The Dazzling Wyandotte Chicken Breeds by admin - October 9, 2020January 23, 20210 Gold & Silver Wyandotte Chick's ~ Just Hatched In our current flock, we have two Wyandottes – one Silver and one Gold. As chicks, they were pretty tough to tell apart. Now that they mature, the difference is as obvious as day and night. Yet despite their polarizing appearances, the two girls are often seen together; as if their common heritage holds a special bond. ### Special Note ### The Wyandotte Chicken has the distinguishment of being named after the Native Americans, the Wyandot people. Physical Attributes Wyandottes are generally a stocky bird. Once mature, they have long wattles under their chin and rose combs on their head. Their coloring can vary, but most breeds have very distinctive black tips on their feathers – giving
The Black Australorp Chicken Breeds by admin - September 28, 2020September 28, 20200 Black Australorp Just Hatched Around our house, my wife cares most for what things look like. I, on the other hand, really want things to work well. The Australorp chicken, we’re happy to say, does both very VERY well! The Australorp is a breed of chicken that works remarkably well in both homestead and small backyard situations. It has the physical size and egg production to benefit those who are looking to produce their own food. And it’s unique plumage allows it to look good while it’s doing it. Aside from one small quirk, the Australorp is about as perfect a chicken as one could ask for. Physical Attributes This breed of chicken is about average in size, with roosters weighing in around 8lbs and the
Light Brahma Chicken: A Gentle Giant Chicken Breeds by admin - September 14, 2020September 15, 20200 Light Brahma Just Hatched In our backyard is a friendly feathered gal named Miss FuzzFuzz. She’s a Light Brahma chicken, about 6 months old, who walks a little funny because of the ‘boots’ she styling. And while we try real hard not have favorites… she’s definitely on The List. But of course, we can’t talk about Miss FuzzFuzz without mentioning her size. Even the most novice of chicken herders can tell you that Brahma’s are a big breed of chicken. How big? REALLY big! For example, Miss FuzzFuzz is already close to matching the size of our established hens. And considering the Brahma’s can take up to 18 months to reach their peak size, I think it’s fair to say that our girl is going
Can A Chicken Sneeze? Chicken Facts by admin - February 10, 2020September 23, 20200 Chicken Sneeze Chickens can and do sneeze when certain conditions are met. The nasal passage of a chicken does have sensitivity, meaning in the event of something foreign being introduced, such as moisture or dust, a sneeze will be triggered. This rapid exhale is meant to force the unwanted object from the nasal cavity and prevent it from reaching the lungs where it can cause damage. On a personal note, a chicken sneezing is a somewhat humorous sound. One that may catch you off-guard the first time you hear it. But it is identifiable, if not somewhat relatable, after you know what you’re listening to. What Does It Mean When A Chicken Sneezes? While the occasional chicken sneeze is of no real consequence, repetitive sneezing can be a sign of something serious. One might think that with
Can Chickens Get Drunk? Chicken Facts by admin - February 4, 2020August 17, 20200 Drunk Chicken Chickens can get drunk! With chickens being omnivores, they will consume both plant and animal matter. This means that if they were to consume fermented plant matter, then it is very possible for the chicken to become inebriated by any alcohol content present. But how do chickens get their beaks on fermented plant matter? Generally this occurs with fruit. Any fruit that has dried on the vine/branch is a potential source of alcohol for your flock. This is because, fruits generally have a high amount of sugar. Bacteria, that exists naturally in the environment, will act upon this source of sugar and convert it into alcohol – thus leaving a ‘party package’ hanging on the vine/branch for animals to consume. And chickens are not the only animals that can get drunk. The National Geographic has a great article
Do Chickens Have Memory? Chicken Facts by admin - February 3, 2020September 23, 20200 Chicken love Chickens are fully capable of remembering both good and negative events. For example, earlier this summer my new flock managed to escape the coop before completely associating it as a ‘place of safety’. This association is critical as it encourages them to return when the sun goes down and they are at high risk from predators. FYI, rounding up 15 chicks and trying to coral them into a coop all by yourself, can be quite a challenge. Using some scrap particle board, I manufactured a chute by which to direct them. Then with the chute in place, I grabbed a broom as a means of extending my arm, and began ‘shoosh’ing’ them in. Between the chute and the broom, I was able to get all 15 chicks back into the coop. This process was repeated