experience
The History of Rhode Island Red Chickens
Rhode Island Red chickens are striking birds with the contrast between the dark red body color, black tail with a “beetle green” sheen and the bright red comb and wattles. Their length of body, flat back and “brick” shape is both distinctive and attractive.
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Raising Turkeys with Chickens – Is it a Good Idea?
Raising turkeys with chickens has been discouraged for years, but despite that, many homesteaders are going back to a mixed flock approach. There are some excellent benefits to keeping a mixed flock, but there are some serious bird health hazards associated with it as well.
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Poultry Cognition—Are Chickens Smart?
Are chickens smart? Research reveals that they learn fast, feel emotions, have good memories, and use complex logic and social tactics.
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How a Broody Hen Hatches Chicks
Modern breeding has pretty much eliminated broodiness in most large fowl breeds, although there still may be one or two within a flock that have retained those mothering instincts.
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Can Chickens and Ducks Live Together?
“Can chickens and ducks live together?” is one of the most common questions I get from readers. Since I’ve been raising my chickens and ducks in the same coop and run for years, my answer is always yes, but I do have a few cautions if you’re considering a mixed flock.
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Chickens and Compost: A Match Made in Heaven
While compost piles are not a critical element for healthy hens, it is certainly a match made in heaven. It’s not just the extra protein the birds get from their foraging.
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Advancing Into the World of Pigeon Farming
There are thousands of different breeds for pigeon farming. Of course, I couldn’t go through them all in this article, so I will attempt to narrow it down to some of the most common and unique ones.
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A Guide to Heat-Tolerant and Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds
Although it’s easier to keep chickens warm vs. cool, it’s important to choose the correct breed for your location, whether that be a cold-hardy chicken or a heat-tolerant chicken breed. Because let’s face it, the weather plays an important part in our lives.
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Managing Chicken Coop Smell
Does your chicken coop smell inordinately bad? Does your neighbor complain about the chicken coop smell wafting across the fenceline? If so, I’ve got a few tips and tricks you can employ to fix your coop, or at least understand the issue at hand.
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How to Keep Your Hens Happy
Keeping your hens happy is easy once you know what motivates their behavior. Nearly all of a chicken’s activities are motivated by three basic needs: to get enough to eat, to avoid being eaten, and to make more chickens.
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