Frequently Asked Questions

A chicken saddle is also known as a chicken apron, feather gaurd or hen saver. It's a protective covering placed on a chicken's back, typically made of durable and lightweight materials, such as fabric or vinyl. The chicken saddle protects a hen's back and tail feathers from damage or injury. In some chicken flocks, hens can experience feather loss or injuries on their backs due to excessive rooster mating.  During mating, roosters' sharp claws may grip onto hens' backs, causing feather damage or bare spots on their skin. Additionally, other hens might peck at her back out of curiosity or...

Recognizing Heat Stress and Acidosis in Chickens Summer is in full swing with extreme heat waves sweeping the country. While chickens and other poultry manage heat well these scorching temperatures can lead to heat stress. It's critical for those caring for poultry, such as chickens, to identify the telltale signs of heat stress. Heat stress in chickens can be quite serious, leading to a condition known as heat acidosis. This is a stress-induced condition where chickens can’t regulate their body temperature due to the high temperatures. If heat stress isn't prevented, it can lead to significant impacts on your chickens...

Raising quail can be a rewarding and fascinating experience. These low-maintenance, compact birds are popular among backyard enthusiasts for their high egg production and unique characteristics. This guide provides essential information on successfully raising quail, whether for eggs or as charming pets. Research Quail Breeds and Local Regulations Before embarking on your quail-raising journey, it's important to research different quail breeds and choose the ones that best suit your purpose. Some common quail breeds include Coturnix (Japanese) quail, Bobwhite quail, and California quail. Additionally, check local regulations or consult with your local agricultural extension office to ensure you comply with...

A feeder is the item you use to dispense feed for your flock. Of course, you could always just dispense feed on the ground or in a dish, but there would be a lot of feed wasted that way. Chickens tend to scratch and scatter the feed around, so chicken feeders are designed to minimize that. There are many different types of chicken feeders to choose from. For example, there are the common and inexpensive basic plastic feeders. They're tried and true, but they aren't fancy! Then there are the feeders with special features. For example, some feeders can be...

Fertile eggs are those that contain both ova and sperm, and will develop into a baby chick if incubated. If you have nothing but hens in your flock, you will not have fertilized eggs---you would need a male rooster for that.  Fertilized eggs are fine to eat; there is just a slight difference between a fertile and infertile egg. There is no difference in taste, and you can only tell the difference between infertile and fertile (unincubated) contents if you're very sharp-eyed. Illustration by Ray Yang for My Pet Chicken

We do sell chicks most of the year round, but there are a variety of reasons baby chicks aren't available for purchase at all times. Chickens naturally lay fewer eggs in the colder, darker months of winter. Some breeds stop entirely. Fertility is usually lower in the winter, too, so fewer chicks will hatch. In addition, in the fall and winter, our hens will be molting and regrowing new feathers for the coming year, so even those breeds that are good winter layers may lay reduced numbers of eggs, or may briefly stop laying until molting is over. That means...

|A chicken's shank is the bottom part of her leg, above the foot, but below the hock. The spur is the chicken's chief weapon, and grows out of the shank. It's something every chicken has... but generally only the spurs of males grow very large. Older hens may grow larger spurs as their hormones change, and there are some breeds where it's fairly common for younger hens to have spurs, too. But for the most part, hens will simply have small spur numbs.

The word "Salmonella" evokes fear in the hearts of chicken-keepers. A healthy respect for this bacterium is certainly justified, but should not be blown out of proportion. The main concern is that Salmonella can be transferred to humans and can make us very sick, or in some cases even cause death. Thankfully, practicing good biosecurity and following the CDC's guidelines can keep humans safe. Unfortunately, though, the prognosis isn't so good for chickens that become infected with Salmonella. Read on to find out more. Salmonella (general) Various types of Salmonella infection include Pullorum, Typhoid, Paratyphoid, Arizonosis, Paracolon, various other names...