The successful care of poultry can be achieved by following the standard of daylight, ventilation and cleanliness. I have watered my chickens out of an old cooking pot. Fed them grain in a rubber pan. Set up nest boxes in milk crates. To solve certain care challenges, though, specific equipment has been designed. Here are […]
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This article on winter equipment maintenance for waterfowl is being republished from Acorn Hollow Bantams website with permission from Lou Horton. For many of us, winter brings a time where taking care of our birds can be both physically demanding and, at times, unpleasant. Hauling water by the bucket and breaking ice out of water
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Chiggers also are known as red bugs, jiggers, harvest mites and by other common names. More than 700 species are known, but only three or four are important parasites in the United States. The adults usually are covered with dense, feathered hairs that give them a velvety appearance. They are often bright red with a
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Red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, form tall, hardened mounds in clay-type soil in and around poultry operations. Imported fire ants can cause problems on poultry farms by attacking chickens and foraging on broken eggs. Fire ant stings cause blemishes that can reduce the quality of poultry. Their stings can cause medical problems or even
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This article discusses what’s next for avian influenza, focusing specifically on the Pacific Flyway but the general message is applicable elsewhere. Action on Avian Influenza really lies at the hands of regulators. The environmental contamination is likely to persist for some time, based on the number and continued frequency of detections among many populations of
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This article provides information on small flocks and how avian influenza impacts small flock poultry operations, specifically in regards to the Pacific Flyway, while the general message is applicable elsewhere. Based on reports of infected flocks, the current avian influenza virus shows little discrimination among the species it targets. Canada alone has reported significant die-offs
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This article provides avian influenza background and timing in regards to the Pacific Flyway, but the general message is applicable elsewhere. Background In our newfound world of pandemic awareness, it seems not even our feathered friends have been spared from pandemic impacts. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has continued its pre-Covid scourge of our world,
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Our American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection reflects that a crooked toe is a defect that results in a .5 to 2 point deduction per toe. Are you curious about the cause of crooked toes in poultry? Numerous scientific studies have been completed on the defect. I reviewed several of the studies and have summarized
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Darkling Beetles The darkling beetle or lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, is rapidly becoming more of a nuisance in poultry operations. Large populations of beetles sometimes migrate to nearby residential areas, especially after litter cleanout. Although the beetles can fly up to a mile, most crawl at night from litter disposed in fields neighboring homes. Beetles are often
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Fleas are occasionally found in the poultry house. They are usually first noticed in the litter, where a wide range of hosts are attached, including rats, mice, chickens and people. Bites annoying egg handlers occur primarily on the ankles and legs, causing a swollen itchy spot. The adult flea, an excellent jumper, passes through a
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