Backyard Fowl Keepers

Every fall, like clockwork, our land is invaded. Not by foxes, hawks, or raccoons, but by an armymillions of tiny, wriggling, leaf-devouring caterpillars pouring in from the neighboring alfalfa fields. Armyworms. If you've never seen an infestation firsthand, imagine your yard moving. The first ...

One of my hens kept laying eggs throughout the winter, while the others gradually stopped. Recently, though, one of the other hens has started laying again after a break and has laid three eggs so far. The strange thing is that these eggs are all quite small, much smaller than the usual eggs she ...

Removing hens often reduces aggression between roosters. If they get along, they might actually enjoy the company. If fights break out, extra space or separation may be needed.

I like the idea of repurposing materials, but I'd test the strength of the soccer net first. If you can rip it easily with your hands, a raccoon or fox definitely can!

Ducklings grow at lightning speed compared to chicks! If you stagger their ages by 3-4 weeks, they should be about the same size when you combine them.

Is it possible they're piling on top of each other and pushing against the waterer? Sometimes brooder crowding can cause unexpected issues.

If you really don't want to keep putting them to bed manually, you could close them in the coop for a couple of nights right before sunset. That might break the cycle.

The gagging motion makes me think of gapeworm. Have you checked their throats for any red, irritated areas or worms?

I would suggest not sifting out the seeds unless you have a specific reason to do so. They'll break down in the compost and can actually help improve the mix. However, you should monitor the compost's heat and moisture to make sure it's breaking down properly.

Since your chickens roam freely and forage, you can call your eggs free-range. To be organic, the feed must be certified organic, and no synthetic pesticides or antibiotics can be used. Backyard eggs don't need strict labels, but honesty matters!