Dances With Chickens
Posted on January 3, 2011 by Jon Porter
I have heard of one chicken farmer increasing the amount of eggs his hens were laying by sprinkling small amounts of cayenne pepper on their food. How much pepper? I don’t know, but I am going to try this with my upcoming crop of chickens. The way I heard the story, if you give them enough pepper, even the roosters will start laying eggs! That will get your chickens dancing for sure! The way I figure it, I could probably get top dollar for an egg laying rooster, so I’ll try it this year and let you know how it goes.
Do you want to get your chickens dancing and growing faster on less feed? Turn on the music – the right music, of course! According to an article in World Poultry Magazine* (a must read), a chicken farmer in Taiwan piped in music to his 40,000 chickens for 3-4 hours during feeding time. The farmer stated that he noticed the positive effect the music was having on the chickens. In the past, he said, it took over 90 days to grow a chicken to a weight of 3 kg (about 6.6 pounds). The period shortened to 80 days after they introduced the music, which means a savings in feed costs. Additionally, the owner said that not only do both the cocks and hens exhibit more even temperaments, but the chickens produce
better meat. Moreover, they are sold out when they hit the market. The farmer said that on the trip he made to New Zealand and Australia in 2007, he discovered that pigs and cows that had been treated to music there were larger than those that weren’t. The article did not state the type of music that was used, but there are volumes of research to indicate what types of music would be most effective. There is even research (by Dorothy Retallack) that shows you how to kill your plants – just play a little progressive classical rock for them. Indications are that poultry is affected in the same way.
So, what kind of music will help your chickens to grow faster, or to lay more eggs? Elevator music; what we now call “easy listening” music – music that sooths and calms the nerves, like the music from the movie “As Good As It Gets”. If you are a classical music buff, try Mozart, Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, or Schubert**. You can use any soothing, calming music, particularly stringed instrumental music. I plan to play a variety of easy listening music for my chickens this year. I may even try to teach them the “funky chicken”. You might want to buy your birds a subscription to satellite radio and keep the music playing for them ’round the clock.
Do you want to know more?
Article References
* http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/music-helps-raise-quality-chickens-id2861.html
** http://www.rmhiherbal.org/review/2002-1.html
General Poultry Information
1. Countryside & Small Stock Journal http://www.countrysidemag.com
2. Backyard Poultry http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com
© 2011, Jon Porter. All rights reserved.
I have heard of one chicken farmer increasing the amount of eggs his hens were laying by sprinkling small amounts of cayenne pepper on their food. How much pepper? I don’t know, but I am going to try this with my upcoming crop of chickens. The way I heard the story, if you give them enough pepper, even the roosters will start laying eggs! That will get your chickens dancing for sure! The way I figure it, I could probably get top dollar for an egg laying rooster, so I’ll try it this year and let you know how it goes.
Do you want to get your chickens dancing and growing faster on less feed? Turn on the music – the right music, of course! According to an article in World Poultry Magazine* (a must read), a chicken farmer in Taiwan piped in music to his 40,000 chickens for 3-4 hours during feeding time. The farmer stated that he noticed the positive effect the music was having on the chickens. In the past, he said, it took over 90 days to grow a chicken to a weight of 3 kg (about 6.6 pounds). The period shortened to 80 days after they introduced the music, which means a savings in feed costs. Additionally, the owner said that not only do both the cocks and hens exhibit more even temperaments, but the chickens produce
better meat. Moreover, they are sold out when they hit the market. The farmer said that on the trip he made to New Zealand and Australia in 2007, he discovered that pigs and cows that had been treated to music there were larger than those that weren’t. The article did not state the type of music that was used, but there are volumes of research to indicate what types of music would be most effective. There is even research (by Dorothy Retallack) that shows you how to kill your plants – just play a little progressive classical rock for them. Indications are that poultry is affected in the same way.
So, what kind of music will help your chickens to grow faster, or to lay more eggs? Elevator music; what we now call “easy listening” music – music that sooths and calms the nerves, like the music from the movie “As Good As It Gets”. If you are a classical music buff, try Mozart, Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, or Schubert**. You can use any soothing, calming music, particularly stringed instrumental music. I plan to play a variety of easy listening music for my chickens this year. I may even try to teach them the “funky chicken”. You might want to buy your birds a subscription to satellite radio and keep the music playing for them ’round the clock.
Do you want to know more?
Article References
* http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/music-helps-raise-quality-chickens-id2861.html
** http://www.rmhiherbal.org/review/2002-1.html
General Poultry Information
1. Countryside & Small Stock Journal http://www.countrysidemag.com
2. Backyard Poultry http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com
© 2011, Jon Porter. All rights reserved.