Tag: chickens

Polish Chickens, Crested, Top Hats

A Charming Distinctive Breed with Lots of Character

The Polish chicken, often called Polish Crested or Top Hat, is a breed prized for its distinctive topknot of feathers on its head, which can be of various colors. They are small in size, making them a popular choice for backyard chicken keepers, and known for their docile and friendly nature. They are good layers of medium white eggs and are also often kept for ornamental purposes due to their distinctive appearance.

The average number of eggs laid by Polish hens annually can vary based on several factors, such as the hen’s age, nutrition, and health. But on average, Polish hens lay approximately 200 eggs per year.
Full-grown roosters weigh between 4 and 6 pounds, and hens typically weigh between 4 and 5 pounds. The Polish chicken is a friendly, docile breed and a good choice for your backyard flock.
Classification: Continental
Colors and Types Recognized: 
Non-bearded white-crested black
Non-bearded golden
Non-bearded white
Non-bearded silver
Bearded golden
Bearded white
Bearded silver
Bearded buff laced
Non-bearded buff laced
Non-bearded white crested blueSave

Back to Chicken Keeping Resources HOME PAGE

Coop or Free Roam?

Every good chicken keeper knows the importance of protecting their birds from predators. Most of us will, or already have lost birds to a coyote, hawk, fox, bobcat, etc. It’s devastating to see the after mass, I know, it’s happened here, I lost seven birds after a coyote attack in 2016. That changed everything I loved most about keeping chickens.
Since the attack, my birds have been completely safe after building them a 10×10 predator-proof enclosure. Unfortunately, that means their happy life of free-roaming our acreage came to a screeching halt. To me, it meant never enjoying my birds out and about, it was now just a chore for their well-being. Chickens live for the opportunity to scratch in the dirt and look for bugs, sunbathe in the morning sun, or find that perfect spot for a dust bath. Since confinement, I’ve noticed the overall health of my flock has not quite been what it was.

The heat plays havoc on confined chickens in the desert southwest, heat stroke is real, and it’s deadly.  Free-roam flocks have a much higher rate of survival and are quite resourceful in finding shade and cooler ground to burrow in.  So this brings me to a dilemma, coop for safety from a predator, or free roam for quality of life and comfort from the extreme heat?
Quality of Life
Today I opened the gate and allowed my flock to live a happy life. After considering the risk, I decided being cooped up in 110+ would have the same outcome as a predator attack… both could mean a death sentence. I will do my part to protect them in every way I can. They will be confined from dusk to late morning, but during the hottest part of the day, they will be free to find comfort.
Here are some of the girls who found a comfy place in the feed room… where there’s a giant oscillating fan and mist system. 🙂

Save

Back to Chicken Keeping Resources HOME PAGE

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

About Flystrike, What it is, and Treatment

Exploring Flystrike in Rabbits, Chickens, Sheep and Cattle

by Countryside Daily

Animals and flies seem to go hand in hand on a farm. So what is flystrike? If you have livestock, you most likely battle the common stable fly, and you’re always on the hunt for effective fly deterrent strategies. If animal manure piles up and is not composted properly, your fly population will increase past the point of annoyance. This can be a real danger for your livestock, and with the right conditions, you will need to know about flystrike in chickens, warbles in rabbits, and flystrike in almost any livestock with an open wound. So, let’s get right into exploring flystrike treatment for chickens, rabbits, sheep, and other livestock. Continue Reading

Back to Chicken Keeping Resources HOME PAGE

Save

Save

Save