Happy Hens Farmstead

Peanut, the world’s oldest chicken, dies at age 21 Peanut, the world’s oldest chicken, has died at age 21.

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9 Nest Box Issues SOLVED | Egg Eating, Dirty Eggs + More | HenGear Rollout Backyard Chicken Coop This rollout nest box solved a PLETHORA of common nest box issues. Click "Show More" for more resources below!ROLLOUT NEST BOX: https://hengear.com/?ref=oak_...

Let’s play a game: Hen or Roo? Have you ever struggled to tell whether your chick is a hen or a rooster? You’re not alone — this is a common challenge for ✨ many ✨ chicken keepers! With a little education and practice, however, you can train your eyes to spot some subtle differences between the two. Here are some key characteristics to look out for: Face: A large, red comb is a rooster-like characteristic in most breeds. While larger-combed breeds like Leghorns may have large combs in females, they don’t turn red until the hen is about to lay at 4-5 months. Smaller combs like pea combs in Ameraucanas can be identified by observing cockerels develop wider combs with 3 rows, while pullets have a narrower and flatter spot where the comb will later develop. Saddle feathers: Roosters have pointed saddle feathers located at the base of the tail, while hens have rounded ones. A rooster typically starts developing saddle feathers a little later, usually 3-6 months depending on the breed. Size and weight: Roosters are almost always larger than hens of the same breed, by several inches in height and several pounds in weight. While occasional runt cockerels can be the same size as a hen, they typically have thicker, stockier legs and stand more upright. Behavior: Cockerels tend to be more outgoing, bold, and curious than hens, as they are created to be flock protectors. If there’s a clear first chick to hatch, it’s often a rooster, or the chicks that tend to spar with each other are also likely males. Crowing: While crowing is a distinct rooster trait, sometimes dominant hens who’ve got something to say can crow too. Typically, these are hens without a rooster present in the flock. A rooster’s crow is typically much louder and clearer. Egg-laying: Roosters don’t lay eggs. Anatomically, cockerels 2-3 months old have a noticeably narrower gap between their pelvic bone than a pullet of the same age. What’s your go-to way to determine whether your chick is a hen or a rooster?

How to Raise Baby Chicks Naturally | EVERYTHING You Need To Know Everything you need to know about raising chicks from a natural approach.Part 2 - Raising Chickens 6 Weeks to Adult - https://youtu.be/SEIl5jdxEjwBROODER PAR...

Indepth explanation of different methods and when (age of chick) each would be best to use; even that each breed may have particular attributes to look for.

Sexing Chicken Chicks Description of several methods of sexing chicks. Watch to the END for a method that I've found to be very accurate. There are many ways to tell if the chicks...

ACV seems to be a sacred cow in the world of "natural chicken keeping". I examined using it 23 years ago when I started out keeping poultry. Humans used ACV thousands of years ago as a preservative. It was used to aid digestion and for topical wound care.

Today, we know a lot about the microbes in our world thanks to advanced science. We also know a lot more about gut microbiome health. We also have learned a lot more about health and how to support good health. The folklore about consuming ACV for humans is still out there. Quite frankly, like some folk remedies, the claims can go from good to sketchy to wrong. Humans and chickens haves different physiologies and nutritional requirements. I keep preaching this, but just because things work for humans does not mean it works the same way for animals.

In examination, my summary was I found very little value of applying it for poultry for any kind of negligible health value. Bottled ACV from the store is also not cheap. Yes, you can make your own, but then, you have a time investment in making it that is lost. I have examined it chemically, nutrition value, PH factor, dosage, and overall health value. I would feel it a disservice as a health provider of poultry not to share what I think. I want you to be applying plant based food and medicine as wisely as possible.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Best Practices for Poultry Read Here:
http://www.moonlightmileherbs.com/applecidervinegar.html

This is how you do it

A poultryman in 1943 on a Hampshire County farm in England moves a poultry fold into line with the others in the field. Each of these chicken sheds contains 25 birds and are moved their length every day, providing fresh ground for the hens to feed on and also ensuring that the chicken manure is spread across the whole field.

Cooking up water glassed eggs from my hens this summer... Fresh as the day they were layed! How do you preserve your "eggcess" eggs?

