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Chicken Help

We found 55 results for category 'Planning for your flock'

Q: I want to sell the eggs from my chicks as "organic". Are your chicks organic?

A: "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

Q: Are your birds "show-quality"?

A: Especially with our fertile hatching eggs, we have some great lines that produce amazing show prospects. Ours is an NPIP hatchery and our birds are... read more

Q: What time of year should I order baby chicks?

A: Depending on the breeds you want, you may find that there's a wait of six months or more, so we recommend you place your order just as soon as you're... read more

Q: What is the best location for my chicken coop?

There are many considerations to take into account when determining the placement of your chicken coop. Here are 10 tips that can help you find... read more

Q: How do I find an avian veterinarian?

A: It's always a good idea to seek out an avian veterinarian BEFORE you get chickens, so you'll know where to turn in case of any emergency or health... read more

Q: Can different waterfowl breeds cross-breed?

A: Yes, it is genetically possible for any breed of duck to cross with any other breed of duck, and any goose breed can also cross with other breeds of... read more

Q: Do ducks and geese have to have swimming water?

A: While ducks and geese DO need fresh, clean drinking water, and ideally have ready access to a shallow area with "dipping" water (enough for them to... read more

Q: I'm a teacher. How can I have a successful classroom hatching project?

A: Hatching eggs at school can be a rewarding and enlightening school project! In fact, the owner of My Pet Chicken was first charmed by chickens during... read more

Q: Will ducks attack children?

A: It is extremely rare for a duck to attack a person. As prey animals, their main defense is to run or fly away. There is a much greater chance... read more

Q: What are mule ducks?

A: A "mule" duck is a sterile hybrid cross between a Muscovy and a Pekin.Because these two breeds have been genetically isolated for 50 million years,... read more

Q: Is the floor surface important with ducks and geese?

A: Yes!--it is very important. As babies, ducklings and goslings need a surface they can grip until their leg muscles and hips are strong, just as with... read more

Q: How do I introduce new ducks into my flock?

A: With ducks, the process is usually simpler than when introducing chickens to each other. Normally, you can simply put ducks together and within a few... read more

Q: Should I get my birds vaccinated?

A: Marek's disease is a deadly, highly contagious "lymphoproliferative" disease affecting chickens. It is the #1 disease-related killer of chickens. It... read more

Q: Why don't you offer a vaccination for ducklings and goslings?

A: Thankfully, ducks and geese are less prone to most common poultry diseases and parasites, so they don't need to be vaccinated. Chickens and turkeys... read more

Q: What is the life expectancy of ducks and geese?

A: If cared for properly, ducks can live to 7-10 years, and some exceptional birds may live longer than that. Geese normally live 10-15 years, but there... read more

Q: Do ducks and geese make good pets?

A: Yes, they do!--but it's important to remember that they are not dogs or cats - or even chickens! And that's some of the fun of keeping them--learning... read more

Q: Can ducks and geese survive on a pond?

A: Yes--potentially! But before you release a few ducks or geese onto your backyard pond, here are some things to consider: ... read more

Q: Do ducks, geese, and chickens get along with each other?

A: Yes! Generally speaking, ducks, geese, and chickens (and most other types of fowl) get along really well with one another without too many issues,... read more

Q: Can ducks and geese be outside during the winter?

A: Yes! Ducks and geese have a wonderful fluffy undercoating beneath their feathers called "down" that is generally considered by outdoorsy-people to be... read more

Q: What is a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD)?

A: Livestock Guardians are animals that protect livestock on the farm. They can be llamas or donkeys, but in most cases, they are dogs that have been... read more

Q: What's the right ratio of males to females for ducks and geese?

Duck male-to-female ratios

In flocks, the general recommendation is one drake for every 4-6 ducks. During breeding season, that may be... read more

Q: How do I care for guinea keets?

A: For tick control and flock protection, there's nothing like guinea fowl! If you choose to raise guineas, the basic instructions for caring for baby... read more

Q: Which chicken breeds may need extra heat in winter?

A: Chickens are incredibly adaptable! They are kept all over the world in all kinds of extreme climates. But it's no secret that some breeds are hardier... read more

Q: When should I take my pet chicken to the vet?

A: As keepers of pet chickens, we've all been there. You notice one of your birds exhibiting some unusual behaviors or symptoms, and you're faced with a... read more

Q: Should I heat my chicken coop in the winter?

A: We don't recommend you offer supplemental heat to your coop unless your temps regularly drop well below freezing... Seriously! Chickens adapt to the... read more

Q: I live in Hawaii and I'm ordering chicks. What do I need to know?

A: First and foremost: we cannot safely ship to every zip code in your beautiful state. Only some zip codes are safe to ship to. Please read "Can... read more

Q: Why don't you ship waterfowl to Hawaii?

