With Christmas being right around the corner, it’s time to celebrate and enjoy all things APPLE CIDER! Believe it or not, apple cider can be dated back to nearly 55 B.C. when the Romans sailed to the British Isles. Historians believe that the locals were drinking a cider-like drink made from apples. This popular cider… Read More
Tag: chicken keeping
Raising Turkeys as Pets
When thinking of the definition of commercial poultry, people often forget that poultry extends to all domestic fowl such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. While the most common practice of backyard poultry farming includes mainly chickens and ducks, it’s also possible to raise turkeys! With November quickly approaching and Thanksgiving being right around the… Read More
Pumpkin Seeds and Chicken Treats
“So… since it’s October, does this mean I can start playing Christmas music?” There’s nothing better than the month of October and Halloween. The crisp air that makes your eyes squint when you walk outdoors, the smell of firewood burning, the feeling of the holidays being right around the corner, college football and let’s not… Read More
Comparing Brown Eggs to White Eggs
It still never gets old to me. You know… when your friend comes up to you and says, “So, I’ve been buying brown eggs at the grocery store and I can really tell a difference in their taste.” Their taste? You notice the difference in… nothing? It’s funny how some marketers have done such a… Read More
Red mites in poultry
Oh, how the (MITE)Y have fallen… While we are closer to approaching autumn and fall, we are still having record heat in North Carolina. A few issues that have been brought up on poultry blogs and questionnaires is that backyard farmers have seen a rise in their poultry having bloody vents. When looking closer at their… Read More
Heat Stress and Ventilation
As the summer months approach, so does the blistering temperatures and humidity. As poultry owners, one of the concerns that consume our thoughts during summer is heat stress because of its negative effects on the welfare of meat birds and laying hens. So, what exactly happens internally to the birds that cause low productivity, reduced… Read More
Longer days mean what for your birds?
We often hear of the concern of hens not laying well when the winter months creep upon us, but do we ever hear about how hens react when the daylight time increases? A question and concern that I’ve noticed from many backyard chicken groups is the fear that their hens may be laying too many… Read More
Cockadoodle…achoo!!!
Do chickens get allergies? I’ve always been curious as to whether or not chickens develop allergies… I figured, just like any pet, cats or dogs, for example, chickens are able to develop allergies over time. After talking with our poultry technical service members, I was informed that while it might be possible for chickens to… Read More
April showers bring May… bugs?
Ahhhh, the rainy season of April… you know how the saying goes! “April showers bring May flowers!” The days begin to lengthen, warmer temperatures and cool mornings and nights. The perfect environment and weather and “all you need is a light jacket!” This is the month where you check your phone in the morning to… Read More