The best chicken breeds for cold climates have the right weight, feathering, and comb size. Here are 13 cold-hardy breeds to consider.
Read More Here ↳ https://thegrownetwork.com/best-chicken-breeds-cold-climates/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=The%20Grow%20Network&utm_content=The%2013%20Best%20Chicken%20Breeds%20for%20Cold%20Climates

We are an ancient species and you deserve
nutrient-dense, ancient food...

We Must Stand United – Veterinary Medicine
This article is Part 2 of 3. You may read the article in its entirety on our website and we highly recommend doing so to get the best picture of the broad scope of animal extremist influence on veterinary medicine.

Part 1 was posted yesterday and Part 3 is to follow.

Anthropomorphism- Have We Gone Too Far?
Veterinary medicine is an emotional business. Most who work in the profession are doing so because they love animals and find great rewards in the satisfaction of helping animals and their owners. Now more than ever in society today pets have become a vital part of the everyday life of many Americans. Most families view their pet as another family member and less so as “the family dog” or the “family cat”, because of this, clients and their pets are treated differently at the veterinary hospital than in years past. Doing so has led to great rewards for both pet owners and the industry itself, but it is also important to ask the question – has it gone too far?

Anthropomorphism is a critical question veterinary medicine should be considering. Anthropomorphism is the projection of our human thoughts, emotions and characteristics onto animals. Veterinary staff members are encouraged to comfort and soothe the animals they are handling, as well as distraught owners, and most resort to using language they might use to comfort a young child. It makes sense that we, as humans, react to comforting sounds and language and tend to believe it will also comfort the animal. It does to an extent as animals react more positively to higher pitched voices than to low rumbling voices; they react to a calm, soothing tone as opposed to loud, sharp noises.

Anthropomorphism, Animal Ownership and Veterinary Medicine
A hundred years ago the main purpose of having a dog was to help with herding, hunting, and/or protection. Cats were used primarily to keep rodents out of food storage areas and rarely were animals like rodents or reptiles kept as pets. In today’s society, it is now seen as ‘normal’ for people to call their pet their “fur baby” and treat them as they would a human child. For many, the days when companion animals had a purpose and job are long gone. Instead, we now have a society where pets have wardrobes and go to doggie daycare centers.

Projecting one’s thoughts and emotions onto pets can be as simple as talking to your pet as you would a young child, or as serious as believing that the animal knows better, can understand the concept of time, and holds a grudge. Unlike humans who remember every slight, every negative experience in their lives, animals live in the here and now. When your dog greets you at the door, they are happy to see you. They aren’t telling you that you’re 5 minutes late for their walk. If you’re late, you’ll know it from their dog-like behavior of tearing things up or having accidents. Giving your pet medication does not mean they will hate you. They dislike the act and taste of the medication, but in a few minutes (and with a few treats) they’ll be right back with you. There is a fine line between loving your pet and going overboard into believing that your pet understands you and will respond with human behaviors.

Animal extremist groups push the anthropomorphic tendencies of humans in every aspect of life, from those late night ASPCA commercials, to “rescuing” livestock housed in biosecure facilities, to creating legislation that suits their agenda, but does nothing to promote animal welfare. Anthropomorphism plays on human emotions and the animal extremist groups make bank on those emotions, raising millions of dollars annually, yet donating a fraction to actually helping animals.

The veterinary industry has played into anthropomorphism by referring to pet owners as “pet parents” and owner’s pets as their “fur baby” or “fur child”. Doing so has both benefited and hurt the veterinary industry. The benefits to the industry can be easily seen in the increase of specialty medicine and large specialty animal hospitals offering everything from cancer treatment, MRI’s and cardiac pacemakers for pets. This dramatic growth of specialty veterinary practices, veterinary hospitals, pet supply stores selling all sorts of accessories, specialty foods, doggie day cares and high-end boarding facilities, etc. in the last 15 years shows the willingness of animal owners to spend more money on the health care of their pets than they have in years past. This growth has attracted the interest of major conglomerations and the pet industry has ballooned into a 35-billion-dollar market.

The Negative Impact of Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism has impacted veterinary teams in a negative way because it places unrealistic and unfair expectations on animals. Just as we should not expect a human child to act like a dog, we should not expect a dog to act like a human child. They are not equivalent to each other. Expecting a pet or any other animal to live up to the standards of human traits and display human behaviors can cause a wide array of problems:

Health Problems –
Anthropomorphism has led many animal owners to overfeed their pets. It has also led them to provide animals food items and diets that are not healthy for them. Overweight pets and pets with gastrointestinal and other nutrition-related problems are becoming a significant issue in veterinary medicine.