A: Unfortunately, ducklings cannot be sent to Hawaii because the state government is afraid that domestic ducks will cross with Hawaii's native Koloa... read more

Q: Do you ship to Canada?

A: We cannot ship any of our products to Canada, Mexico, or any other country. We also cannot ship to American territories, including Puerto Rico,... read more

Q: How do I care for ducklings and goslings?

A: Baby ducks and geese are EXTREMELY cute, and they are generally easier to raise than chicks. Nevertheless, if you decide to add geese or ducks to... 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: Should I free range my chickens?

A: 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

Q: Can I keep just one chicken?

A: Yes - you can keep just one chicken, but the question is, should you? Keeping one chicken may sound like a great idea to us humans, but is it a good... read more

Q: How do I introduce new geese into my flock?

A: While geese generally get along well with one another, adding a new goose or gander to your gaggle can be a stressful time for them--and for you!--as... read more

Q: Can I keep just one duck or goose?

A: Having a cute duck follow you around the house or a goose fly along beside your car as you run errands--it's a fun idea, right? After all, it's not... read more

Q: What do I need to know about raising chicks?

Educate Yourself

Huzzah! You're here to learn about raising baby chicks, which is more than some people do! (You'd be... read more

Q: Can I get Coronavirus (COVID-19) from my chickens?

A: Here's what the CDC says about COVID-19, as of 4/15/20:

In the United States, there is no... read more

Q: How do you ship waterfowl?
A: We ship all of our waterfowl by USPS Priority Mail. Our desire is for every duckling and gosling to arrive safely, so we specialize our packaging... read more

Q: How can I track my waterfowl shipment? Do you provide a tracking number?
A: No worries! We do our best to make sure that you're "in the loop" throughout the process.

Waterfowl are hatched on Mondays, Tuesdays, and... read more

Q: What kind and how much feed should I give my flock at each stage of development?
A: As baby chicks and waterfowl grow, their nutritional needs change. It can be confusing to know how much and what kind of feed to give them at each... read more

Q: How will I know which breeds are which on my waterfowl order?
A: Congratulations! You've received your order of waterfowl from My Pet Chicken and now you want to know which breed is which. No problem! Using the leg... read more

Q: I already placed my order for baby waterfowl. Can I change it?
A: Yes, in most cases you can call us at 908-795-1007 to have your order changed, but before you do, read on because there are three important things... read more

Q: What is a "heritage" chicken breed?
A: The definition of "heritage" in relation to chicken breeds is a bit flexible, but when we use the word, we're referring to breeds that have been... read more

Q: My chicks are all available on different dates. Will they ship at different times, or all at once?
A: All at once! All your birds must ship together for their safety. Alternatively, you can choose to place two or more separate orders, but each one... read more

Q: Can I mix and match or do I have to buy all the same breed?
A: There is no minimum number of chicks per breed or size, although your total order must meet the minimum number for your area, so you can mix and... read more

Q: What is the minimum order for ducklings and goslings?
A: Since shipping little ones can be so expensive, our minimum order for waterfowl is usually 10. However, if you are ok higher shipping costs, we can... read more

Q: What happens if a duckling or gosling is incorrectly sexed?
A: It's always disappointing when a bird isn't sexed correctly, especially if your "girl" ended up being a "boy" and was the family's favorite bird!... read more

Q: How can I keep ducks out of my swimming pool? Can my ducks and geese drink and swim in chlorinated water?
A: First--no worries about chlorinated water and your waterfowl flock; it will not harm them. So if your personal pet flock finds your pool, you don't... read more

Q: How can I tame ducks and geese?
A: As prey animals, ducks and geese are concerned about any potential threat, including you! Since we are large, threatening creatures with... read more

Q: How do I pick up a goose?
A: In a word--carefully! Geese are very strong animals, and you will want to learn to catch and hold them properly to avoid getting pummeled by their... read more

Q: How can I handle an aggressive goose?
A: Geese can make great pets, and thankfully, most geese do not exhibit aggressive behavior. Among those that do, it is usually confined to the breeding... read more

Q: Do geese make good pets? Can't they be mean or aggressive?
A: You may be surprised to find that the answer to both questions is...yes! Geese can make great pets, and yes, they can sometimes be aggressive. Before... read more

Q: How many chickens should I get?
A: We'd like to answer this question, "dozens and hundreds!" because keeping chickens is so wonderful--but for the health and safety of the birds (and... read more

Q: Can you ship chicks to my location?
A: We can ship chicks anywhere within the continental U.S. and to some locations in Hawaii and Alaska. Please check "Can you safely ship chicks to... read more

Q: What can I do if my minimum order is too high?
A: Because of our read more

Q: How do I tell male and female waterfowl apart?
A: What exactly do you have--drakes or ducks? Geese or ganders? Great question! The answer may be relatively easy or hard to tell, depending on the age... read more