I frequently see and hear the terms grooming and conditioning used interchangeably as if they mean the same thing. There is a difference between the two and it can have a big impact on your birds. Think of grooming as a short term process while conditioning as a much longer process. Before you enter the […]
Grooming vs Conditioning Poultry Read More »
This article reviews the biochemical and physiological characteristics of the blue eggshell, characteristic of Araucana and Ameraucana chickens. Numerous studies and scientific advances have occurred which have gradually increased our knowledge of the blue-green pigments that create a blue eggshell. It is important to note that the pigment has been renamed several times over the
Blue Eggshell: What Pigments Create This? Read More »
Birds—including those in your flock—come in many different and beautiful forms. And the appreciation of birds, whether they are laying eggs in your coop or migrating to South America—can take on many forms. Do you own a pair of binoculars? A birding magazine subscription? Perhaps a bird house or a bird identification guide? Many people
Backyard Bird Feeders And your flock Read More »
Whether it’s a building structure or a sports program I think we can all agree they won’t last long without a strong, solid foundation. Have you ever given any thought to what the foundation of conditioning show birds might be? The best conditioning programs are built on good husbandry practices which can make all the
Conditioning Show Birds: The Foundation Read More »
Sourcing quality poultry can be a really complicated task! People raise poultry for various reasons: some people enjoy collecting eggs from the nest box, some are really serious about exhibition breeding, and other people enjoy having them as pets. This post is directed specifically towards individuals that are sourcing quality poultry with the intent to
Sourcing Quality Poultry Read More »
Dealing with poultry predators can be a frustrating experience. Who are the culprits that we are dealing with? How can we identify the specific poultry predators? What can we do to prevent problems with predation? These are all questions that are important to consider when we want to control predators of our poultry yards. I’ve
Poultry Predators & Control Strategies Read More »
It’s wintertime. The Temperature is hovering in the single digits, and the wind chill factor is several degrees below zero. The alarm clock rings at 6 a.m. and I go through my same routine. While others are lying in bed or warming up their cars, I am dressing and “schlepping” buckets of warm water to by bantam
WATER, THE PRIME INGREDIENT Read More »
The crests and beards on some breeds are the perfect environment for poultry lice and mites. Raising healthy poultry means keeping a healthy flock, and managing pests, including lice and mites. Below we have a picture of poultry lice and their egg casings. The top arrow (purple) shows the egg casings around the shaft
Poultry Lice in Crested Breeds Read More »
Understanding poultry nutrition, especially when it comes to feeding our birds requires some basic knowledge about the discipline that many people lack. In this article, I hope to cover the basics so that you can have a better understanding about the subject. Nutrition is the study of nutrients that are in feedstuffs and how they
Poultry Nutrition Basics for Raising Healthy Birds Read More »
Scaly leg Mites are relatively easy to treat. This is caused by a tiny mite that burrows under the scales of the legs and toes. The buildup of it’s colony and excrement cause the scales to raise away form the feet. In this first picture we see a few scales that have begun to raise.
