Understanding Bird Scent — Part 2: Diffusion In last month’s column, Understanding Bird Scent-Part 1…The Bird, we learned about how bird scent is created. We know that there are scent rafts that create four different scent clouds that carry the scent into the atmosphere. Once the scent is airborne, there are numerous atmospheric weather conditions that affect the scent dispersal and the […] Understanding Bird Scent — Part 2: Diffusion Read More »
Latest Trends in Chicken Keeping By Lisa Steele, Blue Seal Brand Ambassador The excitement around backyard chicken keeping doesn’t appear to be abating any time soon. Certainly not if you take a look at the vast number of “chicken centric” blogs, social media accounts and the like. Consider the million followers of Fresh Eggs Daily each month on Facebook, Instagram, Latest Trends in Chicken Keeping Read More »
Why Families Keep Chickens: Species Overview By Lisa Steele, Blue Seal Brand Ambassador Backyard chickens are kept for eggs, meat or sometimes both. They are also kept for entertainment, stress relief, to help in the garden and for tick and mosquito control. But let’s focus on the main reasons why most families decide to keep a flock of chickens. Egg Layers Why Families Keep Chickens: Species Overview Read More »
Coop, Sweet Coop: How to Set Up a Home for Your Chickens Chicken coops come in all shapes and sizes. No design is perfect, but all good chicken coops do share some common characteristics. You can buy a prebuilt coop or a coop kit that you put together yourself. You can also build from scratch, or you can even convert a garden shed or other outbuilding into Coop, Sweet Coop: How to Set Up a Home for Your Chickens Read More »
Keeping Your Chicks Healthy: Be Aware of These Common Health Issues Chicks purchased from a reputable feed store or hatchery likely won’t face major health issues, but there are still some things that can go wrong. It’s always good to at least be aware of these common chick health concerns. Coccidiosis Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract that causes diarrhea, bloody droppings, ruffled Keeping Your Chicks Healthy: Be Aware of These Common Health Issues Read More »
Feed ‘Em Right From the Start: What and When to Feed Your Chicks By Lisa Steele, Blue Seal Brand Ambassador Baby chicks are much like our own babies. They don’t really stick to a regular schedule and instead eat when they’re hungry, sleep when they’re tired and play and poop in between. Feed and clean water should be available 24/7 for chicks until they are about eight weeks Feed ‘Em Right From the Start: What and When to Feed Your Chicks Read More »
Preparing Chickens for Summer Heat: How to Help Them Keep Their Cool By Lisa Steele, Blue Seal Brand Ambassador Chickens do far better in cold temperatures than in the heat, and once the mercury rises much past 75ºF, they’ll start feeling the effects, especially if the air is humid. Understanding your chickens’ needs is important in warmer months. Heat exhaustion is a very real thing and can Preparing Chickens for Summer Heat: How to Help Them Keep Their Cool Read More »
Oh, Happy (Chick) Days! Everything You Need to Know to Pick the Best Chicks By Lisa Steele, Blue Seal Brand Ambassador Each spring, our thoughts turn to baby chicks. Whether we are expanding our existing flock or just starting out with chickens for the first time, getting a few chicks is the best way to add flock members. On the other hand, adding pullets or grown hens can bring Oh, Happy (Chick) Days! Everything You Need to Know to Pick the Best Chicks Read More »
Understanding Bird Scent — Part 3: The Dog’s Nose The canine nose…truly one of nature’s most amazing accomplishments. A dog’s nose not only dominates her face, but her brain, as well. In fact, a dog relies on her sense of smell to interpret her world, in much the same way as people depend on their sight. Although this contrasting world view may be hard Understanding Bird Scent — Part 3: The Dog’s Nose Read More »
Understanding Bird Scent — Part 1: The Bird In his book Best Way To Train Your Gun Dog, Hall of Fame Trainer Delmar Smith said: “No one’s ever understood one thing about scent.” Add this: Odor chemistry is complex and still poorly understood. (The Science of Smell, Iowa State University May 2004). Now we can understand why few, if any, have dared enter Understanding Bird Scent — Part 1: The Bird Read More »
