some breeds are known to live
longer), and have three distinct life phases: egg,
chick and chicken stage. In each stage a
chicken will have differing needs to ensure they
continue to develop healthily throughout their
lifetime
What is the egg laying cycle of a chicken?
The laying cycle of a chicken flock usually
covers a span of about 12 months. Egg
production begins when the birds reach about
18–22 weeks of age, depending on the breed
and season. Flock production rises sharply and
reaches a peak of about 90%, 6–8 weeks later.
How long will a chicken live?
Pet chickens that are properly cared for can live
a relatively long time---longer than dogs,
sometimes, although that's rare. It's common for
a hen in a backyard setting to live 8-10 years,
but we've also heard reports of chickens living
as many as 20 years!
How long does it take for a chick to grow
into a chicken?
Generally speaking, chickens are said to be
adults when they reach the point of sexual
maturity and begin laying eggs. This typically
occurs when the chickens are between 16 and
24 weeks of age, depending on breed, but even
some individuals within a breed will develop
more quickly or slowly than others.
How long will a chicken lay eggs?
A: Chickens usually don't simply "stop" laying
eggs when they get to a certain age, but they
will lay fewer as they get older. That said, most
laying breeds will lay more or less productively
in backyard terms for five or seven years.
What's the average lifespan of a chicken?
Considering that the average lifespan of a
chicken is generally no more than seven to
eight years, Keith and Donna contacted
Guinness World Records on July 30, 2001, to
make them aware that Matilda was eleven years
old and still in excellent health.
How many eggs does a chicken lay a day?
A hen can lay only one egg in a day and will
have some days when it does not lay an egg at
all. The reasons for this laying schedule relate
to the hen reproductive system. A hen's body
begins forming an egg shortly after the previous
egg is laid, and it takes 26 hours for an egg to
form fully.
How long do chickens have to be under a
heat lamp?
If home temperatures range around 75 degrees,
you won't need a heat lamp past week four. But
in barns or garages, which may run 60 degrees,
chicks need supplementary heat until they are
fully feathered at six weeks of age.
How long does it take for a chicken to grow
to eating size?
It takes about 8-12 weeks to raise a meat
chicken to maturity, while it takes about 6
months to raise a laying chicken to maturity
(when they start laying eggs). 8-12 week old
mature meat chickens will have the freshest
tasting meat, tender & juicy.
Are heat lamps safe for chickens?
There is no way to use a heat lamp safely inside
a chicken coop. ... If you cannot be persuaded
that chickens do not need supplemental heat
inside a properly managed chicken coop in the
winter, find a safe heat source such as a flat
panel radiant heater that brings the temperatures
up just a few degrees.
How warm do baby chickens need to be?
Chicks need to be kept in a warm place until
they are fully feathered. The temperature at the
bottom of the brooding area should be 95-100
degrees for the first two weeks and then
reduced 5 degrees each week until chicks are a
month old.
Why do chickens grow so fast?
Most broiler growers have 20,000 or more
chickens in each house and numerous houses
on the farm. ... The fact is, chickens grow as
fast as they should naturally, without the use of
growth hormones. Additionally, using
hormones to force chickens to grow too quickly
would cause increased leg problems and even
early death.
How long does it take for a chicken to be
ready for slaughter?
Broilers chickens are specially bred for fast
growth and slaughtered when they weigh
approximately four pounds, usually between
seven and nine weeks of age. Birds between 12
and 20 weeks of age, typically weighing
between five and ten pounds, are called
roasters.

How do I keep my chickens warm at night?

