Answers to Hen Keeping
Many questions have been raised about hen keeping especially in regards to what they eat and problems commonly experienced by those keeping chickens. Although many people are simply concerned about the amount of time and labor that the chickens may need most of the other queries are usually simple and can be sorted out by giving elaborate explanations. Other questions are because of speculations and wild imaginations from less informed individuals
Frequently asked questions
Many people have tried to link the color of the chicken to the color of eggs produced; it is commonly thought that very white chickens are likely to lay equally white eggs. Another trivial question is the relation between a rooster or cockerel and the ability of hens to lay eggs. Others are even interested in knowing which is the best method of keeping chickens. We will try to answer some of these questions by giving you the facts about chicken that may help in clearing some of the concerns raised in this paragraph.
Facts about keeping chicken
Chickens are animals like any other and each hen has its own genes, which determine its own individual traits like the color of eggs it lays. It is however factual that the food your hens eat will influence the type of eggs they lay. If hens feed on calcium and good protein, they will lay strong-shelled protein rich eggs however, each hens breed will determine the color. Some hens’ lay very white eggs and others lay brown eggs but it has totally nothing to do with the color of the hen. If it did, we would no doubt have even black chicken eggs.
It is assumed that since reproduction in most animals take the combined effort of both the male and female, hens should therefore not lay any eggs unless they are allowed to mate with roosters. This is not true; hens will lay eggs with or without the participation of roosters. It is however important to note that the presence of a rooster is only vital in case you need eggs that can hatch into chicks as only fertilized eggs can hatch into chicks. This factor means that you can keep chickens without including a rooster as long as you do not intend to hatch any chicks.
Other people also would like to know whether hens lay eggs according to seasons, the answer is no; hens will continue laying eggs as long as they are well fed. They may only stop if they get broody in the case of chickens that are reared using natural method where the hens have to sit on their eggs for a number of days until they are hatched.
With these facts at hand, hen keeping cannot be more simplified. Good chicken breeding methods also translate into good chicken and chicken products. The best-recommended method of keeping hens is the free-range method as they get to walk freely like in a natural habitat. Such hens will lay highly nutritious eggs and are less exposed to infections as they always have well balanced diet
