Raising Healthy Market Chickens

We took turns choosing chicks from a box of chicks. We selected the chicks that looked healthiest, the ones that chirped a lot, looked full of energy and had good color. On the way home, we stopped at the feed store in Xenia. We bought 2 bags of Purina Mills, LLC poultry food. We had good luck with this food last year so we thought we would use it for our chickens this year.

When we got home, we crushed the feed for the chicks to eat. We crushed their food for the first week so the chicks could swallow the food easily. We used a quart watering jug and a cut off plastic cup for a feed pan.

Fortunately, for us, we already had the following equipment from our last years 4-H project. The equipment included: (2) 1qt water bottles; 1 long metal feed tray; 1 heat lamp; 2

We used the tarps to cover the top and sides of the wire pen and fastened the tarps using bungee cords. This was done to keep the rain and direct sunlight off of the chickens.

For the fair, I will select three chickens to take for show and market. I will pick the birds with the best feathers and a breast bone that is shaped most like a “U.” The chickens should have good skin (no bumps or marks) and full beaks (not broken or mal-formed).

I think that by keeping their pen moved daily on fresh grass and plenty of fresh food and water, they will grow big and healthy.

I will check the food and water at least twice a day (more if it gets really hot) so that the chickens do not run out of water, and change the bedding once a day or more if needed.

large gallon water bottles; several cut out milk jugs for feed; a 25’ x 12’ dog pen with wire cover; several tarps and bungee cords.

Before show, I will wash and dry my chicken so he looks his best when going into the show ring. I hope I can win first place,

Some topics in this essay:
Mills LLC, County Fairgrounds, Chickens June, heat lamp, milk jugs, water bottles, gallon milk jugs, milk jugs feed, food water, water water, dog pen, gallon milk, chicks week, market chickens, jugs feed,