Volume 15, Number 5 Backyard October/November 2020 America's Favorite Poultry Magazine

CHICKEN THERAPY FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

WATER GLASSING EGGS FOR LONG-TERM STORAGE

ARE PUMPKIN SEEDS REALLY NATURAL DEWORMERS?

Plus: BREED PROFILE: BLACK TURKEY

$5.99 US backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com Feed your flock the

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Feather Maker supplies the nutrients needed to support regrowth of after molting and can also be used for laying hens. Good plumage is important to retain body heat as poor feathering exposes body areas, resulting in increased energy maintenance requirement which leads to higher feed intake, increased feed cost, and possibly lower performance. No additional grain, protein, minerals, or vitamin sources are needed.

2 Backyard Poultry ADMAnimalNutrition.com • [email protected] ADM Pen Pals Feed your flock the

Feed for wholesome, healthy and stress-free birds

Feather Maker supplies the nutrients needed to support regrowth of feathers after molting and can also be used for laying hens. Good plumage is important to retain body heat as poor feathering exposes body areas, resulting in increased energy maintenance requirement which leads to higher feed intake, increased feed cost, and possibly lower performance. No additional grain, protein, minerals, or vitamin sources are needed.

ADMAnimalNutrition.comOctober/November •2020 [email protected] ADMbackyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com Pen Pals 3 contents // 15.5 08 Editor’s Letter

10 Photo Essay: Rusty Moose Farm

14 Coming Events

16 Something to Crow About

22 Ask the Expert Ron Kean and Marissa Ames answer reader questions about their flocks.

26 Flock Photos The best of the best submissions via snail mail and our social sites.

28 All Cooped Up: Marek's Disease By Lacey Hughett

32 Crêpes By Rita Heikenfeld

36 Pot Pie Pasta Bake By Hannah McClure 10 38 Poultry Presidents By Kenny Coogan

42 Bielefelders & Niederrheiners By Doug Ottinger

46 Fluffy, the Little Hen that Could By James L. Doti, Ph.D.

48 Roosty the Rooster By Mark M. Hall

50 Turkeys by the Dozen By Dorothy Rieke

52 Turkey Tails By Kenny Coogan

54 The Wonders of Vision By Tamsin Cooper

58 Water Glassing Eggs By Ann Accetta-Scott

62 Pumpkin Seeds for — Are the Seeds Nutritional? 54 By Janet Garman Photo credit: Mabel Amber/Pixabay

4 Backyard Poultry Healthier You ™

Exclusively at Party with Us @tscflockparty

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 5 contents // 15.5

64 Egg Custard By Cappy Tosetti

66 French Custard-Style Frozen Yogurt By Gianaclis Caldwell

68 Poultry Art is Historic and Enduring By Christine Heinrichs

72 Chickens in Textiles By Susie Kearley

74 Chicken Therapy for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders By Sue Norris

76 Darla Hatches a Job By Gina Stack

78 Coop Inspiration: Shady Coop By Amy Vollmer

82 Breed Profile: Black Turkey By Tamsin Cooper 64

84 Secret Life of Poultry: Tiny the Attack Hen By Lacey Hughett

93 Breeders Directory

95 Classifieds

96 Just for Fun

Can You Find the Roo? We hid the BYP roo in this issue! He looks just like the roo above. If you find him, snap a pic and email it to [email protected] or mail your entry to P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451. We’ll pick one random winner to receive a canvas Back- yard Poultry tote. Enter by 10/12/20. These handy totes are new to the Back- yard Poultry store. August/September 2020 issue winner: 74 • Creed Henderson, Virginia

6 Backyard Poultry 20% @Threerescuesandacoop OFF! on your entire order with code “BYPOCT20”

Offer valid thru 11/30/20

We know each chicken in your yard is unique, special and loveable. That’s why Happy Hen created multiple formulas to celebrate each of your favorite feathered personalities. From the shy, affectionate chick to the bold strutting diva — our range of treats, and coop-goods, are sure to make your flock hap- py. So cross the road and join us in the Happy Hen backyard. Happy Hen. Worth Crossing Roads For.

www.happyhentreats.com October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 7 from the editor Backyard Poultry That Chill in the Air... backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com only get their due diligence in October EDITORIAL and November. Marissa Ames, Editor I love raising turkeys and learning all [email protected] the things people never tell you: • Female turkeys also fan their tails and Steph Merkle, Content Director strut their stuff. [email protected] • During mating season, they prefer Editorial Assistants toms, but in a pinch you’ll do fine. Samantha Ingersoll, Ann Tom • Turkeys are very curious, love listening to music, and make great Publication Designer intruder alarms. Sara Heideman • You can never have just one. No, ADVERTISING really. They get very lonely and that sad chirp will break your heart. Alicia Soper, Advertising Director nothing but the BEST Have you kept turkeys? Broad-breasted [email protected] or heritage? Which breeds? And if you 715-829-7330 kept both, how did your experiences for your hens Kelly Weiler Salome, a hen that has laid eggs and raised differ? (I experienced profound [email protected] babies, puts the boys to shame while strutting differences in both, and my heart is now 715-965-1234 for the camera. dedicated to the health and well-being of the heritage birds.) t’s the most wonderful time of the I hope you enjoy this issue of Backyard Backyard Poultry’s Main Coop COMPLETE HIGH PROTEIN Backyard Poultry year. Poultry and the humorous, heartwarming, P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451 I Sure, I love the holiday season, but eye-opening, and educational stories Backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com SUPERFOOD FOR CHICKENS who doesn’t revel in autumn? Finally, the inside. And send in your turkey stories! blistering heat has ended, the farm chores We would love to share them in a future take a step back as the garden winds issue. Subscriptions (U.S. funds): $29.97 for six print issues With whole vegetables down, and I can wear those comfortable May your autumn be crisp and cheery, $29.97 for digital only waffle-knit henleys again. The trees turn $39.97 for all-access (print + digital) and grains for your shades of golden, orange, and red before Backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ signaling winter with a final cascade to all-membership hens’ health & the ground. Or mail to: This is also when new chicken owners’ Backyard Poultry Subscriptions happiness questions turn from, “When will my hens P.O Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 start laying?” and “Can I feed tomatoes 970-392-4419 to my chickens?” and to, “Why are my chickens losing feathers when it’s getting Printed in the U.S.A. cold?” and “Can I give pumpkin seeds to Backyard Poultry (ISSN 1559-2251, USPS 023-374) is published my flock?” And it’s also when we focus bi-monthly by Countryside Publications, at P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451. Periodicals postage paid at Medford, on turkeys, those comical and affectionate WI and additional mailing offices. ©2020 Countryside birds that grace our flocks year-round but Publications. Countryside Publications is owned and operated Marissa Ames by Fence Post Co. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of the editor or publisher. All contents of this Editor issue of Backyard Poultry are copyrighted by Countryside Publications, 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited except by permission of the publisher.

POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Backyard Poultry Subscriptions, On The Cover P.O. Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 Turkeys originated in America but the Black turkey breed developed in East Anglia, England. Read about Available at your local dealer or online at: the Black turkey on page 82. kalmbachfeeds.com/where-buy • amazon.com • chewy.com 8 Backyard Poultry nothing but the BEST for your hens

COMPLETE HIGH PROTEIN SUPERFOOD FOR CHICKENS With whole vegetables and grains for your hens’ health & happiness

Available at your local dealer or online at: kalmbachfeeds.com/where-buy • amazon.com • chewy.com October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 9 Rusty Moose Farm By Tami Mullin

was born and raised in Southern lettuce, potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, and I and a schoolhouse on the property. We California. We had two Arabian bought six fluffball baby chicks from the have never visited because the farm was Ihorses named Abby and Melody feed store. They were identical Rhode broken into parcels and sold but we have and a myriad of other animals. My Island Reds named Uno, Dos, Tres, so many wonderful treasures from the grandparents raised chickens and my Quatro, Cinco, and Seis. farm: Grandma’s old sewing machine, the dad’s dream was to farm and teach us Fast forward a few years. I was divorced mudroom seat for all of the kids to change kids how to be sustainable. My mom is an and raising a little boy, yet I yearned for into their farm boots, her sugar canister, amazing gardener and we often ate seed that simple farm life; that sustainable life and so many paintings of the farm. to table. She is also an incredible cook. my dad always wanted to create for us. We moved to the country and started I remember growing up watching Julia I met my now-fiance, Ryan, who is an breeding chickens for a beautiful colored Child throwing food around her kitchen incredible stepdad to my little boy. egg basket! We’ve built raised garden on an old box television with bunny Ryan was raised in the city with a beds and grow as much food as we can. ears. Julia was often a babysitter of sorts myriad of pets like dogs, cats, hedgehogs, We love to bake from scratch and live for me. Christmas mornings were spent etc., and he has always loved gardening. a simple, wholesome, seed-to-table rolling homemade cinnamon roll dough His mom is an incredible gardener! His lifestyle, where our goal is to be more and I was always the dedicated fudge- great-grandpa and great-grandma had sustainable as the years pass. We love stirrer. I now realize it was the hardest a beautiful 300-acre farm in Montana. learning and sharing with you! job in the kitchen but I treasure those The farm was so big that the town Thank you for reading and being a part memories: three generations together, petitioned to have a local market, chapel of our journey! creating meals for the family over the years. I grew up, went to college for pre- med, I wanted to be a heart surgeon, but the shake in my hand kept me from it. I Follow Tami Mullin: changed my major to nursing, hated it, Facebook.com/rustymoosefarm dropped out, moved to Washington, got married, finished college, got a job, and Instagram.com/rustymoosefarm decided to start farming in my free time. I YouTube - Search: Rusty Moose Farm grew a small garden of the staples: herbs,

10 Backyard Poultry Black Copper Marans chick. Black Copper Marans rooster.

Ryan and Tami. Shiloh with an chick.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 11 Peanut, a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana hen.

We moved to the country and started breeding chickens for a beautiful colored egg basket!

Jr., a Splash Wheaten Ameraucana rooster. Kermie, an Easter Egger hen.

12 Backyard Poultry High Flyer, a Brown Leghorn hen.

So many fluffy bums!

Olive Egger, Ameraucana, Black Copper Marans, and Olive Egger eggs.

Big Bertha, Golden Laced Wyandotte, and Lucy Goosey, Sprinkly Jane, a Speckled Sussex hen. Cuckoo Marans.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 13 COMING EVENTS The Coming Events listing is gathered and provided by www.poultryshowcentral.com. Add your show listing on their website or send to: Coming Events, Backyard Poultry, P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451, or email: [email protected]. To be included in the Backyard Poultry magazine listing, event details must be sent 90 days in advance.

Due to the COVID-19 response, please confirm events are happening before attending. Poultry Show Central is working hard to stay updated, but changes are being made daily and these events may end up being cancelled.

ALABAMA ILLINOIS MAINE

October 10, 2020 — Fayette, Alabama, Griffin/Grif- October 4, 2020 — Kankakee, Illinois, Tri-K Pigeon October 4, 2020 — Windsor, Maine, Central Maine fith Poultry Show & Bantam Club Pigeon Fair Bird Fanciers Fall Show poultryshowcentral.com/Griffith_Griffith_Poul- poultryshowcentral.com/TriK_Pigeon_Bantam_Fair. poultryshowcentral.com/Central_Maine.html try_Show.html html MARYLAND October 16-17, 2020 — Clanton, Alabama, Ala- November 14, 2020 — Jacksonville, Illinois, Jack- bama Bantam Club Fall Show sonville Area Pigeon Club Annual All Breed Show November 7, 2020 — Sharpsburg, Maryland, Mary- poultryshowcentral.com/Alabama_Bantam_Club. poultryshowcentral.com/Jacksonville_Area_Pi- land Poultry Swap & Farmers Market html geon_Club_Annual_All_Breed_Show.html poultryshowcentral.com/Maryland_Poultry_Swap. html October 24, 2020 — Anniston, Alabama, Heart of INDIANA Dixie Poultry Club Fall Double Show MASSACHUSETTS poultryshowcentral.com/Heart_of_Dixie_Ban- October 2-3, 2020 — Topeka, Indiana, Topeka tam_Show.html Exotic Animal and Bird Auction November 7-8, 2020 — Boston, Massachusetts, poultryshowcentral.com/Topeka_Exotic_Animal_ Boston Poultry Expo October 8-11, 2020 — Safford, Arizona, Graham Bird_Auction.html poultryshowcentral.com/Boston_Poultry_Expo.html Co Fair poultryshowcentral.com/Graham_Co_Fair.html October 11, 2020 — Knox, Indiana, Golden Horse- November 22, 2020 — Whitman, Massachusetts, shoe Saddle Club Swap Meet poultryshowcen- New England Bantam Club Fall Show ARIZONA tral.com/Golden_Horseshoe_Saddle_Club_Swap. poultryshowcentral.com/New_England_Bantam_ html Club_Fall_Show.html October 24-25, 2020 — St. Johns, Arizona, Apache County Poultry Show October 17, 2020 — Lebanon, Indiana, Central MICHIGAN poultryshowcentral.com/Apache_County_Poul- Indiana Poultry Show try_Show.html poultryshowcentral.com/Central_Indiana_Poul- October 10, 2020 — Lowell, Michigan, Michigan try_Show.html Bird & Game Breeders Assoc. Sale - Lowell October 2-25, 2020 — Phoenix, Arizona, Arizona poultryshowcentral.com/Michigan_Game_Breed- State Fair October 17, 2020 — Shipshewana, Indiana, Ship- ers_Swap_Charlotte.html poultryshowcentral.com/Arizona_State_Fair.html shewana Swap Meet poultryshowcentral.com/Newbury_Square_Swap_ MINNESOTA ARKANSAS Meet_Flea_Market.html October 3, 2020 — Wabasha, Minnesota, Wabasha November 7-8, 2020 — Fayetteville, Arkansas, IOWA Small Animal Swap Meet Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Club poultryshowcentral.com/Wabasha_Small_Ani- poultryshowcentral.com/Heart_of_the_Ozarks_ October 3, 2020 — Aplington, Iowa, Central Iowa mal_Swap.html Poultry_Club.html Exchange - Tack, Horse & All Animal Auction MISSISSIPPI CALIFORNIA poultryshowcentral.com/Central_Iowa_Livestock_ Exchange.html October 7-19, 2020 — Jackson, Mississippi , October 10-11, 2020 — Watsonville, California, Mississippi State Fair Great Western Pigeon Show October 4, 2020 — Walker, Iowa, Walker Farmer's poultryshowcentral.com/Mississippi_State_Fair. poultryshowcentral.com/Great_Western_Pigeon_ Swap & Flea Market html Show.html poultryshowcentral.com/Walker_Farmer_Swap_ Flea_Market.html November 21, 2020 — Columbia, Mississippi, The FLORIDA South Mississippi Standard November 21-22, 2020 — Webster City, Iowa, The poultryshowcentral.com/The_South_Mississip- October 24, 2020 — Bell, Florida, Citrus Classic Masters Cup pi_Standard.html poultryshowcentral.com/Central_Florida_Poul- poultryshowcentral.com/The_Masters_Cup.html try_Breeders_Fall_Show.html MISSOURI KANSAS November 5-15, 2020 — Tallahassee, Florida, October 1-4, 2020 — Versailles, Missouri, Jacob's North Florida Fair November 28, 2020 — Hutchinson, Kansas, Heart Cave Swapping Days poultryshowcentral.com/North_Florida_Fair.html of America, Kansas Classic Fall Show poultryshowcentral.com/Jacobs_Cave_Swap- poultryshowcentral.com/Heart_of_America.html ping_Days.html GEORGIA KENTUCKY October 24, 2020 — Sedalia, Missouri, Missouri November 28, 2020 — Dalton, Georgia, Carpet City State Poultry Association Swap and Show Bantam Club November 21, 2020 — Morehead, Kentucky, Appa- poultryshowcentral.com/Missouri_State_Poul- poultryshowcentral.com/Carpet_City_Bantam_ lachian Classic try_Association.html Club.html poultryshowcentral.com/Appalachian_Classic.html

14 Backyard Poultry NEBRASKA October 11, 2020 — Newcastle, Oklahoma, Texas November 21-22, 2020 — Comanche, Texas, All Game Bantam Club - "The All Game Show" Comanche Crossroads October 24-25, 2020 — Fremont, Nebraska, Fre- poultryshowcentral.com/Texas_All_Game_Ban- poultryshowcentral.com/Comanche_Crossroads. mont Exotic Bird and Animal Auction tam_Club.html html poultryshowcentral.com/Fremont_Exotic_Bird_ and_Animal_Auction.html November 7, 2020 — Norman, Oklahoma, Canadi- UTAH an Valley Poultry Club Mega Show NEVADA poultryshowcentral.com/Canadian_Valley_Poul- October 8-10, 2020 — Farmington, Utah, Utah try_Club_Show.html Fancy Poultry Association October 10, 2020 — Fallon, Nevada, Northern poultryshowcentral.com/Utah_Fancy_Poultry_As- Nevada Poultry Fanciers Association Show November 28, 2020 — Anadarko, Oklahoma, South sociation_Show.html poultryshowcentral.com/Northern_Nevada_Poultry. Central Poultry Club html poultryshowcentral.com/South_Central_Poul- November 7, 2020 — Logan, Utah, Cache Valley try_Club.html Classic camp NEW HAMPSHIRE poultryshowcentral.com/Cache_Valley_Classic.html PENNSYLVANIA October 10-11, 2020 — Deerfield, New Hampshire, VIRGINIA New Hampshire Poultry Fanciers Annual Show October 17, 2020-December 30, 1899 — Lebanon, poultryshowcentral.com/New_Hampshire_Poul- Pennsylvania, Lebanon Valley Livestock Market & October 8-11, 2020 — Fredericksburg, Virginia, try_Fanciers.html Exotic Animal Sale Fredericksburg Agricultural Show poultryshowcentral.com/Lebanon_Valley_Live- poultryshowcentral.com/Fredericksburg_Agricul- NEW YORK stock_Market.html tural_Show.html October 4, 2020 — SCHAGHTICOKE, New York, October 18, 2020 — Dunbar, Pennsylvania, Union- WASHINGTON Brunswick Grange Tailgate Swap town Poultry and farm products association poultryshowcentral.com/Tailgate_Sale-Schaghti- poultryshowcentral.com/Uniontown_Poultry_Asso- October 24, 2020 — Chehalis, Washington, Wash- coke.html ciation.html ington Feather Fanciers Winter Brisk poultryshowcentral.com/Washington_Feather_Fan- October 11, 2020 — Syracuse, New York, Yankee October 18, 2020 — Dunbar, Pennsylvania, Union- ciers_Brisk.html Fall Classic town Poultry and farm products association poultryshowcentral.com/Yankee_Fall_Classic.html poultryshowcentral.com/Uniontown_Poultry_Asso- November 7, 2020 — Chehalis, Washington, NW ciation.html Serama Club SCNA Semi Nationals NORTH CAROLINA poultryshowcentral.com/NW_Serama_Club.html November 15, 2020 — York, Pennsylvania, White October 2-11, 2020 — Winston-Salem, North Caro- Rose Pigeon Association Winter Old and Young November 21, 2020 — Stevenson, Washington, lina, Dixie Classic Fair Bird Show The Stevenson Poultry Classic poultryshowcentral.com/ Dixie_Classic_Fair.html poultryshowcentral.com/White_Rose_Pigeon_As- poultryshowcentral.com/The_Stevenson_Poul- sociation.html try_Classic.html October 15-25, 2020 — Raleigh, North Carolina, North Carolina State Fair November 15, 2020 — Dunbar, Pennsylvania, WISCONSIN poultryshowcentral.com/ North_Carolina_State_ Uniontown Poultry and farm products association Fair.html poultryshowcentral.com/Uniontown_Poultry_Asso- October 3, 2020 — Neillsville, Wisconsin, Neillsville ciation.html Small Animal Swap & Market November 7, 2020 — North Carolina, Old English poultryshowcentral.com/Neillsville_Small_Ani- Game Bantam Club of NC -Old English Jamboree RHODE ISLAND mal_Swap.html poultryshowcentral.com/Old_English_Bantam_ Club_Jamboree.html October 18, 2020 — Richmond, hode Island, Little October 10, 2020 — Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Rhody Poultry Fanciers Annual Fall Show Beaver Pigeon and Bantam Poultry Show November 28, 2020 — Winston-Salem, North Caro- poultryshowcentral.com/Little_Rhody_Poultry_Fan- poultryshowcentral.com/Beaver_Pigeon_Bantam. lina, Forsyth Fowl Fanciers Fall Show ciers.html html poultryshowcentral.com/Forsyth_Fowl_Fanciers. html SOUTH CAROLINA October 10, 2020 — Jefferson, Wisconsin, Beaver Pigeon and Bantam Poultry Swap OHIO October 14-25, 2020 — Columbia, South Carolina, poultryshowcentral.com/Beaver_Pigeon_Bantam_ South Carolina State Fair Poultry_Swap.html October 3-4, 2020 — Greenville, Ohio, Dayton poultryshowcentral.com/South_Carolina_State_ Fancy Feather Club Fair.html October 31, 2020 — Fond du lac, Wisconsin, Wis- poultryshowcentral.com/Dayton_Fancy_Feath- consin Bird & Game Breeder Fall Show er_Club.html November 21, 2020 — Clemson, South Carolina, poultryshowcentral.com/Wisconsin_Bird_Game_ Anderson Poultry Club Fall Classic Breeder.html October 10-11, 2020 — Chillicothe, Ohio, Southern poultryshowcentral.com/Anderson.html Ohio Poultry Association Fall Swap Day October 31, 2020 — Fond du lac, Wisconsin, Wis- poultryshowcentral.com/Southern_Ohio_Poul- TENNESSEE consin Bird & Game Breeder Fall Swap try_Association_Swap_Meet.html poultryshowcentral.com/Wisconsin_Bird_Game_ October 3, 2020 — Cleveland, Tennessee Flock Breeder.html October 16-17, 2020 — Mt Hope, Ohio, Mid Ohio Swap Swap Meet poultryshowcentral.com/Flock_Swap.html November 28, 2020 — Jefferson, Wisconsin, Wa- poultryshowcentral.com/Mid_Ohio_Swap.html tertown Pigeon Club Annual Winter Show November 14, 2020 — Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, poultryshowcentral.com/Watertown_Pigeon_Club_ November 6-7, 2020 — Mt Hope, Ohio, Mid Ohio Lawrence County Poultry Club Show Annual_Pet_Swap.html Alternative Animal and Bird Sale poultryshowcentral.com/Lawrence_County_Poul- poultryshowcentral.com/Mid_Ohio_Swap.html try_Club.html CANADA

