raising-turkeys
Are Bantams Real Chickens?
Story and Photos By Don Schrider, West Virginia The History of the Bantam The word “Bantam” is derived from a major Indonesian seaport on the western side of the Island …
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Training a Chicken or Turkey to Come When Called
Dogs and dolphins aren’t the only animals you can train to come when called. Almost any mammal will “come” for food … even backyard chickens and turkeys. Here are some …
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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 …
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Six Heritage Turkey Breeds on the Farm
By Steve & Sharon Ashman – We thought you would enjoy a side-by-side comparison of the six heritage turkey breeds that we raise on our heritage turkey farm. We have been raising heritage …
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A Guide to Raising Turkey Poults
By Don Schrider – There are many reasons raising turkey poults is rewarding — not the least of which is keeping turkeys to have a few pets. Turkeys are very social …
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Keeping Turkeys Healthy in Winter
By Don Schrider – Turkeys are remarkably hardy birds. By the time turkeys reach maturity, they are very easy to care for, and are capable of surviving winter weather in great …
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The Emotional Gauntlet of Raising Meat Chickens & Other Livestock
“You’re raising meat chickens? You horrible, heartless human.” It’s a constant fight, isn’t it? And there are many sides on the battlefield. Those that don’t eat meat, period. Those that …
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Can Chickens Make You Sick?
By Don Schrider, West Virginia Backyard chicken keeping is at an all-time high. Many people add hens as a part of producing their own food. The chickens can provide free labor in the …
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A Few Dos And Don’ts When Winter Sets
By Don Schrider, West Virginia Before I go too far, let’s take a look at how nature has prepared our feathered friends to survive and basic poultry behavior. Feathers are designed to …
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The Long Line of Brown Leghorns
By Don Schrider, West Virginia – When we first get into poultry, discovering all these breeds is a great pleasure. For many of us, that joy turns into the effort of …
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