Below are the 8 most recent journal entries recorded in r54riviera64's InsaneJournal:

Friday, January 27th, 2012
6:09 am	Common Chicken Types You can find countless chicken varieties to pick from, whether you are interested in a pet, eggs, or meat. From beautiful exotics to very good egg layers, with both positive and negative dispositions, picking the proper chicken for your backyard flock can appear difficult. Top Egg Laying Kinds Although all chickens lay eggs, not all will lay every day from the day they are four to five months old to the age of 4 years. Some of the best eggs layers do not like to sit, though, so if you want chicks, you have to have a way to incubate the eggs ? either mechanically or with another breed of hens. Here are the top layers for white eggs: Lakenvelder: Beautiful breed, nervous Leghorn: Loud, tense, shy Minorca: Moderate disposition, can be amiable but anxious Redcap: Crazy, poor disposition Ancona: Tense, Crazy Andulasian: Flighty, can be tense Catalina: timid, stressed Hamburg: Stressed, timid Holland: Good disposition, Friendly The best layers for brown eggs: Australorp: Good disposition, friendly Java: Friendly, Exotic Naked Neck Turkin: Good disposition Plymouth Rock:  Good disposition, friendly, docile Rhode Island: Aggressive Delaware: Good disposition Dominique: Good egg production and personality, will also brood. Sussex: Good disposition, friendly Wyandotte: A favorite egg layer because of their friendliness. Very best Meat Chickens The main aspect for meat hens is speed of growth - most are harvested in about sixteen weeks. Unlike egg layers, meat chickens are not kept for very long, so temperament qualities are not very important. Really good meat producing breeds are: Cornish: Thin feathered, should be protected from cold; poor egg layers Cornish Cross: fast-growth hybrid prone to heart attacks and broken legs One can find a large amount of hens that are good dual purpose birds for both meat and eggs. Several of these are listed below and normally lay fewer eggs than the top egg layers. Just about all of these types will lay between 4 and file eggs every week. Araucana Australorp Barnevelder Brahma: Very nice to look at, though not a top layer this chicken lays a respectable mount of eggs and makes a great pet, too. Buckeye: a heritage breed Catalina: A dual purpose bird that is also a top layer. Delaware Dominique Dorking Holland Hungarian Yellow Orpington Plymouth Rock Wyandotte Whether your objective is egg laying or meat, the diverse range of breed options can be daunting. Decorative Breeds If you expect to spend time with your hens, then disposition is crucial. Obtaining eggs from hostile hens is a challenge. It's particularly critical to understand the breed's temperament if young children will be interacting with them. Commonly, Silkies are towards the top of people's list of most desirable breeds as pets. They must be kept warm and dry. Their feathers are like Persian cat fur, which is where they get their name. These feathers immediately soak up any water they're exposed to. Silkies don't just look fantastic, but they have a first class disposition for pets also. They have no problem with young children or grown ups carrying them around. They will tend a nest of viable eggs carefully. The eggs are outstanding eating, but are a third the size of a typical chicken egg. Additional ornamental types include: Phoenix: Very long tail feathers that require special roosting conditions - very beautiful Yokohama: another long tailed breed Sultan: Has a "hat" of upright feathers - fluffy and fancy Sizzle or Frizzle: These chickens have curly or wavy feathers and look like they have been through a windstorm. Showgirls: These chickens have fluffy feathers on their body and the top of their head but a bare neck. Serama: A tiny fantastic miniature chicken. Proud upright stance in a two to 3 pond package. Very good disposition. Cochin: Both standard and Bantam Cochins are considered ornamental, but they are decent egg layers. They are fairly docile and lovely with full long feathering and a waterfall type tail. Their feathers make them seem two times as large as they actually are. The feathers go all the way down to their toes. It's crucial that you study the various kinds and give consideration to which will fit your needs best. For much more information on the topic, visitBreeds of Chickens.  Have a look at Chicken Coop Plans if you're researching on building your own chicken house.   (Comment on this)