OKLAHOMA November 14, 2020 — Newport, Tennessee Some- October 3, 2020 — Ilderton, Ontario, Ilderton Fair thing to Crow About Fall Poultry Show poultryshowcentral.com/Ilderton_Fair.html October 1-11, 2020 — Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa State poultryshowcentral.com/Something_To_Crow_ Fair About.html poultryshowcentral.com/Tulsa_State_Fair.html TEXAS October 10, 2020 — Newcastle, Oklahoma, New- castle Poultry Show October 24, 2020 — Abilene, Texas, Abilene Poultry poultryshowcentral.com/Newcastle_Poultry_Show. Association Fall Show html poultryshowcentral.com/Abilene_Poultry_Associ- ation.html

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 15 Do You Have Something To Crow About?

We want to hear from you. Send questions, comments, opinions, advice, coming events, etc. to: Backyard Poultry Editor, P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451 or email [email protected].

Gnats wanted to incorporate this in my design. which I considered a must-have for our But it also needed to be functional and lifestyle. On the storage side of the coop, practical. This is a working farm after all, I built a brooder area for baby chicks and I didn't see why it couldn't be both that we've hatched over the years, along OH GNATS!By Gina Stack unique and useful. with 4-H chicks and broody hens. The So, in 2013, after consulting with a lid is covered with wire and can be kept builder, construction began. The coop in place while baby chicks are growing was placed near my barn that was already or when root vegetables need a place to fenced off to allow for a large chicken cure after the chicks have left. It is also Photo attribution: D.Sikes (CC BY-SA2.0) yard. This area was also close to water hinged to allow easy access for cleaning. “THOSE GNATS ARE BACK!” and electricity sources. For the inside of The gardener in me began moving I yelled, startling our out of town guests while showing them our chickens on a warm, sunny day at the end of May in southwest Wisconsin. The chickens were doing the characteris- the coop, I found a remnant of linoleum plants from other parts of my garden to tic jerking of their heads and twitching as if someone was poking them all over with sharp needles. The gnats were starting their attack like speedy, tiny dive-bombing missiles. I felt to place on the floor of the chicken side. the front and side of the coop. Eventually, like announcing, “Incoming!” and running for some unseen shelter. This has helped keep the floor underneath I added window boxes. Pear trees were Backyard Poultry 66 from deteriorating from chicken manure. planted around the coop to help with I also added three windows on the coop shade plus they have a great stand of wild Regarding your article on buffalo gnats side for light and airflow and one on blackberries to snack on by the fence. My (in the August/September 2020 issue): the storage side. The chicken door is gardening obsession has fit in well with we have them is central Iowa also, and I equipped with an automatic solar opener the overall look of the coop. hate them! I have learned over the years of chickens dying to be ready for them (I mark my calendar) and have my fans ready. It is the only thing that has saved my chickens. They will sit on the roost in front of the fans to stay safe. For the last three years I haven’t lost any chickens while using fans. Thanks. Mary Arnold, Iowa

Living Roof Coop We called my aunt the Chicken Whisperer. Her soft voice, slow movements, and ever-present calmness seemed to transfix any chicken in her presence. It was her love for all things chicken that inspired me to enter the world of backyard poultry. I had a vision in my mind what I wanted the coop to be. I wanted one half to be for the chickens and the other half to be storage for feed, feeders, and gardening tools. I had seen photos of living roofs (or green roofs) in the past and knew I

16 Backyard Poultry There is also an enclosed run attached house, didn’t bother the chickens. I have to the coop. Lined with strong chicken to say we were sorry to see him leave. wire on the side and top, this wire extends Karen below ground eight to ten inches to help deter burrowing predators. I have a door Chicken Treats on this run that opens into the much I have been partnering/helping at the larger chicken yard. The chickens share nearby soup kitchen, getting lots of bread their space with my bees and both seem and produce scraps for maybe 10 years; Finally, results to tolerate each other very well. this helps very much with supplementing you can see! The living roof of the coop is eight my poultry business with lots of goodies POULTRY ® inches deep. There is a small French for my birds! When I open the gates NUTRI-DRENCH drain along the bottom that allows water and drive in, almost all of the free-range FAST Nutrient to escape on the end and helps water the 50-something geese and 100+ chickens Boost for Your plants in front of the coop. The wood on come running out to greet “meals on Poultry. top is lined with a pond liner and filled wheels!” with slightly moistened soil mix. The mix I keep their feeders filled with Backed by 20 years of research, eld trials I used was a combination of one-third commercially purchased feed, but they and 2 U.S. Patents. potting soil, one-third compost, and one- sure enjoy their treats! Even some of this “Nutri-Drench is the only nutrition used outside third perlite. There are special mixes that spring hatch of goslings look forward to the feed. It takes the stress out. It gives birds a can be purchased, but I had all of these the twice-a-week trip I make to town to better start. It helps the immune system plus it helps with shipping.” Lonnie Osman, on site, so decided to use what I had. deliver eggs, help at the soup kitchen, L & S Farms, AR After mixing and moistening, I shoveled and bring home several boxes of food •Stimulates Appetite the mix on the roof and placed a layer that were donated but folks didn’t take. •Strengthens Newborns of leftover chicken wire on top holding I am careful to ration out certain foods. •Quickly Restores the Immune System Bovidr 1/6 page ad it down with landscape pins at an angle (Such as sweets, don’t want them to Contains only 2.25” wide x 4.875” high so I wouldn't puncture the liner. Then I get tooth decay from sweets! Also, too Natural Nutritional Ingredients. Backyard Poultry March 2020 went through with wire cutters and cut a many sweets may influence the flavor of document: BovidrPoultryAd030320A.ai hole to place the variety of sedums I had eggs ... weird-tasting sweet eggs) I store 1-800-658-4016 www.bovidr.com 3/3/20 14:40 sg ordered and watered them in. any excess/unfed produce in my extra 4 color process Fast forward seven years later, most of the sedums survived, the soil on the roof is still there, and the chicken coop has become a favorite feature for those that Poultry Equipment visit the farm. And although I have not exactly reached chicken whisperer status, raising chickens has definitely been a fun and rewarding experience for our family. I think my aunt would be proud. Brenda Embry, Natural State Flower Farm, Arkansas

Screech Owl

Farmstead Catalog #21 Quality products for small-scale livestock and poultry farmers. Pig and Poultry Equipment We’ve had a backyard flock of chickens Get your FREE Farmstead Catalog today for many years that . One morning when I was letting the chicks www.farmstead-equipment.com | 855-910-7044 out, we found a resident screech owl. He hung around for a couple days in the

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 17 refrigerator in the garage. more per day. One year I had a pond dug Hi Becky, On egg delivery days, I text all for the ducks and geese; the ducks were When it comes to strong and smart customers that are on schedule to confirm forever in the mud, and made their eggs predators like raccoons, staples just aren’t their egg orders; this helps me determine taste muddy. Now that the ducks have good enough. Even a fencing staple will how many dozen eggs to box up in my fresh water often, their eggs are much pull out with enough work. To use a coolers for delivery. Since this nearest yummier! It might be a bit more work screw and washer, choose a self-drill town has a large-enough customer base changing their water, but it’s worth the screw that is flat on the back of the head for the chicken, duck, goose, and guinea better-tasting egg! and at least an inch long (like a #10, 1½”) eggs my birds produce, I have been able Sincerely, and a corresponding washer that has a to guarantee all eggs are fresh within the Cari Frahm, Montana hole smaller than the head of the screw past five days. Any extras or smaller eggs and an outside diameter quite a bit larger are given away to guests who frequent the P.S. This year’s spring goslings and than the ½ inch holes in the hardware 3 soup kitchen, or families that I have been chicks are growing great! I have several cloth (like a ¾ x /16 fender washer). alerted to that may appreciate fresh eggs. sold already and am now waiting for Cab screws have a washer-like head that Families with small children really enjoy other people who ordered started chicks would negate the need for a washer but the Banty eggs! to come get theirs. The latest batch of be sure they’re at least an inch long and Occasionally, I include a “news from ducks had 17 of 19 eggs hatch! the head diameter is about an inch wide to the coop” newsletter, with some hen ensure the hardware cloth won’t pull out. humor, a few recipes featuring eggs, and Chicken Run Construction There is also the option of drilling right sometimes a photo of my flock. I have read a lot about screwing, not through the wood and using a bolt so you I feel so blessed to have this bird stapling the hardware cloth for the run can use washers on both sides, making it business during my retirement years! and over openings in the coop. What I even stronger. One note on duck eggs: since egg flavor have not found is what type of screws I hope this helps! is partly determined by what the birds and size washers to use. I am using ½ Marissa Ames eat, it is very important that ducks have inch hardware cloth. Can you help me? fresh water; I often rinse out the rubber Becky Burcroff tubs and kiddie swimming pools twice or

18 Backyard Poultry Correction Waldorf Eggstoria The story “My Automatic Poultry I just wanted to show off the coop that my husband built and Watering Device,” by Chuck Krueger, thought maybe you would want to showcase it. in the August/September 2020 issue of Mendi Godbey, Indiana Backyard Poultry, did not include all the instructions. You can find the full tutorial at: We also sell black Freedom Rangers, Kosher King Freedom Rangers, backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ & Novogen Brown egg layers! coops/my-automatic-poultry-waterers/ Quality You Can Count On

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October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 19 NATURAL Flocks to PRODUCTS Follow FOR HEALTH & VITALITY

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Learn more at GetStrongAnimals.com Marissa Ames Ron Kean Editor Extension Poultry Specialist Backyard Poultry magazine University of Wisconsin-Madison Ask the Expert Ask Our Poultry Experts about Your Flock’s Health, Feed, Production, Housing, and More All-Access members can read hundreds of health questions and answers online and submit their questions directly to our experts through LIVE CHAT: backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ask-the-expert/connect/

Hen Stops Laying lems like you describe, including the isolated her and am feeding her garlic Hi, thin-shelled eggs despite giving her the and probiotics with water. Her friend I have a two-and-one-half-year-old best nutrition possible. And often, this Cinnamon is keeping her company. She Barred Rock who used to be one of my disease is otherwise asymptomatic but did a tiny poop, so I figured that would best producers. She suddenly stopped still causes inflammation within the ovi- be a good sign. I was wondering if there laying a few months ago. Other than duct. If she is otherwise acting normal is anything you can recommend and if that, she seems fine. No sign of illness at the moment, I wouldn’t assume she is sour crop victims have a likely chance or injury. She is eating and drinking and currently ill. And you’re certainly feed- of surviving the encounter. bossing the other hens around. I feed a ing her right. There’s not much you can Thanks, layer crumble that has 17% protein and do at the moment other than keep her Leah offer oyster shell free-choice. They re- healthy until her oviduct recovers. Good ceive a small, healthy snack at the end of luck, and I hope she starts laying again Hi Leah, the day. The last month, she has laid at soon! Sour crop is essentially a fungal infec- least three broken eggs; not an egg that Marissa tion that can happen when food backs up broke, but an egg with a very thin shell in the crop combined with starchy foods that I believe broke inside of her before Hi, which fungus like yeast LOVE. And it is it came out. She doesn't seem to have the Thank you very much for your quick certainly survivable if you take care of it signs of being egg-bound. She laid one reply! soon enough. Many chicken owners will normal egg last week and one a couple She went through a full molt in the turn their birds upside down while gen- of months ago. My other hens are laying winter, and then starting laying very tly massaging the crop to induce vom- well. What do you think is wrong? What well for a couple of months before she iting, but poultry experts advise against should I do for her (other than taking her stopped again. She hasn't been losing this because doing it wrong may injure to a vet)? Thanks so much for any guid- any feathers. No one has had any cold your chicken. A veterinarian can cor- ance you can provide! like symptoms. She sure does have me rectly flush the crop. Supply foods that Kimberlie Hassian, California mystified! Thanks so much! Love your discourage fungus, such as the apple ci- magazine. der vinegar in the water, fresh oregano Hi Kimberlie, Kimberlie leaves or oregano oil diluted with olive There are many reasons that a hen oil, or a little yogurt. The garlic and pro- would stop laying, even one as young Sour Crop biotics are great ideas. (Remember none as yours. Since it’s summer, and she I figured out today that my broody of these are part of a chicken’s normal stopped laying in spring, I wouldn’t as- Silkie, Tira, has sour crop. I had found diet, so don’t give too much. Also, I ad- sume it to be molt. Is there any chance a liquid of undigested food and water dressed how much garlic to give in the your hens exhibited cold-like symptoms in her nesting box, but I thought it was August/September 2020 issue of Back- in late winter or early spring, such as probably just a strange broody poop. To- yard Poultry. It’s definitely worth a read, runny noses and rattling breath? Infec- day when I picked her up, she spewed since too much garlic can cause hemo- tious bronchitis can cause laying prob- the same liquid on me from her . I lytic anemia in chickens.) Avoid any

If you have health-related poultry questions, send them to us at Backyard Poultry, Attn: Ask the Expert, P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451 or email to [email protected]. All submissions will be considered for print publication. Please include your name and hometown with your questions, which should be as detailed as possible. Pictures help us answer questions, so please include those too!

22 Backyard Poultry treats like bread, sugary items, or corn in the morning?) cap, and it sounds like she is doing just for now. Sometimes, when those strate- Here is research from where they tried fine right now. With Ocular Marek’s, gies don’t work, owners need to resort to to determine exactly where the protopor- death is imminent. We have a story about antifungal medications that can be given phyrin is deposited, whether on the cuti- this within our 2020 Special Subscriber orally. The Merck Veterinary Manual cle or further within the shell: pubmed. Issue of Backyard Poultry, but here is an recommends Nystatin. Consult a veter- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24046428/ excerpt from the story: inarian for a list of medications that can And here is the study where scientists “Ocular Marek’s disease symptoms be given to chickens, and dosages for determined that eggs laid earlier in the are irregularly shaped pupils, gray or each. morning tend to be darker: pubmed.ncbi. cloudy eyes, difficulty seeing, and final- Good luck! Your birds are lucky to nlm.nih.gov/27333974/ ly total blindness in one or both eyes. A have an owner who cares so much for I will be watching these studies to chicken’s owner may realize something their health. hopefully learn all the dynamics of is wrong when the chicken doesn’t re- Marissa brown egg color! spond to human approach, or when it has Thanks for sharing your egg with us! trouble picking up small food items.” Strange Colored Egg Marissa I hope this helps and can give you some answers! Good luck! Chicken with Vision Problem Marissa My sweet Thelma has developed vi- sion problems. She is about six-years- Thank you so much for your fol- plus and an Easter Egger. low-up. I love the publication and have It seems like this is something she de- been a subscriber for many years. veloped about several months ago, or I Thelma's eyes are not at all cloudy and I didn't notice. However, it's now very ap- don't see any wounds. Her behavior is this: parent. She misses where she is attempt- When I hold out spinach or she does to ing to bite food. If I hold out spinach for peck something off the ground, she misses her, she goes to bite it about a couple of it. For the spinach, she looks, then goes to inches away from the food. get several inches away. So, whatever the The good news is she manages to eat issue, it is a perspective issue? When I ex- her regular food and drinks water, as amined her eyes more closely, her pupils well as she still dust bathes and sleeps are not misshapen nor are her eyes cloudy. on top of the coop. She seems to be eating (I'm checking FYI, the coop is inside a very secure with you and making special options to I collected this Welsummer egg one and large run. be sure she is getting food and water) afternoon and was very surprised at the In my 20 years of keeping chickens and watching her behavior. But, as you coloration of it, as I had received spot- who live a nice long life, one that died at said, this could get worse. ted eggs from my hens before, but none age 12, I've never seen this before. Is it Re: the article, it would seem a good to this extreme! How do the colors on a related to her breed and is there anything idea to get the Vetericyn Eye Gel to see single egg like this one differ so greatly? I can do? if that helps? Is there a reason I should Thanks, Geri Spieler not use it on her? Brandon, Louisiana Thanks. Hi Geri, Geri Hi Brandon, First off: Does the eye look any dif- Great question! We know that the ferent? Is there swelling around the eye, Hi Geri, brown color is from protoporphyrines cloudiness like the eye has a cataract, Vetericyn is a great product. And that are “painted onto” the egg during odd discharge, or is the eye bloodshot? though I don’t recommend that peo- the final stages of production, but I went If so, you might be dealing with an inju- ple use it indiscriminately (meaning looking for an exact answer as to WHY ry or infection. Here is a great story that applying it frequently just to prevent this egg would have all the spots con- talks about procedures and products that a problem that hasn’t yet happened) it centrated at the tip. And it seems even you can use to help Thelma: wouldn’t be a bad idea to use some to scientists don’t yet know the answer. backyardpoultry.iamcountryside. see if it can mitigate the issue that you What they have found, though, is that com/feed-health/treating-livestock-and- are experiencing. Other than that, I rec- certain factors can affect the coloration chicken-eye-problems/ ommend watching her behavior as you of brown-shelled eggs laid by the same Unfortunately, there are other reasons are already doing, to assess if quality chicken: whether she ever had certain for vision problems, and these are much of life declines. And if it does, then you illnesses, how old she is, where she is in more difficult to treat. Actual cataracts would need to make a decision regarding her yearly laying cycle, and even what (not the cloudiness caused by injury or accessibility (helping her get to food and time of day the egg was laid. (Did you infection) or Ocular Marek’s disease are water easier) or if culling is an option. know that eggs laid earlier in the morn- two of them. With the cataracts, your Good luck! ing tend to be darker than eggs laid later chicken should be fine with the handi- Marissa

