• How do I treat my chickens for parasites?

    Backyard chickens are commonly infected with both internal parasites (worms, tapeworms, coccidia, and other protozoa) and external parasites (fleas, lice, mites, and ticks). At best, these parasites will make your chickens uncomfortable and perform poorly; at worst, they can cause severe disease and even death. Good parasite control is therefore…

  • How should I handle my chickens?

    Chickens who need to be examined should be caught quickly and cleanly, with minimal stress. You may sometimes be able to easily catch a chicken at night-time, simply by lifting them off their roosting perch. To pick up a chicken, lift them by advancing your hand, palm uppermost and fingers…

  • How do I feed my chickens a healthy diet?

    Whether your chickens are pets or kept for food (e.g., for eggs), they all require a healthy diet to maintain their health in different life stages — growth, moulting, laying etc., — all of which place different strains and stresses on their bodies. There are a few things to consider…

  • How do I keep my chickens safe in my yard?

    There are many hazards in most backyards. Some are so commonplace that we often fail to recognise them as dangers. Others are very obvious, and these often distract us from less obvious hazards. The trick to minimising these hazards is to try to think and see things just like a…

  • Is keeping backyard chickens right for me?

    Some might view chickens as strictly farm animals. But it’s relatively common for homes in the suburbs and cities to have pet chickens as well. There are many chicken breeds to choose from, including ISA Browns, Wyandottes, Silkies, Rhode Island Reds, and Brahmas. These breeds range in colouring, size, and…

  • Do I need to keep a rooster with my backyard hens?

    Many backyard poultry flocks end up with a rooster or two. There are a few reasons this happens: If you buy very young chicks, it can be difficult to identify the sex – you end up buying a rooster or two instead of hens by mistake. It’s a common misconception…

  • How do I groom my chickens?

    Wing trimming/clipping Wing trimming is sometimes required when chickens are flying over fences into dangerous or restricted areas (raised garden beds, pools, etc.). The concept of wing clipping is not to prevent flight completely, but rather to reduce the chicken’s ability to gain height and speed. Most chickens are too…

  • What are the animal welfare issues with housing layer hens in cages?

    All layer hen housing systems have advantages and disadvantages, but caged housing systems inherently compromise the welfare of layer hens because of the confinement and behavioural restriction they impose. Layer hens will normally choose to nest and lay eggs in enclosed nest boxes, hens will perch and roost at night,…

  • How should I care for my guinea pigs?

    Are guinea pigs the right companion animal for me? There are plenty of studies that prove guinea pigs are very intelligent. They are very clever; they can comprehend and learn things; they have excellent memory. They need care, the right food, mental stimulation, and security. Guinea pigs are a herd…