The cockerel in the hen house
The cockerel in the hen house
The cockerel among his ladies
All farmed birds live together whether they’re male or female. This is especially so for chicks which all seem the same when born. They only start to look different when they reach sexual maturity. Cockerels have their own look, with a bright red comb, wattles and shimmering coloured feathers. At the same time, they also start crowing and become aggressive. Once a cockerel finds a perch, he utters his relentless morning call and becomes the chief of the hen house. The cockerel obviously plays a key role if you want hens to have chicks. Having a cockerel around also provides some authority and a sense of protection in the hen house. However, if you find his crowing gets on your nerves, you can do without him. Having hens doesn’t necessarily mean you need cockerels too!
The vet's advice
“Here are a few recommendations to follow if you want to keep a cockerel. First of all, find out about the different breeds. As with lots of animals, the breed determines the character. As a precautionary measure, it is best to adopt a cockerel of the same breed as your hens. But how many hens do you need for a cockerel? According to breeds, you need an average of 6-10 females for 1 male. You need a minimum number of hens otherwise the cockerel chases them and tires them out. To avoid this, make sure your hen house is big enough so that your hens have their own space. If, at this stage, you are still set on getting a cockerel, don’t ignore the following advice. It is strongly recommended not to put several cockerels in the same hen house. It might be puffed-up pride, but there may be fights if you have several cockerels. To keep your gentlemen in good health and your ladies calm and relaxed, just take one cockerel and monitor how it fits in with its fellow residents.”
Cockerel feeding habits: a real gentleman
Once adult, cockerels’ appetites diminish to such a point that their behaviour changes somewhat. When they were younger, they stopped the hens from reaching the feeders, but now they turn into gentlemen and ensure that the hens have enough to eat. They also do this for those hens that are dominated by the others. By behaving in this way, the cockerel shows the others that he is the chief of the hen house and protector of the females. Nevertheless, you should make sure that your hen house has enough feeders so that all hens have enough to eat.
What can you actually give cockerels to eat? First of all, just like hens, cockerels also have specific needs during certain periods. For instance, when they moult or in winter when the temperature drops. Cockerels eat what they want during the day. The only thing you need to watch when feeding, is that each bird has enough to eat and grows normally.
The vet's advice
“Compared to hens, cockerels needs are less-demanding. Because they are less active during the day, their dietary needs are smaller. A hen, on the other hand, must have a diet that enables it to lay once a day. Cockerels only expend energy when they chase hens to mate, which does not require any specific care.”
Rabbits, easy-going animals!
Rabbits, easy-going animals!
Why get a rabbit?
Rabbits are so easy to keep that there are almost no down-sides to having one, just advantages.
The first advantage is peace and quiet. Despite what you might think, rabbits don’t shriek. So, you won’t be woken up in the middle of the night by their cries. The other (pretty big) advantage is hygiene. You don’t need to walk a rabbit! You might not know that rabbits eat some of their pellets. This is perfectly normal. This is called cecotrophy, which means a second digestion. This behaviour is perfectly normal as rabbits absorbs all the nutrients they ingested first time around in this second digestive phase. Rabbits do, however, need litter in their cages to keep it clean. Gasco has developed litter from 100% compostable maize kernels. Rabbit litter can be used as a soil fertilizer. You can grow great fruits and vegetables with this compost and your rabbit will love the peelings too. In fact, your rabbit gives you the chance to set up a virtuous, ecological circle.
The vet's advice
“Some breeds of rabbit make good pets. You can carry and stroke them like you would a dog. These rabbits feel at home in your house and sit on the sofa or in places where they relax in peace. So, you can see that by its very nature, rabbits like having a quiet time.”
House or garden, farmed or dwarf, where do rabbits live?
Regardless of its breed, a rabbit is a rabbit! But, what suits one breed doesn’t necessarily suit another.
