When we refer to eggs, we’re usually thinking of chicken eggs. But other types of poultry lay eggs that are just as tasty. Every egg contains a yolk surrounded by albumen, encased in membranes, and protected by a thick shell. Differences occur in how these parts are put together. Let’s see how the eggs […]
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In a natural environment, a chicken’s beak wears down as fast as it grows. Periodically a chicken wipes its beak on the ground to clean it. The maneuver at the same time sharpens the beak for pecking and keeps it from growing too long. The upper half of a chicken’s beak is naturally a […]
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Black laced red is a relatively new variety of Wyandotte. In appearance the chickens are somewhat similar to black laced golden Wyandottes, which have been standardized as “golden laced Wyandottes” since 1888. To understand the nomenclature, as well as the differences between black laced red and black laced golden Wyandottes, let’s take a brief look […]
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A team of British avian paleontologists believe they have discovered the mother of all chickens — and ducks. They have identified the remains of the world’s oldest modern bird, dating to about 66.7 million years ago. The Wonderchicken Researchers call the bird the Wonderchicken. Its formal name is Asteriornis maastrichtensis. Asteriornis is combined […]
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The Marans chicken breed originated in the French port town of Marans. The breed is known in France as Poule de Marans, or Chicken of Marans. French Marans have sparsely feathered legs. British poultry enthusiasts prefer birds with featherless legs. So when the Brits imported French Marans, they bred them to be clean legged. Today […]
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Every spring, Chick Season® causes a surge in shipments through the United States Postal Service. The annual increase in cargo, consisting of chicks and support accessories, creates space issues. As a result, chick shipments may get delayed in transit. Sometimes the surge in numbers of packages will slow things down to the point that chicks […]
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First time chicken keepers are often surprised when a hen lays a miniature egg. A mini egg typically does not contain a yolk, and therefore is sometimes called a yolkless egg or a no-yolker. It might also be called a cock egg, dwarf egg, fairy egg, fart egg, or wind egg. So why does a […]
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The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a run on chickens, causing people to ponder the age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The Columbia Missourian votes for eggs: “Panic-buying the eggs came before panic-buying the chickens this year, though people have been doing both.” But Newsweek opts for chickens, saying, “Many […]
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The color of a Mallard’s bill indicates its state of physical and reproductive health. Therefore, Mallard ducks can choose a healthy mate by assessing the drake’s bill color. Strange, but true. Here’s how it works: Carotenoids and Free Radicals Carotenoids influence the red, yellow, and orange hues of a duck’s feathers, skin, legs, and […]
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Like all reproductive qualities of poultry, fertility has low heritability. However, many factors other than inheritance come into play. Most of them are related to either mechanical issues or faulty management. Let’s look at the 12 most common reasons for low fertility in chickens and other poultry. Mechanical Issues 1. Comb Style Single […]
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