Bantam vs. Large Fowl: Chicken Size Guide

For this week, I have chosen a relatively simple yet surprisingly common topic – what size chickens would suit you best? Did you know that there are hundreds of chicken breeds dating thousands of years of domestication?  To help you get over your excitement of discovering all the weird and wonderful breeds out there, I … Lire la suite Bantam vs. Large Fowl: Chicken Size Guide

The moult

Every year birds renew their feathers, either partially or totally.  This means that their old feathers fall out and new ones grow in.  The old feathers can either fall out in one go, leaving them bald, or a little at a time.  From my experience this just depends on the individual, the climate and their … Lire la suite The moult

The Fascinating Evolution of Chickens from Dinosaurs

Evolution – the egg came first! Our beloved hens have secrets, many of which we will never know!  But one we do know is – your favourite flock of feathered friends are proven direct descendants of dinosaurs and more specifically, the Tyranosauras Rex! What’s even more surprising, after attending many a dinosaur display over the … Lire la suite The Fascinating Evolution of Chickens from Dinosaurs

Essential Poultry Terminology: A Beginner’s Guide

Some of the jargon used in relation to poultry can sound like a foreign language, so here’s a little guide to help you!  General terminology Breed related terminology Hybrids often have a handy sex-link gene making it easy to sex day-old chicks by colour.  The parents are often opposing colours (white/black) to one another, so … Lire la suite Essential Poultry Terminology: A Beginner’s Guide

Bumblefoot

Usually in the form of a scab on the sole of the foot in the centre, this can be caused by jumping off a high perch onto hard ground on a regular basis.  Symptoms can be nothing at all to favouring one leg or limping. Treatment is straight forward but takes some time to recover. … Lire la suite Bumblefoot

Why Chickens Roost Outside and How to Prevent It

As a chicken keeper, you will certainly have noticed that your flock has character, especially as individuals but as a group too!  One problem you may have had the pleasure of experiencing is hens roosting in the nest box, or perhaps even on top of the henhouse.  This is especially noticeable when they first arrive … Lire la suite Why Chickens Roost Outside and How to Prevent It

Solutions efficaces pour éduquer les poules (où à dormir et à pondre)

En tant qu’éleveur de poules, vous avez certainement remarqué que votre troupeau a du caractère, surtout en tant qu’individus, mais aussi en tant que groupe !  Un problème que vous avez peut-être eu le plaisir de rencontrer est celui des poules qui se perchent dans le nichoir, ou peut-être même sur le toit du poulailler.  … Lire la suite Solutions efficaces pour éduquer les poules (où à dormir et à pondre)