dyk

3 days ago

disinfectants

Disinfecting the coop is not something that is required on a regular basis. A good cleaning of the coop and equipment is enough to keep p...

Jul 1

virulent Newcastle Disease last update

California is now free of the virulent Newcastle disease, and the quarantine is Southern California has been lifted! Since May 2018 when ...

Jun 1

chickens and dog trainers

Dog trainers learn to clicker train chickens to improve their skills. They use chickens as a model for learning the theories and mechanic...

Apr 1

chicken feet

Healthy chicken feet are mostly smooth and soft with a rubbery feel with scales covering the tops of a chicken’s toes. A chicken’s foot i...

Mar 1

chicken adoption

This spring, consider adopting chickens instead of buying them. You save a life. Like dogs and cats, too many chickens come into shelters...

Feb 1

fecal test

The first step of doing a fecal test is collecting the samples. The easiest is to go in the morning in the coop and collect a sample of d...

Jan 1

pineal gland

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the brain of most vertebrates. It produces melatonin, a hormone which modulates sleep patt...

Nov 1, 2019

Thanksgiving alternatives

The best way to celebrate turkeys at Thanksgiving is to keep them off our plate. Here are some of the many yummy alternatives for the hol...

Oct 1, 2019

vets

Lots of chicken illnesses and injuries are treatable if caught in time and properly cared for. Don't hesitate and go see your vet when yo...

Sep 1, 2019

Feathers

A chicken’s feathers do not cover her entire body. There are featherless areas that help with cooling when a chicken holds out her wings ...

Aug 1, 2019

virulent Newcastle Disease update

The virulent Newcastle Disease outbreak is considered over in Northern California, however it is still going on in Southern California. C...

Jul 1, 2019

oldest chicken (2)

Last month, we featured Matilda as the oldest chicken, but it seems that Muffy beat her by quite a few years. According to Guinness World...

Jun 1, 2019

oldest chicken

The oldest chicken ever to have lived was called Matilda (at least she was the first chicken to receive the title of World's Oldest Livin...

Apr 1, 2019

easter chicks

Cute bunnies, fluffy chicks and ducklings are popular in Easter baskets. They are delightful, fuzzy, and irresistible, but are not approp...

Feb 1, 2019

forced molting

Forced molting (aka induced molting) is a practice in the egg industry to boost the laying cycle. At the end of their first laying cycle,...

Jan 1, 2019

sickles

Sickle feathers are the elongated, sickle-shaped feathers in the tail of a rooster. They are usually very flamboyant. Hens don't have sic...

Dec 1, 2018

saddle

Saddle feathers are the feathers in front of the tail of a chicken. They look different based on the sex of the chicken. Similarly to the...

Nov 1, 2018

hackles

Hackles are the feathers around the neck of a chicken. They look different based on the sex of the chicken. Hens have rounder hackles, wh...

Oct 1, 2018

crows

Crows are awesome chicken allies. They are the smartest birds: some scientists think that crows may be as intelligent as the great apes. ...

Sep 1, 2018

alektorophobia

Alektorophobia is the fear of chickens. The word comes from the Greek words “alektor” which means rooster, and “phobos” which means fear.

Aug 1, 2018

ice cube treats

Chickens don't do well in hot weather and can actually die of heat stress. One way to keep them cool during hot summer days is by offerin...

Jul 1, 2018

treadle feeder

Using a treadle feeder needs some learning. Watch our foster girls figuring out how to use it.

Jun 2, 2018

old hen new tricks

You can teach an old hen new tricks. Watch Luna "pecking out" the Queen of Spades from a deck of cards. It's quite amazing, isn't it? Chi...

May 1, 2018

international respect for chickens month

May is the International Respect for Chickens Month! Learn something new about chickens: Baby chicks start talking to their moms while st...

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