Some breeds of rabbit can live outside while others need to be indoors. Farmed rabbits are hardy and can live outside. With their thick coats of fur, they can cope with very cold temperatures. They also deal with cold better than they do heat, which they are very sensitive to. So, in summer, you can take them indoors to enjoy the cooler temperatures in your house. Dwarf breeds are not so hardy and must have the shelter of a cage. Rabbits make all kinds of impromptu noises. They chew the bars, and run around their cages. So, to have a good night’s sleep, best not put the cage in your bedroom. This is why you must get a rabbit used to living in its cage. Otherwise, once free, it will nibble everything it can find (cables, boxes, etc.).
The vet's advice
“You must take into account the shape and size of your rabbit when you make a home for it.
Farmed rabbits can live in an outdoor cage. In some rural houses, there are still usable rabbit hutches that still work. If you don’t have a hutch you can put your rabbit in a small wooden hut. It needs to be big enough for it to move around and shelter from bad weather. It’s best to place the hutch away from draughts and breezes. In winter, if it gets really chilly, you can always put a thick blanket over the hutch to insulate it a little from the cold. As for dwarf breeds, remember that your rabbit will grow. Put a small box, or hut, in its cage so that it can hide, and a container for its food as well as a water dispenser. Whatever your rabbit’s breed, make sure you give it enough straw. Straw provides warmth and suits your rabbit’s sanitary needs.”
Rabbits love their food but are delicate!
Rabbits have a sensitive digestive system, much like that of a horse. This concept of a “system” is vital when feeding rabbits.
Nevertheless, rabbits love their food and their tastes for nice things can sometimes backfire on them, with occasional risks of obesity or digestive problems.
For their diet, you have the choice. You can give them all-in-one foods, or mixes mainly containing cereals, such as oats, barley and wheat. Give them hay too as they need fibre to digest properly. In addition, chewing occupies them and stops them getting bored. You can also give them fruit and vegetable peelings. It is really important to give your rabbit a balance between pellets and fibre when feeding it every day. It’s all a question of habit and regularity with rabbits. You should avoid changing its daily diet and portion sizes. The basic principle to heed is feed them regularly. Another piece of advice is not to leave food out all day, but to feed it in the morning and in the evening. If not, it’ll lose his appetite. In terms of quantities, it is best to give rabbits 20 to 40 grammes of pellets per kilogramme, which you can supplement with some hay. Dwarf rabbits need 20 to 50 grammes a day while larger breeds need 100 to 300 grammes.
The vet's advice
“Don’t forget to give your rabbit plenty of water. Contrary to what you might think, rabbits drink lots of water. Indoor breeds must always have water available to drink. Use a dispenser so that they can drink when they like. Outdoor rabbits drink when they find water sources in the countryside. A few green leaves also provide them with an additional source of moisture. But, be warned, just because leaves and fruit and vegetable peelings are a source of moisture, you mustn’t overdo it. If you add these foods to their diet, you should start with small quantities, each day. Once again, regularity is key, by keeping to a balanced daily diet. If you give them something one day and not the next, your rabbit could develop digestive problems, even if the quantities you give it are tiny. So, you must keep a close and careful eye on your rabbit’s diet.”
All you need to know about your chicks' needs
All you need to know about your chicks' needs
The growth cycle of a chick
Chicks quickly find their feet in the hen house. Their behaviour and physical traits mean that they can quickly blossom in the ‘adult’ world.
For chicks, everything happens before the egg hatches. It has to prove itself even inside its shell. Chicks need 21 days to develop inside their eggs. Laying hens are important as they provide the warmth and moisture than the chick needs. Did you know that if you listen carefully to the egg on the 18th day, you can already hear it cheep. Then three days later, the tip of its beak finally appears! It takes chicks 30 minutes to 4 hours to emerge from their eggs. What happens once the chick emerges from its shell? Well, quite simply, it leaves the nest and starts getting acquainted with everyday life.
The vet's advice
“The fact that a chick leaves the nest once born can be surprising. But there is a simple explanation. Chicks are nidifugous. This means that chicks begin and complete their growth in the egg. Once they hatch, they are mature enough to live independently. They are also clean very quickly and can eat without assistance. All the fluffy chick needs next is a bit of time to become a fine-feathered bird.”
