Backyard Fowl Keepers

I used fir once, and my chicks were fine, but the smell was strong. I ended up switching to pine, and it seemed fresher.

I avoid washing hatching eggs because the bloom is essential for keeping bacteria out. However, if an egg has a little dirt, I gently dry-clean it with a soft-bristle brush or a clean cloth. For stubborn spots, I use a lightly damp cloth with warm water, but I never scrub hard or soak the egg. I ...

It depends on whether you want eggs first! If not, butcher roosters at 16-20 weeks and hens at a year or more for broth birds.

Extra ventilation is always a good idea! A functional cupola would help, but make sure it doesn't allow drafts in winter.

I had a rooster that acted the same way,he would ambush me every chance he got! What helped was carrying a lightweight plastic rake and blocking him anytime he tried to rush me. I also stopped feeding treats by hand and made sure he knew I wasn't part of his flock structure. However, not all ...

Hello everyone,

I recently came across an old booklet by Thomas Quisenberry that discusses a method for determining the sex of a chick before incubation by candling the eggs. The process involves examining the air sacs position before setting the eggs. According to the booklet, if the air sac is ...

About six months ago, I noticed a tiny bit of gunk stuck in my hens nostril. Shes always been a messy eater, so I didnt think much of it at first. But as time went on, it got worse. I was able to clear one side, but the other? No matter what I did, I just couldnt get it out. And now, things have ...

I once hatched a chick from a cracked egg using Elmer's glue! It wasn't perfect, but the chick made it. The biggest challenge was maintaining humidity,cracked eggs lose moisture faster, so I had to adjust my incubator. However, out of five cracked eggs, only one hatched, so the odds aren't great. I ...

Today during my routine egg collection, I noticed that one of my 3-month-old pullets had a bloody vent and her tail feathers were plucked out. I suspect that the feather loss might be from pecking, possibly triggered by the bloody vent. However, Im also concerned because her vent appears much more ...

I have a broody hen sitting on fertile eggs, and Im trying to figure out how long she can safely leave the nest before the eggs get too cold. She has her own separate space, but she gets up occasionally to eat, drink, and dust bathenever for more than 30 minutes. When she returns, she sometimes ...