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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.” […]
The stunning single laced plumage pattern of both silver laced and golden laced Cochins is genetically one of the most difficult patterns to perfect. That’s because the single laced plumage pattern involves a number of different genes that must influence each other in specific ways, some of which remain unknown. In simplified form, here’s how […]
Backyard geese are nearly as majestic as swans, but are a whole lot less expensive to buy and to raise. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they also serve many useful purposes. Here are 12 wonderful reasons to keep geese in your backyard. 1. Goose meat is delectable Most breeds of domestic geese originally […]