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UK-Based Startup Is Turning Chicken Feathers Into Insulation

UK-Based Startup Is Turning Chicken Feathers Into Insulation

According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, there are nearly 26.56 billion chickens  being raised as livestock worldwide. Chickens are the most populous farm animal in the world, and every day they shed thousands of tons of feathers. In some cases, these waste feathers are converted into low-grade animal feed. In others, they’re simply […]

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A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens for Eggs

A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens for Eggs

It’s no secret that farm fresh eggs are tastier and better for baking and cooking than the store bought kind. Raising chickens for their eggs can be a very rewarding endeavor, but there’s a lot of preparation that goes into it. So what do you need to know to get started?     Prep Before […]

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The Year of the Rooster is Upon Us! Now What Does That Mean?

The Year of the Rooster is Upon Us! Now What Does That Mean?

Folks, we’ve officially entered the Year of the Rooster, so Cackle Hatchery went on a hunt to figure out what that really means for 2017. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, there are five types of rooster combinations, and animal signs must also coincide with one of five elements (fire, wood, water, earth, metal) that […]

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Embryonic Exposure to Light Could Affect Chicken Temperament

Embryonic Exposure to Light Could Affect Chicken Temperament

We know that eggs must be properly incubated in a warm environment for them to form healthy, well-developed chicks. But what if the amount of light that eggs are exposed to during incubation could have an effect on the temperament of chickens as well? According to a paper recently published in Applied Animal Behavior Science, […]

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Academic Study Sheds Light on Chicken Intelligence

Academic Study Sheds Light on Chicken Intelligence

People who haven’t spent much time around chickens might not think they’re particularly bright, but those of us who raise our own flocks have probably noticed that these birds can actually be pretty shrewd when it comes to finding food and securing their position in the pecking order. In fact, an academic paper recently published […]

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Study Finds Free-Range Eggs Contain More Vitamin D

Study Finds Free-Range Eggs Contain More Vitamin D

With the days getting shorter and the cold weather driving us indoors, we could all probably use a little extra vitamin D this time of year. Well, according to a study conducted at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, you can find a whole lot of the “sunshine vitamin” right in your back […]

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USDA Announces New Rules to Protect Livestock Producers

USDA Announces New Rules to Protect Livestock Producers

On December 15, 2016 the US Department of Agriculture announced that it will institute three new rules designed to protect the rights of livestock and poultry farmers who work with large meat processing companies. The Obama administration proposed a similar set of rules in 2010, but Congress blocked their funding. After the spending ban was […]

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