Does High Temperature Affect Egg Production?
“Hello Wendy, I have 5 hens that are all under 2 years of age and I used to get 3 or 4 eggs a day. Just recently only 2 eggs are being laid. I live in Queensland Australia and the weather is definitely warming up some days are 30 degrees Celsius and over. Does the…
Caring For Your Flock Over The Holidays
I don’t know about you but around here things get awfully busy at Christmas time. Despite our best efforts to keep things simple each year, it gets hectic with the gift making, the get togethers, the church productions, the cookie baking, etc. I bring this up because of a situation we experienced recently, in the…
Butchering A Chicken For Christmas Dinner
“With the holidays coming, we were considering butchering a chicken for our Christmas meal. We’ve never done this before but I think you have to butcher before a certain age. Could you clarify this for me? Thank you for your informative newsletter” ~ Pat Rowland Hi Pat, this is a timely question that I would…
Keeping Chickens In The Colder Months…
“Hi Duncan and Wendy. I have a question that I’m hoping you can answer. It’s getting very cold at night and I want to make sure my little flock of hens stay warm enough. What is the best way to do so? BTW, this is my first winter keeping chickens so any information would be…
Chicken Submission Behavior
“Hi, John here from South Africa. We have a mixed flock of about 180 free-range hens, and I have noticed recently what to me, is very odd behavior. The group is made up of three different breeds and each is approximately six weeks apart in age. (Amberlinks, Potcheftroom Koekoeks, and Rhode Island Reds). I’ve noticed…
Moving a Broody Hen…
“My neighbors Barred Rock hen has taken up to laying her eggs in my barn. My neighbor has given me the hen and this week she has started sitting on her clutch of twelve eggs. My questions is should I move her and the eggs to my coupe or just let her be for now…
Chicken Falls In Love With Duck…
“Has anyone ever seen a white Peking Duck in love with a Rhode Island Red Hen and she’s in love with him? I have such a pair on our farm and they are just adorable as they trapse all over the farm together quacking and clucking and doing ALL the things poultry does together. This…
Quick Fire Questions About Roosters
While we’re on the subject of roosters, I thought we’d take the time to answer some quick questions you all have sent that require short answers… “Do you have to have a rooster to get your hen to lay eggs?” ~ Dana 7 years old Hi Dana, thanks for writing. A hen will lay eggs…
