Poultry Accessories: Practical Helpers for Keeping Chickens

Poultry Accessories: Handy Helpers for Everyday Chicken Keeping

Poultry accessories cover all the things besides coop, feed and drinker that make life with chickens easier. These include leg bands for marking, a secure transport box, solutions for storing eggs and a plucking machine for home slaughter. You will also find small aids such as a catching hook or an anti-germ mat for drinkers here. You will not need many of them every day, but when you do, it is good to have them ready.

Order in the Flock

With leg bands you can tell apart birds of the same breed, mark age groups or keep track of laying performance and breeding. A catching hook helps you take a particular chicken out of the group calmly and without a chase, for example for a health check. When new hens join, there are often squabbles over rank. An anti-aggression spray such as NoFight can help make settling in more relaxed. For hygiene there is a boot dip tray for the coop entrance and an anti-germ mat to go under the drinker.

All About Eggs and Home Slaughter

Fresh eggs need to be stored well. Egg boxes, stackable storage and an egg basket help with collecting and giving eggs away, and with a candling lamp you can check hatching eggs and fresh eggs. For anyone who processes their own chickens, a plucking machine saves a lot of work. You need a poultry transport box for trips to the vet or a show, or when new birds move in. A vitamin concentrate for the drinking water completes the range.

Frequently asked questions

How do I catch a chicken without upsetting the flock?
It is easiest in the evening on the perch, when the birds are calm. During the day a catching hook helps: use it to hold the chicken gently by the leg and then lift it up with both hands.

How do I introduce new chickens to my flock?
Let the newcomers see the flock through a mesh divider for a few days. After that, it is best to put them on the perch in the evening, with enough space, feeding points and places to hide.

Why should I put leg bands on my chickens?
Leg bands help you keep track of age, parentage or health records. Especially with several hens of the same breed, you can see at a glance who is who.