SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — For some, having backyard chickens means sharing experiences of raising animals with their children while also teaching them responsibility. Others raise a backyard flock because they want to know where their food comes from and they enjoy the freshness of the eggs. Still, others tend to chickens because it’s a fun hobby or they consider them pets. But for the majority of backyard chicken owners, it’s a combination of all of those things. Plus, unlike other traditional farm animals, chickens don’t require a lot of space, so even those living in urban and suburban areas can keep a few chickens on their property.
Whatever the reason, keeping backyard chickens has grown in popularity over the past five years. There are countless websites, social media groups and periodicals dedicated to the growing trend. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the already trendy hobby became exponentially more popular.
Dr. Robert Stock, Director of Poultry Research and Development Ralco says he’s seen the impacts first hand. “A lot of the chick suppliers are completely sold out this year. And they sold out early. So a lot of people have decided that if they’re going to stay home, they might as well have these chickens, get their own eggs, and they don’t have to worry about grocery stores running out of eggs.”
Just as someone might do when bringing home a new dog or cat, it’s important to research and learn as much as possible about maintaining the overall health and well-being of backyard chickens. Knowing the risks the birds are subject to and the proper way to care from them can truly be the difference between life and death for some of these animals, so being proactive in caring for one’s flock is vital.
Manage Stress
Even the best-kept backyard chickens can become stressed. A few things that can create stress are:
Adding to the flock
Bringing in new birds creates changes in the pecking order.
Cleaning out the coop
While it’s important to keep the coop clean, doing so disrupts the chickens’ environment.
Moving them
Even if moving them from a basic chicken house to a more elaborate coop, moving the birds disrupts the chickens’ environment.
Weather changes
Because backyard chickens are generally free-range, they are more likely to be sensitive to weather changes as any sort of environmental change creates stress.
Other birds
Anytime a larger bird flies over, whether it’s a crow, hawk or other predatory birds, a chicken’s natural instinct kicks in, making them afraid and thus stressing them out.
Other predators
Raccoons, possums, even the neighbor’s dog can be perceived as a threat to backyard chickens. Like the other birds, when a predator makes itself known, natural instinct kicks in and causes birds stress.
Be Proactive
Because it’s impossible to keep backyard chickens from never being stressed, it’s important to know how to help them through it, especially as stress makes the birds more susceptible to disease.
To start with, Dr. Stock says it’s important to “Make sure the birds have a clean environment. It’s essential to make sure they have access to freshwater and fresh feed.”
Once a clean environment is in place, a chicken’s immune system is their best defense against disease and death. Using products that contain essential oils is a great way to naturally boost immune systems, providing pivotal protection.
Dr. Stock recommends Ralco’s Strong Animals essential oil products such as First Peep for chicks and Chicken E-lixir and Flock Fixer for fully grown birds. “These stimulate the immune system so you have a good healthy bird. That way it can better fight off the minor challenges that the birds are inevitably going to come up against.”
First Peep is a non-medicated feed supplement that gives new chicks the best possible start to life. It gets baby chicks eating and supports early digestive health which is the foundation for a healthy immune system.
Chicken E-lixir is comparable to a daily multivitamin that humans take to stay healthy. When added to drinking water, this non-medicated water supplement helps support immune systems and promotes digestive health. It also contains calcium that helps support eggshell quality.
Flock Fixer is there for when birds come under stress. Also non-medicated, Flock Fixer provides necessary electrolytes for rehydration, along with pre and probiotics for digestive health. Dr. Stock recommends putting Flock Fixer in the drinking water for 3–5 days when stress events occur.
Follow Directions
Many backyard chicken owners want to raise their flocks in the most natural way. Because of that, the use of antibiotics has fallen out of fashion nationwide and for many essential oils have taken their place.
However, just like any supplement, it’s important to know how to use them properly. Dr. Stock says, “Essential oils can be very volatile, so the first thing to know is that you need to follow mixing instructions.” While Strong Animals products have a high safety margin, Dr. Stock says not all essential oils are like that. “There are some products out there that if too much is used, it can actually be detrimental.”
Dr. Stock says that Strong Animals essential oil products use a patented microfusion process that ensures the oils are well protected. “This is very important because some of the essential oils being used on the open market can actually erode the digestive system if they are used at too high of levels.” “Strong Animals Chicken Essentials products are carefully designed to contain just the right amount of essential oils to be safe and effective,” said Dr. Stock.
A Fun Hobby
With proper monitoring and proactive care, keeping backyard chickens healthy can be easy. As the trend continues to grow, more and more people will discover that raising chickens is not only a great way to source one’s own food but is a fun hobby, too.
About Ralco
Ralco is a third-generation family-owned, multinational company with distribution in more than 40 countries. Ralco is a leading global supplier of natural solutions to maximize nutrient conversion in both plants and animals.
–Ralco
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