Today I’m going to talk about hens adopting chicks. But not just about broody hens, though that will be brought up too. I’ll also discuss when there’s a broody hen that hatched chicks and another hen decides to co-parent with that hen. Will Broody Hens Adopt Chicks that are Not Their Own? The first question […]
Chickens can and do lose feathers from time to time. And most of the time it’s nothing to worry about. However, it’s always a good idea to inspect your flock to determine where the feather loss is coming from. Are all of the birds affected? Is it general feather loss? Or is it only in […]
What is typical pecking order behavior in chickens? And how do you know if your birds have a successful social order? If you have a backyard flock or are even fairly new to this, then you most likely have seen this behavior. Where the birds will chest bump each other, flap their wings, puff themselves […]
Perhaps you’ve seen a broody hen or had one in your yard. If you’re a new chicken owner or currently only have chicks, then this post will help explain the signs of a broody hen. What does it mean if you have a few hens that stop laying eggs simultaneously? Does it mean they’re sick, […]
There are more than 500 chicken breeds in the world. And I’m going to be absolutely honest, I am not familiar with all of them. Because I haven’t been everywhere around the globe. So, I can’t tell you that I personally know what every bird out there is like. I do know, however, birds in […]
In this post I’m going to cover the dos and don’ts of feeding chickens to keep them healthy. And I’ll go over the different types of feed available. Then I’ll go over some things not to give your birds as well as some things that are OK in moderation. Because our backyard birds are omnivores, […]
The definition of molting is to shed part or all of a coat or outer covering. Such as feathers, cuticles, or skin, which is then replaced by new growth. In this case, what does molting mean for chickens? Simply put, it’s a time where they lose their feathers. There are a few reasons chickens can […]
Have you ever seen a stressed out chicken? Stress comes in many forms. To animals and humans alike. No one, it seems, is immune from stress. The first form of stress in chickens I’m going to cover will be risks of extreme temperature. Risks of Extreme Temperatures Extreme temperatures are something else, other than predators, […]
If you have a backyard flock, you might be one of the lucky ones whose birds haven’t experienced any chicken illnesses. Yet. I say yet, because just like people, chickens can and do get ill. In this post I’ll cover the most common chicken diseases. And I’ll go over preventative measures, and if contracted, how […]
In this post, I’m going to go over how to protect your chickens from predators. But first, let’s go over the potential animals of prey. PREDATORS If you live in the country, you’re likely to run into a lot of predators. Or rather, they’re more likely to run into you and your chickens, ducks, or […]