Farm Guides

Herbs for chickens, part two: planting around t...

A herb garden can be enjoyable for the keeper and create a more varied outdoor space. Design it as a managed garden rather than a self-balancing feed system or parasite...

Herbs for chickens, part one: what evidence can...

Herbs can make a garden interesting and provide variety in suitable small amounts, but culinary use, traditional claims and clinical treatment evidence are different things. A study of a standardised...

Transporting chickens home safely

Transport starts with the carrier and the route. Birds need secure containment, ventilation and protection from heat, overcrowding and rough handling. Never leave them in a parked vehicle while completing...

Poor hatch results: separate fertility from inc...

A low hatch percentage does not identify the cause. Separate eggs set, development observed, embryo losses, chicks hatched and surviving chicks. Then review the batch history before changing management.

Candling series, part three: preparing for lock...

For many chicken-egg programmes, turning stops around day 18 as the hatch approaches. Follow your incubator's instructions and recognise that dates and settings can vary with equipment and conditions.

Candling series, part two: mid-incubation records

A second check around the middle of incubation helps compare changes since the first candle. The value is in the progression and the record, not in repeatedly searching for movement.