Many animal extremists promote vegan diets for small animals, which will kill cats and make dogs unhealthy. Their reasoning for doing that is based on their ideology of not harming animals, without taking into consideration that their pet is physiologically different from them. For example, cats are obligate carnivores. They require meat to survive, yet vegans and animal extremists say they do well on a vegan diet. Just google “Cats and vegan diets” and you’ll see that every hit on the first page is from an animal extremist group or vegan.

Behavioral Problems –
Many behavioral problems directly stem from anthropomorphism and unrealistic expectations for pets and even livestock. Owners expect them to “know better,” “feel guilty,” and never to express their natural instincts. “He never bites, he won’t bite,” and “she won’t kick or spook,” are examples of this.

Behavioral problems and lack of training are the number one reason small animals are surrendered to shelters and large animals, like horses, are abandoned. This is a significant factor as to why we believe anthropomorphism is a threat to animal welfare. It is important to understand that your pet responds in a species appropriate way to perceived threats, not in a way that a human would.

Veterinary Visit Problems –
It is not uncommon for veterinarians and veterinary staff members to encounter patients that are difficult to handle or have significant behavioral issues that can put the pet, the owner and the veterinary staff at risk. Anthropomorphism can affect how a pet owner views how the veterinary staff handles their pet, for example objecting to the use of muzzles or other forms of restraint. It can even impact their feelings about behavior and training recommendations staff members may make by thinking: “Fifi wouldn’t hurt anyone, she knows better.”

When Fifi does bite a staff member, the owner then blames the staff for handling their pet too roughly, rather than accept the responsibility of having a poorly trained animal. If you are an owner, and you know your pet could bite, it is best to be up front with veterinary staff and tell them ahead of time. While the sight of a muzzle on your pet might upset you, it allows veterinary staff to handle your pet in the least stressful manner, get treatments done quickly and efficiently, and in the long run, cause your pet less stress.

Compassion Fatigue in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care
In recent years there is a crisis lurking at every animal shelter, veterinary clinic, and animal research laboratory and it is called “compassion fatigue. ”This term is used often in the human medical field to describe an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped. It can escalate to the degree of causing secondary traumatic stress for the helper. Some of the symptoms include difficulty concentrating, insomnia, physical and mental fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness.

The Su***de Crisis in Veterinary Medicine
This rise in compassion fatigue may also be linked to the rise of su***des among veterinarians and veterinary staff members. Recent studies show that veterinarians and those in the veterinary field are 3.5 times more likely to die by su***de than the general population. This trend has been made public in recent articles produced by news outlets like Time Magazine, The Washington Post, NBC News, and in numerous veterinary trade publications.

Anthropomorphism and Heightened Emotional Responses
A result of applying human characteristics to animals is often a heightened emotional response from clients when something related to their pet goes wrong, or if their pet is sick or injured. The same applies to veterinary team members that believe animals are worthy of human rights. This leads to a logical question: “Could anthropomorphism be causing a rise of compassion fatigue in the veterinary field?“

When both veterinary teams and owners refer to a pet as a “fur baby”, this can affect how they view the pet. There is no doubt that it is a difficult situation when an animal is hurt, sick, or dying. However, treating animals like children and using the same language when we refer to them creates an emotional response that can be overwhelming to veterinary staff. Instead of seeing that pet as an animal, it is easy to also involve subconscious thoughts and feelings that go along with the word “baby” and “child” or any other human-like phrase other than animal or pet.

If a veterinarian or veterinary staff member anthropomorphizes animals and subscribes to animal extremist ideologies, it begs the question: “How will they react when they have to euthanize a pet?”

Will they be able to continue their day, seeing all of their patients and handling emergency situations? Could they become overwhelmed with grief and eventually end up with compassion fatigue? There are some who enter the veterinary field who cannot bring themselves to euthanize an animal, or even be present in the treatment area if one is being euthanized. Not only is this unrealistic, it also puts a burden on fellow employees, and can make them question themselves for being there.

There are several small changes that could make a big difference, and a key step is to appreciate animals for their species-specific traits and to refrain from calling animal owners “pet parents.” It is important to preserve the emotional well-being of veterinary professionals and an essential aspect of that is by not anthropomorphizing pets or encouraging owners to do so.