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 23 Dead Hen Hi Sally, Hi Peter, I believe you’re correct in your guess We received your question about egg that your hen choked while trying to drop syndrome. Though the disease has regurgitate a crop impaction. While no cure, the Merck Veterinary Manual re- specifically eating mud isn’t common, ports that egg production usually returns chickens will eat rocks to help grind to normal. None of the scientific resources the food. Also, when they eat feathers, I found reported that the cycle of produc- fibrous material, etc. and it doesn’t tion drop can occur multiple times with- pass through the digestive system, it in the same hen. The only odd exception can appear to look like dirt as it de- is when a chick hatches from an infected cays. If you Google images of material egg; some chicks develop antibodies but removed from impacted crops, it looks usually the virus is latent and she may ap- similar to this but perhaps with fresher pear completely asymptomatic, then later content that has caused complete ob- after she reaches point of lay, the virus My two-year-old Australorp hen was struction. It sounds like the impaction will reactivate and she will experience the found dead under a low perch this morn- wasn’t bad enough to otherwise affect same laying problems as the other hens ing with this 1.5 x 1” firm mass in her her behaviors, until she tried to clear and can shed the virus to infect others. In wide-open beak. There are no bugs or it. backyard flocks, these outbreaks may just larvae in it. It doesn’t smell. She has been I’m sorry for your hen’s death and I be an inconvenience, as it may take up to completely normal and laying well like hope this helps. 10 weeks for it to work its way through her flock mates. Her weight and feathers Marissa a flock and for production to return. But are ideal. Will they eat mud? Could dirt for commercial producers who know the cause a crop impaction? Could she have Egg Drop Syndrome virus is endemic in their areas, they can choked on it while trying to regurgitate Hi, does egg drop syndrome ever cure vaccinate hens at around 14 weeks then it? Her throat behind the mass was clear. with time or does it stay dormant and with yearly boosters. Chickens that have Thank you for your thoughts. reoccur? had the disease develop antibodies which Sally “Chicken Lady,” Thank you. prevent reinfection and can boost overall Pennsylvania Peter resistance within a flock. I hope this helps! Marissa Incubators, Brooders, Cages & Supplies New Chicks Hello, I own two hens, one Orpington and a . They are one-and-a-half years old. Soon I would like to buy two- week-old chicks and put them in the coop. Is that wise? Would they be adopted? Gilbert Parent, Illinois

Hi Gilbert, I do not recommend putting the new chickens in with the older hens until they are at least six weeks old. Hens will of- ten adopt chicks but 1) the hens must be broody 2) the chicks must be very young. I’ve successfully given one-week-old chicks to some of my most dependable broody hens but two weeks is a lot to ask. If a hen is not broody and you give her chicks, she will often kill them. You can mitigate any possible disasters if you wait until the chicks are fully feathered so they can fly away from the older hens, plus be Quality, Utility, and Performance at a Reasonable Price sure your coop and run have areas where GQF MANUFACTURING CO. the smaller pullets can hide from the larger PO BOX 1552 hens, until they can all learn to get along. SAVANNAH, GA 31402 USA Good luck! visit GQFmfg.com Marissa

24 Backyard Poultry October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 25 My loving chickens.

— Ellie Fashingbauer, Wisconsin

Our chickens pasture range five acres and live their life to the fullest! “Get in, we are going farming!”— Corinne Swarthout, Mulberry Meadow Farms, Michigan

This is Jackie’s favorite bush. She loves to hide in the leaves and eat the flowers when they are in bloom. Jackie is an ISA Brown chicken. — Sammy Schuchman, @journey. Delphine with our first successful Serama — Paige Doughty, Minnesota of.a.chicken, hatchling! New Jersey

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Meet Subaru! Even though he only has one eye, it has not stopped him from being a great protector to his ladies. — Briona Wilbur, Texas

Since COVID-19 I have been shielding at home with my two New rooster to add to my flock of 106 boys as my eldest is vulnerable and autistic. With my son's chickens. — Angela Morton, California love of nature, he talked me into hatching four chickens. Our eldest, Weebly, is now three months old and loves the camera! — Catherine Flemans, Nuneaton, Warwickshire

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Backyard Poultry retains the right to publish and/or reproduce any and all photos submitted. To have your photos returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. By Lacey Hughett Marek's Disease

THE FACTS: What it is: One of the most common viral neoplastic dis- eases seen in poultry. Causative agent: Three species within the genus Mardivi- By Lucyin CC BY-SA 4.0 rus, although only one, Gallid alphaherpesvirus, is virulent. Incubation period: About two weeks, but it can be three to six weeks before clinical signs are evident. The incubation period for this disease is highly variable. Disease duration: Chronic. Morbidity: Incredibly high. ing these vital areas are responsible for the classic signs of Mortality: Once a bird begins showing symptoms, 100%. Marek’s, which are paralysis in the legs and/or wings and Signs: Paralysis, neurological disease, and severe weight head tremors. The paralysis alone can be enough to kill a loss. Postmortem examination will show tumors and enlarged bird, as it struggles to get to food and water and is at risk for nerves. being trampled by its flock mates. Birds may recover from Diagnosis: Diagnosis can be done with flock history, clinical this paralysis, but it is extremely rare. signs, postmortem lesions of tumors and enlarged nerves, and Postmortem examination will show enlarged nerves and cell histopathology. diffuse tumor growth, including many internal organs such Treatment: No treatment exists, but severe infection can be as the liver, gonads, spleen, heart, kidneys, lungs, and muscle prevented with good sanitation and vaccination. tissue. Externally, birds may have tumor cells infiltrate the iris of the eye making it appear grey in color. In addition, the THE SCOOP: birds may exhibit enlarged feather follicles due to tumor cell Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) is one of the best-known infiltration of the skin. These eye and skin lesions are rare. poultry diseases. It causes tumors and immunosuppression in Interestingly, different breeds of chickens show different mainly chickens, but is occasionally seen turkeys and quail. levels of susceptibility to MDV. Egg type breeds appear to be Once infected, a flock generally shows clinical signs of the more vulnerable to falling ill than meat type breeds. Silkies disease between six and 30 weeks of age; however, the disease are reported to be highly susceptible to MDV. can affect older birds as well. Not all infected birds will show Although MDV is common in flocks, diagnosis is important signs of being sick, but they will be a carrier for life and will continue to shed the virus. MDV replicates in the feather follicles of infected birds, where it is shed via dandruff and easily spread from bird to DID YOU KNOW? bird. An uninfected bird will inhale the virus, where immune cells become infected in the lungs. B and T lymphocytes are the first cells to become infected, and both are responsible Egg type breeds appear to be for different types of immune responses. The bird then be- comes immunocompromised, opening it up to opportunistic more vulnerable to falling ill pathogens. As the disease progresses, tumor cells will begin to appear than meat type breeds. in the bird’s nerves, spinal cord, and brain. Tumors infiltrat-

28 Backyard Poultry to rule out other similar diseases such as lymphoid leukosis or reticuloendo- Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) is theliosis. Lymphoid leukosis and retic- uloendotheliosis are rare. Diagnosis is based on the enlarged peripheral nerves one of the best-known and the presence of tumors, along with microscopic examination of the lesions. poultry diseases. Immunohistochemistry and PCR testing can be done to look for MDV antigens. Tested birds will exhibit high quantities of the virus and the viral DNA, and tests New chicks should ideally have a vaccination is possible, but not ideal. should show there being no other tumor separate caretaker from the established The MDV vaccine must be refrigerated viruses present. Unfortunately, birds can flock and should be housed in a sanitized and reconstituted, then used in exact be concurrently infected with MDV and area away from any other birds. If hav- amounts no later than two hours post other tumor-related diseases. ing separate caretakers is not possible, reconstitution. If a suboptimal dose is Since MDV is released from the begin feeding, watering, and cleaning administered, the bird will not be effec- feather follicles of infected birds, the the chicks’ area and finish with the older tively vaccinated. The vaccine takes up environment where the bird is living birds. Going from youngest birds to old- to a week to circulate and begin working, is considered contaminated. The virus est birds is going from “clean” to “dirty.” so wait at least that long before introduc- can live years without a host in the dust MDV can be carried back to the ing chicks to an area that previously held and litter, so even if all infected birds younger birds on the owner’s clothes, infected birds. are gone from an area, the area is still feed, equipment, hands, and anything Vaccination prevents the development considered contaminated. else that can get dusty. If it is necessary of tumors in healthy birds and reduces Preventing birds from getting sick to return to the younger chicks for any the spread of MDV, but it doesn’t fully from MDV is possible. Raising birds reason, change clothes and shoes and eradicate the disease. Even vaccinated in an “All in, all out” way can help wash your hands before handling or car- birds can be carriers of the disease and prevent the infection from spreading to ing for the youngest birds. It may seem can be a source of infection to younger new flocks. Between batches of birds, tedious but it keeps the new generation birds. Sanitation to reduce the amount thoroughly disinfect the living area or of birds safe. Additionally, keeping of virus in the environment is a key pre- move the new flock to a new area if the chick equipment and feed separate ventive measure. An excess amount of possible. Most backyard owners have from the regular flock’s supplies is good virus in the environment can overcome multiple generations of birds, so this practice. vaccination and the birds can come down isn’t possible. This is where excellent When bringing new chicks home, with clinical disease. Since clinical dis- biosecurity comes in. have the vaccinate them. Home ease is not always evident, it is presumed that subclinical infection is present and the environment is contaminated with virus. This is one of the reasons that it is essential that the birds be vaccinated in the hatchery for Marek’s Disease.

ALL COOPED UP is a collaboration between medical professional Lacey Hughett and poultry specialist at University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Sherrill Davison. Every "All Cooped Up" publication has ROMAN HALOUZKA / CC BY-SA been vetted by Dr. Davison. Cutaneous lesions from Marek's disease in a chicken.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 29 Marek's Disease By Lacey Hughett

Diagnosis rules out similar diseases. Diagnosis is based on enlarged peripheral nerves and the presence of tumors, along with microscopic examination of the lesions. Immunohistochemistry and PCR testing can look for MDV antigens. Birds can be concurrently infected with MDV and other tumor-related diseases. After releasing from feather follicles, the virus can live for years in the dust and litter, so even if all infected birds are gone THE FACTS: and occasionally turkeys and quail. Infected from an area, the area is still considered What it is: One of the most common flocks generally show clinical signs be- contaminated. viral neoplastic diseases seen in poultry. tween six and 30 weeks of age; however, the Prevention is possible. Raise birds in Causative agent: Three species within disease can affect older birds as well. Not an “All in, all out” way, thoroughly dis- the genus Mardivirus, although only one, all infected birds show symptoms but will infecting the living area between batches, Gallid alphaherpesvirus, is virulent. continue to shed the virus for life. or move the new flock to a new area. New Incubation period: About two weeks, but MDV replicates in the feather follicles chicks should ideally have a separate care- it can be three to six weeks before clinical of infected birds then is shed via dandruff. taker and be housed in a sanitized area away signs are evident. The incubation period for After inhalation, it infects immune cells from any other birds. If this is not possible, this disease is highly variable. in the lungs. The bird then becomes im- then feed, water, and clean the chicks’ area Disease duration: Chronic. munocompromised and susceptible to and finish with the older birds. Change Morbidity: Incredibly high. opportunistic pathogens. clothes and shoes and wash hands before Mortality: Once a bird begins showing Tumor cells appear in the bird’s nerves, caring for the youngest birds. symptoms, 100%. spinal cord, and brain, causing the classic Ask to vaccinate new chicks. Signs: Paralysis, neurological disease, signs of Marek’s: paralysis in the legs and/ Home vaccination is not ideal. The MDV and severe weight loss. Postmortem exam- or wings and head tremors. Birds rarely vaccine must be refrigerated and reconsti- ination shows tumors and enlarged nerves. recover from this paralysis. tuted, then used in exact amounts no later Diagnosis: Done via flock history, clini- Postmortem examination shows enlarged than two hours post reconstitution. If a sub- cal signs, postmortem lesions of tumors and nerves and diffuse tumor growth, including optimal dose is administered, the bird will enlarged nerves, and cell histopathology. many internal organs. Tumor cells may not be effectively vaccinated. The vaccine Treatment: No treatment exists, but infiltrate the eye making the iris appear takes up to a week to begin working. severe infection can be prevented with good gray. Birds may exhibit enlarged feather Vaccination doesn’t fully eradicate the sanitation and vaccination. follicles due to tumor cell infiltration of the disease. Even vaccinated birds can be carri- skin. These eye and skin lesions are rare. ers. Excess virus can overcome vaccination THE SCOOP: Egg type breeds appear to be more vul- and cause clinical disease. Sanitation reduc- Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) causes tu- nerable than meat type breeds. Silkies are es the amount of virus in the environment, mors and immunosuppression in chickens, reported to be highly susceptible to MDV. but vaccination is the best prevention.

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October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 31 Crêpes By Rita Heikenfeld

re crêpes hard to make?” “Do you Crêpes are so versatile and take to a variety of need a special pan?” “They sound fillings. From savory to sweet, crêpes fill the bill. “Aso fancy — do they contain hard For a weekend breakfast or brunch, make a batch to find ingredients?” These are just a few of the of crêpes filled with scrambled eggs. comments I get when students sign up for a crêpe Having friends and family over for an autumn making cooking class. lunch or dinner? Chicken or seafood crêpes with a I can tell you honestly that no special crêpe pan creamy cheese sauce will bring appreciative smiles. is required, and you can whip up a batch of crêpes Dessert crêpes make a memorable dessert for with ingredients you most likely have on hand. entertaining. You can fill them in myriad ways — If you raise chickens for eggs, you’ve already from a simple whipped cream and fruit filling to a got a head start. Milk, flour, egg, oil, and baking classic crêpes Suzette flavored with orange liqueur. powder — only five ingredients needed for basic Have I piqued your interest? Good, let’s get crêpes. started making crêpes!

32 Backyard Poultry Tips from Rita’s Kitchen Make ahead and refrigerate up to three days, sandwiching crêpes between waxed paper or parchment, or freeze up to a month. Sweet crêpes: I use my master recipe for savory and sweet crêpes. But if you like a little extra sweetness, for sweet crêpes add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tea- spoon sugar. You can also add a couple of dashes of cinnamon.

MASTER CRÊPE RECIPE BREAKFAST/BRUNCH CRÊPES

Ingredients So easy you don’t need a recipe, except • 1½ cups milk for how to fold the crêpes. • 1 large egg, room temperature Make a batch of very soft scrambled • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil eggs. If you like, add your favorite filling • 1 cup all-purpose flour to the eggs right before they’re finished • ¼ teaspoon baking powder cooking. Or leave plain and add a topping.

Instructions Ingredients for fillings 1. Whisk milk and egg together until • Dijon mustard (to brush on inside well-combined. of crêpes) 2. Whisk in oil, flour, and baking • Shredded cheese powder, again until well-combined and • Chopped green onions mixture is smooth. You can use the batter • Cooked bacon right away, or put it in the refrigerator, Ready to flip. • Sautéed mushrooms or vegetables covered, up to an hour or so. • Chopped ham 3. Turn burner to medium. Brush an • Cooked sausage 8”-10” omelet pan (a skillet with sloping sides) or a crêpe pan, with butter. When it Ingredients for toppings sizzles, pour a little over half of a ¼-cup • Cheese sauce measure into the pan as you’re holding • Salsa the pan slightly to the left, if you’re • Tomatoes right-handed. Reverse the technique if • Hollandaise sauce you’re left-handed. It’s a little awkward, but you will get it, I promise. Instructions 4. Continue to pour batter in slowly but 1. Brush inside of each crêpe very steady and twirl the pan until it is covered lightly with Dijon or country mustard. with crêpe mixture on the bottom. 2. Place desired filling in the center. 5. Cook until splotchy brown on First side done. Fold top over and tuck it under the egg bottom, about ½ to 1 minute. Flip over a little bit. Fold in sides and then roll to until golden brown on other side, about close. ½ minute. 3. To serve, melt a little butter in a 6. Every 2-3 crêpes, butter the pan skillet over medium heat. again. 4. Place crêpe, seam side down, in skillet and cook just until golden on I will tell you that the first couple of both sides. crêpes usually don’t turn out; after that it's easy sailing.

Yield: 8-12 crêpes. Second side done.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 33 CREAMY SAVORY CHICKEN- OR SEAFOOD-FILLED CRÊPES

For a special meal.

Ingredients • About 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small bite-sized pieces, or favorite seafood, cut into small bite-sized pieces (shrimp and crab are good) • 3-4 tablespoons butter 1 • /3 cup shallots or onion, diced fine • 2 teaspoons seasoning mix: chicken seasoning for chicken crêpes; Cajun or favorite fish seasoning for seafood crêpes • 2-3 teaspoons flour 2 • /3 cup whipping cream or little more if necessary Stack crepes between waxed or parchment paper. • Generous ½ cup Parmesan cheese or to taste, plus more for garnishing if desired • Parsley, chopped, for garnish Tips from Rita’s Kitchen Instructions You can also simply fold the crêpes in quarters on a plate and 1. Melt butter over medium heat in sauté pan and pour the sauce over them. add shallots. Cook until tender but not brown. 2. Add seasoning mix and flour, cooking and stirring until flour is completely mixed in with the butter. 3. Stir in cream and bring to a boil, stirring fre- quently. 4. Add seafood or chicken and return to a boil, cook- ing just until chicken or seafood is cooked. 5. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. 6. Place a crêpe on plate and fill, then roll crêpe around filling, placing seam side down. Put a little extra filling on top and sprinkle with parsley. Yield: 6-8 crêpes.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE FILLING FOR CRÊPES

You can make this with or without the coffee. The coffee gives it a mocha flavor.

Paris-style crepe with chocolate topping. Ingredients • 1½ teaspoons vanilla • 1 teaspoon instant coffee (opt) Tips from Rita’s Kitchen • 1½ cups whipping cream • 1 cup powdered sugar 1 In a hurry? • /3 cup unsweetened cocoa • Fill crêpes with your favorite ice cream, then drizzle with a store-bought chocolate or fruit sauce. Instructions • Or chop up some apples or pears, cook in a little butter and sug- 1. Put vanilla, coffee, and cream in mixer. Blend. ar until tender, add a couple of dashes of cinnamon and a squeeze 2. Add sugar and cocoa and blend. of lemon juice. Serve warm as filling or even a topping. 3. Whip on high until stiff. 4. Store, covered, in refrigerator up to a day.

