Keeping your flock well
Poultry Health
Flock Health: What is Marek’s Disease?
Marek’s disease is a type of avian cancer caused by a virus. It primarily affects chickens between the ages of 4 – 20 weeks. There is currently no known treatment for Marek’s, but thankfully there is a vaccine available!
Biosecurity for Your Backyard Flock
Any poultry illness can potentially become a national outbreak if backyard poultry owners fail to do their part in maintaining good biosecurity practices. Let’s outline the main points of good biosecurity for a backyard flock owner.
Crooked Toes in Chickens: Causes and Treatment
Crooked or bent toes in chicks can be an unsightly condition, but in the majority of cases, having bent toes does not affect the chicken’s ability to live a completely normal life. Crooked or bent toes (bending sideways) is different from a condition called curled toes paralysis (toes curl under causing the bird to walk on the top of the foot). Here are a few reasons when and why your chicks may develop curled or bent toes and how to treat them.
Why Isn’t My Frizzle Chick Frizzled?
The frizzle feathering sometimes found in chickens is a rare occurrence, and therefore highly desired in some breeds. Here is an overview of how the frizzle feather mutation occurs and why not all chicks sold as frizzles will have frizzled feathers.
Coccidia Vaccine Versus Medicated Feed
Coccida thrive in humid and warm locations, so the first line of defense is to keep that brooder litter clean and dry! Spilled waterers and a build up of chick manure will very quickly allow the coccidia in the environment to gain a foothold and explode, allowing your chicks to become heavily infected very quickly.
More Than Just Chicks: How to Raise Exotic Pheasants
Meyer Hatchery carries a variety of exotic pheasants, take a look at general overview on how to raise exotic pheasants to start your adventure today!
Why Is My Hen Not Laying? Reasons Why You May See a Decline in Egg Production
Why is my hen not laying? Let’s explore some of the most common reasons why hens slow down or stop laying eggs altogether.
Chicken-Safe Plantings For Your Garden
Spring is time to plant your garden. While you are preparing and planting your garden, now is a great time to plant a garden for your chickens. Your chickens will love to graze their own garden and will benefit from the nutrients from the plants.
Are Eggs with Blood Spots Safe to Eat?
Find out if blood spots or meat spots in your fresh eggs are OK to eat.
What Should You Have in Your Poultry First Aid Kit?
If you own poultry, eventually there will come a time when you need to treat an injury or illness with one of your birds. You can save yourself some stress and help your sick or injured patient quickly if you are well-prepared with a poultry first aid kit.
Update On the Deep Litter Method for Coop Cleaning and Maintenance
Hello Meyer Hatchery fans! It’s been 6 months since I wrote about my experience using the Deep Litter Method for maintaining my coop, so I thought it was time to give you an update on how the method is working out for me now that winter is happening here in central...
5 Easy Winter Boredom Busters for Your Chickens
During the winter it is important to give your chickens some ways to keep the boredom at bay. Boredom can lead to excessive pecking and bullying in your chicken coop. Use these methods to help prevent boredom from setting in. Plastic Bottle with Scratch Supplies...
Help! I’m Naked! Supporting Your Flock Through Their Molt
The first time you experience your chickens going through their first molt, you may be shocked to find enough “un-owned” feathers in the coop to suspect that a predator has attacked. At least, that was my first thought when my first flock began their molt! Let’s...
How to Deal with Winter and Your Laying Flock
Winter in the northern part of the country can be quite cold. Your laying flock may need a little help from you to thrive during the deepest, coldest winter months. Let’s talk about which breeds are better suited to living in colder climates and discuss some things to...
Pumpkins and Your Chickens – A Super Treat
Fall is finally here! A time of harvest, a time of leaves changing, and a time for pumpkins! From baking to carving to decorating, pumpkins are everywhere. Did you know that pumpkins are also a beneficial treat for chickens? Pumpkins are a food that chickens will love...
Wry Neck in Chickens
Wry neck, also called crook or crooked neck, twisted neck, or stargazing, is a condition that can affect chicks, chickens, and other poultry. This condition causes your chicken to lose control of its neck and not be able to hold it up. It can progress to the point...
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