Backyard Fowl Keepers

Ducks do drink a lot more than chickens, so if you use a water-based dewormer, limit access to only medicated water for a few hours.

If the air cell is intact and the crack is minor, you might save the egg. I've had some success with liquid bandage, but the trick is ensuring the embryo still gets oxygen. Cover too much, and it won't hatch. Cover too little, and bacteria can enter. It's a gamble!

We use the deep litter method in our coop and recently started adding fresh wood chips from a local arborist. Most of the chips were maple with green leaves, so weve let them dry before use.

Recently, we dug into the center of the pileit was bone dry and smelled sweet and earthy, likely from ...

Chlorine is effective at killing bacteria, but it also dissipates quickly. If you use it, make sure it's in a very low concentration,just enough to sanitize, but not enough to cause harm. Another option is to use hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down into oxygen and water, making it safer for ...

Could be just adjusting her crop! Sometimes chickens stretch and twitch when food isn't settling quite right. Keep an eye on her, but if she's eating and acting normal otherwise, it's likely nothing serious.

The plastic garden netting won't stop predators like weasels or rats. Hardware cloth is the safest option for the bottom half of the run.

I painted my coop interior a few years ago, and it's still holding up well. Just avoid painting any surfaces they peck at a lot, like edges of nest boxes. Even safe paint can wear down over time.

We originally thought we had two broody hens, so we split a clutch of 10 eggs between themfive each. However, later that day, one hen abandoned her eggs, clearly not fully committed. I moved all ten eggs under our dedicated broody, a Barred Rock, who seemed determined to sit.

Fast forward three ...