Table of Contents Initial impressions: How I tested: First use of the Omlet auto coop door and light: The first test: The build quality. The second test: 400 open and close cycles. The third test: What do the hens think of it? Is it safe? What I liked and what I didn't like: Automatic chicken coop doors make use of a timer or daylight sensor to open and close the door on the hen house enabling the keeper to let the birds out into the run or to free range and to safely shut them away again at night. Initial impressions: The Omlet auto coop door arrived well packed and the box contains ..read more

As a long time chicken keeper, I have encountered my fair share of challenges, but few are quite as persistent and cunning as the tiny, yet troublesome, mouse. Table of Contents Why mice like chickens and coops so much: The mouse menace: Unwelcome guests: Mice and their impact on chickens and coops: Wrestling back control: Mouse solutions for chicken keepers: These little critters may seem cute and harmless at first glance, but any seasoned chicken keeper will tell you that mice can wreak havoc in a chicken coop.  The control of mice in the chicken coop will require a holistic plan th ..read more

A comprehensive guide on how to keep chickens: Table of Contents Before You Begin: Health and safety for both you and the chickens: Housing, coops and runs: Feeding and nutrition: Care of chickens: Hatching and rearing: My journey (Bio here) into the world of chicken keeping had been an enriching and rewarding experience. I have learned so much about these fascinating creatures and would like to share it. Before You Begin: Chickens, or any poultry, will take up a percentage of your time and cost money and will need to be provided for. They might also affect your ability to take vacations o ..read more

As a chicken keeper, I've learned that alongside the joys of fresh eggs and feathered friends comes the constant battle against pests, vermin, and parasites. Table of Contents Pests: Vermin: Parasites: Prevention and Control: These uninvited guests can wreak havoc on a chicken coop, eating and contaminating the feed and water, causing health problems for your flock and making your life as a chicken keeper a whole lot more difficult. Pests: Pests are the most visible and often the most annoying of the uninvited guests in a chicken coop. They include: Wasps, yellow jackets  and hornets ..read more

Breeding chickens has been a time-consuming and challenging process, but it's also incredibly rewarding. I love seeing the results of my breeding program and improvements I have been able to make to my strains. Table of Contents Let nature take its course: A humble beginning. The terms, words and definitions you might find useful when breeding chickens: Selection criteria for breeding stock: Is the hen or cockerel more important when breeding chickens? My breeding failures and successes: Anyone can breed chickens, they do most, if not all the hard work for you. There is little to do other ..read more

It's important to note that lethal alleles are relatively rare in the population because they tend to be eliminated through natural selection over time.  Table of Contents What causes lethal genes? Examples of lethal genes in chickens: What are lethal the genes in chickens? Here is a table of the known lethal genes in chickens with a little about each one: Human interference in the breeding process has allowed these mutations to survive in the population. What causes lethal genes? Lethal genes, also known as lethal alleles, are genetic variants or mutations that can cause the death of ..read more

Be aware that the all rare breeds today have been created by selective breeding which has always at some point involved inbreeding or linebreeding.  Table of Contents What is linebreeding? Why do you linebreed chickens? The advantages and disadvantages of linebreeding: How to linebreed: It is often stated that line-breeding is the use of more distantly related animals and inbreeding the mating together of those of much closer kinship, for example, mother to son, father to daughter, or brother to sister.  My view is that you can get as close as this when line-breeding, and employ ..read more

Outcrossing is the breeding of chickens that are unrelated to each other. This can be done within a breed or between different breeds. Table of Contents What is the purpose of outcrossing when breeding poultry? Here are some examples of outcrossing in chickens: The problems with outcrossing: Blending the out-cross:   Outcrossing is a breeding practice often used to improve the genetic diversity of a flock and to introduce new traits. Outcrossing is the introduction into a pure line of a bird or birds of another breed, variety or strain. Achieved in one or more matings to secure f ..read more

Breeding good chickens, whether for meat, eggs, or show purposes, is a process that can take many generations to achieve the desired traits and characteristics. Table of Contents How long does it take to breed good birds? How many birds will you need as a foundation? What affects the results of a breeding program: A breeding plan timeline: Some tips for breeding good chickens: The exact timeline can vary depending on your goals, the specific chicken breeds you're working with, and the breeding methods employed.  How long does it take to breed good birds? Patience is needed as it can t ..read more

The outcome of our year long survey of poultry keepers. Table of Contents About the data: How many birds have you got? Do you keep them free range or confined? How long have you been a poultry keeper? How do you rate yourself as a poultry keeper? Where do you live? What type of poultry do you keep? Have you ever struggled to feed your flock? Do you profit from your flock? Cockerels: Do you have an automatic coop door? Have your neighbours ever complained about your flock? Do you use diatomaceous earth? Have you had problems with mud? Do you use a veterinarian for your poultry? Have you taken ..read more