Perhaps there are some chickens that man was never meant to tamper with.
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Crested Chickens, Vaulted Skulls, and Damaged Brains - Part 2: Crests, Vaults and Their Genetic Connection
When people think of Polish chickens, they think of those elaborate, beautiful crests. Most people don't realize that Polish chickens also have “vaulted skulls.” Vaulted skulls are misshapen, with a large knob or vault sticking up from the top. A misshapen skull results in a misshapen, unusual, “hourglass” shaped brain. Vaulted skulls are often filled with holes. The only thing protecting parts of the chicken’s brain is a bit of skin and some feathers. Thus, chickens with vaulted skulls are vulnerable to brain damage. What are the genetics behind crests and vaulted skulls? And are these two traits connected?
Crested Chickens, Vaulted Skulls, and Damaged Brains - Part 1: Polish Hens and The Genetics of Crests
The origin of Polish chickens and the genetics behind their crest.
Why Do Roosters Crow?
Everybody knows that roosters crow in the morning. If you have roosters, you know that they also crow other times of the day. But have you ever wondered why they crow at all? What’s their motivation?
The Emotional Lives of Chickens
Do our chickens have emotional lives? People with cats and dogs will attest to emotional lives of their pets. Guest author Claire Dineen suggests that if we watch our flocks closely, over time, we will affirm that chickens have feelings too.
Chicken Books: My Favorites 2022
Here’s my yearly assemblage of chicken-themed books ! This year I’ve focused entirely on fiction. As you will see, there are some great chicken stories out there!
The Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Farm Animal Rights - Chickens Get Their Day in Court
The State of California has passed laws that protects chickens and other farm animals from abuse. Will the Supreme Court find those laws to be constitutional?
A Giant Puffball Frittata – Fantastic Foraged Fall Fare
When I stumbled across a giant puffball growing in my woods, my first stop was my garden. Then I swung by the coop and grabbed some eggs. Finally, I went into the kitchen and cooked up something delicious.
Can I Catch Bird Flu From My Chickens? Will it Cause the Next Pandemic? (Flu - The Coop, part 3)
Bird flu has been marching across the US, destroying flocks in its wake. Since avian flu first appeared in the news this year, people have been wondering about how this disease relates to them. They have been asking: “Can I catch flu from my flu-infected chickens?” While this 2022 bird flu strain is less likely to infect people than strains seen in the past, the answer is definitely “Yes!” But, perhaps the more profound and important question people should be asking is, “Will bird flu cause the next human pandemic?”
Bird Flu 101 (Flu - The Coop, part 2)
Flu - The Coop, part 2. What is bird flu? Actually, what is any flu? And while we’re at it, what’s a virus?
Two Viruses: Thoughts on Bird Flu and Covid- (Flu - The Coop, part 1)
Flu - The Coop, part 1. The author falls prey to Covid and then writes about avian flu.
Bullfighting: The Bulls of Andalusia
Bullfighting: When you remove the pageantry, costumes, and choreography, it is animal slaughter for amusement. We can’t expect good lives for chickens until all domestic animals are treated with the same humane respect.
The Chickens of Iberia
I traveled through beautiful Portugal and Spain. And I found chickens!
A Half-Dozen Years - Celebrating Six Years of Randy's Chicken Blog
The Hipster Hens, the Graham Quackers and I have been throwing confetti around the coop! We’re celebrating the sixth anniversary of Randy’s Chicken Blog!
RAISING DUCKS 101: Ducks are NOT Chickens - and Other Profound Truths
You’ve been keeping chickens for awhile and now you think you’d like to try some ducks. Cool! That’s what I did! But you need to know from the get-go that ducks are not chickens. Here are some of the differences I discovered in my first few months of keeping ducks.
Feather Follicle Cysts in Chickens - Rafael Rooster Tries Life as a Unicorn
It looked like Rafael was trying to grow his own little unicorn horn. But he’d gotten confused and had grown it on entirely the wrong part of his body. It was actually a feather follicle cyst. Who knew?? Feather follicle cysts are a rare phenomenon in chickens.
My Favorite Poultry Books - 2021
My favorite 2021 poultry reads!
Holiday Gift Ideas for Chickens, Ducks, and People—2021
Here are some gift ideas for your favorite chickens, ducks, and people - for the holidays, or anytime!
Can I Keep Eggs at Room Temperature? And Other Pertinent Questions
“Is it ok to store eggs at room temperature?” It’s a question that doesn’t come with a yes/no answer.
Nowadays in the US there are regulations that mandate that anybody selling eggs must refrigerate them. Why? Because of Salmonella, a bacterium that sickens and kills a lot of folks every year, and sometimes lives in eggs. Here’s the catch, though. The United Kingdom and much of Europe have regulations that mandate that anybody selling eggs should not refrigerate them. And the Salmonella rates in the UK are actually lower than in the US. Confused yet? Read this post!
Hens' Teeth
Dinosaurs, mutant chickens, and an old American colloquialism