To increase insulation in your coop, double the
thickness of your hemp bedding. Your chickens
will snuggle deep into the bedding and stay
warm and dry. During winter a great way to
keep your chickens warm all night long is to
feed them a handful of cracked corn right
before bedtime.
Which light bulbs give off the most heat?An
incandescent bulb emits light through the
heating of a small metallic coil called a filament
surrounded by gases that heat to approximately
4000 F! While providing plenty of light, they
release 90% of their energy as heat making
them fairly inefficient in comparison to
compact fluorescent lamp bulbs.
What age do chickens start laying eggs?
A: On average, pullets, or juvenile hens, start
laying eggs at about 6 months of age,
depending on the breed. Larger, heavier birds
like Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks and
Orpingtons will lay on the later side whereas
lighter, smaller breeds like Leghorns, Stars, and
Australorps will start laying sooner.
How do I keep my chickens warm in the
winter?
With winter on the way, here are seven steps
to help ensure your birds are protected from
cold weather.
1. Minimize drafts. ...
2. Keep your coop well ventilated. ...
3. Use the 'Deep Litter Method' ...
4. Use sunlight to trap heat. ...
5. Make sure your chickens can roost. ...
6. Make them a sunroom. ...
7. Protect against frostbite.
Do growth hormones in chicken affect
humans?
The actual fear is that manipulating growth
hormones in cows—or salmon—may increase
another hormone, insulin-like growth factor
(IGF), which could mimic the effects of human
growth hormone in harmful ways. In fact,
research has found that milk from rBGH-treated
cows contains up to 10 times more IGF than
other milk
What is being injected into chicken?
Chicken companies are pulling a fast one on
consumers. In a common practice the industry
likes to call 'enhancing' or 'plumping', chicken
is injected with water, salt and other additives
to help it stay juicier and more flavorful.
What age do you kill chickens for meat?
The chicks take three to four months to reach a
good size, and can be butchered as late as 8
months old. After that, they tend to get tough.
Many people choose Cornish Cross Hybrids for
their meat birds. These birds have been
genetically bred to eat, grow and put on weight
fast.
Can you eat a chicken after it stops laying
eggs?
You can eat them, or turn them into pet food,
some said. ... KBPDX said older backyard
chickens won't make a tasty meal: Their meat is
tough, and they're not usually the breed of
chicken that people enjoy eating. “We have
them and love them. I could never give them up
after they stop laying.
Can chickens stay outside in the winter?
Don't keep your chickens closed up in their
coop when it's cold. We like to go outside, even
in the winter! Good cold weather chickens can
be allowed to decide when they want to stay in
or come out. You might think that your
chickens won't want to go outside in the snow,
and sometimes that's true
How cold is too cold for chickens?
Chickens can survive quite well with
temperatures down into the teens. In fact, if you
place a thermometer in your coop overnight,
you will likely find the temperature has
maintained in the thirty to forty degree area.
Each chicken has generated enough heat to
keep themselves and flock mates warm.
Which light bulbs produce the most heat?
An incandescent lamp is an extremely
inefficient light source. According to the
Wikipedia online encyclopaedia, a 100 watt
bulb is 2.1% efficient. In other words, it
produces about 2 watts of light and 98 watts of
heat.
Do light bulbs make room hotter?
The other questions correctly point out that the
lights DO make the room hotter while on, and
cooler when off. ... If you have many
incandescent bulbs in a room, they do heat the
air somewhat and emit radiant energy you can
feel as heat. It's usually negligible though.
How many eggs does a chicken lay a day?
A hen can lay only one egg in a day and will
have some days when it does not lay an egg at
all. The reasons for this laying schedule relate
to the hen reproductive system. A hen's body
begins forming an egg shortly after the previous
egg is laid, and it takes 26 hours for an egg to
form fully.
How cold can chickens handle?
The first thing I usually say to people is that
Chickens are being kept successfully in Canada
at temperatures below -20 degrees Centigrade
and that they can actually handle the cold
weather very well, it is usually the heat that
causes them problems.
Do chickens lay eggs in the winter?
Even if the winter weather is warm, if there is
not enough light, some breeds may slow down
laying in the wintertime. VERY cold weather
will also slow down laying because more of
your chickens' bodily resources have to go into
keeping her warm rather than to producing
eggs.
Do hormones in meat cause early puberty?
There is just no way to come to a science-based
conclusion that hormones in food or dairy
products cause early puberty. The
overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that
there is no increased health risk from
consuming meat and milk that is associated
