Backyard Fowl Keepers

Chickens can make hiccup-like sounds for various reasons,crop adjusting, dust inhalation, or even vocal quirks. Observe her for other symptoms like open-mouth breathing, nasal discharge, or lethargy. If she seems fine otherwise, it's likely harmless. If it persists or worsens, consider offering a ...

I'm so sorry to hear about your chicks, that's really tough. As far as penicillin goes, you might need a prescription in some places, but some farm stores do sell it over the counter. It's important to keep the chicks clean and dry, and keep them isolated from the rest of the flock to avoid further ...

Fresh chicken manure is too strong for direct application, but after composting, it's fantastic. The USDA recommends keeping raw manure away from edible crops for 90-120 days, so if your partner is concerned, just time it right. Chickens can still help in fall, just not right before planting.

If there's still blood flow, the chick is alive but likely not ready. Keep the incubator conditions stable and give it more time before considering intervention.

Hi everyone!

When I moved my chicks outside, I decided to try sand in the coop after hearing it was easy to clean and helped control odor. Unfortunately, that hasnt been my experience at all.

I scoop daily using a cat litter scoop, but it feels tedious, and I can never get the coop as clean as ...

You might want to mark the eggs she's already sitting on and remove any new ones daily to avoid even more staggered ages. Some hens will let other birds lay in their nest!

I've had a similar situation with a broody hen, and I found that wiping her down with a damp cloth was enough. Just be sure to keep her warm and avoid getting her wet, especially if temperatures drop at night.

A weed barrier might help temporarily, but it won't stop shifting. Instead, try a mix of sand and deep litter like wood chips or straw. Sand drains well, while deep litter insulates and cushions. You could also frame the run with timbers to help keep material in place.

I don't think it's an issue as long as they have access to shelter. My chickens will free-range in the rain, especially if they're foraging for insects. Just make sure they can dry off when they come back to the coop, and be cautious of any waterlogging in the ground around their shelter.

It's pretty common for chickens to be territorial over nesting boxes, especially if they've been the only ones using them. I'd recommend trying to put up extra nesting boxes to give the Leghorn her own space, which might reduce the bullying behavior. Additionally, I'd continue to monitor closely for ...