Archive for the Poultry Category

Your backyard chooks won’t truss up an unpopular flock member and pop them in the pot, but they may exhibit cannibalistic behaviour by pecking and tearing at their unfortunate flock mates. Outbreaks of cannibalism happen mostly in larger flocks but it can occur in small groups and in even the best of housing systems, including cages, floor pens,

Coccidiosis is an infection of the intestinal epithelium caused by microscopic protozoan parasites. It is characterised by an invasion of the intestinal wall by the Coccidia parasite (Coccidia isospora and C. elmeria) which then goes through various stages of growth and multiplication, during which damage occurs to the mucosal and submucosal tissues of the intestine. Depending on the

A hen is said to be ‘egg bound’ (or to suffer from ‘egg bind’) when a particularly large egg becomes lodged in the oviduct and the bird cannot complete the process of laying. Egg bind is a fairly common condition that can affect hens of any age but is most often seen in young birds laying their first

A well fed chook is a happy chook. And a happy chook is a healthy chook. Healthy, happy chooks lay more eggs. Understanding the role of good nutrition and ensuring your little backyard flock is fed a balanced diet is the single most important thing you can do to keep your hens healthy. A good diet, together with

The moult is a natural process where hens shed and renew their feathers. During the moulting period the reproductive physiology of the bird has a complete rest while the bird builds up its body reserves of nutrients, leading to a seasonal decline in egg production. The provision of new feathers or a coat (a feature inherent in most