by McMurray Staff | Sep 23, 2015 | Chickens, Guidelines, Raising Chickens
Photo by Vera Ting 1. Should I heat or insulate my coop? With their thick coat of feathers, chickens are naturally much better insulated people. As long as they can stay dry and out of the wind, they can tolerate very cold temperatures. If you live in an area with...
by McMurray Staff | Jul 9, 2015 | Chickens
It’s normal for hens to go broody. Some breeds — such as Buff Orpingtons, Cochins, or Silkies, and many breeds of bantams — are more prone to go broody than others, but even production breeds can, on occasion, go broody. Black Stars are a production...
by McMurray Staff | Jul 8, 2015 | Chickens, Poultry Health, Raising Chickens
Sometimes you may be getting fewer eggs than you expect, even when your hens are laying well. This can happen if they develop the bad habit of eating their own eggs. Egg eating can start by accident, sort of. Maybe a hen stepped on an egg and punctured the shell. Or...
by McMurray Staff | Jun 9, 2015 | Chickens
With summer approaching, you’ll need to help your chickens stay cool, at least in the warmer parts of the country. Unlike humans, chickens don’t sweat, but like humans they depend on evaporation to stay cool – by panting. As they pant, moisture within the chickens’...
by McMurray Staff | Apr 29, 2015 | Chickens, Guidelines, Raising Chickens
For most backyard flock owners, we don’t recommend worming on a regular schedule without first having your flock tested for worms. The test involves a fecal sample, which can be done by a local vet. It will tell you whether or not your chickens have a problem...
by McMurray Staff | Apr 29, 2015 | Chickens
As you raise laying hens, it becomes obvious over time that some hens are more productive than others. Some breeds are better layers, but even from hen to hen within a breed, productivity will vary due to differences in length and timing of molt, health, nutrition,...
