Chickens live eight years on average, but hens only productively lay eggs in the first two, maybe three years of their lives. And on the commercial level, it’s closer to two years, and sometimes less. When hens are productively laying eggs, they’ll lay one egg about every 22 hours.

Chickens stop laying eggs for a variety of reasons. Hens may lay fewer eggs due to light, stress, poor nutrition, molt or age. Some of these reasons are natural responses, while others can be fixed with simple changes and egg laying can return to normal. Collect farm fresh eggs from your backyard flock.

As hens age they will naturally start laying fewer eggs with many hens slowing down production around 6 or 7 years of age and retirement shortly after. Many laying hens can live several years into retirement with average life expectancy between 8 and 10 years.

It’s not common for chickens to get attached to humans, however, they have been found to follow their owners from time to time. This could be down to the fact they relate feeding time when their owner is around. However, many chicken owners are 100% positive that chickens do feel affection for them.

Chickens can become distressed; they are wired to seek shelter and the warmth and safety of flock behavior, so if you remove them from either of these, they are irritated. But irritation isn’t the same as “sadness.” Plants for instance can become irritated.

Chickens that are happy, content and pain free will exhibit their natural behaviours like nesting, scratching, preening, dust bathing and regular egg laying. Below: A chicken making subtle sounds of pleasure when being stroked on your lap that sound a bit like purring, a quiet sort of humming.

Owls, snakes, and hawks are common predators to chickens so chickens have a natural aversion to them. Chickens are smart and will quickly learn that the owl isn’t really dangerous. That’s why many chicken owners purchase mechanical predators to scare chickens away.

What Smells Do Chickens Hate? Chickens hate strong, bitter smells from fragrant herbs and spices like garlic, paprika, chilies, citrus, curry powder, and cinnamon. Chickens also have an aversion to unfamiliar smells. Adding new herbs and spices along your garden’s border can help keep the chickens out.

Some chicken owners have sprinkled coffee grounds around the area they want to protect to help repel the chickens from these locations. This will not harm your chickens, but it will take a few times for them to get the hint that they need to stay away.

What Not to Feed Chickens: 7 Things to Avoid

• Avocadoes (mainly the pit and peel) As with most of the things on this list, I was able to find several people who report feeding avocado to their flock without problem.
• Chocolate or Candy.
• Citrus.
• Green Potato Skins.
• Dry Beans.
• Junk Food.
• Moldy or Rotten Food.

Be cautious about feeding too many scraps to chickens. Kitchen waste generated by a family of four people is a good amount for five or six hens, but bringing in a huge quantity of waste food from a cafeteria could cause the birds to overindulge and attract unwanted pests. Most scraps are usually moist.

Tomatoes, peppers and potatoes are members of the nightshade family, so their leaves are toxic to many animals. Raw, green potatoes can carry this toxin in their skins, so while the flesh is safe, chickens shouldn’t be fed peelings.

Chickens can eat popcorn, yes. It’s definitely a treat food though, and you should only give them unsalted without any additives or other flavorings. Just plain old popcorn.

Also, cinnamon is commonly used to help treat nasal congestion, coughing, infections, and the common cold. Since chickens have such complex breathing systems and are so susceptible to respiratory issues, adding cinnamon to their diet is extremely beneficial.