We found 21 results for category 'Behavior problems'

Q: My hens are eating their eggs. What can I do to stop them? A: First things first: collect your eggs regularly. The faster you are, the fewer opportunities your "girls" will have to be naughty and eat those eggs!... read more

Q: My chickens run away whenever they see me. Can I tame them? A: In general, chickens can be tamable and friendly by the same sorts of general methods you would use with a dog or a cat. Presuming they are healthy... read more

Q: Can I mix different breeds of chicken in my flock--will they all get along? A: Yes, in most cases you can mix breeds of chicken in your flock. They generally get on very well. You can even include both bantam and large fowl... read more

Q: My favorite pet rooster has suddenly started attacking me and becoming aggressive--why is he doing this and what should I do? A: Roosters can sometimes be a bit aggressive! One important thing to remember is that they see themselves as the protectors of "their" hens, so they... read more

Q: What does the word " broody " mean? A: When a hen is broody, that means she wants to hatch her eggs. A breed known as broody has hens that often, individually go broody, and they may not... read more

Q: My flock is pecking one another! What should I do? A: Pecking, also called picking, is almost always the result of high stress levels. When that happens, the birds will sometimes pluck each others'... read more

Q: Someone told me to hold my rooster upside down by the feet to calm him down--is that a good idea? A: No. That's a terrible idea.

Birds' respiratory systems are completely different ours, so holding your rooster upside down can cause him... read more

Q: Do I need to clip my chickens' wings? A: Wing clipping--trimming the primary feathers on your chickens' wings--is not necessary unless your flock is flying into places they shouldn't be.... read more

Q: My chickens are too young to lay, but they've all begun sleeping in the nest boxes at night--how do I get them to sleep on the roosts instead? A: Having your chickens sleeping in their nests at night sounds like a natural thing, doesn't it? However, unless your hens are broody and hatching... read more

Q: We have a medium sized yard enclosed by a four foot fence--will my chickens be able to fly over the fence? A: Most heavy, docile backyard breeds don't fly very well and aren't particularly inclined to leave a secure, fenced area. Still, if there are large... read more

Q: One of my new baby chicks is particularly fresh to the others, pecking their faces. Is this normal and should I do something about it? A: In most cases you needn't worry. When you first receive them, your little chicks are hungry, and their instincts can tell them to peck at anything to... read more

Q: How do I introduce new chickens into my old flock? A: We get questions about this all the time! Let there be no doubt: adding new birds to your pre-existing crew can be stressful, both to you and the... read more

Q: Is it possible for several roosters to coexist peacefully together in our flock? A: We normally recommend one rooster for every ten hens or so. In a large flock, there is often more than one rooster, with no problems. In smaller... read more

Q: Why are my chickens sleeping in their nest boxes rather than their roosts? A: It's difficult for us to say exactly what might help without being able to inspect your coop, but I can give you some pointers that may assist you... read more

Q: I've discovered that our dog likes to eat chicken poo--can he get sick from that? A: Yes, dogs can be pretty gross sometimes, can't they? They are not the most discriminating of eaters. For instance, my friend's dog likes to raid the... read more

Q: Which breed of chicken has the quietest, tamest roosters? I need a friendly rooster that doesn't crow much. A: I'm afraid there is no pat answer on this one. Firstly, ALL roosters crow. I happen to love the sound (to me it's far preferable to yapping dogs or... read more

Q: One of our chickens is not laying in the nest box. Is this common and what should I do? A: Don't worry. It is relatively common, and nothing to be too concerned about. It's more of an annoyance than anything. After all, you don't want to... read more

Q: My birds are so active; they just won't hold still to be photographed! How do you get such beautiful photos of your chickens--will you share any trade secrets? A: Yes, chickens can be difficult to photograph, can't they? Much like little kids, they're not really interested in cooperating with you to get you a... read more

Q: Do chickens like music in the coop? A: Some evidence in Australia and New Zealand has indicated that music may help to keep chickens calm and happy, thus helping them to grow larger,... read more

Q: I’ve heard that a hen can turn into a rooster. Is this true? A: No, that's not true. It IS true that hens can sometimes crow, and you may have a crowing hen more often if you don't have a rooster. You can read... read more

Q: Our rooster is pecking the backs and heads of two of our friendliest hens. How can we stop this behavior? A: Unless your rooster is causing the hens injury, that sort of pecking is no cause for concern. It is courting behavior. He pecks them on their backs... read more