We found 20 results for category 'Symptoms of illness'

Q: Why don't you offer a vaccine against Coccidiosis? A: Coccidiosos is an infection caused by a protozoan, and it is found in most environments. However, the coccidiosis vaccine administered in the U.S. is... read more

Q: Should I get my birds vaccinated? A: Whether to get vaccinations for your flock or not is a personal choice. In most cases, a vaccination is consistent with organic management practices,... read more

Q: There is a black spot on my chicken's face! Should I be worried? A: When a chicken gets a peck or a scrape on a comb or face, this will manifest as a black spot or scab, and isn't usually a cause for concern. If ALL... read more

Q: How do I care for a wounded chicken? A: Separate your chicken from any others in your flock first thing so she doesn't get picked on by the other chickens. Make sure she is in a place that... read more

Q: Do I need to give my shipped chicks vitamins and electrolytes when they arrive? A: We don't generally think it is a good idea to offer anything but plain, clean water unless your chicks are exceedingly stressed. When chicks are put... read more

Q: Why don't you offer vaccinations for bantams? A: The reason we don't offer vaccinations for bantams is that the vaccine is often ineffective for them because the birds are so tiny that it is too... read more

Q: What are the signs of mites or lice and how do I treat my birds if they have an infestation? A: Mites and lice are a common problem for chickens and can be carried in by wild birds, so if you have an infestation, it doesn't necessarily mean your... read more

Q: My hen's egg shells have rough patches, and sometimes little hard pimples on the shell. Should I be concerned? A: If your chicken is young, sometimes rough shells occur for a while until her egg-laying cycle has settled. Older chickens may also lay eggs with... read more

Q: Why does my hen sometimes lay eggs with ridges halfway down the shell? A: You may be describing what is called a "body checked egg." Body checks are ridges or grooves that occur around an egg, usually at the pointed end.... read more

Q: I just found a little blood spot in my hen's egg, but I don't even have a rooster! How can this happen? A: Blood spots aren't related to having a rooster--or not!--in your flock. Presuming they are fertile, eggs with blood spots are actually less likely to... 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: Why did my chicken lay a shell-less egg? A: Chickens need a lot of calcium to create good, hard shells, so most incidences of shell-less eggs in an adult hens are related to not having enough... read more

Q: Why are the whites of my chickens' eggs watery? A: Usually the whites of very fresh eggs such as you may gather from your own flock will be very thick in comparison to what you may be used to seeing... read more

Q: The whites of my chickens' eggs are a funny color--what does that mean? A: Cloudy whites in a farm egg are usually indicative of its freshness. The cloudiness is caused by dissolved carbon dioxide in the white, which... read more

Q: My chicken has a lump or tumor on her chest--what should I do? A: You are probably seeing your chicken's crop. A chicken's crop is a part of her digestive system, and is located on her front, usually on her... 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. Many experts recommend you de-beak the birds (trim the pointy end of... read more

Q: Are there signs that a hen may be laying? A: If you are looking for visual signs that your young pullet is getting ready to come into lay, those might include the fact that her comb will get... read more

Q: Do my chickens need to be wormed, and if so, what schedule should I use? A: If your chickens have worms, you will want to treat them. Some signs you can look for at home are pale combs, a drop in laying and watery poo.... read more

Q: My hen has sticky, tar-looking poop--is there anything wrong? A: Probably not. Chickens actually produce two types of poo: fecal poo and cecal poo. Cecal poo is thicker, stinkier and stickier. It usually looks sort... read more

Q: My hen laid a teeny tiny egg, and when I cracked it open, there was no yolk! Should I be concerned? A: Awww, isn't that cute! Tiny, yolkless eggs are sometimes known as witch eggs or fairy eggs. Occasionally a hen will lay a fairy egg when something... read more