Kita Agro

Week 1:  Welcoming Chicks Home Congratulations! Backyard chickens are now a part of your family. Your happy, healthy flock starts today. Now that your chicks are home, the main elements they need are: warmth, water and feed. Buff Orpington chick, Barred Rock chick. Warmth:  Ensure the heat lamp you set up yesterday is working properly. Use a thermometer to confirm the brooder temperature is 95° F at chick level. Watch chicks closely for the first few hours to make sure the heat lamp isn’t too close or too far away. If chicks gather around the perimeter, they’re too hot. If they huddle under the heat lamp, they’re too cold. Water:  Without a mother hen to teach chicks to drink, it’s a good idea for you to show them. Dip each chick’s beak into the room temperature water that you set up yesterday. Monitor the group to confirm all chicks are drinking within the first couple of hours. Feed:  Provide a complete feed with at least 18 percent protein to provide...

Year Two and Beyond At this point, you’ve likely been bitten by the chicken lover’s bug. You’ve joined thousands of American families who have fallen in love with backyard chickens. Caring for your adult hens will be similar to weeks 18–52, but here are a few new experiences to expect: Chicken math:  In the chicken world 1+1 can equal 12. After conquering year one, it might be time to add new breeds and personalities to the flock. Keep new birds in a separate room or coop for 30 days to ensure they are disease-free. Work with the existing flock first and wash your hands between groups. Follow a similar quarantine plan for new chicks, as older hens can transmit disease to chicks and pullets. For chicks, though, the separation should last for 18 weeks or until both groups are mature. After the quarantine period, gradually introduce the new group of similar size and traits into the established flock.  Always tend to the youngest birds first and move to the next oldest and so...

Mature Hens:  It’s Egg-laying Time Now that your hens are laying, you’ve entered the fun phase that we like to call “pets with benefits!” Not only will your hens make you smile, they’ll also make you breakfast. Take time to observe your farm fresh eggs. You’ll likely notice vibrant yolks, stiff whites and exceptional flavor. You can begin to expect nearly one egg each day per laying hen. High-producing hens can lay up to 300 eggs per year; however, most hens will lay about 200–250 eggs. Six eggs per week:  It takes approximately 25 hours for a hen to produce one egg, so six eggs per week is an ideal goal. Breed, housing, weather, management, parasite load and nutrition can all affect your hen’s rate of lay. Feed them what they need:  Hens are now channeling many of their nutrients into their eggs. Not only does flock nutrition impact the eggs they produce, it also contributes to each hen’s overall health. To provide the nutrients she needs, continue feeding free-ch...

Week 18:  Welcome to Adulthood Most laying breeds are considered adults when they turn 18 weeks. Most excitingly, this is the time when many hens will lay their first egg. Things to do this week: Introduce layer feed.  When birds reach 18 weeks old or when the first egg arrives, slowly switch hens to a complete layer feed. It is important to make the transition over time to prevent digestive upset. For our hens in Missouri, we mix the starter-grower and the layer feed evenly for four or five days. After that, stop adding the starter-grower feed and just continue to add layer feed. If the layer feed is in crumble form, you can transition a little faster. If you are switching to the pelleted layer, it may take a little longer for the birds to recognize the new feed form. Teach hens to lay in nesting boxes.  After a hen begins laying eggs, it’s her tendency to lay in the same spot moving forward. Create several comfortable, clean and cozy nesting areas to prevent ...

Weeks 15–17:  Egg-ticipation Your pullets are nearing maturity and the first egg is just around the corner. Egg-producing pullets will typically begin laying at about 18 to 20 weeks and will need to be switched to a complete layer feed. Choose a layer feed today so you’re ready for the transition at week 18. Laying hens require 38 different nutrients to stay healthy and produce quality eggs. The biggest difference is calcium. Chickens need to eat 4 grams of calcium per day to form an eggshell each day. If the feed does not provide enough calcium, hens may pull the nutrient from their bones, eventually causing a weak skeletal structure. Purina layer feeds that include the Oyster Strong ®  System are made to provide this necessary calcium, so there’s no need to supplement with oyster shells. The feed you select can also impact the nutrition profile of a hen’s eggs. For added nutrition, look for a complete feed that includes omega-3. It’s been shown that hens fed Lay...

Weeks 9–14:  A Time of Exploration This is a time for your family to really get to know each bird’s personality. During this time, birds are naturally inquisitive, will have high energy levels and enjoy exploring the backyard. As you’ve done since day one, spend quality time with your flock to continue forming a bond. Help them grow strong and prepare for their first egg by keeping the coop and backyard comfortable. Things to do during this time: Allow chickens to explore.  You can now start letting your chickens explore the backyard during the day. Before opening the coop, offer the flock their complete starter-grower feed and fresh water. Make sure they eat their breakfast before foraging in the yard for dessert. A complete feed should comprise at least 90 percent of their overall diet. Train chickens to return to the coop.  Growing birds will gain more confidence each day and start to explore new places. Train them to come back to the coop by offering treats...

Weeks 6–8:  It’s Coop Time Between weeks six and eight, your chicks will experience rapid growth and will need twice the floor space they started with. It’s time to start the transition to the coop. Here are a few tips to make the transition smooth: Remove the supplemental heat:  At 6 weeks old, birds are fully feathered and can tolerate cooler temperatures. Birds can easily tolerate temperatures into the 50’s at this age, and cold-tolerant breeds can tolerate temperatures into the 40’s. Give birds a few days to adjust to the colder temperatures if they have been in a warm space prior to going outside. Move brooder into the coop:  Maintain consistency by carrying the brooder outside and placing it inside the coop. You can also use a portable pet carrier. Set the brooder or carrier in the coop, so chicks can take in their new surroundings. Release chicks inside the coop:  Open the brooder or carrier to allow chicks to explore the coop. Make sure you show th...