Backyard Fowl Keepers

I spotted a Pygmy Rattlesnake on my porch last night! Thankfully, my Great Pyrenees alerted me before anyone got hurt. We havent seen snakes here in over ten years, and my hens arent laying yet, so its not an egg issue.

Because of the heat, I leave my Omlet Cube door open at night for ventilation ...

Given their age, Marek's might not be as effective but could still provide protection. I'd do Marek's first, wait two weeks, then fowl pox.

Hot composting is all about balance! Straw takes a while to break down, so adding grass clippings, coffee grounds, or even a little aged manure from other sources could help speed things up. And yes, chickens are excellent garden helpers,just don't let them near freshly planted beds!

Ive been adding fresh herbs to the brooder alongside Chick Start for my week-old chicks, and so far, it seems to be going well. Ive noticed they peck at the herbs occasionally, and I like the idea of giving them something extra for enrichment and potential health benefits. Does anyone else do this ...

Hey everyone! Im new to this forum and could really use some advice.

A few days ago, we brought home a new batch of chicks from Atwoods. They all seem healthy except for one little chick who is slightly smaller than the rest. She acts normallyeating, drinking, and moving around finebut she has a ...

I've let my flock into the garden for years, but only under controlled circumstances. They are great at eating pests and turning over soil, but if left unsupervised, they'll go straight for tender greens and freshly sprouted seeds. The best compromise I've found is allowing them in during the off ...

I've fed my flock both cooked and uncooked rice for years without any problems. Chickens have powerful digestive systems, especially with access to grit. The idea that uncooked rice will swell in their stomachs is a myth,chickens don't have the same digestive process as birds like pigeons that might ...

I follow a preventative worming schedule and treat my mixed flock twice a year. Internal parasites can build up over time without obvious symptoms, so I'd rather be proactive. I use Fenbendazole (Safe-Guard) mixed into their feed, which avoids the issue of ducks over-drinking treated water. It's ...

I tried plastic garden netting once, and it didn't hold up well,raccoons shredded it in one night. I'd go with hardware cloth for sure.

Chicken genetics can be unpredictable! Even though your roosters have the same parents, they likely inherited different combinations of genes. Each rooster will pass on his own unique set, so their offspring could look very different.