4:39 am	Chicken Kinds Literally, you'll find numerous chicken varieties to choose from for whatever you would like one for: eggs, a pet, or meat. From beautiful exotics to wonderful egg layers, with both negative and positive dispositions, selecting a chicken for your backyard flock can seem difficult. Top Egg Laying Types of Chicken Although all chickens lay eggs, not all will lay every day from the day they are four to five months old to the age of 4 years. Some of the best eggs layers don't like to sit, though, so if you want chicks, you have to have a way to incubate the eggs ? either mechanically or with another breed of hens. These are the top layers for white eggs: Lakenvelder: Beautiful breed, nervous Leghorn: Noisy, tense, timid Minorca: Moderate disposition, can be amiable but stressed Redcap: Crazy, poor disposition Ancona: Tense, Wild Andulasian: Flighty, can be anxious Catalina: timid, nervous Hamburg: Anxious, shy Holland: Good disposition, Amiable Top rated layers of brown eggs are: Australorp: Good disposition, friendly Java: Friendly, Exotic Naked Neck Turkin: Good disposition Plymouth Rock:  Good disposition, friendly, docile Rhode Island: Aggressive Delaware: Good disposition Dominique: Good egg production and personality, will also brood. Sussex: Good disposition, friendly Wyandotte: A favorite egg layer because of their friendliness. Optimum Varieties for Meat The key attribute for meat hens is speed of growth - most are harvested in about 16 weeks. For most, because they are not expected to be long-lived, the breed's temperament is not as key as with egg layers that you contend with on a daily basis for years. Excellent meat producing breeds are: Cornish: With thin feathers they should be protected from the cold. Not good egg layers Cornish Cross: hybrid with high-speed growth, but vulnerable to heart attacks and broken legs There are actually a great many hens that are good dual purpose birds for both meat and eggs. Some of these are mentioned below and ordinarily lay fewer eggs than the finest egg layers. Almost all of these varieties will still lay about 4 - 5 eggs weekly. Araucana Australorp Barnevelder Brahma: Very nice to look at, though not a top layer this chicken lays a respectable mount of eggs and makes a great pet, too. Buckeye: a heritage breed Catalina: A dual purpose bird that is also a top layer. Delaware Dominique Dorking Holland Hungarian Yellow Orpington Plymouth Rock Wyandotte There is a practically limitless variety when you think about color combinations of the available chicken breeds, so irrespective of whether you are seeking for a few chickens for a backyard flock for eggs, or are considering a small business selling eggs, there is something for you. Decorative Breeds If you plan to spend time with your hens, then temperament is essential. Aggressive hens can make egg collecting difficult. Breed temperament is even more essential if youngsters will be involved. Commonly, Silkies are towards the top of people's list of best breeds as pets. Yet, they are required to be kept warm and dry. Their feathers are more like fur than feathers, really. These feathers immediately absorb any water they're exposed to. These cute, small, Bantams are enjoyable to look at and are nice pets. They don't accept young children well and might permit them to carry them around. They will tend a nest of viable eggs meticulously. The eggs are as good to eat as any chicken egg, are about 1/3 the size of one regular egg. Additional decorative breeds include: Cochin: Both standard and Bantam Cochins are regarded as ornamental, but they are decent egg layers. They are relatively docile and eye-catching with full long feathering and a waterfall type tail. Their feathers make them appear twice as big as they actually are. The feathers go completely down to their toes. It's critical that you research the various kinds and consider which will fit your requirements best. For lots more information on this subject, check outCommon Breeds of Chickens.  If your are interested in designing a chicken house, visit Chicken Coop Plans.   (Comment on this)
4:31 am	Chicken Breeding Literally, you'll find hundreds of chicken kinds to choose from for whatever you would like one for: a pet, eggs, or meat. From beautiful exotics to awesome egg layers, with both positive and negative dispositions, picking a chicken for your backyard flock can seem difficult. Top Types for Egg Laying Every chicken lays eggs, but not all will lay every day until they're 4 years old. The trade off with egg layers is they are usually not brooders, so to raise chicks, you need to have an incubator. The best layers for white eggs are: Catalina: shy, nervous Hamburg: Nervous, timid Ancona: Nervous, Wild Andulasian: Flighty, can be stressed Minorca: Moderate disposition, can be pleasant but anxious Redcap: Wild, poor disposition Holland: Good disposition, Amiable Lakenvelder: Beautiful breed, stressed Leghorn: Noisy, stressed, timid Top rated layers for brown eggs: Australorp: Good disposition, friendly Java: Friendly, Exotic Naked Neck Turkin: Good disposition Plymouth Rock:  Good disposition, friendly, docile Rhode Island: Aggressive Delaware: Good disposition Dominique: Good egg production and personality, will also brood. Sussex: Good disposition, friendly Wyandotte: A favorite egg layer because of their friendliness. Outstanding Meat Kinds of Chickens The principle characteristic for meat hens is speed of growth - most are harvested in about 16 weeks. In contrast to egg layers, meat hens are not kept for very long, so temperament qualities are not paramount. Ideal