Expert tips and tricks for backyard chicken keeping
If you’ve noticed small, dark brown to black pests clinging stubbornly to your chickens' combs, wattles, or around their eyes, you may be dealing with stickfast fleas (Echidnophaga gallinacea). These tiny but resilient pests can cause discomfort, irritation, and even...
Lice are another common parasite that can infest your chickens, causing discomfort, stress, and reduced egg production. Unlike mites, lice live their entire lives on your chickens, feeding on dead skin and feather debris. What Are Chicken Lice? Chicken lice are...
Eye worm, also known as Oxyspirura mansoni, are nematode parasites that primarily infect the eyes of birds, including chickens. These tiny worms, measuring around 1 to 2 centimetres in length, reside in the tear ducts and surrounding tissues, causing discomfort and...
Feather picking, also known as feather pecking, is a common and often concerning behaviour observed in chickens. This behaviour involves chickens pecking and damaging the feathers of themselves or other flock members. Feather picking can lead to feather loss, skin...
Chickens are extremely vulnerable to biting insects. Although thick feathers provide some protection, fleshy combs and wattles are inviting blood-rich targets. Flies and mosquitoes also harbour diseases and bacteria, which can affect the health of your flock. During...
Did you know, a pair of rats can produce up to 2,000 descendants per year? This means a couple of rats around your chicken coop can quickly lead to a rat infestation if it goes unchecked. They are known to be carriers of diseases such as fleas, mites, plague, and...
Signs you may have a snake around: You find regurgitated eggshells or snakeskin.There’s a dead chicken with a wet head. This is a sign that a snake tried eating the chicken but couldn’t swallow it.Chicks or chickens missing Snakes come into the coop for only three...
Unfortunately, there are many chicken predators in Australia. Here's how to best fox proof your chicken coop. The European fox was introduced into Australia in the early 1870’s for the purpose of fox hunting. Not surprisingly, the fox population exploded since that...
How to Stop Flies in the Chicken CoopIf you have chickens, chances are you’ll also deal with flies at some point, especially during warmer weather. While flies are certainly annoying, they’re usually a sign of moisture, manure, or food scraps building up around the...