CHICKENS - Chickens have long been a favorite of many farmers for much more than the eggs they are capable of producing. Chickens come in many varieties, perhaps the most common to the United States in the Leghorn variety, commonly pronounced "leggern" by many. Leghorns generally come in the two most common forms: White Leghorns, or Brown Leghorns. Here at Rock Lane Farm, we have both. We also have a few other varieties that are distinctly different in coloration making chickens a unique bird that can be raised for the pure enjoyment of their coloration and markings. Chickens offer a simple form of pest control inasmuch that they love to eat insects. We got our chickens more or less for this purpose as the Ozarks present a dense yearly infestation of ticks, chiggers and spiders (not to mention several other species of insects as well). I am very happy to report that the insect population on Rock Lane Farm has been dramatically reduced. Chickens also depend on the common grasshopper as a supplement to their diet. Nearly any insect that flies or crawls is a dietary supplement to a chicken. Chickens are not neccessarily a desired pet that you can easily train, but slow movements on the part of an owner and soft stroking of a chickens head make them act a little more gentle than chickens that are not afforded daily affection or personal attention. And as for housetraining a chicken as you would a cat or dog, forget it. The first few days of a young hatchlings life are crucial care wise. The young birds should be kept warm, consistent with incubation temperature. Extremes in temperature can be devastating and the birds should be gradually be weanedby decreasing their environment temperature a few degrees daily. A heatlamp will yield the best results. Also, a useful trick that was passed along to me in regards to transporting week old or younger birds is to immediately water the birds with a mixture of sugar (about a teaspoon per cup) and water. This treatment essentially has the same effect as giving a child candy; it gives the young birds a sugar high and prevents them from becoming stressed from transport and new environment. The first few weeks of feeding are also very important for young birds. Many chicken growers highly recommend feeding a "medicated feed" to prevent any possible viral or bacterial infections. There are several brands available and these can be readily purchased for approximately $6.00 per 50 lb. bag, enerally referred to as "Chick Starter." After a few weeks, the young chicks should be introduced to "Chick Grower" which is basically the same feed in consistency, only without the medication additive. This process will ensure that your chickens grow into healthy chickens. The "chicken cage" is also an important aspect of raising a fine, healthy brood. While many growers regularly use "chicken wire" as the wall material for their cages, I highly recommend using a finer mesh square screen wire (1/2" x 1/2") which prevents the young chicks from getting caught in the chicken wire openings. Some young chicks are very rambunctious and can nearly fit through the chicken wire screen, thus getting tangled up and possibly injuring themselves in the process. Also, standard chicken wire allows for the entry of unwanted pests such as snakes or rodents. After two to three weeks of housing the young chicks in the caged enclosure, they can gradually be released into the immediate are of the barn yard. If your chicken cage is off the ground several feet (to prevent ground dwelling pest infestation), try my wifes idea of a chicken ladder. They will spend some time going down the ladder and then back up again (remember too, chickens do not fly to well but perhaps fly best when they are younger and lighter in weight). About the time you release the young birds, you will also want to begin training them to roost. A few 1/2" to 3/4" wooden dowels are ideal for this. You will begin to notice the young birds scrambling to roost. It's very important to discourage your chickens from tree roosting as they are highly susceptible to owls preying upon them as they sleep. The young birds are also fair prey for hawks and other large flying birds on the lookout for small game. A method often employed by growers is to keep a few Guinea Hens or other related Fowl to discourage hawk raids; Guineas are noted for their "alarm" of being very loud when under attack or disturbed. Our chickens often prefer to be as close to home as possible on the cold winter nights. We have a porch swing which seems to have become a "permanent roost" for several of our chickens. While this is kind of neat, it's a good idea to keep a garden hose handy to keep the area clean in the daytime or you'll find yourself short of neighbors willing to come over for a visit!