meat producing types are: Cornish: With thin feathers they have to be protected from the cold. Not good egg layers Cornish Cross: hybrid with high-speed growth, but susceptible to heart attacks and broken legs A lot of kinds are regarded as decent dual-purpose birds with a balance of egg laying and growth. These breeds will generally lay 4 - five eggs each week. Brahma ? Very nice to look at, though not a top layer this chicken lays a respectable amount of eggs and makes a great pet, too. Buckeye: a heritage breed Catalina: A dual purpose bird that is also a top layer. Araucana Australorp Barnevelder Delaware Dominique Dorking Holland Hungarian Yellow Orpington Plymouth Rock Wyandotte Whatever your aim for your chickens, the selection of types seems limitless and very hard to pick from. Decorative Breeds If you plan to socialize with your hens routinely, then you will need to take disposition into consideration. The aggressive types can make gathering eggs challenging. Breed temperament is a great deal more vital if youngsters will be involved. Very likely the most favored breed for pets are silkies. They will have to be kept warm and dry. Their feathers are similar to Persian cat fur, which is where they get their name. Upon getting wet, they are instantly soaked. These are small, Bantam birds that have a wonderful disposition to match their looks. They delight in being picked up and carried by both young children and grown ups. They will tend a nest of viable eggs very carefully. The eggs are as good to eat as any chicken egg, are about 1/3 the size of one ordinary egg. Additional ornamental pet varieties are: Cochin: Both standard and Bantam Cochins are regarded as decorative, but they are decent egg layers. They are quite docile and pretty with full long feathering and a waterfall type tail. Their feathers make them seem twice as big as they are. The feathers go completely down to their toes. It's imperative that you research the various breeds and consider which will fit your goals best. Visit Breeds of Chickens for more information on the topic.  Visit Chicken Coop Plans if you're thinking about building your own hen house.   (Comment on this)
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
9:16 pm	Common Kinds of Chickens Literally, you will find hundreds of chicken varieties to pick from for whatever you'd like one for: a pet, eggs, or meat. Picking a chicken for your backyard flock can seem to be difficult, with all of the possibilities in beautiful exotics, extraordinary egg layers, and dispositions that there are. Top Egg Laying Varieties of Chicken Although all chickens lay eggs, not all will lay every day from the day they are 4-5 months old to the age of four years. The trade-off with good egg layers is they generally do not like to sit, so fertilizing and hatching might not be possible without an incubator. These are the top layers for white eggs: Lakenvelder: Beautiful breed, tense Leghorn: Loud, nervous, shy Minorca: Moderate disposition, can be pleasant but tense Redcap: Crazy, poor disposition Ancona: Nervous, Wild Andulasian: Flighty, can be nervous Catalina: timid, tense Hamburg: Anxious, timid Holland: Good disposition, Friendly Best layers of brown eggs are: Australorp: Good disposition, friendly Java: Friendly, Exotic Naked Neck Turkin: Good disposition Plymouth Rock:  Good disposition, friendly, docile Rhode Island: Aggressive Delaware: Good disposition Dominique: Good egg production and personality, will also brood. Sussex: Good disposition, friendly Wyandotte: A favorite egg layer because of their friendliness. Ideal Meat Chickens The key aspect for meat chickens is speed of growth - most are harvested in about 16 weeks. Temperament traits most often take a back seat since these chickens are not ordinarily kept as long as egg layers. First-rate meat producers are: Cornish: With thin feathers they must be protected against the cold. Not good egg layers Cornish Cross: Hybrid with very fast growth. Prone to heart attacks, broken legs, etc.. Numerous kinds are regarded as fine dual-purpose birds with a balance of egg laying and growth. The vast majority of of these varieties will still lay about 4 to five eggs weekly. Araucana Australorp Barnevelder Delaware Dominique Dorking Holland Hungarian Yellow Orpington Plymouth Rock Wyandotte Brahma: Very nice to look at, though not a top layer this chicken lays a respectable amount of eggs and makes a great pet, too. Buckeye: a heritage breed Catalina: A dual purpose bird that is also a top layer. There is a virtually unlimited variety when you think about color permutations of the available chicken breeds, so regardless whether you are looking for just a few chickens for a backyard flock for eggs, or are looking for a small business selling eggs, there is something for you. Decorative Breeds If you intend to interact with your hens regularly, then you will need to take disposition into account. Aggressive hens can make egg collecting a challenge. It is particularly important to understand the breed's temperament if