More information about how anthropomorphism and animals: https://protecttheharvest.com/what-you-need-to-know/anthropomorphism-is-the-greatest-threat-to-animal-welfare/

When Animal Ownership is Threatened – Veterinary Medicine is At Risk
The most important takeaway for veterinarians is the fact that animal extremist groups are not going to be forthright with their agenda and ideology. These groups advance and achieve their goals incrementally. They aim to end animal ownership and animals in human care, one small step at a time. Veterinarians and veterinary staff members are facing a crossroads in their profession. Are they going to support the agenda and ideology of animal extremist groups? Will they fight for the basic tenets of animal ownership, animal welfare, and their very clients and patients? Can they continue to remain quiet about the activities of animal extremist groups? Has anthropomorphism gone too far?

Veterinarians, their staff, animal owners, and breeders all need to stand together to ensure their rights to own animals are protected. Not only will they help secure a bright future for healthy pets and their owners, but also for the health and wellbeing of veterinarians and veterinary team members.

For links to sources and more information visit this article on our website.

The Cost To Raise Chickens (For Eggs and Meat) - The Hen's Loft How much does it cost to raise chickens, whether it be for meat, for eggs or for simply the joy of having chickens in your backyard? Here's a breakdown of what to expect.

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Roses are actually easy to grow and should only be grown organically since they are one of the best medicinal and culinary herbs in the world. When they are loaded with toxic pesticides and other chemicals, this use is gone, or at least, it should be. Drinking rose hip tea or using rose petals in teas or salads sprayed with synthetic poisons is a really bad idea. For best results with roses of any kind, here's the Dirt Doctor's organic program that really works.

https://www.dirtdoctor.com/garden/Rose-Organic-Program_vq2248.htm

Sick Chicks: 7 Common Illnesses You May Encounter - Backyard Poultry While many chick illnesses can be prevented by good sanitation methods, being able to recognize common illnesses is important.

Is your chicken gasping for air? It could mean it has gapeworms There is one particularly nasty parasite that can cause symptoms which are often confused with a respiratory infection. Words: Sue Clarke Gapeworm eggs sit in the soil and are ingested by poultry while feeding. Earthworms also eat up the eggs, which then hatch inside a bird when they eat the earthwo...

How to Recognize Problems of Growing Chickens - dummies The most common problems of the growing period of backyard chickens’ lives are respiratory illness, diarrhea, and nervous system problems. Young chickens can suffer from all the causes of respiratory illness in adult birds and diagnosis and treatment are the same. Brooder pneumonia and gapeworms a...

A POTAGER GARDEN THIS YEAR

Fruits, vegetables, and both medicinal and edible herbs are grown together with the main incentive to feed the family. A Potager Garden translates to "For The Soup Pot". These traditional kitchen gardens date back to France nearly a thousand years ago when it was common for people to grow their own food and medicine.

Being both beautiful and practical, it is well suited for small yards. The design structure uses both accessible bed space, as well as being close to the home. The idea is that you can step into your garden, with bare toes to grab dinner's ingredients or throw the last of the dish water on the compost.

If you plan to grow a Potager garden, instead of arranging your beds in a grid, consider using the space for both beauty and function. Some beds are vertical, while others are horizontal. Use the fence line as a trellis, or a hot spot for dwarf fruit trees. However you design it, take some time to figure out the best use of your space. Keep your pathways tight, enough to fit a wheelbarrow, and consider how the sun will move in your garden. Knowing where the sun hits first is great for heat loving vegetables.

Make sure to plan a focal piece in the center of your garden. A small bird bath, or pool is both beautiful and helpful for pollinator insects needing a drink. Instead of planting herbs in one area, consider planting a bit everywhere especially on difficult to grow spaces, like the edges of beds.

Dwarf fruit trees make sense when you have a small amount of land and don't want to pick fruit on a ladder. You can plant multiple dwarf varieties and get a really great harvest in a short period of time using less space. Not only do they function perfectly in the kitchen garden, they are beautiful as well.

Both medicinal and edible herbs can be grown in the Potager garden. I like comfrey, lemon balm, mint, and onions at the base of all the fruit trees. Plant creeping thyme in your walkways for an aromatic effect.

It makes sense to grow many useful herbs that can help the process of healing. Calendula, chickweed, and plantain are excellent for the skin. They can be combined to make healing salves. Lemon balm tea calms the nervous system and comfrey makes a skin poultice. Make sure to plant your favorite herbs you love to cook with.

