Should Chicken Keepers Be Arenophiles?
Some chicken keepers may be secret arenophiles! They lug sand into the coop and use it for bedding Is that a good thing?
The word “arenophile” is a blend of Greek and Latin tracing back to ancient Rome
In those days crowds gathered in huge arenas to watch gladiators fight to a gory death
Before bouts workers covered the arena’s surface with a thick layer of sand to absorb blood Gross!
Fortunately, those violent days are gone Today the word “arenophile” generally means someone who collects samples of sand from such far-flung places as the beaches of Tahiti or Normandy Others may come
VIDEO: Flock sizing with Rich and Marion Patterson
A Chicken’s Quirky Vision
If chickens sometimes act in quirky ways, it may be because of their vision
It’s easy for people to assume that animals see things the way we do, but that’s not the case Animal vision varies greatly Like most birds, chickens see the world differently than their human caretakers
Anyone who has filled an empty bird feeder is often surprised to see chickadees, nuthatches, and other wild birds almost immediately flap in for lunch How do they know delicious seeds are in a feeder that has been empty for several days? Chickens do the same thing Open the back door with
DIY Composter
In addition to gifting a family with fresh eggs, a backyard chicken flock yields another benefit Their poop
“Soil needs animal manure to maintain health, and few additions to garden soil help produce abundant vegetables as chicken poop compost,” said Drew Erickson, Farm Manager at Rodale Institute’s Midwest Research Center north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Our garden produce is a side gift from our hens, and we use their manure in two ways We sprinkle a thin layer directly on the garden soil and gently work it in Chicken manure is nitrogen rich Adding too much can over fertilize plants, so
VIDEO: Utilizing Chickens for Pest Control and Fertilizer
How Long Will Hens Stay Broody
Some chicken traits are both admirable and frustrating Patience is an example
People often lack patience They grit their teeth waiting at a red light, and zoom off the second it turns green Instant gratification is expected Fortunately, in this fast-paced world, a broody hen teaches us the merits of calmness and patience
At one time, the only way to get new chicks was to let a broody hen warm egg for a 21-day incubation period Nature programmed hens to develop a maternal urge, usually in the spring, and raise babies After filling her nest with fertile eggs she’ll fluff up
Keeping Chickens Productive in Summer’s Heat
In the summer of 1896, a heat wave gripped New York City at a time when people lived crammed together in tenements Lacking air conditioning and running water, the heat killed about 1500 people in ten sweltering days
In an era when governments did little to help people, then relatively unknown Theodore Roosevelt took action that saved lives and launched his political career
As police commissioner he ordered the fire department to spray down the exterior of buildings, sidewalks and streets with water and worked to have ice delivered to suffering people The water dropped building temperatures a few degrees and
Sizing an Outdoor Run
Chickens love being outside Give them a run, and they’ll lounge in the shade, scratch for tasty bugs and seeds, gobble delicious sprouts, hunker in the dust and even snatch wayward flies from the air
How big should a run be? There’s no absolute answer A tiny run is appreciated but the bigger it is relative to flock size the more the birds will enjoy it and the more natural food it will produce
Chickens are constant foragers and scratchers If many birds are crammed into a small run, they’ll soon devour every scrap of green vegetation Expect a dusty run
Chickens Love a Bath
People mowing their lawn, tilling the garden, or doing almost any home or yard chore usually finish tired, hungry, and dirty Nothing’s quite as luxurious after a hard day’s work as a warm bath or sudsy shower to remove grime and relax taxed muscles
Chickens aren’t as lucky Like humans they work hard scratching the dirt for delicious bugs and seeds and giving their human owner a nearly daily nest gem……an egg Unfortunately, they can’t end the day’s labor with a bath or shower the way people can Yet, chickens are fastidious about body care and appreciate the opportunity to