Before establishing a backyard chicken flock, check local laws and homeowners’ association (HOA) covenants. Chickens are not allowed to be raised in many urban areas. The number of chickens, distance from property lines, and type of house may be...
Believe it or not, microbes have a huge impact on your backyard flock. In this video, Dr. John gives a “Backyard Chicken Biology Lesson” explaining how an animal’s initial microbial community, made up of their own cells and cells...
Source: Cackle Hatchery
How many chicken nest boxes you need in your coop depends in part on the number of hens in your flock. A second factor is whether or not your hens one of the top laying breeds. Here...
Poultry diseases are not exclusive to large poultry farms. Urban and backyard flocks owners can reduce the spread of diseases like avian influenza, salmonella or e. coli by implementing a simple biosecurity plan.
Patrick Biggs, Ph.D.
Nutritionist, Companion Animal Technical Solutions
Getting your hobby farm animals ready for cold weather can be a daunting task – everything from shoring up their shelter, keeping water sources from freezing, changing their routine and more. But one...
Water belly is a condition in which a chicken’s body cavity fills with fluid, causing the abdomen to bulge. It is not itself a disease, but rather a sign of heart failure. Let’s take a look at the various...
Source: Cackle Hatchery
Chicken breeds with beards came about as a genetic mutation. Chicken keepers liked the appearance, and so they continued to breed more of the same. Other than the cuteness factor, scientists have yet to find any significant...
Norway has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, among poultry in the northern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Tuesday.
The bird flu outbreak was found...
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Poultry housing can be as crude or elaborate as you wish to build as long as you provide the following:
Protection
A good poultry house protects the birds from the elements (weather), predators,...
Did you know that “pecking order” is more than just an expression? Chickens and other types of poultry develop a social hierarchy within the flock; it is called the pecking order. Feather pecking is a way to express dominance...