Small size but a big appetite
Behind this sweet little thing hides a real glutton that requires you to painstakingly meet its every last nutritional need.
The first weeks are crucial and require a close eye. The chick finishes its development at this point. In terms of diet, your chicks must have all the proteins they need. These proteins help it develop its organs, muscles and feathers. You can find pre-prepared poultry mixes containing all the necessary nutrients. Gasco’s Cot&Co range provides chicks with an all-in-one, crumbed mix. An alternative solution is for you to create your own mixes, with damp bread, hard boiled eggs, or even add leaves. After three to four weeks, you can add cereals to your mix, such as wheat, maize, bran, barley or oats. One last, but vital, thing is to make sure that feeders are well-placed and at the right height so that the chicks can easily reach them.
The vet's advice
“Keeping male and female chicks together can prove difficult, in terms of feeding them. Male chicks have such an appetite that they sometimes prevent female chicks from reaching feeders. After giving them something to eat, don’t hesitate to stay for a little while to make sure that all the chicks are eating properly. This competition over food can harm the development of female chicks, so it is especially important to keep a close eye on them during this period. You do, however, have to wait several weeks before you can spot the difference between male and female chicks. For more rustic breeds, sexual dimorphism appears later, at 8 to 12 weeks. When this happens, you need to check that all chicks can reach the feeders, regardless of gender. “
How do you look after hens?
How do you look after hens?
Are hens man's best friend?
5 tips to look after your hens. This will tell you everything about their personalities and give you tips so they stay healthy and happy, including behaviour, pecking, perches, delousing and health.
The relationship between people and hens is one of these surprises. It is an important part in the daily lives of your hens. Although you can form a relationship with a hen, they don’t necessarily let themselves be stroked. Nevertheless, you can grow fond of hens. Children quickly become attached to hens, especially when they feed them. These shared moments are vital and with company too. They do everyone good as they lend themselves to family moments and to nurturing a taste for rural life. Above all, these moments bring your children into contact with hens and their rules. So, when you feed them, it’s really important that the hens get used to your presence and recognise you afterwards.
The vet's advice
“Hens are animals that work on the principle of conditioned reflexes. Giving them food determines their behaviour. Gradually, they begin to link your presence to an action and they start to recognise you.”
Pecking, a source of well-being
As with all animals, understanding behavioural traits is key to their well-being.
Things are a little different for hens as their well-being depends on some surprising facts. In fact, some their natural behaviour is linked to the need for physical and mental well-being. But what makes a hen happy and healthy? Pecking, of course! Obviously, we think this is a natural and innate form of behaviour, but pecking is a especially source of fulfilment. For a hen, pecking at things is a quest for well-being. With this in mind and, as always, with a eye on comfort, Gasco has developed supplements that meet this need to pick and choose what they eat. Among the products developed, our two-footed friends especially appreciate oyster shells, or salt blocks.
The vet's advice
“But remember, you must be able to tell the difference between pecking and pecking! Hens peck to sift through their food and catch morsels in their beaks. But they can also peck other hens. There are three reasons behind this. They may want to get rid of parasites in the feathers of their fellow hens. Or it can be a sign of an unbalanced diet. Or, it can be down to the so-called “pecking order”, to affirm their position in the hen house hierarchy. You need to pay close attention if this happens as the consequences can be serious. In fact, pecking can cause a hen to be victimised, where other hens attack it and can even kill it.”
A hen on a wall...
Just like us, hens find some positions more comfortable than others, to be content and happy.
And, surprising as it may seem, this comfort comes from finding a place to balance. So, there is a normal, rational explanation when you see objects raised off the floor in hen houses. The simple fact to be on a perch give hens a sense of security and peace. Indeed, once a hen is up high, it can protect itself from predators. Did you know that hens can sleep on a perch and not lose their balance? If you see a hen on a perch asleep, please don’t move it as you will expose it to more danger than before. In addition to the safety aspect, hens find perching comfortable and relaxing. Rest assured then, that your hens are not planning to escape, but rather spend some well-earned time relaxing.
