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12 Reasons to Keep Geese

Two geese in a yard

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 […]

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Light Sussex Chicken

Light Sussex Chicken
  • Light Sussex – Sold as Baby Chicks Only
Minimums –

Not Sexed = 3

Female = 3

Male = 1

Total of 3 birds to ship

Seasonal/Shipped Feb thru October

Limit of 10 on Not Sexed

Limit of 5 on Male and Females

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Vent Prolapse in Chickens

A chicken in front of a white background

One of the most common health conditions of laying hens is vent prolapse. Other names for the condition are blowout, cloacal prolapse, and prolapsed oviduct. What Is Prolapse? Prolapse is actually the natural process by which a hen lays eggs. When a hen is ready to lay an egg, her vagina tightly grips the completed […]

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Getting to Know Chicken Keepers

A man and woman hold a chicken in their yard

Chicken keepers in the United States are a diverse bunch in such things as where they live, how many chickens they keep, and what they feed their flock. A paper published in Poultry Science offers some interesting insights about who, exactly, chicken keepers are. Urban or Rural Backyard chicken keepers in the United States are […]

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Free-Range Chickens, Good Idea or Not?

A Bielfelders chicken in a field

What, exactly, are free-range chickens? According to USDA, free-range chickens must be “allowed access to the outside.” That doesn’t mean they actually have to go outside. They just have to have outdoor access. On the other hand, to many rural chicken keepers, free range means letting the chickens go wherever they wish. That’s a non-starter […]

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Molting Sequence in Chickens

A diagram of a chicken

Each fall most chickens go through an annual molt, during which a shiny new set of feathers replaces their previous plumage. During the molt, nutrients used to produce eggs are diverted to producing feathers. As a result, laying slows, or ceases altogether. The best layers molt fast and furious, as if in a hurry to […]

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Standard Chicken versus Bantam, What’s the Difference?

Two chickens in a yard

What’s the difference between a standard chicken versus a bantam chicken? To understand the difference, let’s look at what a standard chicken is and what a bantam is. Standard Chicken The word “standard” when applied to chickens can be confusing. In some contexts it means that the breed has been standardized by the American Poultry […]

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12 Benefits of Keeping Ducks

A young man herds some ducks

Maybe you already keep chickens or other poultry and are considering adding ducks. Or maybe you’re thinking of starting with ducks as your first foray into the world of poultry. To help you decide whether or not duck keeping is for you, here are some of the benefits of keeping ducks. Ducks are easy to […]

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Craft Your Coop

Infographic showing 7 essential tips for first-time chicken owners, including coop setup, daily care, feeding, and beginner chicken care FAQs.

7 Great Tips For First Time Chicken Owners Start with chicks or mature birds instead of eggs Choose dual-purpose chicken breeds (meat and egg layers) Keep your first coop simple Keep your coop clean Get a heated water bowl Use natural foods and scraps from your own kitchen Establish a daily routine for filling feeders, […]

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Best Place to Buy Baby Chicks

A baby chick stands on a Scrabble board. The tiles in the foreground spell out "Cackle"

by Cackle Hatchery What is the best place to buy baby chicks? Without a doubt, Cackle Hatchery® is by far the best place to buy baby chicks, along with everything you might need to raise them to be happy, healthy chickens. Here’s why: Largest Selection Cackle Hatchery offers 230 varieties of poultry. That’s more varieties […]

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