small children will be interacting with them. Probably the most popular breed for pets are silkies. Having said that, they need to be kept warm and dry. They get their name from their cat fur-like feathers. Upon getting wet, they are immediately drenched. These attractive, little, Bantams are great to view and are really good pets. They have no issue with small children or grown ups carrying them around. This tiny docile chicken will both lay eggs and tend the nest. The eggs are a third of a common chicken's egg, but are very good eating. Other decorative pet types are: Serama: A tiny perfect miniature chicken. Proud upright stance in a two to 3 pond package. Fine disposition. Showgirls: These hens have fluffy feathers on their body and the top of their head but a bare neck. Sizzle or Frizzle: These chickens have curly or wavy feathers and appear as it they have been through a windstorm. Sultan: Has a "hat" of upright feathers - fluffy and fancy Yokohama: another long tailed breed Phoenix: Very long tail feathers that require special roosting conditions - very beautiful Cochin: Both standard and Bantam Cochins are viewed as decorative, but they are reasonable egg layers. They are very docile and attractive with full long feathering and a waterfall type tail. Their feathers make them look twice as large as they actually are. The feathers go completely down to their toes. Being sure to research the kinds of hens to be sure you decide on the most suitable ones for your goal will produce far more success and less work in any poultry project. For much more information on the subject, readBreeds of Chickens.  If you're contemplating building a hen house, read DIY Chicken Coops.   (Comment on this)
Monday, April 4th, 2011
11:12 am	Types of Chickens You will find numerous chicken breeds to choose from, whether you are looking for eggs, a pet, or meat. Looking for a chicken for your backyard flock can seem difficult, with all the possibilities in beautiful exotics, awesome egg layers, and dispositions that there are. Top Kinds for Egg Laying Although all chicken lay eggs, some will lay an egg a day, every day, from the time they are five months old to the age of four years while others will not. The trade off with egg layers is they are often not brooders, so to raise chicks, you require an incubator. The top layers for white eggs are: Lakenvelder: Beautiful breed, anxious Leghorn: Noisy, anxious, timid Minorca: Moderate disposition, can be well-behaved but nervous Redcap: Crazy, poor disposition Ancona: Tense, Crazy Andulasian: Flighty, can be anxious Catalina: shy, anxious Hamburg: Anxious, timid Holland: Good disposition, Well-behaved Best layers of brown eggs are: Australorp: Good disposition, friendly Java: Friendly, Exotic Naked Neck Turkin: Good disposition Plymouth Rock:  Good disposition, friendly, docile Rhode Island: Aggressive Delaware: Good disposition Dominique: Good egg production and personality, will also brood. Sussex: Good disposition, friendly Wyandotte: A favorite egg layer because of their friendliness. Optimum Types for Meat The main trait for meat chickens is speed of growth - most are harvested in about sixteen weeks. Compared with egg layers, meat hens are not kept for very long, so temperament characteristics are not important. First-rate meat producers are: Cornish: Thin feathered, have to be protected from cold; poor egg layers Cornish Cross: hybrid with quick growth, but susceptible to heart attacks and broken legs A number of kinds are decent dual purpose selections, striking a balance between growth and egg laying. Nearly all of these types will still lay about four to five eggs weekly. Araucana Australorp Barnevelder Brahma: Very nice to look at, though not a top layer this chicken lays a respectable mount of eggs and makes a great pet, too. Buckeye: a heritage breed Catalina: A dual purpose bird that is also a top layer. Delaware Dominique Dorking Holland Hungarian Yellow Orpington Plymouth Rock Wyandotte No matter what your plan for your chickens, the assortment of breeds seems endless and very hard to pick from. Ornamental Breeds Disposition of the type is vital if you'll be interacting with your chickens frequently. Hostile hens can make egg obtaining difficult. It's particularly vital to have an understanding of the breed's disposition if kids will be interacting with them. Silkies are definitely the most common pet breed. They must be kept warm and dry. They get their name from their cat fur-like feathers. On getting wet, they are immediately soaked. These are small, Bantam hens that have a fine disposition to complement their appearance. They have no issue with small kids or adults carrying them around. They will also lay eggs and, if feasible, will tend the nest thoroughly. The eggs are a third of a typical chicken's egg, but are fantastic eating. Other ornamental types comprise: Cochin: Both standard and Bantam Cochins are viewed as ornamental, but they are fair egg layers. They are quite docile and eye-catching with full long feathering and a waterfall type