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Why Does a Rooster Have Wattles?

A rooster’s wattles come in flexible pairs that dangle beneath the beak, while its comb is a single structure prominently affixed to the top of the head. Researchers have determined that hens base their choice of mates, in part, on characteristics of the comb. But when it comes to wattles, they scratch their scholarly heads […]

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Submit a review on our BBB here: Is Cackle Hatchery® Legit? Yes, we have been raising and selling chickens since 1936 but don’t take our word for it; read many of our reviews and testimonials from real customers: September 10, 2023 All 17 chicks arrived alive and healthy in a timely manner, would do business […]

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How to Trim a Chicken’s Toenails

Toe Nail Trimming

A chicken’s toenails constantly grow, just like a human’s. Unlike a human, though, a chicken can often keep its own toenails trimmed back by scratching the ground while looking for things to eat. Scattering a small amount of scratch grain or some mealworms on the ground encourages chickens to scratch and keep their nails properly […]

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Which Chicken Breeds Make the Best Broody Hens?

Broody Hen

Some chicken breeds make great broody hens. Others are iffy. Still others are completely unreliable. And some never go broody at all. What does broody mean and why does it matter? Broodiness, in a nutshell, is maternal instinct. After a hen has accumulated a nestful of eggs, maternal instinct tells her to keep the eggs […]

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What Is a Bantam Chicken?

Sebright

A bantam is a small chicken, about one-fourth to one-fifth as big as a standard-size chicken, generally weighing no more than 2 pounds. The popularity of bantams, affectionately known as banties, began as families moved from farms into suburban areas, and escalated from there. People who enjoy keeping bantams find that they require little backyard […]

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Breed Spotlight: Silkie Bantam Chickens

Silkie Bantams

Named for their trademark fluffy plumage that feels like silk to the touch, Silkie Bantams are among the most beloved ornamental breeds in the world. Their soft, beautiful feathers have made them a popular choice for exhibition birds, but the striking appearance of Silkie Bantams is far from their only virtue. Silkie Bantams have a […]

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Why Do Chicken Eggs Come in Different Colors?

Why Do Chicken Eggs Come in Different Colors?

Most eggs sold at the supermarket have white shells. So where do brown eggs and blue eggs come from? The color of the shell is determined by the breed of the hen that laid the egg. Most white eggs sold at the supermarket are laid by Leghorn hens. Many other breeds lay eggs with white […]

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Watch a Mother Hen Enjoy a Meal With Her New Chicks [Video]

Hen With Chicks

In honor of Mother’s Day, we’d like to take a moment to appreciate the remarkable maternal instincts of mother hens. Although some hens tend to make better mothers than others—Silkies and Orpingtons are widely-regarded as some of the best breeds for hatching—all hens have natural maternal instincts that kick in as soon as their chicks […]

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The Best Mating Ratios for Poultry: How Many Hens per Rooster?

The Best Mating Ratios for Poultry: How Many Hens per Rooster?

The optimal mating ratio for chickens, turkeys, and other poultry is not the same ratio in which they typically hatch. Most poultry naturally hatch approximately 50 percent females and 50 percent males. If your goal is to obtain fertile eggs for hatching, that ratio will result in males fighting excessively with each other, and when […]

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