Guinea fowl are terrific foragers that wander around gobbling up ticks and other harmful insects. They are also wonderful watchdogs, noisily sounding an alarm whenever they detect something amiss. If you’re thinking of adding these unusual birds to your flock, the first thing to understand when selecting guinea fowl is the difference between African guineas […]
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Some duck breeds lay as well as chicken breeds. However, ducks kept mainly for meat or ornamental purposes do not lay nearly as well as those that have been selectively bred for their laying ability. Below is a look at how many eggs you can expect each duck breed to lay per year. How Many […]
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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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Starve-out occurs when turkey poults (baby turkeys) fail to eat. As a result they literally starve to death. But, as dire as it sounds, preventing starve-out is not difficult with proper poult management. Reasons for Starve-Out Poults learn how to eat from the mama hen. Since chicks are quicker learners than poults, “I recommend including […]
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More than chicks, turkey poults (baby turkeys) can be tricky to brood. Even though they’re bigger than chicks, they’re much more delicate. They are extremely sensitive to temperature changes, dampness, and drafts. And they have a lesser instinct for danger. “Let’s face it,” says Jeff Smith of Cackle Hatchery®, “turkey poults are not the brightest.” […]
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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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The general recommendation regarding the right height for chicken nests is 18 to 20 inches above the floor. But that’s not a hard and fast rule. The proper height depends on breed and age, and the hens’ ability to access the nests. Importance of Nest Height Nest boxes must be easy for the hens to […]
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Since you like chickens, you’d love the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Chickens are everywhere. Tourists like to lure them with treats to get close-up photos. Local residents like having the chickens gobble up the island’s numerous native venomous centipedes. But some people complain that feral chickens are a nuisance. Nuisance Chickens The feral chickens of […]
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Mice in the chicken coop can potentially spread diseases and parasites to the flock. And they will increase the cost of keeping chickens by eating that expensive chicken feed. One mouse can eat about one pound of chicken feed in one year. And think about this — mice reproduce fast! Each female mouse weans 30 […]
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Chickens have three primary goals in life — to eat, to avoid being eaten, and to make more chickens. Thus, flock necessities involve providing your chickens with everything they need to achieve these goals. Nutrition A chicken’s nutritional needs change, depending on the chicken’s age. Commercially prepared poultry feed therefore is variously formulated for baby […]
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