tail. Their feathers make them seem twice as big as they are. The feathers go entirely down to their toes. Phoenix: Very long tail feathers that require special roosting conditions - very beautiful Serama: A tiny perfect miniature chicken. Proud upright stance in a two - 3 pond package. Great temperament. Showgirls: These chickens have fluffy feathers on their body and the peak of their head but a bare neck. Sizzle or Frizzle: These chickens have curly or wavy feathers and appear like they have been through a windstorm. Sultan: Has a "hat" of upright feathers - fluffy and fancy Yokohama: another long tailed breed Being sure to investigate the varieties of chickens to guarantee you go with the suitable ones for your purpose will make for a lot more good results and much less work in any poultry project. For quite a bit more information on this subject, viewChicken Breeds.  View DIY Chicken Coops if you're thinking about building your own chicken coop.   (Comment on this)
Monday, March 28th, 2011
4:13 am	How Chicken Laws Affect You Check with your local authorities about the local laws and ordinances surrounding chicken keeping. The laws regarding hen keeping will vary from town to town.   Some will allow only a certain number of hens to be keep in town, prohibit roosters, or  make it mandatory that coops and cages be 50-100 feet away from any other structures or property, whether they are residential or business. Still other laws state that you cannot keep poultry if you have less than an acre of property.   Here are a few of the regulations about hen keeping nationally:   Dallas restrictions only specification on hen keeping is that you can’t keep roosters.   Coops in Austin must be fifty feet away from other buildings/properties.   Ft. Worth requires coops be at least 50 feet away from other buildings and limits the number of chickens allowed by property size.   Houston requires that you get a permit to keep hens – registering the number of chickens, the use (commercial, personal), etc.   Los Angeles does not have many restrictions regulating backyard hens.   Oakland, CA prohibits roosters.   San Diego requires that hen feed containers be rat proof, that droppings be cleaned weekly, and limits the number of birds to twenty-five.   Key West, FL requires daily coop cleaning and gives specific guidelines for waste disposal which prohibit its use as fertilizer.   Charlotte, NC has a forty dollar permit registration fee, limits the number of chickens and size of the coop by property size, and requires that they be a specific number of feet from other buildings.   Concord, NC does not allow chickens at all.   Columbus, OH requires a minimum of 5 acres to keep hens and they must be 100' away from roads or other properties.   Huntsville, AL requires coops be at least 150 feet away from other homes.   Homewood, AL allows chickens if they are at least 300 feet away from neighboring buildings and 100' away from roads.   Denver, CO has several requirements.  You must place two signs in your yard for a month to find out if neighbors object, pay a fifty dollar application fee, hundred dollar permit fee, and a $70 annual fee and be subject to periodic inspections of the sanitary conditions of your flock.   Washington, DC requires that coops be at least 50 feet from neighboring homes and requires you to get written permission from all of your neighbors.   As you can see hen restrictions vary widely. Some cities have no regulations regarding hens, but will cite you for disturbing the peace if your chickens are too noisy for your neighbors.   You must always check your local chicken restrictions before beginning a flock in your area.   For much more info on this subject, take a look at Local Chicken Laws. If your are interested in building a hen house coop, read How to Build a Chicken Coop. (Comment on this)
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
6:01 am	Backyard Chicken Coop Designs   Chicken coop plans are usually available in your local building center as well as online. Many online plans are a free download and most have a list of all the materials you'll need for completion. The best chicken coops, however, are built by hand with your own needs in mind. When you are planning your chicken housing and runs, make sure to plan for your climate as well as the number of hens that you want to provide for. Adult hens require 4 sq ft of space (Bantams require half that). So for every 3 full-grown chickens you plan to keep, you will need twelve square feet of space. Of course, the more space they have, the happier (and healthier) the chickens will be. Larger spaces means less squabbling, more exercise, and less illness. Chicken coop kits are available, with all construction materials needed being included. Most backyard coop kits are sized for 3 chickens and anything larger will probably be cost prohibitive. If you just want a couple of hens, you can buy a ready-made coop and run online. These coops usually sit on the ground and are not secured against most predators. They are convenient, however, because