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Two Ways to Brood Cornish Cross Broiler Chickens

Brooding Cornish cross broilers is similar to brooding any chicks, with the notable exception that the hybrid Cornish broilers get bigger faster. They eat almost constantly, and rarely move far from the feeder. They also drink a lot of water to wash down all that feed. So they need plenty of room to accommodate their […]

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How the Eggs of Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, and Geese Compare

When we refer to eggs, we’re usually thinking of chicken eggs. But other types of poultry lay eggs that are just as tasty.   Every egg contains a yolk surrounded by albumen, encased in membranes, and protected by a thick shell. Differences occur in how these parts are put together. Let’s see how the eggs […]

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The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Renewing Interest in Raising Backyard Chickens

The Coronavirus Pandemic is Renewing Interest in Backyard Chickens

The coronavirus pandemic has shut down businesses, closed schools, and disrupted supply chains. It has also led to a dramatic increase in chick sales.    “We are totally swamped,” says Jeff Smith of Cackle Hatchery. “It’s a little overwhelming.”    Indeed, at Cackle Hatchery alone, sales have doubled over the previous year as more and […]

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The Mother of All Chickens

A team of British avian paleontologists believe they have discovered the mother of all chickens — and ducks. They have identified the remains of the world’s oldest modern bird, dating to about 66.7 million years ago.   The Wonderchicken Researchers call the bird the Wonderchicken. Its formal name is Asteriornis maastrichtensis.   Asteriornis is combined […]

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The COVID-19 Pandemic Triggers a Run on Chickens

Baby Chicks

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a run on chickens, causing people to ponder the age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?   The Columbia Missourian votes for eggs: “Panic-buying the eggs came before panic-buying the chickens this year, though people have been doing both.”   But Newsweek opts for chickens, saying, “Many […]

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12 Reasons for Low Fertility in Chickens and Other Poultry

Rosecomb Rooster

  Like all reproductive qualities of poultry, fertility has low heritability. However, many factors other than inheritance come into play. Most of them are related to either mechanical issues or faulty management. Let’s look at the 12 most common reasons for low fertility in chickens and other poultry.   Mechanical Issues 1. Comb Style Single […]

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Placing a Value on Chickens Killed by a Dog

Dalmatian

Placing a value on chickens killed by a dog is not always easy. To start with, most backyard chicken keepers value their chickens much more than the birds’ economic value. However, anyone wishing to obtain compensation from the dog’s owner must set aside emotions and try to make the best case for the chickens’ monetary […]

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Difference Between Production Chickens and Show Chickens

Prize Show Chicken

Production chickens are efficient producers of eggs or meat. “Efficient” means outputs are maximized, while inputs are minimized. In other words, production chickens are bred to produce more eggs or meat while eating less feed. The main difference between production chickens and show chickens is that efficient production is not a consideration in breeds developed […]

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What Is a Strain of Chickens?

Chickens from the same bloodline

A strain, also called a bloodline or simply a line, is a family of related chickens. They are distinctive in having been selectively bred by a single person or organization long enough for all the chickens to be uniquely uniform in some way. Each strain of purebred chickens has all the traits that define its […]

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