You Know Your Chickens Are Happy When They Do THIS!

Good Morning

To help you get through the week, we’re going to enlighten you with arguably the best thing in the world: chickens of course.

Without which, there would be much less hilarious antics happening in the backyard.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• You Know Your Chickens Are Happy When They Do THIS!

• Benefits Of Happy Chickens

• What Makes A Chicken Happy

• Memes For Chicken-Lovers

You Know Your Chickens Are Happy When They Do THIS!

There’s no doubt in my mind that every one of us chicken owners can tell the mood of our chickens, simply by observing them.

But if you’re ever looking for assurance that you’ve got a bunch of happy chooks – here are the three most obvious signs that you can look out for:

1. Their Clucking: Your chickens being highly vocal, almost “chatting” with you or one another is a sure sign they’re happy.
   
   Check out this video for an example of this “chatting” behavior.
   
   If you talk to your chickens and they “talk” back, it’s also a good sign they like and trust you. (This is sometimes referred to as chicken chatter.)
   
   
   

2. Their Energy: A good tell-tale sign your chicken is happy is that it will have this “energy” about it.
   
   From their foraging to dust bathing, to pooping on the patio, to laying their eggs and getting back to their business. Everything they do appears to be full of purpose – doing everything they WANT to do.
   
   
   

3. Their Egg-laying: A hen’s egg-laying can tell you so much about them. I feel like the longer you own chickens the more you really start to see this at play.
   
   From your chooks becoming broody (completely normal), to laying soft-shell eggs, to a slower egg production, almost every slight change in a hen’s egg laying can tell you something about them.
   
   Generally speaking, the more consistent your hen’s egg-laying the healthier (& therefore happier) they are.

Benefits Of Happy Chickens

Need I even say anything here?

There are literally no downsides to having happy chickens – except that it makes you want to add more to your flock.

– It’s addicting, but we’re all going through this together.

Happy chickens will have a more consistent egg production, with fewer mishaps in the egg-laying process.

They’ll be healthier in general, and you’ll be able to form closer bonds with your chooks too – the truest pleasure in life.

So What Makes A Chicken Happy?

Chicken’s ain’t asking for anything fancy.

Sticking to the basics is the best way to happy flock:

1. Providing a comfortable, sizable coop.

2. Allowing free-ranging & access to direct light (when possible).

3. Access to fresh water & food.

4. Having companionship in their flock and with their owners (or other animals too!).

5. Limiting any and all stressors.

Aside from the basics, you can always break out the treats (in moderation, of course).

Mealworms tend to be the quickest way to a happy chicken (& are surprisingly healthy for chickens) but fruits, vegetables, or other protein-packed treats work well too.

Memes For Chicken-Lovers

See You Next Week!

Thanks for coming, fellow chicken addicts.

Next time you're in your backyard, start a conversation with your chickens – ask them how they’re feeling and see how they respond.

If they start chatting with you, it’s a great sign you’ve got yourself some happy chooks.

Happy chickens = happy chicken owners.

See you next week!

Blake,
BFL’s Daily Dozen