with the hormones found in these products.
Why do farmers use growth hormones?
Growth hormones are not allowed in the raising
of poultry and pigs. As far as beef goes, some
farmers and ranchers choose to use growth
hormones on their cattle to help them convert
their feed into lean muscle more efficiently.
Americans are demanding leaner cuts of beef
and this is one safe way to produce it
Does chicken contain water?
The same roast after roasting contains 65%
water. A whole broiler-fryer contains 66%
water before cooking and 60% afterwards.
Leaner meat and poultry contain more protein
and less fat. Since water is a component of
protein (but not fat), a leaner cut will contain
slightly more water on a per weight basis.
Are chickens given growth hormones?
Chickens are not fed or injected with growth
hormones, they just have naturally increased
size over time. So when you see a label that has
“No hormones added” or “hormone free” just
remember that NO chicken, at all is hormone
free, and no chickens have hormones added to
them.
Why do chickens eat their eggs?
Lack of protein in a hen's diet can make her
more inclined to break and eat eggs. ...
Overcrowding in the coop can cause your
chickens more stress and can lead to multiple
problems beyond just egg eating. Overcrowded
nest boxes increase the likelihood that a hen
will accidentally break an egg.
Can a chicken lay more than one egg a day?
Depending on the hen's breed and age, one
cycle may last for 12 days or as long as a year.
The total number of eggs laid within one laying
cycle is called a clutch. Most hens take 25 to 26
hours to produce one egg. ... Likewise, a hen
that takes less than 25 hours to produce each
egg will lay more eggs per clutch.
How long does it take for a chicken to lay an
egg after mating?
Sperm from a rooster is stored in the hen's
oviduct for up to 10 days, so after just a single
successful mating many fertilized eggs can be
laid. Depending on when the hen's last egg was
laid, the next egg laid after the hen was mated
will most likely be fertile.
Why is chicken injected with water?
Poultry producers have injected chicken (and
other meats) with saltwater solutions since the
1970s, claiming it makes for tastier, juicier
meat. ... Binding agents in the solution prevent
the added salt and water from leaching out of
the meat during transport, in grocery stores and
during cooking.
What percentage of meat is water?
People eat meat for the muscle. The muscle is
approximately 75% water (although different
cuts may have more or less water) and 20%
protein, with the remaining 5% representing a
combination of fat, carbohydrate, and minerals.
How do you stop chickens from eating their
eggs?
o If you'd rather not cull the hen, you are
down to a few extreme measures you can
take:
o Buy roll-away nesting boxes. When the hen
lays an egg, the egg rolls out of the nesting
box and the hen can't reach it.
o Place golf balls in the nests. ...
o Fill an eggshell with mustard, which
chickens hate. ...
o Clip the offending hen's beak
Can you feed eggshells to Chickens?
If your laying hens do not get enough
calcium, their bodies will pull calcium from
their bones and this is obviously not good for
the chickens. A lot of folks, including myself,
offer crushed oyster shell that can be bought
where you buy your feed. Or, you can feed
 them their own crushed egg shells which I
also do.
What can I feed my chickens?
To sum up: bugs, worms, seeds, weeds, grasses,
and even rodents. Typically, backyard and
small farm chickens also eat food scraps from
the farm household - basically anything besides
beans, garlic, raw potatoes, onions, and citrus.
You can feed them beans, garlic, and onions,
but the eggs might taste funky.
What should you not feed chickens?
The five foods here, though, are potentially
killers for your chickens.
o Never, ever allow your chickens to eat dried
or raw beans. ...
o Chickens should not eat anything mouldy. ...
o Parts of the avocado should not be eaten by
chickens. ...
o Chickens should not eat green potatoes or
green tomatoes. ...
o Chickens should not eat chocolate.
How much food do chickens eat in a day?
A well-known ballpark figure for estimating

Stages in Poultry Production

Incubation stage- ilalagi ang mga itlog sa incubator ng 21 days sa

temperature na 37.5 C

Brooding stage- pinaglilipatan ng mga sisiw galing sa incubator

hanggang 21 days din sila ditto at may unlimited na supply na
pagkain at inumin sa brooding cage.

Hardening stage- pinaglilipatan ng mga sisiw galing sa brooding

stage. Hindi na permaninti ang pagkain ditto. Sinasanay na sila
para sa ranging stage. Parang training ground nila ito para
sumabak sa real world o sa ranging stage. Malakas silang kumain
ditto at madali ring magutom.

Ranging stage- huling sa pagpapalaki ng manok.

Free-range chickens- malayang nakagala sa kanilang kulungan.

Hindi na e stress ang manok ditto at kadalasan sila ay malusog.

purpose is 1/4 pound of feed per chicken per

day, or, 1.5 pounds of feed per chicken per
week. Keep in mind that this is a ballpark
figure. I think I feed a little more than this
amount. Most feed is sold in a fifty pound