34 Backyard Poultry ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RITA HEIKENFELD comes from a family of wise women in tune with nature. She is a certified modern herbalist, culinary educator, author, and national media personality. Most important, she is a wife, mom, and grandma. Rita lives on a little patch of heaven overlooking the East Fork River in Clermont County, Ohio. She is a former adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati, where she developed a comprehensive herbal course. abouteating.com column: [email protected]

Crêpes Suzette. Tips from Rita’s Kitchen

CRÊPES SUZETTE Is it a crêpe or a blintz? Both are a variation of a thin pancake, with blintzes sometimes being Restaurant-quality crêpes right from your kitchen! a little thicker. Blintzes are always filled, rolled, and ends tucked in. Crêpes can be filled and rolled or folded, or with filling between Sauce ingredients stacks of crêpes. • 1 stick/4 oz. butter • ¼ cup sugar • ½ cup orange juice • ½ teaspoon orange extract (optional) • 2 tablespoons orange marmalade (optional) • ¼ cup orange liqueur • Chicks • Turkeys • Ducklings Instructions • Goslings • Guineas 1. Melt butter in a large skillet over low • Gamebirds • Bantams heat. Whisk in remaining ingredients. • Equipment • Books Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer Call 717-365-3694 and cook until reduced by a third or so to thicken the sauce. www.hoffmanhatchery.com 2. Meanwhile, fold crêpes in half and FREE PO Box 129BP then fold again to make a triangle. CATALOG!! Gratz, PA 17030 3. Place crêpes in sauce, quickly spoon some sauce on top of each crêpe, and place on plate.

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE-FILLED CRÊPES

Kids love these simple crêpes.

• After crêpes are made, leave in skillet and scatter a palmful of chocolate chips on top. Fold crêpe over and residual heat will melt the chocolate. • Or spread favorite jelly or peanut butter onto crêpe. • Fold over, then spread melted choc- olate on top.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 35 Pot Pie Pasta Bake By Hannah McClure

s you plan your holidays, you can plan on leftovers. Whether you have a huge family Agathering or you keep it small and intimate, you know as well as I do that there is always plenty left for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to last for days. And I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need to remake those leftovers into something new. Like leftover turkey! Be it soup or sandwiches, there seems to only be so much you can do with turkey. Let me share a tasty way we turn leftover turkey into a “new” meal perfect for lunch or dinner. And easy! So easy you'll wonder why it’s just now making your meal plan!

TURKEY POT PIE PASTA BAKE

Ingredients: • 2-3 cups left over shredded turkey (cooked of course) • 10 oz can cream of chicken soup • 10 oz can cream of mushroom soup • 15 oz can mixed veggies (can use frozen veg- gies in place of canned veggies) OR 1½ cups of leftover green beans, corn, and peas, mixed • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning • 2 teaspoons garlic powder • 1 tablespoon dried diced onion • Salt and pepper to taste • 8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese • 6-8 oz egg noodles/half a bag (cooked)

Instructions: In a large bowl, mix together turkey, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, veggies, and all spiced/seasonings till combined. Add in sharp cheddar and mix together. Once all ingredients are mixed together, add cooked pasta and stir until all pasta is incorporated in. Pour pasta mixture into a greased glass baker (roughly 9x13” or 3 quart). Top with a little extra cheddar. Cover with foil and bake on 375 degrees F

ABOUT THE AUTHOR for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an extra five minutes.

HANNAH MCCLURE is an old soul homemaker and mother of four Tip: This recipe also makes a great take-and-go. Us- from Ohio. Gardening, keeping bees, sewing, raising chickens/seasonal hogs, and baking/cooking from scratch are a few things she enjoys in her ing foil bakers, you can easily share with loved ones homemaking. Always learning and always chasing her littles. during the holidays. I often make ours in a smaller Find her on Instagram @muddyoakhenhouse glass baker and dip out some to fill a smaller foil baker to share or send for lunch with my husband.

36 Backyard Poultry October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 37 POULTRY PRESIDENTS

What Makes an Ideal President? By Kenny Coogan With a huge presidential election coming up, we asked poultry presidents around the country about their jobs, what makes a great president, and to share their organization.

protect the standard-bred poultry indus- nities we should address.” try. To that end, we: publish the American Your organization: “We display Standard of Perfection with breed and virtually all the equipment and services variety descriptions for all the recognized utilized in the commercial industry, much purebred fowl. Additionally, since 1874, of which can be adapted to smaller op- the APA is the go-to organization for erations. Members have access to a wide anything concerning standard-bred poul- variety of publications, research reports, try. We are member centered, technolo- and industry news wires.” gy-serving, and progressive. We believe uspoultry.org in the importance of our membership and serving its needs.” amerpoultryassn.com Don McIntyre, President of Poultry Mark Podgwaite, President of American Science Association Poultry Association. Your duties: “Oversees the welfare John E. Starkey, PE, President of and sustainability of the organization. Mark Podgwaite, President of Amer- U.S. Poultry & Egg Association This includes oversight of the staff, fi- ican Poultry Association Your duties: “Oversee the implemen- nances, PSA journals; Poultry Science Your duties: “Promote and success- tation of our various programs in educa- and The Journal of Applied Poultry Re- fully operate the oldest livestock orga- tion and research to support the poultry search, and our Annual Conference; with nization in North America. Assists in industry in the following developed direction and support from the Board of various other poultry-related meetings, program areas: research, education, en- Directors and the membership.” events, and exhibitions. Is responsible for vironmental, employee safety and health, Ideal president: “One must be a good the conduct of the directors’ and general food safety, and human resources. While listener, trustworthy, diplomatic, and meetings as well as be the sole interpreter geared toward the commercial interest, above all else have the ability to make of the Constitution and By-Laws of the several of these areas, especially research decisions for the membership and defend Association when not in session.” (e.g., disease prevention and control, those decisions if needed.” Ideal president: “Listens to and con- animal welfare enhancement, food safety Your organization: “PSA is a global, siders the opinions of the association’s enhancement, etc.) would apply over to culturally diverse organization dedicated board of directors and its membership. backyard poultry. Host our signature to the advancement of poultry science, An association does not exist without event: The International Poultry Expo.” the poultry industry through research, members and their interests must be Ideal president: “That’s easy — hav- and the promotion of careers in poultry served. Promotes the association at every ing a great team to work with here at U.S. science for people of all backgrounds and opportunity and wholeheartedly believes Poultry & Egg Association, and a great interests. We are only as strong as our in its mission and core values.” Board of Directors to provide insight and members and to be effective in advancing Your organization: “To promote and counsel on industry issues and opportu- the poultry sciences, we need member

38 Backyard Poultry guidance and contributions from all areas Ideal president: “Being readily avail- articles in the newsletters that are sent out of the poultry industry.” able to attend to any needs of the club and to our members each quarter as well as poultryscience.org/ its members. I am always willing to help make themselves available for members’ with any questions and concerns that our questions. We have distinguished awards members may have, and I take the time to like lifetime achievement.” Jean Ribbeck, President of mentor members or if needed direct them americansilkiebantamclub.org Ameraucana Breeders Club to other breeders who will aid in mentoring Your duties: “Promote the breed and specific varieties of silkies. Communicat- the club. As Chairman I direct the tone ing and updating the club and Focusing Chadwick Satterfield, President of of discussion in a positive way. I pick up on our junior membership and program Belgian Bearded d'Anvers Club of slack when things need to be done.” is also important.” America Ideal president: “Must have a true love Your organization: “We offer many Your duties: “Ensuring the organiza- of the breed and thick skin. In poultry clubs, forms of mentorship to help you grow. Our tion is running smoothly and the breed much like in life, there will always be loud board members are experienced breeders is promoted. I conduct meetings at the complainers and quiet doers. Seek out the and exhibitors themselves who take the National events.” quiet doers to build a great team. Before time to write informative and educational Ideal president: “A great leader is you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. To be successful as a President you need a great secretary and board members who work tirelessly to promote the breed with you.” Your organization: “We are growing by leaps and bounds. We are committed to pro- viding our members with new technology, education about the breed and opportunities to show, sell, and promote Ameraucanas. We were recently added a new color variety, self-blue, with the APA. We are dedicated to furthering the Ameraucana breed and are very active on social media and have a great group of members both new and old that love the breed.” ameraucanabreedersclub.org

Paige Kleckner, President of American Silkie Bantam Club.

Paige Kleckner, President of American Silkie Bantam Club Your duties: “I ensure that the consti- tution and by-laws are rightly executed and that the other officers of the American Silkie Bantam Club fulfill their assigned duties. When every board member is ful- filling his or her duties the club functions as intended.”

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 39 someone who isn't afraid to listen to the newsletters, club meets, and Facebook members of the club.” group.” Your organization: “To promote the Ideal president: “Demonstrates dedica- breed, gain knowledge from experienced tion to the advancement of both the breed breeders.” and the club and maintains communication danverclub.webs.com with officers and members. It is critical to display a leadership style that both engages experienced breeders and welcomes new folks to the breed.” Your organization: “Rare breeds are in dire need of more breeders to preserve and advance the breed. Buttercups have many unique traits to consider, and currently Mackenzie Grove-Hager, President of Domi- there is very little published information. nique Club of America. It is critical for serious breeders to share information, experience, and bloodlines to for the club. I run our Board meetings, advance and promote the breed in both large oversee the Board and their duties and fowl and bantam forms. We set up club offer any necessary support, attend as meets at shows across the country where many of the shows as possible, reach out Benjamin Janicki, President of American breeders can meet in person and compare to club partners and sponsors, organize Buttercup Club. stock. By keeping our communication our Annual Club Meeting at our National online, we have been able to make our meet, and so forth.” Benjamin Janicki, President of membership costs completely free.” Ideal president: “Be an active and American Buttercup Club americanbuttercupclub.org passionate person in the membership. A Your duties: “Serve as the head of pub- president needs to be involved with the club lic outreach and guide the direction of the membership. They need to be engaging, club. I work closely with the other officers Mackenzie Grove-Hager, President kind and a skillful diplomat. There needs to to maintain the website and keep members of Dominique Club of America be an understanding of what the club needs connected with the breeder’s directory, Your duties: “To be a public face and what the membership wants while

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40 Backyard Poultry preserving the ethics and the standard of the bylaws are followed during all club busi- club and its breed. A president also needs to ness, maintain the NCBA website, and be ready to stand up for the membership and preside over meetings.” make sure their voice is heard by the Board Ideal president: “Is organized, ded- ABOUT THE AUTHOR even though the president has no vote. The icated and patient. To hold a leadership president needs to be respectful and kind.” role, you need to be extremely dedicated KENNY COOGAN is a food, farm, Your organization: “We have a very wel- to your breed and to the organization. and flower columnist. Coogan leads coming membership and Executive Board, Patience is huge.” workshops about owning chickens, an amazing quarterly Newsletter, a strong Your organization: “Our yearly Nation- vegetable gardening, animal training, support for those breeders who exhibit, and al Meet includes a raffle, live bird auction, and corporate team building on his a passionate core dedicated to preserving this and club merchandise. We publish three to homestead. His newest book, 99 ½ Homesteading Poems: A Backyard historic breed in both its large fowl and ban- four newsletters each year and an end of the Guide to Raising Creatures, Growing tam sizes. We are a long-standing breed club year yearbook. We offer a lot of literature. Opportunity, and Cultivating and hold true to its core values and beliefs of Our organization is a perfect blend of ‘old Community, is now available at the preservation of the Dominique chicken.” timers’ teaching and ‘newbies’ learning.” kennycoogan.com. dominiqueclub.org callducks.org

Cindy Gibson, President of Guinea Fowl International Your duties: “Chief volunteer. I am also the head spokesperson and represent Guin- ea Fowl International at events, speaking opportunities, and online on guinea-related pages and forums.” Ideal president: “Recruiting great people  and letting them do their thing.” Your organization: “Guinea-keeping is  on the rise in the U.S. as a means of organic     pest control, but the species is often misun-     derstood, and people become frustrated or  even fail at maintaining a flock of guineas.  Guinea Fowl International was formed to gather and share information from poultry scientists, avian vets, and some of the largest breeders and backyard flock keepers and then to get that correct information out to people looking to add guinea fowl to their properties.” guineas.com

Bob Choate, President of Club of America Your duties: “To preside over meetings and help guide the club. To oversee any problems and help with new ideas.” Ideal president: “Be a leader — promote the breed and the club at all times.” Your organization: “Teaches others about the breed. Learn from associating with its members and from our newsletters.” sites.google.com/view/oegca

Kaylyn Lund, President of National Call Breeders of America Your duties: “Acting as chairman of the  | 800.767.4537 board of directors, ensure the constitution/

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 41 Bielefelders & Niederrheiners Two Beautiful and Useful Breeds From the Farm Country of the Lower Rhine By Doug Ottinger

magine living in European farm country, many years ago, and raising Ichickens that had to forage almost entirely on their own. Not just any chick- ens, but roosters that could reach 10 to 13 pounds and round-bodied, meaty hens that that could easily tip a scale between eight and 10 pounds. Hens that were notorious for laying extra-large or jumbo brown eggs, for two or three years. The hens set and raised their own babies. Add in an inordinate gentleness of both hens and roosters, and it sounds like the fantasy bird all chicken keepers dream about. Such birds actually did exist, and still do today. To temper my glowing descriptions with reality, however, not every bird had or will have all of these characteristics, and some will not measure-up at all. Nonetheless, these birds and their an- cestors, as a whole, were able to develop and maintain such characteristics in open farm-flock mating and self-foraging over a period of at least 150 years. Meet the Bielefelders and Niederrhein- ers, two breeds with long heredities, origi- Maria Graber of CG Hertbeats Farm holds one of her pet Niederrheiner roosters. nating in the farmland of the Lower-Rhine region (or Neiderrhein) of Northern Ger- Roth, the breed, as we know it today, was sure the birds meet the European standard many. These birds and their ancestors can developed and standardized in Europe by as well as the original large body size and also be found in the Netherlands, on the the early 1970s. Many websites simply egg production traits that made them so West bank of the Rhine, as well as Belgium state that Herr Roth used Barred Rocks, popular in their native Rhineland. (Nederrijners in Belgian). Niederrheiners Malines, New Hampshires, and Rhode The Bielefelder, by ancestral nature, is date back to at least the 1800s, while the Island Reds in the development of his new a large, self-sufficient bird. While being history of the Bielefelders, as an official breed and then give no more information. good layers, they are slow to mature. breed, goes back only about 50 years. Ac- Some experts, including Johnny Mara- According to Johnny, many females do tual ancestry of both breeds has deep roots, velis of Uberchic Ranch in Wilmington, not start laying until at least six months over many decades, in the farm flocks of Massachusetts, include Welsummers and old, and some may take a full year to de- the Lower Rhine. Let’s take a closer look Cuckoo Marans as genetic possibilities in velop. Once they get past the pullet stage, at these two similar yet different breeds. this mix. Curious, I began a long chase purebred hens from good lines normally for information. After hitting many dead- lay extra-large to jumbo eggs. Normal egg Bielefelders ends, I eventually interviewed Johnny. He production is 230 to 260 eggs per year, Conduct a web search for the history shared years of in-depth knowledge about with most hens taking time to raise at least of these beautiful birds, and you will both breeds and their origins. The Mara- one brood per year. They are known to only find part of the story. Thanks to the velis’ family-owned breeding operation be excellent foragers, having been very efforts of German Poultry Breeder Gerd raises both breeds and attempts to make self-sufficient in their original habitat of

42 Backyard Poultry have produced (including large amounts of dark meat, which is valued in Europe). Some are allowed to stay in the flock as setters and brooders. In the United States, most hens and roosters are done as breeders by the end of their first year. Layers are rarely kept beyond a second laying cycle. The ideals and economic models of these vastly differing methods are light-years apart. There are several color variations of Bielefelders available. Probably the most popular and well-known is the multicol- ored Crele pattern. Neck, saddles, upper back, and shoulders of the males should be Bielefelder Hen. Photo credit: Uberchic Ranch. a deep reddish-yellow with gray barring. Breasts should be yellow to light auburn. Hens’ respective feathering should be a slightly rust-partridge color with a red- dish-yellow breast. Legs should be yellow and eyes orange red in color. Hens should ideally weigh eight to 10 pounds and roost- ers should tip the scales at 10 to 12 pounds. Breasts of both sexes should be meaty and well-rounded. In most cases, chicks of this breed are autosexing, meaning you can identify sex at time of hatching. Females will have a chipmunk stripe down the back and males will be lighter in color with a yellow spot on the head. Both roosters and hens of this breed are generally known to be docile and people-friendly.

Niederrheiners Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners at CG Heartbeats Farm. Photocredit: Maria Graber. Found in several varieties and color patterns, including Cuckoo, Crele, Blue, the Lower Rhineland. operated by the United States Depart- Birchen, and Partridges, this handsome, Bielefelders have currently become a ment of Agriculture, supplied thousands gentle fowl of the Lower Rhine region is new phenomenon to many poultry keep- of American chickens to people in the somewhat rare and almost impossible to ers in the United States. Many private devastated areas of Europe. Rhode Island locate for purchase in the United States. breeders, as well as commercial hatcher- Reds were one of the main breeds given One of the most popular and well-known ies, are beginning to breed and sell them. away. Many of these birds were mixed is the Lemon Cuckoo pattern: A gorgeous As often happens when new breeds are with local landrace breeds, and the round, cuckoo, or loosely barred pattern, of alter- introduced, some breeders concentrate heavy bodies that were characteristic of nating lemon-orange and white stripes. so heavily on the right color patterns and fowl in this region began to take on the Coming from the same region with other features, to make their birds “look longer, lighter form of the Rhode Island much of the same ancestry probable, right,” that other important features are Reds. Egg size also began to decrease in Niederrheiners are similar in many ways lost. According to Johnny, many hens some of these landrace flocks. to Bielefelders. Both are known for large, in the United States can be two pounds One difference between many Euro- meaty bodies. However, the Niederrhein- lighter in weight than original European pean and American breeders is timing of ers are rounder, while the Bielefelder body females and roosters are sometimes flock maturity. In Europe, slow growth is slightly elongated in shape. According three pounds lighter. Egg size has also is very acceptable. Many farms and to Maria Graber or CG Heartbeats Farm, decreased from extra-large or jumbo, to breeders, especially those who focus on one of the few breeders of these birds I was an average of just large in many flocks. self-sufficiency and foraging, are willing able to find (along with Johnny Maravelis), While a small number of contemporary to let the hens and roosters take the first the birds are excellent layers with larger breeders have reportedly mixed other year to mature, eventually reaching very egg size than her other breeds. One of the breeds into their lines, Johnny Marave- large sizes. Hens are allowed to lay for problems that she was very candid about lis told me some interesting history. A three years or more and are then harvested with these birds, however, is problems goodwill program after World War II, for the massive amounts of meat they with fertility (this is also a problem that

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 43 to predators. If you live in an area with predators and free-range these birds, you will need to take precautions. They are a beautiful, well-dispositioned breed for families with children. Like the Biele- felders, Niederrheiner roosters are known for gentle dispositions. Bielefelders are currently available from a number of hatcheries and breeders. How- ever, the Niederrheiners can be difficult to find. Uberchic ranch (uberchicranch.com) and CG Heartbeats Farm (can be found on Facebook) are both good starting points. We would also like to hear from readers who may know of other sources for this beautiful, rare breed. Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner rooster. Photo credit: Maria Graber CG Heartbeats Farm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR has been noted by others in web blogs over cross hatched out healthy chicks. It is very the past few years). One of the things that probable that this breed survived well in DOUG OTTINGER raises chickens, Maria noticed as she watched the birds was the lower Rhine, as open-flock mating ducks, and geese on his small hobby that the roosters were so large that they would likely have had similar numbers of farm. Doug's educational background were very clumsy in their mating efforts. hens and roosters, with more virile males is in agriculture, with an emphasis As a test, she put some Swedish Flower available for mating. in poultry and avian genetics. Doug Hen roosters with the Niederrheiner hens According to Maria, the birds do very recently lost his wife and companion of 40 years, following her long battle with and let them breed. (She is NOT mixing well in the hot, humid summers of North- Multiple Sclerosis, and he is continuing breeds for sale. Bloodlines are remaining ern Indiana, as well as the winters. They writing and working from his small hobby pure. This was just a test to find the root are excellent foragers, but because they farm in far-Northewest Minnesota. of the problem.) All of the eggs from this are so docile, they are not extremely alert

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This definitive guide to North American barnyard and wild fowl includes a brief history of each breed, detailed descriptions of identify- ing characteristics, and colorful photography of more than 128 birds that celebrate the birds’ quirky personalities and charming good looks. If it’s fowl facts and photos you want, you’ll find them all here. iamcountryside.com/shop/storeys-illustrated-guide-to-poultry-breeds Reader Submitted Feature

Fluffy, a proud mom. Jim with Fluffy.

and Penny, who like clockwork regularly lay extra-extra-large eggs every morning. But Henny and Penny wouldn’t have been part of the flock if it weren’t for our smallest, most timid, and least productive hen — Fluffy. Fluffy When I bought Fluffy from our local feed store a year ago, I was attracted to the Little Hen that Could the fluffy-looking feathers that wrapped By James L. Doti, Ph.D. around her ankles. These low-hanging feathers, however, gave Fluffy a lopsided gait that slowed her down considerably. ’ve read that pandemic-panic buying bountiful, in fact, that I’ve used them When I’d arrived in the morning to give caused eggs to disappear from to barter with my neighbors. Here’s an the girls their treats, they’d charge around Ishelves. The Wall Street Journal example of the going exchange rate: me waiting for handouts. Not Fluffy. She listed eggs as the hardest hit of all the In return for six eggs, our next-door was always a beat behind as she waddled food shortages. neighbor gave us a bottle of Pinot Grigio behind everyone else. Maybe because she Not so for our household. Our girls, an with a roll of toilet paper wrapped around was odd-woman out, the other hens bullied assorted mix of six gorgeous hens, have its neck. her. The only way she would end up with kept us well-stocked with a bountiful We wouldn’t be so rich in eggs if it any treats is by me placing her in a neutral supply of the freshest eggs around. So weren’t for our best producers, Henny corner with her own separate cache.

