We found 54 results for category 'Your current flock'
I want to sell the eggs from my chicks as "organic". Are your chicks organic?
"Certified organic" regulations vary from state to state and region to region, and (thus far) do not have to do with the way chicks are hatched.... read more
Why don't you offer a vaccine against Coccidiosis?
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
Is Salmonella a concern with backyard chickens?
Salmonella is a bacteria found generally in the environment, and ingesting the bacteria causes food poisoning in humans. For instance, every so often... read more
Can hens REALLY crow?
Yes! It's not even that rare, either! In all-female flocks, or flocks in which the ratio of females to males is greater than 10:1, in many cases one... read more
Is it okay to heat my coop in the winter? I don't want my flock to suffer!
We really don't recommend you heat your coop - seriously! Our feeling is this isn't a good idea. Chickens adapt to the cold weather over time. Their... read more
My hens are eating their eggs. What can I do to stop them?
First things first: collect your eggs regularly. The faster you are, the fewer opportunities your "girls" will have to be naughty and eat those... read more
Should I get my birds vaccinated?
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
I bought hens somewhere else and I want to know how old they are. How can I tell?
It is very difficult to discern the age of an adult chicken; the best you can do is make an educated guess. The number of eggs it lays in relation to... read more
Do I need to give my hens oyster shell or supplemental calcium?
If your hens have a good, "complete" layer feed, they may not ever need read more
At what age do hens start laying eggs?
On average, pullets, or juvenile hens, start laying eggs at about 6 months of age, depending on the breed. Larger, heavier birds like Wyandottes,... read more
At what age does a rooster grow spurs?
This varies widely from breed to breed, and in fact the hens of many breeds even grow small spurs! Some can appear as soon as three months, while... read more
Is there any nutritional difference between white, brown, green and blue eggs?
We like them all, Sam-I-Am! No, there is no difference in terms of edibility, health, or nutrition in different-colored egg shells. (See below if you... read more
I got a rooster I don't want. How do I find a new home for him?
Great question! Unfortunately, sexing is an art -- not an exact science -- so when you buy day old chicks, errors are bound to happen; it is the risk... read more
How can I tell if my juvenile bird is a rooster?
Comb size and redness can be one indicator, but is not always reliable (one of my hens has a larger comb than any of my roosters). Better are the... read more
Are fertilized eggs okay to eat?
Fertilized eggs are fine to eat, in fact some people consider them to be healthier than unfertilized eggs. It is impossible to taste the difference,... read more
There are hawks or owls in our area. Will our chickens be safe?
Hawks can most certainly be a danger to chickens (heck, even CROWS can be a danger to juveniles or bantams). However, only a few types usually bother... read more
It's time to move my 5 week-old chicks to their outdoor coop, but it's cold outside! Will they be okay?
Sudden temperature changes are a real danger to your birds. You will need to make sure their transition outside doesn't shock them. Although chickens... read more
My chickens are 7 months old and I still haven't seen an egg. Why?
First, you should make sure they are on a good chicken feed. Once they have begun laying, switch to layer pellet or crumble; until then, feed them... read more
My chickens run away whenever they see me. Can I tame them?
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
How much feed should I give my chickens each day?
We recommend feeding "free choice"; that is, letting them eat as much layer feed as they want and leaving their feeder out at all times (although you... read more
What is the best way to wash my eggs?
It's counter-intuitive but true: Your eggs will stay fresher if you don't wash them at all. When your hens lay eggs, there is a natural coating that... read more
How do I care for a wounded chicken?
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
How large should my nest boxes be, and how high should they be off the ground?
Some people put their nests directly on the ground, although this is not ideal since other hens may stick their heads in the nest to see what the... read more
My favorite pet rooster has suddenly started attacking me and becoming aggressive--why is he doing this and what should I do?
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
What is medicated feed all about--do I need it?
Medicated feed is formulated for chicks to help them combat coccidiosis, a disease that is found just about everywhere in the environment. Most... read more
How long do hens lay eggs ?
Chickens usually don't simply "stop" laying eggs when they get to a certain age, but they will lay fewer as they get older. That said, most laying... read more
Should I let my chickens free range? I'm worried about predators.
If you allow your chickens to range freely, you WILL lose some to predators-- make no mistake. It can be devastating, especially to those of us with... read more
What are the signs of mites or lice and how do I treat my birds if they have an infestation?
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
My hen's egg shells have rough patches, and sometimes little hard pimples on the shell. Should I be concerned?
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
Why does my hen sometimes lay eggs with ridges halfway down the shell?
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
I just found a little blood spot in my hen's egg, but I don't even have a rooster! How can this happen?
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
What does the word " broody " mean?
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
Why did my chicken lay a shell-less egg?
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
Why are the whites of my chickens' eggs watery?
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
The whites of my chickens' eggs are a funny color--what does that mean?
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
My chicken has a lump or tumor on her chest--what should I do?
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
My flock is pecking one another! What should I do?
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
At what age does a rooster begin crowing?
The age a rooster will first crow varies, but generally speaking, he will begin crowing at about four or five months of age. We have seen roosters... read more
Are there signs that a hen may be laying?
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
Do chickens have a language?
In many way, they do. Chickens can make a very wide range of sounds, and they communicate amongst each other well.
Roosters can sing loudly... read more
Do my chickens need to be wormed, and if so, what schedule should I use?
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
How many roosters do I need in order that my hens will lay eggs?
None. Hens will lay eggs whether there are roosters around or not, just as female humans will ovulate regardless of the sexes of their companions.... read more
How do I get my flock to go into their coop at night so I can shut the door and make sure they're safe?
Once they have imprinted on their coop as "home," they will retire on their own at dusk. (Thus the saying: "Chickens always return home to... read more
Someone told me to hold my rooster upside down by the feet to calm him down--is that a good idea?
No. That's a terrible idea.
Birds' respiratory systems are completely different ours, so holding your rooster upside down can cause him real... read more
My hen has sticky, tar-looking poop--is there anything wrong?
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
How long do chickens live?
Naturally, this will depend on the conditions under which they're kept. Factory farms slaughter their egg layers at one or two years old, because... read more
What is molting?
Molting occurs once a year in mature birds, normally in late summer or autumn. The birds will lose their feathers and regrow new ones--a way of... read more
Do I need to clip my chickens' wings?
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
Do I need to trim my chickens' nails? If so, how do I do it?
Long nails occasionally happen, and it is a good idea to trim them if they get too overgrown so your birds can walk without difficulty. In most cases... read more
Why do I need to store my eggs large end up?
Storing your eggs large end up will keep them freshest. This is because the air cell in an egg is located at the large end, so less moisture will... read more
How do I cook with bantam eggs?
The eggs of bantam chickens are smaller than the eggs we're used to seeing in the grocery store. Just how small? Of course, it really depends on the... read more
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?
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
We have a medium sized yard enclosed by a four foot fence--will my chickens be able to fly over the fence?
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
My hen laid a teeny tiny egg, and when I cracked it open, there was no yolk! Should I be concerned?
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
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