1. Tell me how Noisy Are Chickens?
Roosters are VERY noisy, and contrary to popular belief, they don't just crow in the morning. They crow all day long. Hens are much quieter -- you basically won't hear them until they've just laid an egg, or if they're threatened.
2. Tell me do You Have To Give Chickens Baths?
No! Chickens take dust bathsthat keep them clean and free of pests. However, if you plan on showing your chickens in a Poultry Show, you'll want your bird looking her best, so you can wash them with a gentle cleanser and blow them dry.
3. Explain me will Twin Chicks Hatch From A Double Yolked Egg?
A double yolked egg is not likely to hatch. An embryo may begin to develop from the germinal disc on both egg yolks, but usually there is not enough room for two chicks or the conditions are not adequate for two embryos and the chicks do not hatch.
4. Explain me does Eating Eggs Increase My Cholesterol?
According to research results, moderate egg consumption will not increase a person's serum cholesterol and the American Heart Association is now reporting that there is no evidence to suggest that eating eggs will increase the risk of heart disease in healthy individuals. In fact, scientists now know that eggs provide several much needed nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin which may decrease the possibility of macular degeneration. Eggs are also an excellent source of folic acid and choline.
5. Tell me can Eggs Be Produced Without A Male Being Present?
Yes, most eggs produced for human consumption are produced this way and are non-fertile.
6. Tell me why Are Some Hard-cooked Eggs Difficult To Peel?
Eggs that are very fresh are usually more difficult to peal. As the egg ages the pH changes and the shell is more easily removed. To improve peelability, start with an egg that is a few days old, hard-cook the egg, then immerse the egg in cold water and peel immediately.
7. Tell me how Much Care Do Pet Chickens Require?
They're much easier than dogs: no walking, no twice-daily feeding, no baths, no grooming. With the proper housing they're a very low-maintenance pet:
☛ Daily: a "checking on", egg collection, and closing the coop if you've let them out.
☛ As necessary: fill feed and water containers.
☛ Monthly: change bedding and remove that free fertilizer (poo) so it can be put to good use!
☛ Twice a year: a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the coop.
8. Tell me can Eggs Be Frozen?
Eggs can be satisfactorily frozen after mixing the yolk and the albumen. It may be desirable to freeze the egg mixture in ice trays or muffin tins and then store the frozen eggs in plastic bags. The frozen eggs can be thawed in the refrigerator and used any where a whole egg is needed. Three tablespoons of liquid whole egg should be used in place of one large egg. Egg whites can be frozen satisfactorily and can also be frozen in ice trays or muffin tins. Yolks on the other hand become very gelatinous when frozen unless they are mixed with salt or sugar. To help retard the gelation, mix 1/8 teaspoon salt or 1 ½ teaspoons sugar or corn syrup per ¼ cup eggs yolks (4 large yolks).
Freezing in ice trays or muffin tins may also be desirable. When the egg yolks are used, the recipe should be adjusted to the salt or sugar already in the egg yolks.
9. Explain what Causes Blood Spots In Eggs?
Blood spots are the result of broken capillaries in the reproductive system. When the capillary ruptures, a drop of blood leaks out and becomes part of the egg. The presence of a blood spot does not mean the egg is fertile or that an embryo is beginning to form. Egg processors attempt to identify and remove all eggs containing blood spots before eggs go into the carton. Occasionally one is missed, but if the blood spot is small, it can be removed and the egg used. For large blood spots the egg should be discarded.
10. Tell me how Should Frozen Poultry Be Thawed?
Frozen chickens and turkeys should be thawed in the refrigerator. This prevents all parts of the bird from getting warm enough to encourage the growth of spoilage bacteria before the entire birds is thawed completely. Depending on the size of the bird, two or three days may be required to complete the thawing process. If faster thawing is necessary birds can be immersed in cold water. Directions on the label concerning thawing should be followed.
11. Tell me how Can The Sex Of Baby Chicks Be Determined?
Vent sexing by an experienced chick sexer can be done at one day of age. This technique is difficult and requires a great deal of experience. If a fast feathering gene has been introduced into the breeding flock, chicks can be sexed by observing the differences in the appearance of the primary wing feathers. The feathers on the wings of the female will be a little longer and in a different pattern than those on the males. Most chickens can not be sexed in this manner.
12. Do you know how Long Do Chickens Live?
Chickens in small flocks live several years if conditions are correct. A life span of 6-8 years may not be unreasonable. Most commercial layers are kept for 2-3 years.
13. Tell me where Does Salmonella Originate?
Salmonella bacteria are spread in fecal material from all kinds of animals. Animals may also pick up bacteria from the soil or perhaps from contaminated processed feed. The organisms then live in the intestinal tract of the host and may or may not have an effect on the animal. As food animals are slaughtered and processed, there are times when some of the bacteria from the intestines have the opportunity to contaminate uncooked meat products.
