Farm Guides

Suspected egg binding or prolapse: do not delay...

Straining, repeated nest visits, weakness or a hunched posture can reflect a serious reproductive problem. They do not prove an egg is stuck. Visible tissue at the vent is also...

Limping chickens and sore feet: inspect safely

A limp can arise from an injury, foot lesion, joint problem or other disease. A dark spot on a foot is not an invitation to cut it out. Protect the...

Coccidiosis in chicks: when to seek prompt help

Coccidiosis is one possible cause of serious illness in young birds, but you cannot confirm it from a social-media photograph. Chicks that become hunched, lethargic, stop eating or develop concerning...

Mites and lice: inspect birds and the coop

Not every poultry parasite spends its life in the same place. An inspection of feathers alone may miss pests hiding in the housing. Itching, feather damage and pale combs are...

Chicken worms: testing before guessing

Weight loss, poor production and loose droppings have many possible causes. Worms may be involved, but appearance alone does not identify the species or show whether a particular treatment is...

Chicken droppings: how to investigate a change

Droppings vary with food, water intake and normal digestive cycles. A photograph of one dropping rarely establishes a diagnosis. Look at the bird, the pattern over time and the rest...