Chicken farming has become a popular occupation during the modern period, especially in the countryside. If you're looking for chicken for sale, raising them in your backyard can provide you with fresh quality meat and eggs. In order to keep your chickens happy and healthy, you will have to follow some essential tips. Let us learn about them in this article.

Provide the chickens with correct feed

Correct feed is very much important for keeping the chickens happy and healthy throughout the year. Studies have found that chickens require the right type of food in balanced amount for laying nutritious eggs and leading long, healthy lives. These birds require different types of feed during different stages of their lives.

It is important that you follow manufacturer’s guidelines while giving feed to your birds. However, in general you can give starter feed to chicks for the first eight weeks. The feed of hens (layer feed) should have calcium because calcium helps in the development of egg shells. You cannot give layer feed to chicks because it can be harmful for their health. Layer feed is only for egg laying females.

Give your chickens adequate space

 Chickens require adequate space for living and breeding. If there is not enough space inside the coop, it can increase stress level among the birds. They will peck at each other and fight among themselves. Overcrowding can lead to spread of diseases. As a backyard farmer you know very well that hens only lay eggs in a stress free environment. A larger coop with proper ventilation is perfect for your chickens. They will get adequate space, thus preventing overcrowding and reducing stress levels. This will keep your chickens happy and healthy throughout the year.

Provide clean water to your chickens

Chickens require lot of water daily. It is important that you provide clean and fresh water to your chickens for 24 hours. If chickens consume dirty water, they can become sick. You can install poultry nipple waterers in your coop for ensuring the water remains clean.

Clean the coop daily

In order to ensure that the chickens remain healthy, it is recommended that you clean the coop on a daily basis. A clean, dry coop is very much beneficial for the health of the birds. If droppings accumulate inside the coop, it will result in the formation of ammonia gas. You should know that chickens have sensitive respiratory systems and ammonia is harmful for them. A dirty coop will also become a breeding ground for parasites and pathogens. This is the reason why you should clean your coop regularly.

Arrange for dust bathing areas

A dust bath of a chicken is similar to the daily shower of a human being. Daily dust bath can enable chickens to get rid of disease causing parasites. These birds dig shallow pits in dirt, sand and flower pots and apply them on their skin. This helps in both skin and feather maintenance.

Thus, from this article, we can learn about some of the effective tips by which you can raise healthy chickens in your backyard. You can try them out if you want.