Many Cackle Hatchery® customers depend on homegrown chickens to fill their freezers and feed their families. First-timers often have questions about the process. Below are 9 of the most common questions our team answers about raising meat chickens. Which chickens are best for meat? Some people prefer Cornish cross broilers. Others savor the heavyweight heritage […]
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A chicken is most comfortable when the environmental temperature hovers around 70-75°F. As the temperature goes up, so does the chicken’s deep body temperature. Fatalities occur if the chicken’s deep body temperature reaches 115°F or above. When summer temperatures start to rise, here are 8 strategies you can observe to keep your chickens comfortable. 1. […]
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Fielding questions from customers is one of the pleasures enjoyed by our team here at Cackle Hatchery®. Below are the 12 most answered questions about chicken characteristics. Where do chickens come from? Chickens descended from wild jungle fowl, domesticated thousands of years ago. The exact origin of modern chickens is a much studied subject that […]
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The word “chicken wire” implies wire that is excellent for use around chickens. Nothing could be further from the truth. What Is Chicken Wire? Chicken wire — also known as hexagonal netting, hex net, hex wire, or poultry netting — has been around since the mid 1800s. It consists of strands of thin wire twisted […]
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Keeping predators from digging into your chicken yard can be a challenge. How much effort and expense you wish to put into discouraging diggers depends a good deal on how long you expect your fence to last. If you are planning what you expect to be a lifetime fence, you might want to go all […]
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Before you get your chickens ready for the fair, a good idea is to attend a few shows and become familiar with the procedures. Once you have an idea how things are handled, you’ll be better prepared to get involved. And by making friends with people who regularly exhibit, you’ll be more relaxed and have […]
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Cackle Hatchery® customers, especially first time buyers, ask a lot of questions about the behavior of chickens. Here are answers to 15 of the most common questions we answer about chicken behavior. Are chickens intelligent? Yes. Chickens are intelligent. Among other things, they learn quickly, they can do basic arithmetic, and they have good memories. […]
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Customers who contact Cackle Hatchery® frequently ask questions about feeding their flocks. Below are 17 of the most common questions our team is asked regarding feeding chickens. What do chickens eat? What chickens eat depends on their stage of growth. Confined chickens eat commercially formulated chick starter when they’re young and commercial layer ration when […]
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Infectious coryza is one of the most common bacterial diseases of backyard chickens. It is, in fact, the chicken version of the common cold. Avibacterium paragallinarum bacteria cause this respiratory disease. Like the common cold, infectious coryza is particularly prevalent in the fall and winter, especially in the southeastern and northeastern United States and in […]
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By Cackle Hatchery Here at Cackle Hatchery® we are constantly fielding questions from our customers. Below are answers to 17 of the most common questions we hear about chickens and eggs. Why do chickens lay eggs? Chickens lay eggs to reproduce more chickens. However, unless a rooster is present, the eggs won’t be fertile and […]
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