These are the winners of the 2015 Cackle Hatchery Photo Contest: Runner ups:
Continue ReadingWhere Are All the Turkey Eggs?
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Americans all across the country are gearing up for the biggest, most beloved feast of the year. For many of these folks, Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be the same without a big, juicy turkey planted firmly at the center of the dinner table. Thanksgiving turkey recipes are often closely-guarded […]
Continue ReadingPoach an Egg Like the Pros
The poached egg is an absolute staple of brunch menus that tends to baffle and amaze novice cooks. To the uninitiated, the poached egg seems to occupy a state of matter that is neither liquid nor solid. It’s a delicate balance that takes a steady hand and a cool head to achieve. With a little […]
Continue ReadingScientists Develop Avian Flu Vaccine for Birds and Humans
Two of the latest strains of the avian flu (H5N1 and H7N9) can be contracted by birds and humans, but researchers have recently developed vaccines to protect both from the virus. The Journal of Virology recently described the development of the vaccines, and the scientists behind them are optimistic that they can significantly mitigate the […]
Continue ReadingDo You Need a Rooster in Your Roost?
Wondering if you need to add a rooster to your backyard coop? The short answer is no, you don’t need to add a rooster into the mix to keep your hens occupied or to keep enjoying those tasty backyard eggs. But, there are some benefits that you’ll enjoy with a rooster that you might be […]
Continue ReadingIs Free Ranging Really Right for your Flock?
As you decide on the best way to raise your chickens, it’s important to get some things straight about free range. The first thing you should know is that the USDA defines “free range” as chickens that have been “allowed access to the outside.” This is a pretty loose definition, and basically means that […]
Continue ReadingScientists Seek to Turn Chickens into Dinosaurs
Well, just when we thought we’ve heard it all: researchers have claimed that science is getting close to being able to adjust the DNA in a chicken to create a “chickenosaurus” or a chicken-dinosaur. Researchers have announced that they’ve successfully modified the beak area of a chicken embryo so that it looks like a dinosaur’s […]
Continue ReadingArchaeologists Find Possible Origin of Chicken Consumption
Scientists believe humans first started coexisting with chickens thousands of years ago in Southeast Asia and China. For much of that time, however, chickens weren’t used as a common food source. Chicken bones from this early period of human civilization are scattered and sparse, suggesting that they were used in sports and rituals rather than […]
Continue ReadingHere’s How Roosters Know When to Crow
Have you ever wondered what makes a rooster crow? Well, some scientists Nagoya University have recently made it their mission to prove once and for all how all of this crowing business works, and it might not be what you think. One widely accepted belief is that roosters crow at the first sign of daylight; […]
Continue ReadingWhat is Broodiness and Why Does it Matter to Farmers
Birds (chickens, in particular) are very social creatures. They exhibit behaviors deeply engrained in their genetic code that maintain social order and promote the propagation of their species. One such behavior is broodiness, or the tendency for birds to sit on clutches of eggs to incubate them after they’ve been laid. This might be beneficial […]
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