14. Tell us is There Really Such A Thing As A "pecking Order"?
Yes. This is a very real phenomenon. All chicken flocks have a well-defined pecking order. It's their way of preventing mayhem.
The lucky chicken at the top of the pecking order basically gets to push everyone around. She gets first access to food, water, prime roosting spots and so on. If she doesn't like what anyone else is doing she has full pecking rights. She gets to tell any other chicken to bug off. The poor baby at the bottom of the pecking order is in the exact opposite situation: everyone in the flock can peck her, and she has last rights to food and other resources. The other chickens in a flock fall somewhere between these two extremes. The #2 chicken can only be bullied by the #1 chicken and can bully everyone else in turn, and so on and so on.
Pecking order is established at a very early age and usually remains unchallenged until death.
15. Tell us do You Need Roosters For Hens To Lay Eggs?
No. This is one of the most common misconceptions about chickens. Hens will lay eggs just as well in the absence of roosters. If roosters are present, however, the eggs may be fertilized!
16. Do you know how Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs?
That depends on three main factors:
☛ The breed of chicken. Some chickens are bred for meat production and lay few eggs; some are bred for egg production and can lay as often as once a day; some are bred as "dual purpose" andare good for both egg-laying and meat, although not optimal for either.
☛ The hen's age. Hens start to lay at 4-5 months of age, and lay best during their first year. Each year after that their production decreases.
☛ The season. In the winter (with fewer daylight hours), egg production drastically decreases. High laying season is summer.
A healthy, young hen bred for egg-laying can lay almost an egg a day!
17. Tell me is There Any Danger From Eating Poultry?
If the chicken is fresh and is properly cooked (to an end point temperature of at least 165 degrees F.) there should be minimal danger. The bacteria that may be of concern is Salmonella. There is a possibility that Salmonella could be present on some raw chickens, but as stated earlier, proper cooking eliminates any potential problems. In addition to proper cooking, another safeguard that should be remembered when preparing all meat items is to carefully wash hands, utensils, and countertops after preparing the meat to avoid cross-contamination to other foods.
18. Tell me where Can I Get Pet Chickens For Myself?
You can get grown chickens from a local farmer, or you can get baby chicks from a hatchery.
19. Tell me how Long Will Eggs Keep?
If eggs are properly refrigerated they should remain usable for several weeks. Most eggs have a 4 week expiration date on the carton. That means they may be sold up to four weeks after they are placed in the carton and the consumer will still have plenty of time to use them. Keeping eggs in the carton in the refrigerator will extend the shelf life. Keeping eggs at a temperature below 40° F, but above freezing and at a high humidity is the ideal way to maximize the shelf life.
20. Tell me what Size Eggs Should I Purchase?
Most recipes are written for large eggs. Because of that, better results will be obtained by using large eggs in baked products. If the end use of the eggs is scrambled, fried, poached, hard cooked or a method where volume is not critical, then the size with the least expensive cost per ounce might be the best choice.
21. Explain me should I Eat Foods That May Contain Uncooked Eggs?
The recent introduction of in-shell pasteurized eggs now provides an extra margin of safety when using raw or undercooked eggs in foods. To be absolutely safe, only pasteurized eggs should be used when preparing foods that may be undercooked. Even clean, sound shelled eggs have the possibility of bacterial contamination and should be fully cooked.
22. Tell me are Chickens In Cages Being Abused?
Housing chickens in cages does not abuse them. The egg producer does not intentionally abuse chickens because the birds will not be healthy and happy and good egg producers. The certification program mentioned in Question 9 is designed to increase cage space and modify other production practices that may be in question. Research has shown that keeping hens in cages actually may be less stressful since there is less competition and interaction with other more aggressive birds.
23. Tell me what Part Of The Egg Develops Into The Baby Chicken?
The chicks develop from the true egg, seen as a small white spot (germinal disc) on the yolk. If the egg is fertile and incubated at the correct temperature, cell division will continue. The egg white protects the developing embryo and offers some nutrition, however, the yolk is the primary nutrition source.
24. Explain me what If One Of My Pet Chickens Gets Sick?
Take it to a veterinarian that specializes in avian medicine or farm animals.
25. Explain me why Do Chickens And Turkeys Have Light And Dark Meat?
Different muscles in the body of the bird are used at various rates. Since chickens and turkeys do not fly, the breast muscles (which are used in flight) are not used as much as the leg and thigh muscles and do not require as much oxygen. The oxygen transport mechanism is myoglobin and is present in dissimilar amounts in the muscles which results in the color contrast.