46 Backyard Poultry Lo and behold, exactly 21 days later, I found eggshells around Fluffy. Looking more closely, I saw two little featherless blobs squirming around. Fluffy seemed to have a proud, confident air about her as she showed off her newborns. How this timid, clumsy, and socially inept gal somehow had what it took to be a mommy was totally beyond me. But that she did. Fluffy was transformed into the best mom one could ever hope for. How she kept her two little guys warm without smothering them was a mystery to me. As they grew, Fluffy would push them toward their feed and always let them have first helpings. What most shocked me was how Fluffy, as timid and fearful as she was, would spread out her wings and go after any of her former nemeses if they’d get too close to her babies. In no time at all, the little guys sprouted feathers and grew prodigiously in size. They got so big that they had to struggle to find room under their mommy. One night I flashed a light to check up on them and saw two little heads popping out for air on top of Fluffy’s wings. It was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Jim with Henny and Penny. A year later, those two little chicks have grown to be the largest in our flock. They I think the constant harassment caused waddle back to her nest. There she would turned out to be “California Whites,” Fluffy to become a loner. She tended to resume brooding seemingly content, her a breed of chickens known for their hang out by herself, distancing herself as eyes frozen in a blank stare. great egg-laying ability and their gentle much as possible from her abusive sisters. Unfortunately, there was an intractable dispositions. After a while, I noticed that Fluffy began problem with all this brooding, a problem Even though Henny and Penny are to spend all of her time by herself in a of which Fluffy was totally unaware. She twice the size of their mother, I notice nest box. I figured it was the constant could sit on her eggs until hell freezes they still run to her when they become harassment that led to a self-imposed over and never become a mommy. frightened about anything. While they exile. But after reading an article in Without a rooster around, she was sitting tower over their mom in a way that Backyard Poultry, I realized there was on blanks. reminds me of the old “Baby Huey” another reason. She was brooding. Backyard Poultry suggested placing a cartoon series, they seem secure being The brooding, it turned out, wasn’t frozen box of peas under a brooding hen close to her. because of the antisocial dynamics of my to help dispel a broody hen’s motherly Henny and Penny are way too big to be flock but because she wanted to become a instincts. When I tried that trick, Fluffy with mom in their nest together anymore. mom. For reasons the article didn’t totally didn’t move. In fact, she seemed to enjoy I find comfort, though, at night when I make clear, hens periodically decide to the cooling comfort of the frozen box. check up on the flock and see little Fluffy sit on their eggs or anyone else’s eggs in Removing the eggs also didn’t work. sitting on her perch with Henry and Penny order to incubate them. Turns out that it She’d continue sitting on her nest as if an close by on either side of her. takes exactly 21 days for the incubated imaginary clutch of eggs were under her. eggs to hatch and become a clutch of I finally gave up and concluded that it’s baby chicks. well-nigh impossible to distract a broody Nothing, and I mean nothing could hen from doing what comes naturally, ABOUT THE AUTHOR roust Fluffy from her nest. I tried luring namely producing baby chicks. “So why her out of her nest with tasty treats like not just go out and buy fertilized eggs and JAMES L. DOTI, PH.D. is President her favorite mealworms, but she wouldn’t plop them under your broody hen?” the Emeritus and Professor of Economics at Chapman University, and is a budge. Even if I picked her up and article concluded. And that’s precisely Backyard Poultry subscriber. brought her to the worms, she’d do a fast- what I did.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 47 the Rooster Roosty By Mark M. Hall

n our mini farm, we place a Many years later, I started a small layer very distracting.” high value on our layers. For flock of my own, but I could never avoid Roosty quickly grew into an Omany years, we have enjoyed an roosters thereafter, it seemed. In fact, exceptionally strong rooster with a broad efficient production of fresh, tasty eggs. nearly every time I ordered pullets from a body firmly situated on long, chunky legs. However, this vast appreciation was not hatchery, one turned out to be a cockerel. His huge, sharp claws were like grappling always extended to the occasional rooster. It was the same story each spring. With hooks and a sharp, powerful beak he used In fact, I consistently avoided roosters for great joy and satisfaction, I watched my like a dagger. He once made a successful a long period of time. There never was, new brood of pullets grow. Then, after a break-out with nothing more than his own nor would there ever be, a need for them few weeks, I warily noticed that one was brute force. It was a frigid winter evening … or so I thought. beginning to look slightly different from with temperatures dipping far below zero My general lack of appreciation for its mates. It appeared to be a bit larger and degrees F. He was toughing it out in his roosters began when I was a child. was developing a redder comb. Though own little bachelor hutch until I decided Generally, my dad only kept a few hens disappointed, I raised the little guy to to move him somewhere warm for the on the farm, but one summer, several adulthood before ultimately shipping him night. Grabbing a wooden transport crate, disorderly Leghorn roosters were brought elsewhere. I somehow managed to get him inside into the mix. Like an angry mob, they However, I was finally persuaded and hefted him down to the cellar. In the charged me daily as I collected the eggs. to keep a rooster, one spring, in spite morning, I returned and found that the I was quite certain that the majority of of my reservations. Not surprisingly, side of my crate was busted into pieces. their spare time was spent sharpening that year’s batch included yet another The muscle-head was proudly strutting their spurs. Meetings were likely held cockerel. A Delaware, he was white with around nearby with head back and chest each morning, just before feeding time, black tips on his tail and his hackles, and expanded as though he owned the place. to brainstorm new sinister ways to attack my young daughters absolutely adored In addition to his physical strength, me. Eventually, I learned to carry a big him. One day, they informed me that his Roosty’s bravery was remarkable, as stick, which I never needed to swing. name is Roosty and begged me to keep well. The following summer, a raccoon They clearly did not like the look of it and him. “Okay,” I relented after some deep had often slipped into a small penned begrudgingly avoided me ever after. Still, thought on the subject. “We will keep him area that Roosty was sharing with a hen. I was relieved when Dad finally sent them one year for breeding purposes, but then With each visit, the intruder ate some packing. “Good riddance,” I thought, my he has got to go. I surely don’t want him of their feed and occasionally stole a outlook on roosters forever tainted. to mix with the layers. Roosters can be fertilized egg. One night, the young

48 Backyard Poultry Go!” With heads down and wings tightly tucked, a dozen pairs of chicken legs sliced through a jungle of tall grass toward a predetermined secure location. Roosty watched the layers dash quickly up the ramp and into the coop, while he stood guard duty outside. Captain Roosty went on to proudly protect and serve for the rest of his days. With his toughness, his bravery, and his keen intellect, he defended the layers far better than any other method I could have concocted. The pesky raccoon’s days of mischief were ended, and no other predator dared begin. Finally, after decades of taking no account of roosters, I finally learned the value of one. rooster had apparently reached the end I assumed that the emboldened creature of his tolerance of the masked bandit’s would return, so I made a tactical decision. ABOUT THE AUTHOR thievery and decided to take care of Finally granting Roosty’s wish, I moved business. Heroically, he fought off the him out of his small confines to be MARK M. HALL lives with his wife, raccoon, suffering only a laceration to his with the layers, and he immediately got their three daughters, and numerous comb. I was impressed, but I still planned down to business. Whenever he detected pets on a four-acre slice of paradise in to send him away at the end of the year. predators lurking about, he moved the rural Ohio. Mark is a veteran small-scale Roosty was not particularly fond of flock to safety. The layers seemed to chicken farmer and an avid observer those living arrangements. For hours at admire him and followed right along of nature. As a freelance writer, he endeavors to share his life experiences a time, he stood at his fence, watching wherever he went. Like an Army Special in a manner that is both informative the layers forage extensively. He paid Forces commander behind enemy lines, and entertaining. absolutely no attention to the hen matched he issued commands akin to, “Go! Go! up with him, and it was quite upsetting to her. One day she displayed a particular degree of determination to get his attention when she squeezed between Roosty and AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION the fence. With measured side steps, she shuffled directly in front of him, but he DEDICATED TO PROMOTING AND continued to ignore her, looking right over PROTECTING STANDARD-BRED POULTRY her head. Next, she stretched her head upward as high as she could and gently pecked him on the neck. Still preoccupied, Benefits include: Roosty tilted his head to the side in Quarterly Newsletter-Annual Yearbook order to see around her. Hilariously, she Officially Sanctioned Shows and Judges shadowed this movement and pecked him again. With growing irritation, he craned his neck farther to the side and continued JOIN TODAY-Dues: $20 per year or $50 for 3 years to look past her. This comical episode continued for several more rounds, and to Junior members $20 per year or $50 for 3 years my surprise, neither one fell over! Finally, the events of one late-summer American Poultry Association evening changed Roosty’s fortunes PO Box 9, Lucasville, OH 45648 forever, though under the grimmest of Phone: 740-876-4845 - Email: [email protected] circumstances. The demoralized raccoon Website: amerpoultryassn.com returned, his eye on more than feed and eggs. Wisely avoiding Roosty this time, he sneaked into the yard and made off with one of the layers. Fleeing unharmed, he left behind a long trail of white fluffy feathers, as well as a gnawing realization in me that a freed Roosty could have prevented this from happening.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 49 Turkeys by the Dozen By Dorothy Rieke

really don’t know why Mother de- iting unique personalities. They liked to ed a coat. Let’s go look.” cided to raise turkeys. Maybe, she be babied and seemed to enjoy spending We walked to the closet. Mother I was hoping to have a treat on holi- time with humans. pulled out the box of clothing. She days, or maybe she just liked the looks of During storms, they apparently had no reached into the box and pulled out a those birds, or maybe she needed money fear. They cavorted around seemingly heavy black winter coat. for a special project. unaware of the lightning and thunder. Oh, horrors! I recoiled at the sight Whatever the reason, Mother drove We heard that poults could drown in a of that thing! I thought it looked like a to a neighbor’s farm home and returned storm as some seemed to gaze up at the huge, black, furry animal ready to attack. with nearly 100 large, fertile turkey eggs. sky until they drowned. Mother was elated. “Oh, Dorothy, just Hens were selected, nests were pre- As they grew older, they communi- look at this material. It is a beautiful pared, and feeders and waterers were in cated with gobbles, purrs, yelps, and piece of , and see the lining.” place. Soon, her setting hens would be kee-kees. The lining was satin, but there was setting on large brown-speckled eggs. I It was my mother’s job to provide an inner lining of flannel-like material. could not wait to see those baby turkeys clothing for my sister and me. This was “How warm this will be!” she enthused. or poults. an ongoing problem as we were both I whined, “Mama, I don’t like that col- It took 28 days for the hatching. Moth- growing fast. Cotton material was ex- or. My friends do not wear black coats.” er was disappointed that some eggs did pensive; jeans or slacks were not worn. She replied, “Oh, don’t worry about not hatch because she wanted live chicks Dresses were “in.” that. This is a lovely piece of woolen from every egg. From many of the eggs Because I was the youngest and the material. It will keep you warm, and I came long-legged poults, larger than smallest of the family, my dresses and know there is enough material to make baby chicks. coats were sewn from Mother’s clothes, you a tam to go with your coat.” During those first few days, I’m sure my older sister’s outgrown clothing, or Tam or not, I did not want a coat made the poults probably had trouble deciding my aunt’s castoff garments. of that material! “Mama, I do not like who their mothers were, as my mother Ordinarily, this was a fine arrange- that material. I do not want a coat of was out there multiple times each day ment. However, as I grew into the teens, it!” I asserted. checking the hens and the poults. I began looking at others my age. They Mother replied, “Well, we will see.” Mother always watched to see that all had been wearing pretty, stylish “Cin- Nothing more was mentioned about poults had their turn at the feeders. At derella” dresses purchased at the local that coat. I was relieved, but I figured times, poults starved because they had clothing store. I began thinking that I that I would soon have a coat made of no turn at the feeders. As they grew old- would like something more like what Auntie’s old coat. er, they were not selective in what they they were wearing. The turkeys were now ready to butch- ate. With huge appetites, they not only One early fall day, Mother said, er, and the holidays were near. Mother ate the food provided for them, but other “Dorothy, we must soon think about began selling her turkeys, alive or butch- bits and pieces on the ground including your winter coat. That one you wore last ered. She and my sister dressed quite a berries, seeds, and insects. year will be too small.” She continued, few for the Thanksgiving holiday. They As we watched those active little “I believe that Auntie brought a box of delivered and sold several dozen. poults, we saw they were playful, exhib- clothing over last week. I think it includ- Mother still had turkeys left to sell.

50 Backyard Poultry One day a member of the Chamber of Commerce of a nearby town called. He was searching for turkeys for a raffle. Did she have a large number of turkeys they could buy? Mother had enough for their purposes, and that was all she wanted to sell. They came one afternoon and loaded the turkeys. Mother had her turkey money. Early one evening, we took our eggs and cream to a nearby town. The eggs would be sold, and Mother would use that money for groceries. Dad would take the cream money, some for church and some for other expenses. After the produce was delivered, Mother said to me, “Come on, Dorothy, we are going to buy you a winter coat.” We walked past Penney’s and on to the really nice department store in town, Wessels. My mother, who “schooled” me on keeping “Mother, we can’t go to Wessels; they chickens and turkeys. are high-priced.” She replied, “We will see.” this coat?” We entered the store and walked back Mother replied, “This coat will last a to the coat section. What a lovely array long time. Being three-quarter-length, of brightly colored coats were on racks! you will not easily outgrow it. The front Mrs. Granger came forward. Mother has a large overlay of material. Also, that told her that we were looking for a coat material is the kind that will wear well.” NEW for me. My heart was hammering in my I felt so elated, and yet I felt disturbed. chest. What were we doing here? This Mother used most of her turkey money was too expensive! to buy me a coat. What had been her I tried on several coats. Finally, Moth- plans for that money? I am sure that er saw a gold-colored coat on the rack. money was earmarked for something ChickSafe Eco and Advance “Let’s try on that one.” Mrs. Granger else. Truthfully, I felt rather selfish. automatic coop door openers… helped me put on the coat. However, I loved the coat, and it wore protect your birds when you can’t I walked over to the three-way mirror. well for years. I could not believe my eyes! I was no During the Great Depression, many longer a gawky little girl. I appeared emotions were displayed. Most dis- to be a sophisticated teenager. The played were compassion, thoughtful- gold-colored, three-quarter-length coat ness, kindness, and caring. At that time, was perfect for me. It had no buttons, many sacrificed to bring happiness to but a wide belt held the front in place. others. The collar snuggled against my neck Mothers and fathers often gave up bringing a sense of warmth. At one their own dreams to see that the dreams Prices from $99.99 glance, I loved that coat. It was so pretty of their children came true. Perhaps, and stylish! in some ways, the Great Depression µ Brinsea have re-designed the coop door opener from scratch. The NEW ChickSafe Eco and I held my arm so I could see the price brought out the best in everyone. Advance patented designs have only one moving tag. Oh, horrors, we could not pay $29, part and no mechanical switches for the ultimate for a coat! I looked at Mother. rugged reliability and ease of use. ABOUT THE AUTHOR After a few minutes of inspection, µ A tough two-piece alloy door is also available. Mother told Mrs. Granger that we would take the coat. I could not believe my DOROTHY RIEKE living in southeast Nebraska, is married to Kenneth and Visit www.brinsea.com ears! I would have this glorious coat! has one daughter. She has lived on or call 1 888 667 7009 for details As we left the store, clutching a box farms all her life and has raised both Brinsea Products – bringing innovation containing the oh-so-special coat, I chickens and turkeys. to chicken keepers for over 40 years! questioned Mother, “How can we afford

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 51 Turkey Tails It’s What’s for Dinner By Kenny Coogan his Thanksgiving, after guests spar Samoans traditionally eat a healthy diet that come from being overweight.” over which turkey piece is theirs, of bananas, coconut, taro, and seafood. In 2007, Samoa put a ban on the Tyou may be tempted to discard the Since meat was scarce on the islands, the import of turkey tails to start healing leftover turkey tail. This is the triangular poultry industry started discarding their their country. The ban on turkey tails part at the end which when roasted turns turkey tails on the Samoan Islands. By influenced the locals to buy healthier crispy. However, many chefs argue that 2007, the typical Samoan was consuming food. The powerful U.S. poultry industry, the “last part over the fence is the best bite 44 pounds of turkey tails a year! As you of course, did not like this. Samoa had of the bird.” I encourage you to try it, eat can imagine, their once-healthy lifestyle been trying to join the World Trade it, and use it to not only help with food became sickening with Samoans now Organization (WTO) for years. When waste but also to send a message to Big having a 93% rate of being overweight they applied to become members, they Ag and the globalized poultry industry. or obese. were told their application was blocked After World War II the U.S. poultry “It's not just Samoa where those until they started allowing turkey tail industry was raising turkeys in excess. turkey butts end up; Micronesia is imports! In 2011, the government of Producers foresaw Americans not another destination,” Liza Lee Barron Samoa gave in and lifted the ban so they enjoying turkey tail meat and started says. Barron, a good friend and medical could participate in the WTO. chopping it off prior to sale. Around reference librarian, lived in the Republic I think this story should be shared the ‘50s and up until today, the trend of the Marshall Islands in the early 1990s around the Thanksgiving table. More of favoring white meat over dark meat and was surprised to see so many frozen importantly, we as poultry enthusiasts prevailed. If turkey tails were offered, turkey butts in the store. “They would collectively support homesteading, they probably would not have been ship them out there and they would dump sustainability movements, and improving favored. Turkey tail meat is dark and them into an open freezer at the store. No human rights. Maybe this will get you to not technically the tail. It is the part that packaging whatsoever! Turkey butt stew start raising turkeys for food or income. connects the showy feathers and houses was popular.” If butchering turkeys isn’t your thing, the oil-preening gland. The meat industry, Barron adds, “Micronesians also suffer maybe you would consider supporting who were now amassing turkey tails saw many health problems as a result of the farms, like Villari Foods, that sell turkey a way to make a profit on a byproduct — introduction of the Western diet like type tails in the U.S. rather than exporting exportation. II diabetes, obesity, and all the problems them to countries who don’t want them.

