Chickens
Basic General Chicken Facts
Male chickens are known as roosters or cocks or cockerels, females are known as hens or pullets. Castrated males are known as capons, but castrating chickens seems a silly and expensive option to some people who reckon its easier not to have a cockerel if they dont want chicks. Cockerels are generally distinguished by larger head furnishings (combs and whattles) and colourful plumage (feathers). Head furnishings direct the blood to the surface to keep the chickens cool. In winter, when its … [Read More...]
Things to keep in stock for chicken keeping…
Below I have written a list of essenttials to keep in stock for poultry keeping. The first section covers day to day essentials that should be kept in stock, for disinfecting, treating, boosting, feeding etc. Layers pellet or mash for grown hens Growers pellet or mash for growing hens Chick crumbs for chicks aged 0-6 weeks Disinfectant such as dettol which has the added benefit of being a red mite deterant. Apple cider vinegar a booster Grit to help chickens breakdown … [Read More...]
Note of the Month; September
Now is moulting time. Chickens are losing their feathers to make way for new ones. The most intentensive moult takes place in september, but it often also occurs in August. Now, hens stop laying and concentrate their enery on changing their old, damaged no-longer-waterproof plumage for new, waterproof, shiny feathers. Despite not laying, the hens still need the goodness of quality layers pellet or mash, and often benefit from a special moulting supplement. For those on a shoestring budget, a … [Read More...]
Sexing Partridge Wyandotte Chicks
Partridge Wyandotte bantams can be sexed from hatching. Look at my story below. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. I think you can sex Partridge wyandotte chicks from the instant they hatch the two sexes look very different. One is dark with 'eyeliner' the others are light with no eyeliner. I am doing an experiment to … [Read More...]