Signup

About the Author

Lacey Hughett

Lacey is an artist, author, mom, and homesteader based out of Reno, Nevada. She focuses on sustainability, heritage breed preservation, and ethical animal raising. She has been raising poultry since she was six years old. She be found on Instagram and Facebook at Hughett Heritage Farms.

Erisypelas

August 23, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Flock Files

Found worldwide, erysipelas most commonly affects turkeys. The bacteria live in areas high in nitrogen and enter the bird through skin wounds, mucous membranes, or ingestion. Fighting, picking, and artificial insemination may create lacerations.

Most Chicken Neurological Diseases are Preventable

August 18, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Feed & Health

Most of the multiple diseases that affect a chicken’s nervous system have the same clinical signs. Common signs are full or partial paralysis of one or multiple body parts, loss of balance, walking in circles, blindness, wry neck, and even convulsions.

The Secret Life of Poultry: Earl the Shop Chicken

August 17, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Chickens 101

Back in August of 2018, a feral rooster wandered up to a mechanic shop. The relationship that transpired became a local legend.

Secret Life of Poultry: Tiny the Attack Hen

August 13, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Chickens 101

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the feistiest little chicken of them all? I have my bets placed on Tiny the Terrorist, a Sumatra/Ameraucana mix hen who lives in Georgia with her owner, Cynthia.

The Secret Life of Poultry: Chickens of Gondor

July 23, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Chickens 101

Fanny Windeløv-Jensen is a chicken owner from Denmark with a fairly unique flock of hens, and any fellow Lord of the Rings (LOTR for short) fans are going to see why.

All Cooped Up: Salpingitis/Lash Egg

July 23, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Feed & Health

Medically, salpingitis is the inflammation of the oviduct in hens. The oviduct is a tube connecting a hen’s ovary to her cloaca; it’s the passage that an egg follows before being laid.

The Secret Life of Poultry: Sammi the Adventurer

June 15, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Chickens 101

In a universe where dogs, goats, or even alpacas can be seen surfing, the thought of animals enjoying the oceans isn’t a novel idea. The line is typically drawn at chickens, however, because they are known to not enjoy water or swimming.

The Secret Life of Poultry: Topper the Topsy Turvy Duck

June 14, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Ducks, Members Only, Poultry 101

Learn about Topper the topsy turvy duck, a social media darling and survivor of a scary birth defect that left her neck seriously bent.

Salpingitis

May 23, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Flock Files

Salpingitis is inflammation in a hen’s oviduct, as a result of an infection. Multiple pathogens can cause a secondary salpingitis infection. Infections
may spread upward from the cloaca or downward from another infection in the hen’s body. Respiratory infections are known to lead to salpingitis.

All Cooped Up: Aspergillosis

May 20, 2021 · Lacey Hughett · Ask The Expert, Feed & Health, Members Only

Aspergillosis, also known as mycotic pneumonia, is a fungal disease resulting from the inhalation of mold spores. This disease can affect most animals, including humans.

Make the Most of Your Flock with Backyard Poultry!

Your best source for information on all things chicken, quail, turkey, guinea, duck, and beyond. Whether you raise a backyard flock for eggs, meat, show, or just for fun. Backyard Poultry is an essential guide for a diverse community of poultry lovers, accessible to those who live on a farm, in a suburban neighborhood, or are raising poultry in an urban environment. You will find research-based stories and actionable guidance, helping newbies and experts alike avoid costly and tragic mistakes.

Gift Orders

Canadian Subscribers • International Subscribers

Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST)