I didn’t start out with Dark Cornish bantams when I got into poultry, I was a purely waterfowl person starting with Australian Spotted ducks and eventually moved into Black and White Magpies, Silver Appleyards, and Blue Fawn Call ducks. But in 2017 I started raising some bantam Light Brahmas to give chickens a try. I […]
Dark Cornish Bantams and Me Read More »
This article on waterfowl ailments and treatments is being republished from Acorn Hollow Bantams website with permission from Lou Horton. Please always consult a professional before administering vet medications to your flock to ensure proper use and care of your birds. Compared to other forms of poultry, waterfowl are relatively free of ailments. When they
Waterfowl Ailments and Treatments Read More »
This article on range shelters is being republished from Acorn Hollow Bantams website with permission from Lou Horton. Birds that are shown often sometimes get stale and lose their bloom. One way to freshen them up is to allow them out on pasture where they can nibble on grass, weeds, and the occasional bug and
Range Shelters: Keeping Showbirds Fresh Read More »
This article on sexing geese is being republished from Acorn Hollow Bantams website with permission from Lou Horton. I get between 20 and 30 emails each week containing questions related to waterfowl. Of that number, the one topic that consistently is the most numerous is the one related to the sexing of geese. Whether the
I have come across several posts from Ameraucana breeders asking if their chicks can be feather sexed. Feather sexing using sex-linked genes related to feather development is a widely used chick sexing method in the poultry industry. In order for feather sexing to be accurate, it must be specifically bred for and involves controlled matings
Feather Sexing in Poultry Read More »
There are so many different breeds of chicken to consider when trying to decide what breed you would like to start working with or have around the farm. You might want to consider the Rhode Island Red chicken though. This breed comes in both bantam and large fowl varieties, and there is a single comb
Rhode Island Red Chicken with Don Nelson Read More »
This article on avoiding common pitfalls is being republished from Acorn Hollow Bantams website with permission from Lou Horton. It is my observation that we in the poultry fancy are being blessed with an influx of new fanciers, not all of them kids. As the Baby Boomers reach retirement age, many are looking to pick
Avoiding Common Pitfalls for Beginners Read More »
This article on natural incubation is being republished from Acorn Hollow Bantams website with permission from Lou Horton. This time of year, my email brings many questions about incubation such as what kind of incubator works best, and does this breed or that breed make good setters and parents. Incubators and the pitfalls of managing
Natural Incubation: Ducks and Geese Read More »
The recent Avian Influenza detections across North America and Europe have fiercely proven that effective biosecurity basics are important to all owners of birds, no matter your scale. It is important to note that most developed countries pride themselves on claims of freedom to the international community related to the presence (or lack thereof) of
Biosecurity Basics for Small Flock Owners Read More »
One of things I suffered with in my early days of showing birds was arriving home and finding them getting sick for a few days after. Sometimes it was nothing to worry about, just a low appetite and not feeling 100% but sometimes they were sick for a couple weeks and this was a concern.
Conditioning Birds for Transport Read More »