Delousing, or the definition of happiness!
Delousing is a natural form of behaviour for happy, healthy and mellow hens.
Ok, but what exactly is delousing? Quite simply, it’s when hens shake themselves. To do this, they need to find some fine soil, where they can make a hole and flap their wings. If you don’t have a garden for your hens to dig about in, you can give them a basin of sand, fine soil or talc. To start with, vary the contents of your basin regularly to see which material the hens like best. Delousing is practical as it helps the hen to get rid of all the small parasites nestling in its feathers. But delousing is not just down to a hen’s sanitary needs. In fact, hens enjoy flapping around, feeling the dust and the soil on their feathers. So, don’t hesitate to make them a small corner of paradise where they can have all the fun they want.
How can I make sure my hens stay healthy?
One day, perhaps, you might see that your hen is not looking so bright and breezy.
You should then ask yourself a few questions. Firstly, don’t get unnecessarily worried. Very often, feeling a bit feeble and lethargic is down to their surroundings and can be resolved by making some changes. Sometimes, when they don’t feel so well, this can create slight behavioural issues. But, you shouldn’t view these situations as a danger. They actually tell you about the state of your hen’s health. Unusual behaviour can come in the form of refusing to eat or drink, to be alone, or to be aggressive towards others hens, or even self-harm. But, don’t panic and rush to any hasty conclusions, observe their behaviour over time. Clearly, you must keep a close eye on trouble, but only when a recurring pattern sets in! It is only harmful to a hen’s health when its troubled behaviour become repetitive. Once the problem has been identified, you can deal with it yourself, or by calling a vet. Behavioural changes can be down to the wrong food, too little space or a lack of hygiene. You can provide solutions to these types of problems. But if it is more complicated, don’t hesitate to call specialists that can help you. Once the problem has been treated, keep a close eye on the tiniest detail that might be a triggering factor. Calm will return once more to the hen house and you can sleep peacefully too.
The vet's advice
“Hens are worriers and life in the hen house is governed by specific rules to reduce any stress. However, anxieties can occur in individual hens, or in the group itself. These stresses and strains can be seen in their behaviour. Firstly, cries can be a sign of joy, fear or irritation. Next, posture is a sign in a particular situation. For example, if a hen pushes out its chest, it’s because it wants to scare its enemy. Just like humans, many studies have been carried out into animal behaviour. In the case of sensitive animals, like hens, make sure that the tiniest detail doesn’t throw a spanner in the works and cause anxiety to the others. “
Feeding pigeons and young birds
Feeding pigeons, homing pigeons and young birds
A conventional diet
There are no immediate difficulties to feed your pigeons, as they granivorous. This means their diet is mainly grain-based.
The first solution is to give them pre-prepared mixes. With Gasco, there’s a wide choice, with mixes that meet their nutritional requirements, as well as more gourmet blends.
A second solution is to have a different type of grain in each feeder. Gasco offers both wheat and maize. Having an alternative encourages them to pick and choose their food and create their own mixes of grain. Choosing helps them develop their taste and links them to the concept of pleasure. It also helps reduce food waste as pigeons can pick out their own food. If you give pigeons a mix, they will eat what they like and happily leave the rest.
That said, pigeons won’t just content themselves with what you give them to eat. They look to supplement their diet with insects, worms and leaves.
The vet's advice
“The type of food is one factor, but when you feed them is another. Once again, the choice is up to you. Firstly, you can put food out in the morning and refill feeders on a daily basis. This method leaves your pigeons little freedom to eat when they want. Alternatively, you can feed them several times a day. You can feed them as and when you wish. Typically, though, two feeds a day are enough. This helps your pigeons to get to know you better. This method means you can become more familiar with your pigeons’ feeding habits and spot any bird that shows signs of any eating disorder.”
Food for baby pigeons
When a pigeon hatches, its parents immediately begin feeding it.
