Cold weather affects ducks and geese in several ways at once. Frost can chill wet feathers, freeze drinking water, harden bedding, and expose birds to draughts…
Articles
Heritage chickens bring character, useful behaviour and valuable genetic diversity to a backyard flock. Their slower growth, natural foraging instincts and…
A turkey’s crop is a temporary storage pouch at the base of the neck. It holds feed before it moves into the digestive tract. When the contents remain too long…
A stable brooder gives young poultry the best start, but one temperature does not suit every species. Chicks, ducklings, turkey poults, quail, pheasants and…
Pasty vent, sometimes called pasted vent, occurs when droppings dry around a young bird’s cloaca and restrict the passage of further waste. It is common in…
The Polish Crested chicken is one of the most recognisable ornamental poultry breeds in the world. Its rounded head crest, upright carriage and unusual facial…
A well-kept poultry health record turns scattered observations into useful evidence. Whether you keep six bantams in suburban Melbourne or a mixed flock on a…
Choosing poultry involves more than selecting attractive feathers or a productive strain. Purebred and hybrid birds differ in how consistently they reproduce,…
A brooder gives newly hatched poultry the warmth, shelter, food and water they would normally receive from a hen. Whether you are raising chicken chicks,…
When daylight hours shorten, many hens reduce production, even when they are healthy and well fed. The best winter layers are breeds with a dependable laying…