they can be easily moved. As a secondary day pen, they can be perfect as a way to easily allow movement to fresh areas of the yard. When building your own chicken coop, you should be careful of using building materials that can be a hazard to your birds (and the eggs you will collect). Wood that has been treated to prevent termites and rot can have traces of arsenic in it. Also, be careful you don't:do not use paint that could contain lead. Remember that anything ingested by the chicken can end up in her eggs, and that can end up in your family's food. Chicken wire is not very good for keeping out predators. Dogs, skunks, opossums, raccoons, and many other predators can tear right through chicken wire with ease. When putting together the chicken coop plans, chicken wire under the cage is a good idea, but using it elsewhere will probably lead to trouble. It is a good deterrent to digging under the cage because the predator doesn't have the leverage there to break through. He will get discouraged and give up. Heavier gauge wire should be used on the sides and top of your pen to protect your hens. Even if your coop provides for lock down at night, many predators will still try to get through to eat leftover grain, drink from their water, and will try to get into the coop itself. Often, you will need a padlock or something sturdier than a latch to keep raccoons out. Veteran racoons will easily defeat a slide bolt or hasp to get at the hens. So be sure to plan for the types of predators in your area. If you take everything into account and do it right, a diy chicken coop can be the beginning of an enjoyable hobby for you and your family.   (Comment on this)
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
4:07 am	How to Feed Backyard Chickens Feeding hens is more than just throwing grain, you must take into account the age of the chickens and your goal for them. Feeding hens that are primarily to be egg layers will require a different feed than chickens that are for meat production. Feeding Chicks Start out your chicks on 20 to 22% protein for egg producers and up that to twenty-four percent for meat chickens. Starter should be used until the age of 6 to 9 weeks, depending on the chicken's breed and its maturity level. After maturity, the feed should be switched to "broiler finish" grains until they are ready for slaughter (if meat chickens) - otherwise, continue with the egg feed. If you are raising meat hens you should think about choosing hen feed that has antibiotics to prevent Coccidiosis. Even egg layers are often given these antibiotics unless they are being raised as free range or organic. Raising your own meat chickens may not seem like the most pleasant thing, but it prevents your family from ingesting the hormone load given to commercial chickens to increase the growth rate and size. Adult Chickens Once the chickens are ready to go on adult feed, you should choose feed that is 14 percent protein. Another important nutrient for egg layers is calcium, especially for large breeds such as Jersey Giants. Adult chicken feed comes in crumbles, pellets, mash and scratch. The best way to get the most balanced diet for your hens is to mix some scratch in with pellets or crumbles and then supplement with vegetables and calcium. Many supplement their chicken's calcium intake by adding clean, crushed egg shells into the feed. Chickens will know what to eat when it is offered, according to their need. Veggies and Peelings All leftover vegetables such as spinach, romain, apple peelings, and whole grains like oatmeal, barley, and small amounts of fruit will make for healthier chickens. Keep in mind that these are supplements, not replacements for the hen feed. Chicken feed has all the protein and nutrients the hens need. Just remember that as long as it is fresh, you can give it to your chickens instead of throwing it down the garbage disposal - as long as it is not a meat product, of course. Chicken Mobiles Chicken tractors give you the ability to move your flock from place to place in your yard. This keeps the available bugs, vegetation, and grit fresh and the chickens interested. If you have not the room for free ranging, you can use a chicken tractor to move them in a relatively small space without ruining it. This movement will keep your yard from getting brown areas where the hens have been. Hazards Do not use fertilizers or pesticides where hens might feed. Chickens will eat just about anything, so they will peck at fertilizer granules. They can also become poisoned from grass and plants where you have used weed killers or spray fertilizers. Remember that whatever goes into your hens will go into your eggs. Chickens can be passing poisons into their eggs without showing any illness at all. Chickens raised properly can provide eggs and meat with great nutritional value for your family. Well fed hens provide excellent eggs and meat. If you're interested in building your own chicken coop, view Chicken Coop Plans. For an even easier project, view Chicken Coop Kits. (Comment on this)