My Indian Runner Ducks quack me up. They operate as a single unit, running in formation as though they share one brain between their 13 bodies. They’re busy birds, constantly foraging, flirting, and floating. They also love their food, gobbling it down as though it may run away, which is highly unlikely given that it’s …
Homestead animals
As I listen to my Dwarf Nigerian buck announcing his presence to the world at the top of his voice, I think how nice it would be to have a quieter breed of goat, like Mini LaMancha Goats. While I love the appearance of the Dwarf Nigerian, I’m not so keen on their escapology tendencies, …
Do you know what really gets my goat? People who confuse rams with goats. True, both are kind of white and woolly with four hooves and a couple of horns, but there are some distinguishing features there if you look closely enough. Is a Ram Strangely Goatee or a Bit Sheepish? Although a ram may …
It sounds like my hens are being tortured. The shrill cries, cackles, and shrieks they make when laying an egg are enough to have the neighbors making noise complaints, or, on a particularly bad day, reporting a suspected murder. The ruckus made by my backyard chickens certainly sounds like an expression of discomfort, but do …
A chicken twisting its head upside down is a disturbing sight. A symptom of wry neck, this condition is easy to treat, if a little time-consuming, and even easier to prevent. Wry neck can be caused by different issues, all of which we’ll address below. Genetic disorders Head injury Toxins Vitamin deficiencies You can prevent …
Have your neighbor’s chickens claimed your yard as their own? Or, maybe your flock always wanders beyond their coop, and you want them to leave your yard? Either way, you want those chickens gone – and I’m about to reveal the nine smartest methods to keep chickens out of your yard. How to Keep Chickens …