Backyard Fowl Keepers

Since your two cockerels are already together, that's a good start! Keeping them separate from the hens will help reduce fights, but there may still be some sparring. As long as it doesn't escalate into injuries, they should settle.

My advice would be to start with some pea gravel or other drainage materials. You want to get water away from the chickens as much as possible. Follow that with a thick layer of straw or wood chips to help keep things drier, and let it naturally decompose over time. Don,t forget to check for ...

I'd just wait and see. If she abandons the later eggs, then you decide if it's worth hatching them yourself. Sometimes it's easier to let nature take its course.

If you don't want to freeze meat, a steady hatch cycle is key. Consider incubating every 2-3 weeks so you always have fresh birds at the right age.

Next time, consider using an egg turner or gently tilting eggs during storage to help air sacs settle properly. A slightly cooler storage space (around 50°F) is ideal, but if that's not possible, consistent temperature is key. Don't stress too much,hatching is a learning experience!

I have a large mixed flock consisting of chickens, ducks, geese, and two turkeys. Im trying to figure out the best approach for worming. Do you worm your flock regularly as a preventative measure, or do you only treat when you see symptoms?

Right now, I dont see any obvious signs of ...

You're doing great! If you do decide to assist, go very slowly,only remove tiny bits of shell at a time and stop if you see blood.

I just set some shipped eggs in my incubator and checked the air cells before placing them. Some of the air cells looked a bit loose, but none were completely detached or rolling around. Since they were shipped, I placed them upright with the air cells facing up and left the automatic turner off. Im ...

The chick-holding method is new to me! I might test it on my next batch of chicks just to see if there's any consistency.

For over two years, my flock has reliably put themselves to bed in their coop each night, guided by an automatic door. The coop is attached to their run, and theyve never had any issuesuntil recently.

A couple of weeks ago, I started noticing them already in the run when I came out in the morning ...