A truly nourishing meal is cooked using ingredients that I have grown. The recipes that are inspired by a seasonal garden can be life changing. I have come know that oregano, roasted eggplant and oil combined is one of the very best parts about summer. And basil at the base of tomatoes is for both ease of harvest and for the aroma of the greenhouse. So when you plan a potager, most of all, grow things you love and eat.

Successive harvests and year-round eating from the garden sounds seemingly simple. Yet it is a skill we have lost. We can all re-learn these old skills through our efforts. Over time we learn the seeds and when to plant them. It becomes intuitive as we move along.

A part of traditional gardening is putting back into the earth whatever we took. Taking care of the soil, we compost. We try to keep bare soil to the minimum. Where there are no plants, instead of weeding, we mulch or add a ground cover. We are able to grow food without chemical fertilizer.

The biggest teaching that the Potager garden teaches us is that what we consume into our body is more than just through the mouth. We feed ourselves through our eyes, our noses, and our touch. These senses are just as necessary as taste. In the Potager garden, we can grow for all senses. Written by Women Who Farm

Please visit us at THE SEED GUY for Heirloom Seeds to Build Your Potager Garden. You might check out our Seed package that has 60 Heirloom Seed Varieties, 34,000 total Seeds, all Non GMO and Sale Priced Now at $79

You get 49 Veggie varieties and 11 Herb varieties. You would definitely be able to Feed Your Family with this Seed package, and you can store the Seeds you don't use right away in the 10 x 14 silver mylar bag we provide. All Heirloom Seeds are Small Farm-Grown, we hand count and package to make sure you get the best germination, and they are Fresh from the New 2021 Harvest. You will get the freshest Seeds.

You can see Seed varieties and Order this Seed package on our website at https://theseedguy.net

If you LIKE US on our page, https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy/ you will be able to see more of our New Seed Bargains, Gardening Articles, and Healthy Juice Recipes. Thank You and God Bless You and Your Family.

Complete Leghorn Chicken Guide: Colors, Eggs, Facts And More… | Chickens And More The Leghorn has an outstanding reputation as a reliable egg layer. We will never know for sure about the true origins of this hard working Italian chicken

Easy Tips for Keeping Chickens Cool in Hot Weather
1.) Provide multiple cool, fresh water sources. This is most important! Since chickens can’t sweat, they keep their body temperature regulated by breathing. Nearly half the water they drink is evaporated through their respiratory system in the summer. The water should be kept out of the sun, since chickens won't drink it if it's too hot! Would you?
2.) Strategically place fans to help improve airflow. Secure them properly, so they don't tip over.
3.) Buy shade sails to provide constant shade. They can be installed anywhere and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
4.) Make frozen ice cube treats and/or provid slices of melons (for the high water content).
5.) Add a trellis of non-toxic vines* which will provide shade and improve ambience.
6.) Attach a mister to the end of a garden hose, or buy a fan with a mister built in.
7.) Buy cooling mats and/cool surfaces for birds to rest or perch on.
8.) Install radiant barrier inside the coop or in areas you want to keep cool, as it helps reflect heat away.
9.) Provide a baby splash mat or large tray of shallow water to wade in. If it's too deep, they can drown. Avoid buckets and pools (unless you have ducks!)
10.) Add ground cover plants*, which can cool the area by as much as 9°F.
*Look at our Toxic Plants and Non-Toxic Plants Sections on http://www.poultrydvm.com to make sure that the plants you get are safe first!

Love this! LOL!

Oniscidae; You may have found them under a brick or a damp object. You may have felt disgusted and wondered why they exist in nature.
Well, let me tell you, these animals oniscidae, better known as cochineal, are a subgroup of isopod crustaceans whose function is to remove harmful heavy metals to the earth such as mercury, cadmium and lead. They contribute to the cleansing of the soil and groundwater and reaffirm the wisdom of nature.
Do not damage them or spray pesticides!

OperationHoneyBee

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Stop spraying chemicals, lawns, stop killing dandelions 🌻

🐝🌺😍 Pollen drunk




Photo credit JMNeelyPhotography

Southern States Cooperative

Poultry are prone to heat stress during periods of high temperatures and humidity. Learn how you can help reduce the risk of heat stress for your flock - https://bit.ly/2VRFMfC