52 Backyard Poultry Jumbo French Guineas, Bantam Silkies, Brown Chinese Goslings, Muscovy Ducks, & Ducks

Photo courtesy of Villari Foods.

Villari sells packaged turkey tails in and let cook for 2½ hours. Walmarts across the country. I’m not 7. Uncover and stir smoked turkey saying you should eat 44 pounds of it a tails. Replace cover and let cook for year but give it a try. another hour. 8. Remove from the oven and spoon Here is a recipe Villari Foods the smoked turkey tails on a bed of white Guineas are fast growing, suitable for recommends on their website: rice. Spoon the sauce over the turkey tails backyard growers who want to control ticks and for those who would want to use them as and rice. a meat bird. Smoked Turkey Tails Over Rice 9. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley and serve. Bantam silkies are Ingredients While many recipes I found online excellent sitters with a 6 Villari Brothers smoked turkey tails involved using turkey tails to flavor gentle nature that make ½ green bell pepper, chopped beans and rice, collard greens, or stews, excellent pets. 2 stalks celery, chopped some recipes used the turkey tail as the 1 medium yellow onion, chopped main course. I encourage you to try “To order bantam silkies, call Blue Banty 5 tablespoons unsalted butter them roasted, smoked, slow-cooked, Farm at 717-917-6729 or order online at 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour and marinated. It would be great to see www.jmhatchery.com” 3 cups chicken stock or chicken broth what Backyard Poultry readers can come 1 teaspoon garlic powder up with and we might even feature you 1 teaspoon onion powder in an upcoming issue. We must take 1 teaspoon dried thyme responsibility for our food choices. I 2 teaspoons fresh chopped curly parsley believe if you are going to eat meat, you should consume more of the carcass. Instructions People need to be treated fairly. We 1. Melt butter in large Dutch oven or should not be putting onus on countries The Muscovy is fast growing and a stockpot. Add chopped onions, peppers, to buy our unhealthy byproducts. great range duck with a lean meat that is desired by many restaurants. and celery and cook until onions are translucent (about four to five minutes). To order Muscovy, Khaki Campbell duck- lings and Brown Chinese goslings 2. Add flour to the pot to make a roux. ABOUT THE AUTHOR call Fifth Day Farm at Cook roux until it begins to turn light 717-917-6729 or order online at brown in color. Add the broth or stock KENNY COOGAN is a food, farm, www.freedomrangerhatchery.com and whip until roux is dissolved into the and flower columnist. Coogan leads liquid and sauce begins to thicken. workshops about owning chickens, 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. vegetable gardening, animal training, J.M. Hatchery and corporate team building on his 178 Lowry Road 4. Place the smoked turkey tails in a homestead. His newest book 99 ½ New Holland, PA 17557 large roasting pan. Homesteading Poems: A Backyard 5. Stir the garlic powder, onion powder, Guide to Raising Creatures, Growing 717-354-5950 and thyme into the sauce, and pour it over Opportunity, and Cultivating the turkey tails. Community is now available at www.jmhatchery.com kennycoogan.com. 6. Cover pot with lid or aluminum foil

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 53 The Wonders of Chicken Vision How Do Chickens See the World? By Tamsin Cooper

hat does it feel like to be a chicken? We can only imagine what it must be like to see ultraviolet (UV) light, explore the world with a beak, and live at such a fast pace. Chickens’ bodies and senses are very different Wfrom ours, as they are tuned to a lifestyle of foraging on the ground through thick vegetation, while avoiding land and air predators. That said, their hearing covers a similar range to ours and their sense of smell is only moder- ate. First and foremost, their most important sense is vision, which is faster and more highly colorful than our own.

Color Perception Chickens see a wider range of colors (wavelengths of 350–780 nm) than humans do (380–740 nm). That means that they can see some UV light, which we are unable to see. UV sensitivity helps them to detect movement, an important skill for hunting and avoiding predators. They are more sensitive to blues and reds than we are, helping them to pick out important objects in the green of the forest. Their color sensitivity is heightened by a remarkably organized arrangement of four types of color receptors called cones (humans possess three types). Contrast is enhanced by oil droplets which act as filters, refining the ability to distinguish colors. In addition, double cones are thought to aid detection of motion. Chickens are attracted to red and orange, as these colors are typical of their most treasured food sources. However, red Pullet extends her head as far as possible forward so she can keep it insects are avoided as they are likely to be poisonous. They can still while her body catches up. also learn to associate different colors with palatable food, and favor shades within the range of learned colors. Other sensory features of feed are important: when feed is changed to another type — of different color, texture, particle size, or odor — chickens may reject it until they learn the new food is palatable. Color is important for mating and communication. Hens choose mates according to comb size and color, eye color, and spur size. Large, red crests indicate maturity, good health, and high status, so are attractive to females whilst a warning to males. Plumage reflects UV so that it may appear different to chickens than it does to us. Hens inspect roosters more and mating is increased when UV is available. Lack of UV light, such as under artificial incandescent lighting, could give poultry trouble recognizing their companions. This can cause problems with aggression. Markings may look unnaturally dull and entice in close confinement. Fortunately, fluorescent lights contain some UV. If you are raising chicks indoors, make sure their room is well lit (preferably with natural daylight or biolux/warm-white fluorescent light) and they get at least six Chickens focus overhead when they hear an aerial predator cry. hours of darkness per day. This will ensure healthy development.

54 Backyard Poultry Light, Contrast, and Detail Mammals, including humans, do not possess double cones, oil droplets, or UV sensitive cones. However, we can see much better in dim light than chickens. Bear in mind that chickens will struggle to see as light fades at dusk, which is why they go to roost until dawn. Very low light in indoor housing reduces activity, but can also cause development and welfare issues. In fact, chickens do not see as much detail as we do at the most sensitive areas of their light-detecting organ, the retina. Humans have a very sensitive point, the fovea, where cones are concentrated and it is here that we see most clearly. There is a detailed area in the center of our vision, while the periphery is less clear. Chickens do not have foveae, but they possess sim- ilar areas of maximum clarity, although Top Right: Chickens these do not distinguish detail as precisely have over 300° of as ours do. These sensitive areas extend monocular vision and about 26° overlap. upwards, to see detail of possible danger overhead, and down towards the beak, Bottom Right: Hens to discern potential food sources. When grasp treat with inspecting an object, chickens move their precision and close their nictitating heads around, so the object is viewed by membrane when several specialized areas of the retina reaching target. at different angles and distances. The overall effect this may give is a clarity at least as good as our eyesight, although quite different. No Need to Social Distance Focus and Distance These sensitive areas act together with focusing each eye to the targets of interest. to Say, The chicken eyeball can both thicken its lens and bulge its cornea. This results in very fast change of focus. Some people believe that the right eye is near-sighted and the left is far-sighted. Thank You This appears to be a misinterpretation of From All of Us at an image of a hen focusing on an object approaching the right side of her head published in a scientific study. The truth is more amazing than this! Indeed, chickens can focus each eye independently, so that one can monitor the distance while the other searches the ground. Both eyes have this ability. This is really useful for forag- ing while looking out for aerial predators. Moreover, within each eye, a lower field of vision attunes to nearby objects, while Healthiest the upper visual field focuses further Home of the Chicks away. The images from each eye are processed separately, rather differently to our stereoscopic vision. Nevertheless, www.mthealthy.com chickens can coordinate both eyes when 1-800-451-5603

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 55 Chickens need precise beak control to catch flies and moving prey. Rooster closes his nictitating membrane while crowing.

aiming a peck, only closing their eyes as they reach their target. They identify and show preferences for companions at close quarters of less than 8 in. Eyes placed on each side of the head allow chickens a wide range of vision of more than 300° with around 26° overlap in front of the head. Coupled with their vigilance and quick movements, they avoid having predators creep up behind them. The binocular overlap in front helps them to move forward and fine tune beak movements. Unlike humans, they can hardly move their eyeballs to keep an image still for the 20 ms necessary to achieve a sharp image on the retina. So, instead they move their neck precisely to keep the head stationary. As they walk, they keep their head in the same place for as long as possible before moving it quickly forward, resulting in a character- istic bobbing movement. Also, if you hold a hen and move her body small distances, you will see how she compensates to keep her head stock-still.

Rapid Observation Chickens have lightning reflexes allowing them to catch flies and avoid

56 Backyard Poultry capture. Their rapid detection of small movements aids this skill, meaning that they can see flicker in artificial lighting that we cannot. Humans can detect up to 50–60 Hz flicker, while most chickens see up to around 95 Hz in most condi- tions (some birds may see faster flickers at some wavelengths). So, it appears that fluorescent light flicker (cycling at 120 Hz) does not cause them any issues. Pupils react four times more quickly to light changes but do not adjust as far as humans’. Like focus, pupils can be con- Pullet keeps her head as still as possible while her body moves forward. trolled independently.

Other Useful Organs These amazing eyes are protected by a transparent third eyelid — the nicti- tating membrane — which lubricates and cleans the eye regularly and covers it when protection is needed without obscuring light. Outside of the eye, chickens can sense some frequencies of light in the pineal gland of the brain directly through bone and tissues. This YOUR SOURCE FOR sense regulates daily rhythms and breed- ing patterns. ALL THINGS POULTRY Awareness of how differently chick- ens see the world is useful for ensuring • Unmatched Selection that our management systems provide a pleasant experience for our birds. • Unrivaled Prices • Six Fully Stocked Locations MN • CA • PA • TX • KY • FL Sources: Jensen, P. 2017. The Ethology of • Free Shipping* Domestic Animals: An Introduc- tory Text | Nicol, C.J., 2015. The Call or visit us online Behavioural Biology of Chickens for a FREE catalog | Perry, G.C. 2004. Welfare of the Laying Hen | all published by with over 100+ new CABI. products!

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SHIPPINGON MOST ORDERS OVER $100 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 800-720-1134 TAMSIN COOPER is a smallholder who strombergschickens.com owns and chickens in France. She * Applies to most orders over $100 to follows the latest research on behavior, the lower 48. Excludes live birds orders. welfare and sustainability, and mentors on animal welfare courses. Find her on www.goatwriter.com.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 57 Water Glassing Eggs By Ann Accetta-Scott

s poultry keepers, there is one thing we can Preserving eggs utilizing the water glassing method always count on: the drop in egg production allows farm-fresh eggs to remain fresh between one Abetween fall through early spring. We become year to 18 months. However, there are individuals who frustrated about the lack of eggs available and wonder state their eggs remain edible for up to two years in why we did not prepare for this season. Well, wonder the preserving liquid. The method has been practiced no more! Learn the technique our great-grandparents since the early 1800s. A popular 1886 cookbook used to store eggs before there were refrigerators, publication, The Boston Cooking School Cookbook by freezers, freeze-dryers, and dehydrators. Fannie Farmer, provided instructions on water glassing This method is known as “water glassing” eggs. eggs in a lime solution as a means for preserving them Preserving eggs in this fashion allows farm-fresh eggs long-term. to be preserved whole in their rawest form, shell and However, not all eggs can be preserved using the all. It allows the eggs to be consumed as if they were water glassing technique. This preserving technique is collected that same day. reserved for those who raise poultry or for individuals

58 Backyard Poultry who have the opportunity to purchase farm-fresh eggs. Luckily, the steps for water glassing eggs are extremely easy, and you will be thankful for the ability and knowledge to preserve eggs when egg production was high. You will be especially thankful to have eggs during the winter months when egg production is low. Additional Methods for Preserving Eggs

Preserving Eggs Long-Term In addition to water glassing eggs give the following four methods a try: As previously mentioned, not all eggs will do. Eggs used for water glassing • Pickled Eggs must be freshly laid and unwashed with • Freezing Eggs the bloom intact. Unfortunately, market • Dehydrating Eggs eggs have been washed, bleached, and more times than not, coated with mineral • Hickory Smoked Eggs oil. The USDA requires egg cartons to be stamped with the package date, which Pickled eggs will last for many months when stored properly in the refriger- consists of three numbers near the sell-by ator, whereas smoked eggs will last a few weeks. Eggs that are frozen or dehy- date. These numbers indicate the day of drated will last up to one year when stored properly. All four additional meth- the year in which the eggs were packaged. ods are detailed in the book A Farm Girl’s Guide to Preserving the Harvest. However, the package date does not include

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 59 the number of days between the egg being eggs. If your city does add fluoride to the laid to the package date. With that said, water, boil the water and allow it to cool the consumer can expect eggs to be many completely before using it. weeks old prior to purchasing them. Eggs that are to be preserved long-term Equipment must not only be unwashed, they must • Three-gallon food-grade bucket also be very clean: free of dirt, debris, The Farm Girl’s Guide to Preserving the Harvest waste, or remnants of yolk, egg whites, Ingredients or broken shell fragments. Do not attempt • Five ounces hydrated lime (pickling to wipe the eggs clean; this could remove lime) the bloom. For best practices, select the • Five quarts distilled water or natural cleanest eggs from the current day. Plan spring water to add freshly collected eggs each day to • Fresh eggs, clean and unwashed How to Can, Freeze, the preserving bucket; this allows you to be selective with the eggs you preserve. Instructions 1. In a three-gallon bucket add an equal Dehydrate, and Ferment Your Preserving Bucket ratio of water to lime. Five quarts water Food grade buckets are ideal containers to five ounces of lime provides enough to use for water glassing eggs. Five-gallon room for the eggs to be submerged. Use Garden’s Goodness buckets are popular, however, I find them the ratio of one quart of water to one to be difficult to work with. A three-gallon ounce of lime regardless of the container bucket will hold up to 80 eggs as well as size. By Ann AccettA-Scott the preserving liquid. Another means for 2. Mix the pickling lime and water until calculating the desired bucket size: one completely dissolved. quart of water glass will cover roughly 3. Next, gently add eggs to the liquid. 15 to 16 eggs. Keep in mind, three-gallon Add pointy side downs allowing the air buckets can be easily moved, whereas a cells to remain at the tops of the eggs. five-gallon buck is much heavier. Not to 4. Securely add the lid to the bucket to mention, withdrawing preserved eggs for prevent the liquid from evaporating and This guide takes home preservers use means reaching to the bottom of the the eggs from becoming exposed to air. through the beginning, moderate, and bucket to pull older eggs first, making this Store the water glass eggs in a cool dark advanced stages of preserving. New- task difficult in a five-gallon bucket. In location, withdrawing eggs as needed and addition to food grade buckets, modern wash well prior to using. comers can start with a simple jam earthenware ceramic crocks are a popular and jelly recipe using a hot water bath choice. Pulling eggs from the bottom of the bucket allows you to use the oldest eggs canner, while others may be advanced Preserving Materials first. However, pulling a small amount enough to have mastered the pressure Two types of material can be used to to be used within a few days saves from canner and are ready to move onto cur- water glass eggs: sodium silicate and lime having to withdraw an egg each time you (calcium hydroxide). The type of lime to need one. Make sure to store these eggs ing and smoking meat and fish. use is known as pickling lime, hydrated in the refrigerator until ready to use. With more than 30 delicious and lime, and slaked lime. Both products are harsh on the skin and should be used healthy recipesand Ann’s expertise and ABOUT THE AUTHOR cautiously; however, they both do an encouragement, the home preserver excellent job sealing the eggshell. - Sodium silicate is a food-grade ANN ACCETTA-SCOTT homesteads will build confidence in the most com on two acres in Washington State, mon methods of preserving. New chemical material and commonly used raising poultry, goats, and rabbits. coop to seal concrete surfaces. Lime is a She is an educator and encourager lights! more natural substance and a lot more of all who are seeking to live a more comfortable for people to use. For this sustainable lifestyle. Ann is also the recipe, we are going to use pickling lime face behind the website A Farm Girl in the Making and author of The Farm which is found in the canning section of Girl’s Guide to Preserving the Harvest. your local market. Website: afarmgirlinthemaking.com Instagram: instagram.com/ Water afarmgirlinthemaking/ It is best to use water which is free of YouTube: youtube.com/ iamcountryside.com/shop ~ 970-392-4419 afarmgirlinthemaking/ chlorine, fluoride, and low in minerals. Facebook: facebook.com/ Distilled water or natural spring water afarmgirlinthemaking/ are the best options for water glassing

60 Backyard Poultry The Farm Girl’s Guide to Preserving the Harvest

How to Can, Freeze, Dehydrate, and Ferment Your Garden’s Goodness

By Ann AccettA-Scott

This guide takes home preservers through the beginning, moderate, and advanced stages of preserving. New- comers can start with a simple jam and jelly recipe using a hot water bath canner, while others may be advanced enough to have mastered the pressure canner and are ready to move onto cur- ing and smoking meat and fish. With more than 30 delicious and healthy recipesand Ann’s expertise and encouragement, the home preserver will build confidence in the most com- mon methods of preserving.

iamcountryside.com/shop ~ 970-392-4419 Pumpkin Seeds for Chickens — Are the Seeds Nutritional? By Janet Garman

nutritional needs. When chickens are kept in a coop and attached run set-up, you can bring in supplemental nutrition in the form of garden trimmings, weeds, worms, produce, and from your refrigerator. Vitamin deficiencies are less common in chickens because they are omnivores. Not only will they react with glee to a pile of garden trimmings or kitchen scraps, they will also willingly devour a snake or a mouse.

Vitamin Deficiencies in Chickens Vitamin deficiencies are more likely to present in chickens fed only a lower quality commercial food. A bag of commercial chicken food degrades over time and loses freshness. Vitamins have a shelf life and lose potency during storage. Signs of vitamin A deficiency, for example, might include rough dry skin, inflamed eye membranes, unkempt ruffled feathers, sores in the mouth, and a pale comb and wattles. In addition, lower egg production occurs because the hen is lacking proper nutrition.

