In recent days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had identified instances of deadly bird flu in U.S. flocks, putting the poultry industry on high alert. At the same time, an outbreak was also confirmed in a backyard flock of birds in Fauquier County, Va. In December of 2014, the bird flu (also known as Avian […]
We get asked this question from time to time, so we thought that this would be an excellent time to talk about the chick and laying season imminent now. How Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs? The short answer is – it depends on the breed, the hen’s age, and the season. Some breeds lay furiously, […]
This question had never entered my head – I assumed they didn’t! Like me, you also assumed chickens don’t swim. You’re not alone. It appears most people think chickens can’t swim either. In the ordinary course of the day, you can watch your chicken drink water, perhaps paddle her feet if she’s hot, but swim? […]
Being a new chicken owner is fun and exciting, and it is easy to become enamored with chickens and their adorable antics. Generally speaking, chickens are hearty little creatures that often take great care of themselves. But mistakes are made, and here are my top 10 mistakes people make raising chickens. Had I known what […]
Read More… from Top 10 Mistakes People Make Raising Chickens
Possums, also known as opossums, are small animals found mainly in the eastern US states. It is one of the numerous predators that can attack your backyard chickens. And yes, opossums will eat chickens. In this article, we explain how to spot the signs of an opossum attack, and how to protect your flock against […]
Read More… from Possums Eat Chickens? How To Keep Your Flock Safe
Unfortunately, a lot of people think that grit and oyster shells are the same things. They are not. Your hens require both oyster shell and grit. Without it, serious health issues can arise, such as Sour Crop and Brittle Bones. So now we know that our ladies need oyster shells and grit as additives to […]
Read More… from Grit and Oyster Shells: Do Your Chickens Need Them?
It can be alarming if your chickens’ poop out a blob that looks a tad bit unfamiliar, or different than what you are used to seeing. But, the truth is, chickens’ poop will differ depending on what they eat, where the feces is coming from, and yes often it depends on their health. Let’s break […]
When we have friends over to our house for the first time, and they notice we have chickens in our backyard, one of the first questions most of them ask is: “why do you keep chickens in your backyard?”. To people who already keep chickens, no explanation is needed. However, this got us thinking, what […]
Any chicken owner has at one time, or another, found themselves chasing their chickens around the yard at the end of the day because, well, we just want to go to bed already. How can you train chickens to return to their coop? It’s incredible how pokey chickens are at the end of the day, […]
Read More… from How to Train Chickens to Return to Their Coop
Today we are going to focus on Infectious coryza– a fairly common respiratory disease in chickens. It’s also known as ‘roup’, catarrh, ‘pip’ or IC. We are going to explain what it is, how the chickens get infected, the problems it causes, the treatment for infected birds, and finally, how to help prevent your flock […]
Read More… from All You Need To Know About Coryza in Chickens