Hen Management 101

Keeping backyard poultry can be a fun and rewarding hobby, though it doesn’t come without its challenges. Maintaining a healthy flock requires managing the day-to-day upkeep, as well as monthly and seasonal concerns. Take the guesswork out of chicken husbandry by anticipating and troubleshooting problems before they arise. Preventative maintenance makes managing your flock’s health as easy as chicken pot pie.

Managing Nutrition

Chickens have specific nutritional requirements at every age. Newly hatched chicks require nutrients to build bone, while laying hens need nutrients for egg production. All chickens need water.

Water Requirements

The No. 1 most important “nutrient” for poultry is water. Water intake requirements for poultry will vary by season. Hot temps and high humidity in the summer months will increase the need for drinking water. A young chick that is growing rapidly will need more water, as will a hen that is a high egg producer.