Chicken health advice from an avian vet! Topics include antibiotics, bumblefoot, euthanization, pain management, and scaly leg mites.
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The Humane League – Freeing Hens
Most eggs sold in the US come from hens stuffed into cruel cages. As more and more people have come to realize how badly modern animal farming has gone off the rails, a number of organizations have emerged to shine a light on abusive animal husbandry practices and work to change cruel and inhumane animal farming systems. The Humane League (THL), one of the most effective of these organizations, is hard at work to get hens out of cages.
Chicken City - A Chicken Movie!
Chicken City will show you how steeped in history the chicken really is. Who would have thought that chickens have been around since the dawn of history. They have been worshipped, abhorred, adored, sacrificed, maligned, sentimentalized and idealized. Artists, musicians, authors, film makers, and even politicians have reflected on the chicken.
The Chickens of Ancient Egypt - Part 2
I researched the beginnings of chickens in Egypt and discovered that all evidence points to their arrival with the Persian conquest of 425 BC. But there’s a problem. There are ancient recorded instances of chickens clucking and pecking around Egypt before the Persians arrived. Way before! Thousands of years!
The Chickens of Ancient Egypt - Part 1
Egypt: The pyramids. The desert. The Nile. The chickens.
Yes, the chickens.
In 1323, an Irish friar named Simon Fitzsimmons traveled to Cairo. He was amazed by the sight of thousands of chickens in the streets of Cairo; pecking up grain that had fallen from the bags carried by passing camels.
In 2023 I traveled to Egypt. I was also amazed.
Chicken Cloning Project Gone Shockingly Wrong Could Threaten Life As We Know It!
Perhaps there are some chickens that man was never meant to tamper with.
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.