Chickens can swim, and some actually enjoy it. Others, not so much. That’s because a chicken is not as well equipped for swimming as a duck. But most chickens will at least wade into water to cool themselves down on a hot summer day. If the water is deep enough, a chicken might even paddle […]
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What you feed your baby chicks not only helps them grow and thrive, but also ensures good laying ability and fertility when they mature. On the other hand, improper nutrition can slow their development and have long-term negative consequences to their health and laying ability. Shipping causes stress. Chicks hatch with residual yolk reserves that […]
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Chickens need a constant supply of fresh clean water in order to remain healthy and lay well. An easy and inexpensive way to ensure they remain hydrated is to water the chickens from a bowl. But should you water chickens from a bowl? Let’s look at why it’s not such a great idea as a […]
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One of the realities of breeding chickens is experiencing deformities in newly hatched chicks. Most of the time deformed embryos don’t survive to hatch, but sometimes one does. The more eggs you hatch, the more likely you are to occasionally find hatched chicks with deformities of one sort or another. Why deformities happen in newly […]
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Chickens, and people, commonly carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestines, but don’t necessarily get sick. Chickens shed the bacteria in their poop, which — you know if you have chickens — ends up everywhere chickens go. Bacteria that enter your mouth can result in a common intestinal infection (salmonellosis). You can easily avoid this infection by not […]
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The United States was officially founded as a nation on July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Although residents of the new country had plenty of chickens, many of the breeds we know today didn’t exist then. So let’s take a look at the chickens that were here at the […]
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Angel wing in ducks and geese is a cosmetic issue more than a serious health concern. However, the deformity, which goes by various other names — airplane wing, crooked wing, slipped wing, split wing, carpal deformity — mars the appearance of an otherwise beautiful backyard duck or goose. What Is Angel Wing? Angel wing is […]
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The handsome and robust Aseel chicken is known for being friendly with humans but aggressive toward other chickens, including other Aseels. The hens, although not especially prolific layers, are excellent broodies and fiercely protective mothers. This slow growing breed is especially flavorful when raised for meat. Aseel chickens are hardy, heat tolerant, and super active […]
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Chicken keepers who overlook the importance of the rooster-to-hen ratio may wonder why their flocks experience problems. Too many roosters lead to fighting, stressed and over-mated hens, lower egg production, and poor fertility. Surprisingly, too few roosters create some of the same issues. Let’s look at why getting this balance right matters so much. The […]
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What better way to celebrate the historic highway’s centennial than to get your chicks on Route 66! The thruway — which runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, California — opened in 1926 as one of the original roads in the United States highway system. Ten years after Route 66 opened, Cackle Hatchery® was established in […]
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