'Tis the season for hearing about all the broody hens. People watching and waiting to find fluffy little peeps in the nest with momma hen one morning. There is no denying that nature is best. Broody hens raise strong, healthy chicks. You won't need a heat lamp, or a brooder set up in your dining room or office for three to six weeks. We have had a broody hen and I have had many broody hens that I discouraged from sitting. Why? If nature is best, why would I discourage a hen from hatching eggs? … [Read more...]
Chicken Health – Understand Molt, Prolapse and Crop problems
Chicken Health Much of what we hear about in the news concerns problems with a live contagion that can wipe out a chicken or any poultry flock in a matter of days. The financial loss to commercial operations can be devastating but the damage to our hearts when we lose a member of our backyard flock is also devastating. What about some of the chicken health issues that are more likely to affect our flock? These are common everyday ailments that can become very serious for the chicken, if not … [Read more...]
6 things I Didn’t Know About Chickens
6 Things I Didn't Know About Chickens "I am never going to raise chickens" Guess who said that. Me! Circa 1978 after my second or third time being dragged through a large commercial poultry operation as part of my quest for a degree in Animal Science. The smell was horrible, the chicken clucking was deafening, and the downy feathers were flying everywhere and made my nose itch. I decided right then that I would stick to horses and other large livestock management. And … [Read more...]
Free Ranging Chickens
The weather has been perfect the last few days. Sunny, warm and dry. Perfect for free ranging chickens. A few years ago our chickens didn't know about free ranging because they had always stayed within their pen. We had no protective barrier for free ranging chickens if they left the pen and predators lurked just beyond the clearing. So we keep them in their rather large pen surrounding the coop. Recently, we installed some additional electric fencing around the poultry and … [Read more...]
How to Feed a Mixed Flock of Poultry
How do you feed a mixed flock of poultry with differing food requirements? What can a chicken owner do when they want to add more chickens or even add ducklings into the mix? Let me give you a few pointers that have worked for us concerning how to feed a mixed poultry flock. What to Feed a Mixed Flock of Poultry The important thing for any animal is getting the best nutrition. It is possible to house chickens, ducks, partially grown pullets and ducklings together, and still provide the … [Read more...]