You don’t need to do anything, except check that the baby bird is feeding properly and growing normally. To be sure that they are in good health, here’s some basic principles on their diet. First of all, in contrast to their parents, baby pigeons do not eat grain, but rather crop milk. This is a substance secreted by both the mother and father birds. The parents regurgitate it into the baby pigeon’s throat so that it can ingest the milk. So, you can see that the parents share the responsibility for feeding their young. Crop milk is full of nutrients for baby pigeons to grow rapidly. If you think that a baby pigeon is not growing quickly enough, don’t hesitate to call a vet, who can reassure you. The reason baby pigeons feed on milk is because they are altricial. This means that they need several weeks before they can cope on their own. When baby pigeons hatch, they are practically naked and very fragile. They can neither fly nor feed themselves. After three to four weeks, they start to grow feathers and are able to manage by themselves.
The diet of a homing pigeon, myth or reality?
There are plenty of mysteries surrounding homing pigeons and the way they live.
You should know that this advice will not provide you with an explanation on how to raise homing pigeons. It can, however, help you to understand the importance of food in their daily diet. Just like people, a homing pigeon’s diet is as important in their lives as physical exercise. They are highly active, energetic creatures with specific energy requirements. Homing pigeons are even treated as marathon runners as they only return to their loft after having flown long distances. To make up for all this energy used in flying, they need a specific diet of wheat (25%)*, maize (25%)*, peas (23%*), barley (16%)*, sunflower seeds (8%)* and rapeseed (3%)*. Only a high-quality diet will enable homing pigeons to keep themselves in a suitable physical condition where they can be active with no holds barred. If you always want to raise homing pigeons, you have to be both rigorous and attentive. Homing pigeons are the exception among pigeons.
*These quantities are purely indicative.
Water for life and well-being
Pigeons are among those birds that drink the most water. Like you, when the temperature rises, make sure your pigeons have plenty of cool water available to them. This need for water is also down to a small, but important, detail, pigeons love water. Give them a small water bath, where they can bathe and buff themselves up, as well as a water dispenser. Don’t make a bath out of a water dispenser as the water may get dirty and pigeons must never drink dirty water. For this reason, you should protect and regularly replace your pigeon’s drinking and bathing water so that it always has clean water available.
5 tips to feed your hens well
5 tips to feed your hens well
Choose a varied and complete feed.
A balanced diet makes for a healthy hen.
But, how can I be sure I’m feeding my hens properly? Don’t panic! We have all the answers you’ll need. Hens eat grain (they are granivorous). You can choose an all-in-one pellet-based feed, or you can give them grain, such as wheat, oats, or maize, to which you can add dietary supplements. Gasco has selected produce to provide your hens with high-quality feeds, tailored to their needs and desires.
And what about organic feeds? If this subject is particularly important to you, organic feed can provide your hens with benefits. Gasco has also developed a range of 100% organic feeds. Whether you opt for conventional or organic feed, rest assured that Gasco sources quality grain to meet your hens’ needs.
The vet's advice
“Contrary to common belief, hens are not just there to finish your left-overs. Obviously, they help cut food waste, but don’t take them to be dustbins. Your scraps are just an addition to their specific and balanced diet. Only a feed developed for their needs will keep them in good health, adapt to changes in their surroundings and lay tasty eggs.”
Animal-based feeds
Just like people, hens need a varied diet.
Perhaps you’re wondering how they manage? Like lots of animals, hens make the most of what nature offers them. They search for any little bug or grub living in the soil. So, naturally, they dig to seek out their future victims. As they are always looking for food, this helps them supplement their diet with animal-based sources of food. They love unearthing delicious insects and worms. Nature subsequently fulfils its role by offering supplementary sources of energy and nutrition. Your hens need, or even demand, a varied diet to keep them in good health.
The vet's advice
“When hens look for insects, or worms, they do so for their own benefit. It might be easy to think that they do it to feed their chicks, but nothing could be further from the truth. If they don’t feed their chicks, it is not because they are selfish; chicks don’t need to be fed to grow. In fact, chicks are nidifugous species. This means they can cope by themselves as soon as they hatch. Chicks can therefore wander around the hen house freely to eat, without the help of their mothers.
