Eggs: they’re colorful; they’re delicious; and they’re supposed be the hard-shelled and oval. However, sometimes they’re not shaped and formed as they ought to be. Today, on the Urban Chicken Podcast we are discussing why chickens sometimes lay soft-shelled or even shell-less eggs. We will also consider what you the chicken owner can do to try to remedy any soft/shell-less egg issues in your flock. Continue reading →
Lauren Scheuer and Lucy the Barred Rock – photo courtesy of Lauren Scheuer
Whether a chicken has a qualitative conscious state of being is surprisingly a matter up for debate.
Recently, a co-worker told me that chickens do not have any feelings. He went so far as to even doubt whether chickens are fully self-aware. I was dumbstruck by what he was quite seriously suggesting. As he shared his opinions, I could barely stop myself from blurting out, “You obviously know nothing about chickens!” Of course chickens have feelings, as well as personalities, emotions and self-awareness – any chicken-owner can tell you as much. However, upon greater reflection, it struck me that my co-worker is not alone in his sentiments. In fact the prevailing attitude might be closer to his point of view than mine.
Lauren Scheuer joins me this week on the Urban Chicken Podcast, to talk about her experiences raising soulful backyard chickens. Her shared tales of chicken language, humor and compassion certainly contradict any beliefs that chickens lack self-awareness.
Chicken Steady Cam Experiment – photo courtesy of jeremiahwj
Mercedes-Benz recently released a new commercial in which several chickens are rolled and moved about by anonymous human arms. The point of the commercial is to demonstrate the fact that a chicken’s head is incredibly stable despite its body’s movements (and then liken their automobile’s stabilization to a chicken’s stable head). This physical attribute gives chickens the appearance of having “steady-camera” head.
Pacific Northwest Poultry Association – April Show 2013
The Pacific Northwest Poultry Association is one of the largest poultry organizations west of the Mississippi River. Commonly called the PNPA (though the full name is a solid name, its a bit of a mouthful), the group has historical roots that date back to 1989 when the Willamette Hen House Gang and the Northwest Bantam Club combined forces. Since its commencement, the PNPA has enjoyed membership by some of the best chicken breeders and showmen in the business. Its core of accomplished and knowledgeable membership makes the PNPA a force majeure in the chicken world. However, it is the PNPA’s insight and vision about the chicken keeping world, that makes the group particularly remarkable. Continue reading →
Ears and Eggs. In chickens the two are oddly linked. There is a general rule that the color of a chicken’s ear (actually it’s earlobes, since the ears are covered in feathers and not readily visible) can help you determine what color of egg that chicken will lay. Chickens with white earlobes lay Continue reading →
Lisa Steele is the author of the wildly popular chicken related blog and Facebook page – Fresh Eggs Daily. She shares practical techniques with her audience on how to raise and keep backyard chickens naturally with the aid of herbal remedies and preventatives from illness. Lisa gives simple suggestions for a healthier flock – such as placing fresh mint in your chicken coop. The mint, according to Lisa, helps lower your chicken’s body temperature as well as serves as a tasty treat for your hens and acts as a mouse repellent. This is just one example of the vast knowledge of traditional, natural treatments that Lisa employs to keep her own chickens healthy and happy. Continue reading →
Giene Keyes at Chicken Clicker Training Seminar – photo courtesy of Giene Keyes
So you have backyard chickens and they’re great. They provide you fresh eggs daily; they eat bugs and weeds in your yard; and best of all, they provide you with countless hours of entertainment watching them flit and play in your backyard. What if keeping backyard chickens could get even better? What if you could train your hens to come when you call? Or what if they could learn to go into their coop upon your command at any time of day? Well you can teach your chickens to do those very things and so much more! Continue reading →
There are an estimated 900,000 black bears living in the wild throughout North America (USA+Canada). There is additionally an estimated 1,000 grizzly bears in the lower 48 states and 30,000 more of these massive creatures in Alaska. Many of these majestic creatures live in wilderness that edges cities and towns. Bears of all types love easy food — such as chicken feed and chickens! Continue reading →
You are what you eat. This adage also rings true indirectly – you are what your chickens eat as well, if you eat your birds or their eggs. Studies have shown that the quality of food that a chicken consumes has a direct connection to the quality of eggs produced. Continue reading →
Scissor Beaked Hen, Buffy the Egglayer – photo by AinaWGSD
Urban Chicken Podcast listeners have been reaching out lately and sending me their chickens questions. These questions are interesting and relevant to all chicken enthusiasts and so I have decided to answer their questions on today’s episode. Continue reading →
