Newly hatched poultry come equipped with yolk reserves that provide baby birds with nutrients for many hours after they hatch. It’s nature’s way of allowing the early hatchers to remain in the nest until the whole brood has hatched. Hatchery chicks shipped by mail take advantage of these yolk reserves during the day or two […]
Continue Reading
Nothing can foul up your day like losing sleep to the persistent beeping of a dying smoke detector. And is there anything more agitating than waking up from a dead sleep with a bright line shining in your eyes? We rely on a good night’s sleep to get the rest and relaxation we need to […]
Continue Reading
Baby chicks must have access to clean, fresh water at all times. During the first few days after they hatch, a one-quart waterer will furnish enough water for up to 25 chicks raised in a brooder. An inexpensive watering option is a screw-on plastic base that fits a one-quart narrow mouth jar. Another option is […]
Continue Reading
You read that right, folks: Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, only a few short weeks away. And so begins the preparation for the best meal of the year. If you haven’t hosted Thanksgiving dinner before, you might be wondering how to choose the right turkey for you and your family. Here are some tips to […]
Continue Reading
Colonel Sander’s recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken, made with 11 herbs and spices, is no longer a well-kept secret. The original KFC recipe appeared in the Chicago Tribune after being submitted by Colonel Sander’s nephew Joe Ledington. Mr. Ledington found the recipe in a scrapbook belonging to his late Aunt Claudia, the Colonel’s second wife. […]
Continue Reading
Raising chickens in your backyard can be very rewarding, but what’s a chicken lover to do when you have a hen who just won’t cooperate? It’s not so easy to reason with a chicken, but if you’re having a tough time getting your chicken to roost in its coop, Cackle Hatchery has a few suggestions […]
Continue Reading
Anyone who has had chickens for more than a few days soon discovers that they will eat or trample all the vegetation growing near their coop, eventually turning lush grass into bare soil. In a rainy climate, or during times of unusually heavy rainfall, the soil can rapidly become a sea of mud in which […]
Continue Reading
Chemical pesticides might do a fine job of protecting crops from harmful insects, but they can also have a decidedly negative impact on local ecosystems. In recent years, agriculture experts have become especially concerned about the threat chemical pesticides pose to pollinators such as honey bees. That’s why some farmers have begun searching for other […]
Continue Reading
As of January 2017, backyard chicken keepers will have fewer options for treating sick birds. New regulations restrict the use of any antimicrobial that is administered by means of feed or water. More than 280 livestock products marketed by 26 companies are affected by this rule. According to two guidance documents — #209 and #213 […]
Continue Reading
For the better part of the last century broiler chickens have been selectively bred with one trait in mind: size. In the 1950’s, the average broiler chicken was just one fourth the weight of today’s chickens. On factory farms, bigger hens have equated to bigger profits for decades. Soon, however, that might be about to […]
Continue Reading