Weakened Chickens are Prone to Parasite Problems A weakened chicken is more prone to parasite infestation, both external and internal, such as mites and intestinal worms. We are getting closer to explaining why pumpkin seeds for chickens are a good idea. But hold on because I still think the answer will surprise you. Continuing to use vitamin A as the umpkin seeds for chickens can requirements just as we do. Free-ranging example, a chicken suffering from serve a purpose as part of a chickens are good at foraging through vitamin A deficiency is unhealthy. One Pnutritious chicken diet. You might your property, snapping up insects, of the ways we keep our flocks healthy be surprised to read that pumpkins seeds greens, and weeds to meet their needs. is by supplementing their diets by do not contribute what you have been Protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, adding good nutritious foods. Garlic, told! Before we get into that information, and minerals can be found in nature. apple cider vinegar, oregano, and here is some general knowledge of the Chicken keepers also supplement with pumpkin seeds all contain large doses dietary requirements of your flock. a purchased grain-based feed that is of probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. Chickens have certain nutritional specifically formulated for chicken These superfoods contribute to an

62 Backyard Poultry Black walnut tincture is a simple, safe, and effective deworming liquid for animals and humans. Adding raw pumpkin seeds increases the power with vitamin A.

overall healthy immune system and safe, and effective deworming liquid The beta carotene transforms into digestive tract. for animals and humans. Adding raw vitamin A. Pumpkin also provides fiber, pumpkin seeds to the extraction mixture calcium, magnesium, potassium, and Ready for the news flash? increases the power of the dewormer some of the B complex vitamins. The While they are awesome foods with vitamin A. This is the best way seeds are high in fat and calories. that contribute to a healthy body and to use pumpkin seeds as a remedy for Fall is the perfect time to mix up a organ systems, they are not capable of intestinal worms. batch of black walnut and pumpkin seed performing anthelmintic actions as fed. tincture. Both the black walnuts and raw Feeding pumpkin seeds to chickens Preparing a Natural Deworming pumpkin seeds are readily available. is not an effective dewormer. This is Tincture for Chickens Your flock can enjoy the remaining especially important to remember if the The following is an alcohol-based pumpkin and seeds as a nutritional treat. chickens are already suffering from a tincture. To reduce the amount of Feed your flock a fresh, high-quality parasite infestation. A truly effective alcohol being given to the flock, make diet along with supplements of fresh dewormer from pumpkin seeds needs a dual tincture using both black walnut veggies, and watch them thrive! Build to be prepared as a tincture. Preparing a hulls and raw pumpkin seeds. The ration healthy chickens and have fewer parasite tincture from pumpkin seeds draws out is 2:10 as follows. issues too. the properties that expel parasites from the intestinal tract. • 1 ounce of black walnut hulls Pumpkin seeds contribute lots of • 1 ounce of raw pumpkin seeds vitamin A which helps build a healthy • 10 ounces of vodka ABOUT THE AUTHOR chicken. Having a healthy digestive tract makes a chicken more resistant to all Place all three ingredients in a quart sorts of illnesses. Kale, pumpkins and glass canning jar with a lid. Mix gently JANET GARMAN is a farmer, writer, instructor, and fiber artist living in seeds, cantaloupe, broccoli, dandelion and place out of direct sunlight. Gently central Maryland on the family's farm. greens, coriander, and peppermint are shake the jar weekly for at least six She loves all subjects related to small good choices. weeks. farms and homesteading. Raising I understand the desire to treat When the tincture is ready, after a chickens, ducks, , and fiber goats and prevent parasites using natural few weeks, add a half (½) teaspoon to led her to write her most recent books, 50 Do-It-Yourself Projects for Keeping methods. When you purchase a chemical each gallon of water. Make sure that the Chickens, (Skyhorse Publishing 2018), deworming product from the store, you dosage is applied to all waterers. Repeat The Good Living Guide to Raising are facing a lengthy egg withdrawal time. daily for five days. Repeat the dosing Sheep and Other Fiber Animals, Using a natural product to prevent and again after two weeks. Treat monthly (Skyhorse Publishing 2019), and 50 Do- treat worms includes no egg withdrawal or as needed. It-Yourself Projects for Keeping Goats (Skyhorse Publishing 2020). time. What can you do naturally to instagram.com/ reduce the presence of worms in your Offer Fresh Pumpkin and Other timbercreekfarmandhomestead flock? You can make a tincture to Fruits and Vegetables to Your Flock facebook.com/timbercreekfarm prevent or treat intestinal worm issues. Pumpkins supply large amounts of timbercreekfarmer.com Black walnut tincture is a simple, nutrients to our chickens and livestock.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 63 Egg TheCustard Perfect Comfort Food By Cappy Tosetti

ometimes, all it takes is a simple bowl of goodness to Basic Egg Custard Recipe wash away the worries and stresses in life. Something that Like most things in life, there are many variations of this Sprovides a feeling of well-being and nostalgia — that warm simple recipe found in cookbooks and online. Ideally, watching and fuzzy emotion associated with fond memories from long ago. someone with experience making egg custard is the best way to How about some egg custard? The magic is in the simplicity learn. It takes a bit of finesse in the kitchen perfecting the right of the ingredients: milk, eggs, sugar, a pinch of salt, a dash consistency and texture. The most common error results in a of vanilla extract, and a sprinkle of nutmeg. The end result is custard that’s watery and won’t set up. creamy, silky, and delicious. Serves six. There are many variations of the basic recipe — some call for milk, while others use cream, or a combination of the two. Then Ingredients: there’s the debate about eggs, the key ingredient in preparing 2 cups whole milk or cream custard. Some prefer using whole eggs, while others stand strong 2 to 4 eggs on whisking just the yolks into the mixture. ½ cup sugar Eggs are the main thickener in traditional custard recipes, and Pinch of salt the yolks give it a buttery yellow color and a smooth, creamy Dash of vanilla consistency. Both the yolks and whites contain proteins, which Pinch of nutmeg change from liquid to solid, called coagulation, when cooked or baked. This is what gives custard its distinctive look and texture. Traditionally, egg custard is baked in the oven. Heat the milk Often, the question arises about the difference between custard, in a small saucepan on the stovetop until very hot — not boiling. mousse, and pudding. Although similar in appearance, each Meanwhile, mix the eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a medium dessert is unique. In a nutshell, custard is made by cooking milk bowl until blended, and slowly stir in the hot milk mixture. and sugar, and adding eggs to thicken the mixture. Mousse relies Place lightly greased six-ounce custard cups (ramekins) in a on egg whites which are whipped to a froth and then folded and baking pan without touching each other or the sides of the pan. cooked with other ingredients that turn it into a light and airy Pour the mixture into the dishes, sprinkling each with a bit of delicacy. Pudding is a sweetened milk mixture thickened with nutmeg if desired. One can also double the recipe, pouring the either cornstarch or flour while stirred on the stove. mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish.

64 Backyard Poultry This is the bain-marie method, another name for a hot water bath. It’s used for cooking delicate foods, creating an even heat source around each dish. Place the pan on the middle rack of a preheated oven (350 degrees), and pour very hot water into the pan within ½ inch of the top of the custard cups. If preparing custard in a casserole dish, use the same water bath process by placing it in a large roasting Pasteis de nata. pan. Bake until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, usually 25 to 30 minutes (40 to 45 minutes for a larger container). It’s ready when the mixture is firm and wobbles. Remove the dishes from the water bath immediately, letting them cool on a wire rack for five to 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled. Egg custard can also be prepared on the Crème brûlée. Galaktoboureko. stove top using a double boiler. Combine the ingredients and cook over hot water (not boiling), stirring constantly. As soon as the custard coats a metal spoon (about 10 minutes), remove from the heat. Place the pan in a large bowl of cold water and continue to stir the mixture a minute or two while it cools. Some enjoy custard with fresh fruit and a dollop of whipped cream, while others relish it baked with a decadent layer of caramel sauce on top — better known as flan. Whether it’s served simply or dressed up elegantly, egg custard is a winner. It’s the perfect comfort food! Sfogliatelle.

A Slice of History new recipe. drenched in a scented syrup and melted Who actually created such a delicate One tasty treat, pasteis de nata (pastries butter under a layer of crispy golden dessert? Food historians have many of cream), was invented by Carmelite nuns phyllo dough. China has its own version opinions, but most agree custard was in the tiny town of Tentúgal, between of a delicious egg tart, usually served at initially served by ancient Romans who Lisbon and Porto. These tarts are made dim sum restaurants and afternoon tea. were the first to recognize the binding with a luscious custard center nestled in Spanish-speaking countries enjoy serving properties of eggs. They simmered milk, layers of a delicate, flaky crust and topped up natillas de leche, a creamy delicacy eggs, and honey in clay pots, topping it with powdered sugar that blisters from lightly flavored with lemon and cinnamon. off with a dash of ground pepper. Since the high heat of the oven. Today, these One doesn’t have to travel far for some that first batch stirred over an open fire, tarts continue to reign as the country’s creamy custard; eggs and milk are but a people around the world have enjoyed the signature sweet. step away in the kitchen, just waiting to taste sensation. Wherever one travels, there’s surely a bring a bit of comfort to an ordinary day. The pages of culinary history gained variation of egg custard on the menu. Who Enjoy the moment! notoriety during the 16th century in can resist a taste of crème brûlée with its Portugal because of one specific need — hardened caramelized sugar topping? ABOUT THE AUTHOR egg whites. At that time, Catholic nuns, The recipe first appeared in 1691 in the friars, and monks living in convents and French cookbook, Le Cuisinier Royal et CAPPY TOSETTI lives in Asheville, monasteries used large amounts of the Bourgeois by Francois Massialot, a chef North Carolina with her three rescue clear liquid to starch their religious habits at the Palace of Versailles. dogs that help her with Happy with and to clarify red wine. This resulted in In Italy, there’s the famous shell- Cappy Pet Sitting. She’s putting things an overabundance of egg yolks. It was a shaped pastry called sfogliatelle, in motion to someday crisscross the blessing in disguise, as many helped the nicknamed “lobster tails” in English. country in a vintage travel trailer visiting draft horse and farms. poor by selling cakes, cookies, and other Across the Adriatic Sea in Greece, there’s [email protected] sweets. It was an opportunity to try a galaktoboureko, an egg custard pie

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 65 eggs, add a small amount of the hot cream HENTOPIA to the yolks. Slowly add the rest of the hot cream in a steady stream, whisking constantly, until it is incorporated. 3. Pour the egg mixture into the warm saucepan you used to heat the cream and set it over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. If More eggs, less work! you are checking the temperature, it will be about 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). More enjoyment for both the Don’t allow it to boil. 4. Place a sieve over a bowl. Strain the mixture through the sieve, then chill, chickens & their keeper! uncovered or lightly covered with plastic wrap or a cloth, in the refrigerator for at French Custard-Style least 1 hour. 5. When the custard base is chilled, Frozen Yogurt add the yogurt and vanilla. Blend, using an immersion blender or whisk, until Create a Hassle-Free To retain a creamy texture, ice cream Makes just over 1 quart smooth. Cover the bowl and chill in a and frozen yogurt must include ingredi- very cold refrigerator for about 8 hours, ents that limit the growth of ice crystals. Ingredients or in the freezer for about 4 hours. If you Habitat for Happy The fat and moisture content of the yogurt 2 cups heavy cream are chilling in a freezer, stir the mixture as well as the form of the added sugar ¾ cup sugar every 15 minutes or so. You don’t want Chickens have a great influence on this. The greater 6 egg yolks it to freeze, just to get very cold. Order the fat and the less the moisture, the richer ⅛ teaspoon salt 6. Prepare your ice cream maker as your copy and creamier the texture. French or cus- 1½ cups plain yogurt (page 73 of directed by the manufacturer and churn today! tard-style recipes use egg yolks to achieve Homemade Yogurt & Kefir) the mix. that creamy consistency — even as many 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 7. If you like your yogurt soft, you can as a dozen yolks per quart! The eggs add enjoy it right away. If you want a firmer fat, but they also serve as an emulsifier, Steps frozen yogurt, harden it for a few hours keeping ice crystals from growing too 1. Combine 1 cup of the heavy cream in the freezer. It’s a good idea to prechill More eggs, less work! And more enjoyment for both the chickens and their keeper! large. I’m not a fan of a really eggy taste, and the sugar in small saucepan over me- the hardening container so that the frozen so I settled on six yolks for this recipe. dium heat. Heat, stirring constantly, until yogurt doesn’t melt when you place it in Hyman’s innovative building projects are designed to save time and money while You can experiment, using more or fewer just about simmering, about 8 minutes. the container. Turn the frozen yogurt into keeping chickens safe, healthy, clean, and well fed. Featuring easy-to-follow yolks to suit your taste. You will need Remove from the heat. the chilled container, pack smooth, cover, an ice cream maker to make this recipe. 2. Whisk together the egg yolks and salt and place in a deep freezer or the coldest instructions and colorful photos, the 21 projects for the chicken yard range from in a medium bowl. While whisking the part of your freezer. creative doorways, nest boxes, fencing, and roosts to a predator-proof pen, a 8. The best serving temperature for ice cream and frozen yogurt is 0 degrees “Chunnel” chicken run, and a sturdy but inexpensive coop made from wooden pallets. 71 Recipes for Making & Using F (–18 degrees C), which is the normal Probiotic-Rich Ferments temperature for most home freezers. If you’ve hardened yours in a deep freezer, • Dairy & Plant-Based which is much colder, move it to the 21 Innovative Projects Yogurts freezer compartment of your refrigerator for an hour or so before serving. Alter- • Cultured Butter, Cream, natively, you can set the container in the & Cheese fridge for a bit, but don’t forget it, or • Healthy Soups, Drinks, & you’ll be back to the milkshake stage. Desserts Excerpted from Homemade Yogurt & Kefir by Gianaclis Caldwell. Photogra- Order at: iamcountryside.com/shop/hentopia iamcountryside.com/shop • 970-392-4419 phy by (c) CarmenTrousser. Used with permission from Storey Publishing. Or call: 970-392-4419

66 Backyard Poultry HENTOPIA

More eggs, less work! More enjoyment for both the chickens & their keeper!

Create a Hassle-Free Habitat for Happy

Chickens Order your copy today!

More eggs, less work! And more enjoyment for both the chickens and their keeper! Hyman’s innovative building projects are designed to save time and money while keeping chickens safe, healthy, clean, and well fed. Featuring easy-to-follow instructions and colorful photos, the 21 projects for the chicken yard range from creative doorways, nest boxes, fencing, and roosts to a predator-proof pen, a “Chunnel” chicken run, and a sturdy but inexpensive coop made from wooden pallets. 21 Innovative Projects

Order at: iamcountryside.com/shop/hentopia Or call: 970-392-4419 Poultry Art is Historic and Enduring Iconic Artwork Prints Now Available By Christine Heinrichs

rt has always been important to Fritsch’s roosters are generic, evoking in the most recent (44th ) edition of the the poultry fancy. Poultry art the traditional rooster, without details APA Standard. Color paintings are cred- Aattracts a wide audience. of a specific breed. Exhibition breeds ited to contemporary artists Diane Jacky, A recent exhibition in Los Angeles rely on artists to convey the beauty and Katherine Plumer, Richard Bills, Aaron featured the works of German sculptor perfection of the ideal bird. Hamilton, Charise Cooper, Kim Munden, Katharina Fritsch. matthewmarks.com/ and Caroline Hipkiss. los-angeles/exhibitions/2020-02-13_ Historic Artworks Breeding requires the eye of an artist. katharina-fritsch/installation-views/ The The American Poultry Association Breeders develop their eye for perfection exhibit was closed due to coronavirus and the American Bantam Association over years of experience. That eye over- shutdown, but a virtual tour is posted. illustrate their Standards with artworks laps with appreciation for poultry in art. One of her roosters, 13 feet tall, poly- rather than photos. No perfect bird ex- The internet has made it easier for ester and steel, painted with blue acrylic ists, and chickens and other poultry are poultry art lovers to connect. Check paint, is accompanied by two life-size notorious for being unwilling to pose. out Facebook pages for historic artists men, looking at their smart phones. Her Getting a perfect photographic image that Arthur O. Schilling, Louis Stahmer, rooster sculptures have also been dis- illustrates the breed’s significant points and Franklane Sewell. Contemporary played on top of the National Gallery of is impossible. artists have their own pages. Each has a Art in Washington, D.C. and Trafalgar The APA Standard still uses some of distinctive style. Square in London. Schilling’s black and white illustrations A portrait of the Rhode Island Red

68 Backyard Poultry Kathy Ashcroft's Sharing the Stable, over the mantle in my living room. painted by Schilling was presented to the governor of Rhode Prints Now Available Island in 1954, when the Rhode Island Red was designated the Watt Global Media’s collection is well known. The company official state bird. Robert Frost describes his favorite pullet, “In has a large collection of original oil paintings of poultry. J.W. her we make ourselves acquainted/ With one a Sewell might Watt and Adon Yoder, founders of Watt Publishing Company, have painted,” in his poem, “A Blue Ribbon at Amesbury.” now WATT Global Media, commissioned the artists to create Individual collectors amass their own collections. Business- the paintings in the mid-1920s by as illustrations for the Poultry es and other organizations collect for their corporate identity. Tribune. The paintings date from 1926-1950, following the Frank Reese of Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch in Kansas has history of poultry development over those years. The company a collection. I’ve acquired a few, including an original Schil- is now reproducing them as prints, wattglobalproducts.com/ ling oil of Phoenix chickens and Kathryn Ashcroft’s giclee collections/poultry-painting-canvas-prints?page=1. reproduction of a hen and her chicks “Sharing the Stable.” With renewed interest in Standard and heirloom breeds, the

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 69 company brought the paintings out of Nancy Batio, director of marketing for the company’s cost. storage to celebrate the company cen- Watt Global Media. “Now people can “Any revenue from sales is minor,” Ms. tennial in 2017. They placed the entire enjoy them in their homes and offices.” Batio said. “It’s not the main goal. We collection on display in the building that The collection includes 58 paintings, wanted to make it so that people could was Watt Publishing’s first home in Mt. of chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks, chicks afford to order them.” Morris, Illinois and ducklings and guineafowl. Prints are Reproductions come in various sizes, In 2019, the company made the paint- available for most of the paintings. depending on how each one worked on ings available to the public as print The artists’ styles are different, each the canvas. In some cases, edges had to reproductions on canvas. Offering prints unique, but they captured the beauty and be trimmed from the print. became possible with the advent of print- perfection of each breed. The paintings “We did the best we could with them,” on-demand technology. are so good that many are still used in the Ms. Batio said. “We only put up paintings “Advances in technology enabled us to APA Standard of Perfection. that lend themselves best to the format.” bring the collection to the public,” said Prices start at $49.95. The price defrays Sales have been steady since they launched in November 2019. The Barred Rock has been the favorite so far. “Barred Rock was the top breed back in the 1920s when the pictures were cre- ated,” she said. It’s very pretty, a beautiful painting, really striking.” All poultry species are included in the print collection: turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas.

Finding a Museum Home Ultimately, this collection belongs on permanent display in a museum. “There haven’t been any opportuni- ties,” Ms. Batio said, “But we keep our eyes and ears open.” A permanent display would require a location and funding to support it. Contact Ms. Batio with suggestions at [email protected].

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHRISTINE HEINRICHS writes from her home on California’s Central Coast. She keeps a backyard flock of a dozen hens: eight large fowl of various breeds and four Bantams. Her book, How to Raise Chickens, was first published in 2007, just as the local food movement was starting to focus attention on the industrial food system. Backyard chickens became the mascot of local food. The third edition of How to Raise Chickens was published in January 2019. The Backyard Field Guide to Chickens was published in 2016. Look for them in Tractor Supply stores and online. She has a B.S. in journalism from the University of Oregon and belongs to several professional journalism and poultry organizations.