How much food should you give them each day?
You shouldn’t give hens more than a certain daily amount. A few kilos too much could have a rapid detrimental effect on their health.
They need 120 to 130 grammes of food a day for their nutritional needs. The way you feed them depends on your lifestyle. If you have time, throw them a few scraps. This encourages them to seek out their food in the hen house and matches their natural behaviour to peck at things. If you are pushed for time, put some food in a feeder and they’ll eat when they want. This is a useful solution when you go on holiday. So don’t worry, you can go away for the weekend! If you need to go away, you can fill a feeder with the right quantity of food. Your hens will automatically eat what they need based on their needs. On the other hand, if you go away for several days, get a friend or relative to check the hens have enough to eat and that everything is fine in the hen house.
The changing seasons, a key factor
For both people and animals, the start of a new season can have physical effects. So, its best to keep a close eye on things.
In winter, colder temperatures require specific attention to details. You need to make some changes, but don’t worry, you don’t need to move the chicken coop in your house. Hens can live outside even in winter. That said, colder temperatures mean that hens use more energy and this can make them more sensitive to things. To make up for this, you can either up the quantity of their food, or feed them more often during the day. However, you mustn’t forget the energy they use when laying. As a result, you can easily see the importance that diet has during the winter.
In summer, your eyes need to be on water. As it is drier, your hens need to drink and cool down. So, you need to give them plenty of clean water.
Water, exactly, but how much?
Water is just as vital for animals as it is for us. Hens are thirsty animals. They drink a lot of water each day. Make sure your hens have access to good, clean water to enjoy all the benefits. What’s more, they need to enough water and reach it when they want. Above all, make sure you change the water regularly so that it remains cool for long enough.
The vet's advice
“Hens need lots of water because they are granivorous birds. Grain is made up of dry matter that can alter certain body tissue or organs involved in the digestive process. Hens instinctively feel when they are thirsty when digesting and consequently hydrate more. And the only way to be better hydrated is to drink more water. “
Dog and cat food and hygiene
Dog and cat food and hygiene
BARF : a return to original food
Dogs are carnivorous animals which need to eat animal-origin proteins. They therefore regularly need to eat meat: red meat or poultry.
There are many ways to feed your dog. Usually, dogs are fed on dry food (kibble) or wet food (swill). But today, a new trend is developing. It’s known as BARFand the aim is to return to a natural diet. The aim of this trend is above all to do away with industrial food. Concretely, it involves making your pet’s food yourself from raw food: meat, offal, fruits and vegetables. Unlike meat, the vegetables can be cooked. You can add Gasco pasta, rice or a variety of vitamin supplements. If you want to experiment with this type of food, please follow certain rules. Start by getting advice from a vet, who will help you to understand your pet’s nutritional requirements. You can then create typical meals to avoid deficiencies.
The importance of water must not be neglected, especially in the summer. Dogs do not sweat, they therefore need to drink a lot to effectively fight against heat.If, in addition, they eat dry food, like kibble, their water requirement increases.
Cats: a taste of cleanliness
Cats are clean animals that take pride in looking after themselves. Their lifestyle is largely based on their meticulous character.
In terms of hygiene, it is essential to follow certain rules. First, ensure that their litter tray is in a quiet place, away from passers by. Like us, cats need privacy. Their litter tray must also be pleasant, otherwise they won’t come back to use it. Gasco maize kernelsare particularly well suited to cats: it is vegetal, hypoallergenic and natural and prevents all kinds of respiratory problems.
It is also important to familiarise your cat with the litter trayfrom young so that it gets used to this environment. Of course, the litter traymust be changed regularly, otherwise your cat won’t use it.
In terms of hygiene, cats can be easily trained. The only essential thing is for its litter tray to be clean. In addition to keeping the litter tray clean, you should observe your cat’s behaviour. If you see it having trouble while it does its business, do not hesitate to consult a vet. Some situations can lead to the appearance of pain. Castration, for example, can lead to urinary stones. There are specific, lighter foods for this adapted to your pet’s needs.