If you raise chickens long enough, there will come a time when you need to administer some type of medication orally.  As you can imagine, this isn't always the easiest thing to do, especially if you are trying to do it alone.  To make it even more difficult, it's very easy to squirt the liquid down the windpipe instead of the throat and accidentally aspirate (basically drown) your chicken.

I have been fortunate in that our chickens are basically healthy, but recently, I had one that seemed to be a bit under the weather and I administered some Nutri-drench drops for a few days, several times a day for added nutrients and energy.  Here's how I did it quickly, easily and by myself since my husband is at work all day. I even managed to hold the camera in my other hand! 

Step 1: Pick up your chicken and hold her around the middle, pinning her wings to her body.

Step 2: Gently flip her over so her feet are up in the air. (this is easier than is sounds and once she is upside down, she should immediately stop struggling)

Step 3: Kneeling on the ground, place her securely between your knees.

Step 4: With your fingers, gently pry open her mouth by pressing at the hinge or carefully inserting a fingernail inside.

Step 5: Drip the drops/medication onto the roof of her mouth.

Easy!

For more tips on administering different kinds of meds, read HERE.

If you are interested in the items I keep in my All Natural Chicken First Aid Kit, read HERE. 

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As the weather warms up, our coop can start to smell, shall I say, less than appealing.  While this homemade coop refresh spray should NEVER be used as an alternative to keeping a clean coop, after removing all the soiled bedding and replacing it with new bedding, scraping down the roosts and refreshing the nesting boxes, this all natural scented spray will leave your coop smelling wonderful.

I created my own recipe for a pleasant smelling spray that could be used in between and after cleanings to keep our coop not only smelling nice but also help repel rodents, insects and calm our laying hens naturally.  I love that I am not using anything that could harm our chickens and also provide aromatherapeutic benefits to them.

 
 

 
 

 
 

When the vinegar smell has mostly dissipated, the spray is ready to use. Strain the contents and then pour into a spray bottle to use full strength - or slightly dilute with a bit of water if desired.  Spray in your coop as needed.

 

~About the ingredients~ 

 

White vinegar is a natural disinfectant. It has antibacterial properties, kills mold and is also an ant repellent.  (Apple cider vinegar, while great for adding to your chickens water and drinking yourself for all its health benefits, shouldn't be used here - only white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar will attract fruit flies.)

 

Note: You can substitute vodka for the white vinegar. Vodka is an all natural cleaning agent that kills insects instead of merely repelling them. It is also antibacterial and kills mold and mildew, and is odorless.

 

Lavender is a naturally calming stress reliever, increases blood circulation, is highly aromatic, and also an insecticide.  The aroma is highly beneficial to settle laying or sitting hens.

 

Mint is a natural rodent repellent.

Vanilla is a natural fly and mosquito repellent.

I started using vodka (buying the largest, cheapest bottle I could find at the liquor store) and much prefer it to the vinegar because the vodka is odorless. In fact, the spray smells so nice that I use it in our home as well as the coop. 
 

 
 

Note: As mentioned at the beginning of this article, this spray is NOT a substitute for regular cleaning of your coop and at the slightest whiff of ammonia, all soiled coop bedding should be removed and replaced with fresh bedding. 

 

 
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The last step in a chicken's egg laying process involves the application of a thin, nearly invisible film on the surface of the eggshell called the 'bloom'. This bloom helps to keep air and bacteria from penetrating the eggshell, thereby ensuring the egg's freshness and edibility.

Washing the egg removes the bloom, so optimally you don't want to wash the eggs from your backyard flock unless absolutely necessary.  Once an egg is washed, it has to be refrigerated, but unwashed, an egg will last out on the counter at room temperature for several weeks, or refrigerated for several months, far longer than washed eggs.

Chicken coops and runs aren't necessarily the cleanest places and no one wants to be bringing eggs covered in poop, mud or even material from broken eggs into their kitchen, so how do you ensure that your eggs are clean when you collect them?  These five tips will help:

1.) Don't allow your hens to sleep in the nesting boxes. Roosts should always be positioned higher than the nesting boxes, since chickens will seek the highest perch on which to sleep.  Allow 8" of roost space per bird.  If hens persist in sleeping on the boxes, lift them out and place them on the roosts after dark to condition them to roost, or block off the boxes completely in the afternoon once all your hens have laid their eggs.

2.) Refresh the nesting box bedding each morning. As part of my morning chores, I fluff the straw in each nesting box and add more if necessary.

3.) Locate your nesting boxes on the wall opposite the coop door. Often it's not chicken poop, but instead mud from the run, that is dirtying the eggs. By positioning your nesting boxes across the coop from the pop door, you force your hens to walk the length of the coop to lay their egg, and hopefully rub the mud off their feet in the process.

4.) Discourage broodies from sitting on nonfertile eggs. If your eggs aren't fertile, don't let your hens sit on them. Broodies hog the nesting boxes and often skirmishes will break out, resulting in broken eggs. No only will you have broken eggs, you'll have yolk and white all over all the other eggs. For tips on breaking a broody click HERE.

5.) Collect eggs as often as possible. The more frequently you can collect your eggs, the less chance they will get inadvertently broken, stepped on by another hen with muddy feet or poop on. So try and check for eggs at least a few times a day if possible.

These tips should help ensure that your eggs are nice and clean right from the coop.  Fore more information on the handling and cleaning of eggs click HERE. 

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The study and use of herbal medicine for humans and animals is a well-documented and time-tested practice that predates Western medicine by centuries.  Oregano is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics ever studied and has been found to be superior to many of the currently used antibiotics. The oil is more potent than the fresh or dried herb, but in any form, its hard to deny the power of oregano.  

 
Why not grow some herbs for your chickens. (Oregano, thyme, lavender and mint are especially beneficial as well as fragrant.)  Toss the fresh leaves into your coop and nesting box and let your chickens decide.  They'll eat some of the herbs, lay their eggs on some and ignore some, letting those dry and scent the coop.  It's a win-win for you and for your chickens.

  

  

 
This recipe for dog treats combines the breath freshening and digestive attributes of mint with the antioxidants in blueberries. The molasses provides energy and calcium, while our fresh eggs provide essential fatty acids that improve a dog's coat and skin, as well as building strong eyes, bones and internal organs.  The peanut butter adds lots of protein and dogs love the taste. 

  

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