Backyard Fowl Keepers

This makes me appreciate the complexity of ecosystems even more. Every creature, no matter how small, plays a role in the bigger picture.

The garden netting might keep out some pests, but it won't stop something determined. I'd use hardware cloth on the bottom and consider a sturdier cover.

Have you considered fermenting feed? It won't replace 75% of their diet, but it makes regular grains more digestible and nutritious, which could help you cut costs.

A ceramic heat emitter provides warmth without light, reducing stress. Heat plates are even better because chicks can move in and out as needed.

If you're mainly dealing with older hens that aren't producing much, it might be worth switching to the Nutrena Layer Feed. That extra calcium seems to be what they need.

My 3-year-old hen, Baby, was attacked and suffered serious injuries. She lost her comb, has a large gash on her thigh, and her beak is broken. Ive been giving her 500mg of amoxicillin and applying ointment to her wounds. The biggest issue now is that shes having trouble eating. Ive been using a ...

Twice a year, like clockwork, the coop gets a full clean-out. Straw, hemp bedding, and a hefty dose of chicken manure pile up, leaving me with a mountain of soiled bedding. I know its compost gold, but Im trying to figure out the best way to turn this messy mix into rich, usable soil through hot ...

Hi everyone,

I have a 1.5-year-old Olive Egger who has always been a reliable layer, giving me large green eggs in the nesting boxuntil last week. Suddenly, I found two of her eggs under the roosting bar with extremely soft shells. After that, she stopped laying completely for a full week. Then ...