Traci DeLore shows how to identify and treat bumblefoot in poultry. Bumblefoot is a funny name for a condition that’s no fun to have in your flock. Simply put, bumblefoot is a bacterial infection in the foot of a chicken, duck, or other type of fowl. Identifying Bumblefoot You’ve noticed one of your chickens limping. […]

Locavore author, Bruce Ingram tells us how he treated Flystrike or myiasis in one of his hens. Lucky Six Our hen–my wife Elaine and I named her Six–came into this world lucky. When her mother Mary gave up sitting on her nest after five chicks had hatched, the egg containing Six went two days without […]

Learn all about common fly species from egg to adult, often found in poultry houses with manure and explore various methods to control them. Fly control is an integral part of poultry management. With today’s concern about environmental conditions, fly control takes on added importance. Besides their ability to mechanically carry disease organisms, flies may […]

So you want your chickens and ducks to come home every night from their free-range adventures? Fala Burnett has excellent advice for using clickers to train your birds. Consider using the clicker training method with your flock for effective training, whether it is for a practical purpose or just for fun. Socializing your animals can […]

From circumventing coyotes to outsmarting opposums, Maat van Uitert has 7 practical suggestions to protect ducks from predators. We used to think we just had a couple of predators on our farm, until I put out a game camera one night. Boy, were we wrong! Even if you think your flock is safe, you might […]

Ever wonder why eggshells have odd bumps or discolorations? Learn how eggs develop, and troubleshoot eggshell problems with chicken owner and writer Elizabeth Diane Mack. For small poultry flock owners, eggshell abnormalities can be a bit scary. The internal shell development process occurs in less than 24 hours, and during this time, even minor upsets […]

While we often think of herbs in terms of cooking, they’re also an excellent tool for keeping your flock healthy. Amy Fewell shares tips and specific herb information to help you heal wounds and protect your chickens. Holistic Living We started our homesteading adventure in 2010 when our son was diagnosed with childhood asthma. Herbalism […]

An impacted crop is a life-threatening condition that effects chickens. Find out how to recognize an impacted crop and how to help prevent it in your flock! Spring is a wonderful time of year! The grass turns green and new growth starts shooting up all around us. While these fresh greens can provide a healthy […]

Blogger Michele Cook writes a three-part series on caring for new chickens.  This is Part 3: Sick Chicks.  Look for Parts 1 & 2: “Housing Chicks” and “Chick Care Basics”. It is inevitable that one or two of your new chicks will get sick. Some issues, like pasty butt, are relatively minor, while others, such […]

Community Chickens Editor, Carla Tilghman and author Carrie Miller team up with share information with you about rodent borne diseases and some basic techniques for safely cleaning up their messes. Companion piece to Carrie Miller’s Rodents and Your Coop. Why not just coexist? Because rodents can carry many diseases harmful to both birds and humans. […]