Raising Turkey Poults (Entry 1)

Two weeks ago, my daughter and I had a very exciting day!

Our little turkey poults arrived on a Wednesday to our local post office here in Alabama The poults traveled all the way from Hoover’s Hatchery in Iowa!

Being prepared for the arrival of your poults takes all the stress out of the day Being shipped across the country can take a toll on their little bodies Have your brooder set up, with clean shavings, a red heat lamp, fresh water, and good quality feed Your little poults will appreciate this and quickly settle into their new home

One of the

Best Breeds for Children

Raising chickens can be just as fun for children as it can be for adults!

Allowing children to help with chicken care teaches responsibility, increases empathy, and broadens perspective

This year, to get your child excited, allow them to pick out a few chicken breeds from the Hoover’s catalog! Any breed of chicken has the capability to become friendly However, there are some breeds that really excel with children! They are known for having a gentle, calm demeanor

Here are some of the very best breeds for children!

Large, cold-hardy, broody, and

Early Differences in Roosters and Hens

Have you ever been into a farm store that just got a new batch of chicks?

If you are like me, you have squinted and stared at the chicks until your eyes crossed, trying to pick out the males from females

Unsexed chicks are labeled as “straight run” This pretty much means the chicks were hatched and all put up for sale Whatever mix of girls and boys is unknown and totally dependent of the luck of the draw Chick gender is not determined by overall temperature of the clutch, as in reptiles If it was, hatcheries would have capitalized on

Benefits of Adding Geese to Your Flock

So, maybe you have had chickens for a while, even have a few turkeys or ducks The next rung on the ladder of backyard poultry is geese! Geese make a wonderful addition to a backyard flock They truly are impressively beautiful animals to look at!

 

Here are some benefits of adding geese to your flock!

 

Fast Growers

One of the perks of raising geese is that they grow incredibly fast! You can almost see them change and grow every single day! Goslings, although sweet, can be very messy Since they grow at such a fast rate, the good news is they won’t

A Coop for Each Stage

Raising fluffy baby chicks is fun, until they suddenly have outgrown their first home! Here are the three types of homes your chicks will need as they grow

 

Brooder Box

Babies (Day 1- ~7 Weeks)

When you bring home your baby chicks, the first thing you will need is a brooder box It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does need to be functional One of the most dangerous parts of the brooder setup is the heat source Whether heat lamp (buy the red bulb), or heat hover plate, always double check for

Raising Ducklings vs Chicks

If you have recently visited your local feed store and seen baby chicks and baby ducklings available, the impulse to get a few of these and a few of those is irresistible!

Before you bring home your fluffy babies, here are some important differences to know about raising ducklings vs raising chicks!

 

Ducklings and chicks need separate space

Generally, ducklings and chicks will need a separate brooder Sometimes, they can all get along, but sometimes unfortunately they can fight Ducklings grow much faster than chicks, and have been known to pick on baby chicks Even if they do get along as babies,

Tips for Sharing Eggs

With Spring now sprung, my guess is that you are getting lots of fresh eggs!

The longer daylight hours and new crop of spring greens to eat, boost a hen’s egg production Chances are, you have been enjoying fresh eggs on the menu, but still have lots of extras

Sharing your bounty of eggs is a wonderful way to make someone’s day!

 

Eggs are freshest when UNWASHED

If you look at an eggshell up close, you will see hundreds of tiny holes These are called pores Pores on the eggshell actually allow tiny bits of oxygen inside the egg, therefore keeping the chick

Planting a Garden for Your Chickens

Yes, you heard that right! Plant a garden FOR your chickens!

Myself and many others have fought the good fight to keep chickens OUT of our summer gardens since the beginning of time Crafty and able to squeeze through most affordable types of livestock fencing, chickens can destroy a garden It’s not their fault, they are opportunistic free rangers, eating whatever they can find

Here are a few tips to distract your flock this year, saving your garden!

Plan for Extras in Your Garden

As the old saying goes, “Sow four beans as you

What is Chicken Tractor?

The term “chicken tractor” is commonly used in today’s circle of chicken collectors No, we are not referring to the big green thing with a deer on it We are referring to simply a movable chicken shelter without a bottom

Uses and Benefits

A chicken tractor is most commonly used for those wanting to raise their own meat birds However, I have also found they come in handy if you ever plan on adding baby chicks to your existing flock I have used our chicken tractor over 6 times as a “grow-out pen,”

Preparing for Baby Chicks

Preparing for Baby Chicks

Spring is almost here!

If you’re like me, you’re excited to add some chicks to your flock! (Personally, I am hoping to add some Welsummers and Cochins!) Whether adding new breeds, or re-stocking on your old favorites, preparation is key!

 

Go ahead and have all your set-up complete and ready before your chicks arrive That way, you won’t be scrambling last minute to go buy something they need Instead, you’ll have everything in order and you can just enjoy spending time with your new babies

1 Brooder

Whether an old stock