70 Backyard Poultry The historic poultry breed paintings, and their images, are the exclusive property of WATT Global Media, and unauthorized copy- ing or reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Prints available include:

African Geese by Stahmer, 1930 Austra Whites by Schilling, 1943 Barred Plymouth Rocks by Schilling, 1930 Barred Rock New Hampshire Cross by Schilling, 1942 Barred Rock New Hampshire Cross by Schilling, 1943 Black Jersey Giants by Schilling, 1945 Black Jersey Giants by Schilling, 1948 Black Tailed Red Leghorns by Stahmer, 1930 Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys by Schilling, 1943 Buff Cochins by Schilling, 1928 Buff Laced Polish by Schilling, 1928 Buff Orpington by Schilling, 1931 Buff Plymouth Rocks by Schilling, 1927 Chick, Poult, Duckling by Stahmer, 1930 Chicks by Schilling, 1944 Columbian Plymouth Rocks by Stahmer, 1930 Columbian Wyandottes by Stahmer, 1928 Cornish New Hampshire Cross by Schilling, 1950 Dark Brahmas by Schilling, 1946 Dark Cornish by Sewell, 1945 Golden Laced Wyandottes by Stahmer, 1939 Golden Sebright Bantams by Stahmer, 1939 Golden Spangled Hamburgs by Stahmer, 1926 Jungle Fowl - Gallus Bankiva by Schilling, 1945 by Schilling, 1941 Light Brahmas by Schilling, 1945 Light Sussex by Stahmer, 1931 Mottled Houdans by Stahmer, 1926 Muscovy Ducks by Stahmer, 1929 Narragansett Turkeys by Sewell, 1930 New Hampshires by Schilling, 1940 Old English Game by Schilling, 1946 Partridge Plymouth Rocks by Stahmer, 1927 Pearl Guineas by Schilling, 1947 Pekin Ducks by Schilling, 1946 Rhode Island Reds by Schilling, 1941 by Stahmer, 1928 Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds by Stahmer, 1928 Runner Ducks by Schilling, 1947 Silver Campines by Stahmer, 1930 S.C. Anconas by Schilling, 1947 Single Comb Black Leghorns by Sewell, 1946 Single Comb Brown Leghorns by Sewell, 1947 S.C. Buff Leghorns by Stahmer, 1926 S.C. Buff Minorcas by Stahmer, 1926 S.C. White Leghorns by Schilling, 1932 S.C. White Minorcas by Stahmer, 1926 Utility Barred Rocks by Schilling, 1944 White Australorp by Schilling, 1945 White Holland Turkeys by Schilling, 1927 White Holland by Schilling, 1950 White Jersey Giants by Stahmer, 1931 White Langshans by Stahmer, 1928 White Leghorns by Schilling, 1942 White Plymouth Rocks by Schilling, 1942 White Wyandottes by Schilling, 1931

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 71 Chickens in Textiles By Susie Kearley

f seeing chickens depicted in art makes portrait,” I ask? another cockerel who lives a short distance you smile, you'll love the work of Bar- “It's a picture of Cheetah — my grand- away across the fields. Ibara Shaw, an artist from Buckingham- son's pet,” she explains. “Cheetah hatched “With his beautiful plumage and feathery shire, England. She creates images of wild- about two years ago and was owned by a feet and trousers, Cheetah is a very hand- life and farm animals, using small scraps of little girl in Wales. He had an unfortunate some cockerel and lends himself to being fabric overlaid to create wonderful textures start in life as he was one of two cockerel interpreted in textiles. My picture of him and scenes. Two of her latest creations, a chicks that she reared and he was at the has been created from many scraps of care- cockerel and a turkey, have received such bottom of the pecking order. My son and fully chosen fabrics, hand-stitched together flattery on social media, she's inspired to daughter-in-law found an advert for him in layers. He became a little bit famous, do more. “There have been so many posi- on Facebook and went to pick him up. He going around the world on social media!” tive comments and great feedback, I shall was named Cheetah by my two-year-old Barbara used Cheetah's image to demon- certainly stitch more chickens!” she says. grandson.” strate how to make a textile collage picture Her new turkey portrait was finished just in Cheetah now enjoys a happy life in ru- at the BBC Summer Social in Liverpool. time for Christmas! ral Herefordshire with three hens: Beetle, “Four hundred children in the Children's I first spotted Barbara's work while another Bantam, and Turtle and Betty who BBC workshop have now been inspired browsing Twitter and was intrigued. She's are Warren hens. “They are a real handful,” by him!” she says. “They watched me at appeared on television in the UK, showing says Barbara. “They help themselves to work and then had a go at making a textile youngsters how to turn rags into beautiful anything that is left out to eat, particularly collage for themselves.” works of art, and she exhibits in art galleries enjoying people's picnics, and new shoots The Summer Social took place after Bar- and museums across the country. “I've been in the vegetable plot.” bara appeared on television demonstrating Artist-in-Residence at two grand country The hens run around free-range in the her skills. “I was contacted by a production houses, and had work exhibited in the garden and orchard, only going in at night company for the BBC and asked to appear Houses of Parliament,” she says. to roost. “Cheetah, with his beady eyes in an episode of Junk Rescue,” she explains. Barbara's first cockerel portrait, created and vigilant stare keeps them in order,” She agreed to participate and demonstrated almost 20 years ago, was inspired by a says Barbara. “He is very protective of all in front of the cameras how to make art from visit to an organic farm and school. It was the hens and patrols to make sure they are fabric. The program was screened last year. one of the first pictures she hand-stitched. eating well. When chicken food is put out, How did she get into textile art? “Well, Since then, Barbara's been making all sorts he allows the hens to eat first. apart from knitting jumpers, I didn't think of animal and landscape images, including “If anything is amiss Cheetah runs very of myself as particularly creative,” she a recent portrait of baby owls, inspired by fast to see what is happening and as he is says, “but then about 20 years ago I started the work of her local owl charity. so nippy, he is impossible to catch! Early learning how to make patchwork quilts. I “What inspired your latest cockerel in the morning he can be heard crowing at used leftover scraps from the quilting ma-

72 Backyard Poultry terials to make cards, and this inspired me . She's inspired by what to create much bigger images and framed she sees and has crafted other animals pictures from textiles. I began to hand-stitch too. “I have created different breeds of the fabrics together, achieving textured sheep such as Cotswolds, Wensleydales, compositions, and I became hooked!” a Jacob ram, a Bluefaced Leicester, and a Barbara uses photos for reference — to Soay,” she says. help her get proportions and colors right, Barbara's first rooster picture was for a but she also likes to visit places where she competition. She visited an organic farm can see creatures close up. for inspiration and saw the rare breed Old “My latest piece of work is a turkey, English Fowl cockerel, which inspired by a turkey farm near my home. she then immortalized in art. The picture They keep turkeys, sheep and on the she created was displayed in the “Food for farm, and when I visited, I saw the young the Eye” exhibition at the Mall Galleries, turkeys with access to an open field and London, as part of the Soil Association's sheltered pens. I was fascinated by their Art Show in 2005. beady eyes and big feet! “I had not come across these beautiful “As my work is an impression of a birds before,” she says, “with their colorful creature, I rely on what I see and sense to plumage and proud, strutting demeanor. interpret their essence,” she says. “With The resulting picture contained one real birds, whether I am watching them flying feather. Only after it was sold did I panic overhead or observing their characteristics and wonder what would happen if some- and movements on the bird table, I am thing hatched out from the feather and ate constantly thinking about how to depict the carefully placed fabrics! Fortunately, I ABOUT THE AUTHOR them. I have visited natural history muse- was assured by the Natural History Muse- ums to see stuffed creatures when I cannot um, London, that if mites did appear then SUSIE KEARLEY is a freelance get close enough to the real thing. The they would only eat the feather and in future writer and journalist who lives in biggest challenge is always the face. They it would be better to freeze organic material Great Britain along with two young are exceptionally difficult to capture. If the before including it in artwork. There is guinea pigs and an aging husband! artwork is just 1mm out, the expression always something new to learn!” In Britain she has been published in changes from something you would have Barbara puts videos of her work on Your Chickens, Cage & Aviary Birds, Small Furry Pets, and Kitchen Garden hanging on your wall, to something you YouTube. The clips demonstrate her artis- magazines. definitely wouldn’t!” tic processes and inspire others to have a facebook.com/susie.kearley.writer Barbara has created many bird pictures, go: youtube.com/channel/UCq0AVqCX- twitter.com/susiekearley including red kites, barn owls and an FK-6uKvbyRgXS9g

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 73 Chicken Therapy for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders By Sue Norris

e already know that chickens there is hope for many to overcome worthy, communicate better, and hold can help in therapeutic ways some of the initial problems of behavior their place in the world. Wtraditionally reserved for and socialization with the appropriate Probably the best known person in the animals such as dogs and cats, but therapies. U.S. to have autism is Professor Temple recent empirical research shows that they The calming aspect of being with Grandin. She is a professor of animal can be a blessing for some children and animals is a welcome break from the sciences, author, and speaker on animal adults who live with autism spectrum lights, noise and constant intrusions of science and autism. She has authored disorder, ADHD, and other problems our modern world. several books and has a large YouTube where communication, social skills, and Most people don’t notice environmental presence where she talks about all aspects learning can become a challenge. factors such as noise and bright lights, of life with autism. The CDC estimates that one child in but for people with ASD it can be very Another source of information and every 59 in the US has some sort of ASD overwhelming to the point of sensory inspiration is the book My Best Friend — that is a large number and growing. overload leading to anxiety, panic, and Goldie, by Alair Bergman. Alair lives The autism spectrum is large, ranging “meltdowns.” with autism and this book reflects from phenomenally gifted people With supervision and assistance from Goldie’s problems and eventual triumph such as Einstein to people who will be adults, many autistic children can learn over many of the aspects of autism. institutionalized for their entire lives; to control some of their behaviors, feel

Sarah Wilson lives in the Channel Islands, UK. She has two teenage boys and a daughter. Tia, her daughter, has severe ADHD and autism. Initially, Tia did not like socializing and had behavioral issues which could become aggressive in nature. Sarah says it has been a long and hard struggle to get to this point where Tia can take care of the chickens by herself. Sarah started the learning process when Tia was young. She made picture cards of the different things that needed to be done with and for the chickens and showed and helped Tia to do those things. Breaking it down into small steps was the key and Tia thrived on the routine and can now care for the chickens herself. Tia is now able to relax and be herself with the chickens. There is no need for verbal communication although she talks to them and cuddles with them constantly. If she gets anxious or frustrated she goes and talks to the chickens and Sarah says you can see her start to relax when she is with them. The chickens make her feel important; they calm her and make her happy. She even plays music to them from her iPad! Chickens have helped her to regulate her moods and behavior, she now has something to talk about with other people and the money she earns from selling the Tia with her chickens. eggs is her wages.

74 Backyard Poultry ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SUE NORRIS was born and raised in the UK. She traveled around the world as a registered nurse and settled in New York state with her partner about 25 years ago. She currently lives on 15 rural acres with 40-ish chickens, four rabbits, two dogs, and three cats, and assorted wildlife. Sue is happily retired and enjoying the serenity.

Tia is now able to relax and be herself with the chickens.

Ruth Lloyd lives in the UK and For Sarah and her daughter there has deals with autism formerly known as been great improvement in: Asperger’s, along with some physical • Mood and behavior modification problems too. She wasn’t diagnosed until • Ability to perform tasks she was in her 30s, about six years ago, • Improvement in speech and cognition after some personal difficulties. • Feeling of importance and worth She has always kept pets but 18 • Feeling of contributing and being months ago finally got some chickens. “normal” She actually got some rescue hens and enjoyed seeing them evolve from, “Tatty, For Ruth: shy farm girls into bossy, cheeky, fluffy • Calmness and peace terrorists!” • Better coping skills Ruth finds it very calming to be with • Nurturing them, she describes it as a peaceful escape. She says it is less challenging Our world is full of light, noise, stress, having a relationship with animals as and always in a hurry. Whether you live their needs are “simple and clear most with autism or not, I’m willing to bet that of the time.” you find your flock a source of calm and She enjoys the routine of feeding, peace. I know I do! cleaning and other chicken chores, but also says that the unpredictability of them stops her from becoming too obsessive, which has helped in her work life by translating to better coping skills when things don’t go according to plan. If a hen could choose… Brinsea the world leading incubator manufacturer has a full line What can we take away from these of incubators, brooders, egg candlers, starter kits stories? and much more! All with 3 year warranty. Hatching your own References chicks is fun, easy and reliable with Brinsea My Best Friend Goldie by Alair Laree Bergman (Gratitude Grove Farm Press) Free Many thanks to Sarah and Ruth who Color put the personal touch to this piece. For more information www.brinsea.com Catalog Incubation Specialists or call 1-888-667-7009

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 75 Darla Hatches a Job By Gina Stack

he gravel crunched under my hens. I gave Kurt one of the eggs to take chicken. We would take turns spending tires as I parked in our driveway back to the center. He treasured this egg time with Kurt until we could work out a Ton a beautiful day in the hills of and also took a special interest in Darla. plan. Since Kurt loved his chicken, I had southwest Wisconsin. I opened the door He repeated her name often after this first the idea to drive him out to see my laying for Kurt, my passenger from the rehab meeting, which I loved to hear! hens. We all agreed for me to take him center I worked for. We walked through Kurt was a 21-year-old autistic young this first time. the grassy path to our chickens in their man who was transitioning from high After our first meeting, we made a pen for Kurt to see. I hoped he would like school to working at the rehab center for cardboard nest box and put the egg I them as much as the stuffed chicken that disabled adults, where I was a job coach. gave him in it. This all “hatched” the he held, with long dangling legs swaying We needed to figure out what kind of idea for a job for Kurt. The name of his as we walked. As we looked and talked work Kurt could do. Part of our job there new business would be “Kurt’s Kluckin’ together, he spotted the chicken with was to develop jobs for the disabled, Koop!” a deformed crossed beak whose name which at times was no easy task. Going to see Darla and the chickens was Darla. The bottom part of her beak Kurt had a love for animals. He always became a regular thing for Kurt. Between was like a scoop and the top curled over had some sort of stuffed one with him that myself and others, we took turns taking like hook. One eye was askew. But God he would tell you something about if you him there to talk to them, give treats, and had created this chicken and He had a asked, in his resounding voice, striking take an egg. Darla was quite popular for plan. She had learned to scoop the feed you with new knowledge of each stuffed a while, so we took pictures of her to with her scoop beak but could not peck animal representative. remember this eventful time at the center. at bugs successfully. Food scraps were When he came to us, he had the stuffed She was an inspiration! hard to peck and eating mashed potatoes chicken and was telling us all about it. I didn’t work directly with Kurt much was hilarious! Nevertheless, she was a Kurt had a love for animal life cycles and while the plan for his business was survivor and held her own with the other was full of information about anything worked out. Lisa, my coworker and

76 Backyard Poultry friend, took most of the reigns for this adventure. I believe God selected her for this position. She tirelessly put her all into making this happen for him with much patience and kindness which she continues to do. They researched and visited several chicken operations in the area. DVR (Division of Vocational Rehab) was contacted to start the ball rolling for funding and whatever equipment they were able to provide. Also, a building was needed. A professor at the University of Wisconsin Poultry Division was very helpful. An unused barn area was available at a relative’s farm. Lisa cleaned it out, which was quite the undertaking! A generous older man came donating his time and materials to build beautiful nest boxes. DVR supplied an incubator, egg washing station, feed stuff, and supplies along with a computer and Kurt sells eggs through the Petting Zoo, at the rehab printer for paperwork. Everything was put in order until it was center, the local farmers market, and has a delivery finally time to get started with chickens! route. Also, check out Kurts’s Facebook page! Since Kurt loved the whole cycle, the decision was made to start out with layers and a rooster and use the incubator to hatch out eggs to keep a continuous supply of chickens. The facebook.com/KurtsKluckinKoop first batch of 20 were purchased from the local Amish and were very gentle chickens, going directly to the nest boxes to lay eggs. A rooster named Rex was donated. Kurt was so excited, he sat location situated at a small farm with a petting zoo. It is a on a five-gallon bucket right next to the chickens, put his hand wonderful place for Kurt to work, plus between Lisa, Marsha, under a chicken who proceeded to lay an egg right into Kurt’s and other rehab center helpers, and those at the petting zoo, the hand! What a blessing that was for him! chickens are well-managed. Eight chickens were purchased for breeding as well. As eggs Darla lived out her days till she was four. She will always started to arrive and a rooster around, the incubator was put be remembered for her special place in this story. I was very to use. A chart was made for Kurt to do his chicken chores sad when her days were done and there will never be another which he eventually memorized. When the chicks started to like her. peck open the eggs, Kurt and his mom stayed up all night to Kurt is now 30 and his business is still going strong! Some watch the chicks hatch. What a delight for Kurt to witness the of his quotes he is known to repeat are, “Keep calm and raise whole process. Many of the new chicks were roosters, though, chickens!” and “Of course I am a chicken farmer!” He loves and continuing to stay up all night watching eggs hatch was what he does, to this day. not going to work on a regular basis according to mom. Also, Rex the rooster was pretty ornery! It was decided that female ABOUT THE AUTHOR chicks would be purchased and raised up to add to the flock when ready. During this time, a generous man and his wife donated 50 chicks to Kurt’s fledgling business. Others bought GINA STACK is a freelance writer in southwest Wisconsin. She, along with her husband and son, reside on five acres with eggs and donated over and above, neighboring farms and the 22 laying hens (some as old as 10 years!), a large vegetable local grocery store donated veggies for the chickens. garden, perennials, and Lily the pug. Almost a decade later, the coop is now located in a different

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 77 Shady Coop By Amy Vollmer, Wisconsin

e built our coop in 2013 and our hosta collection, and snow. In the winter months, we have roll-down vinyl sides moss gardens, pathways, and bonfire patio were to keep the wind and snow out, and as an added bonus the Wadded around coop. The coop itself is a simple 4’x6’ temperature warms up to around 10 degrees F higher than the open floor with three removable nesting boxes that have access outside. There is a brick circle dust bath of sand and peat moss from outside. Three windows for light, cleaning, and air flow. and many things for the girls to pick at such as plastic bottles I like to keep the floor clear for easy cleaning so roosting bars which dispense birdseed or scratch, bird feeders filled with are mounted to the walls. We have power to run our heated sunflower seeds, suet, and hanging fruit and veggies. water base and occasional decorative lights for Christmas Most of the time the girls are free to roam our fenced-in yard decor and patio. Not too big but big enough for the really cold where we have a salad garden for them to forage in and many winter days where I don't let the girls out. We have hooks and herbs that we use for refreshing the nesting boxes. Our (senior) wires up to add activities inside for some of those cold “lock- flock currently includes two Cochins named Black and Blue. in” days. The interior decor is portraits of our feathered family This past winter we lost our Salmon Favorelles, Dolly, and the both current and passed. Everyone gets their portrait taken. (I year before our Ameraucana, Moscado. Next spring, we are am a photographer.) planning to add to our flock again. Our girls like to hang out The run is over 10’x10’ and fully roofed to keep out the rain with our chocolate Lab, Bear, and our two cats.

78 Backyard Poultry October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 79 80 Backyard Poultry Happy and HEALTHY

We understand how much you value your birds. Our feeds have been carefully crafted through decades of research to include the ideal blend of ingredients for optimal health. The science is advanced, but our philosophy is simple — we believe good health starts from within. www.homesteadpoultryfeed.com BLACK TURKEY BREED An Ancient Variety of Heritage Turkey PROFILE By Tamsin Cooper

that can adapt to future changes. In 1997, The Livestock Conservancy conducted a census of breeding stock of traditional turkeys in hatcheries and found only 1,335 head across all varieties. It began to actively promote the breeding and marketing of heritage turkeys for Thanks- giving. By 2006, the total of heritage breeding birds had increased to 10,404. However, this dropped to 738 in 2015.

Conservation Status: Classified as threatened on The Livestock Conser- vancy’s conservation priority list. The organization promotes breeding rugged, robust, and productive birds. Not only have heritage varieties become endan- gered, but much knowledge of traditional Breed: The Black turkey is also known eastern seaboard of North America with husbandry relevant to these birds is out as Norfolk Black or Black Spanish. colonists. Black turkeys were bred with of print. The Livestock Conservancy has native wild turkeys to form the found- pooled traditional and modern knowledge Origin: Wild turkeys are native to ing stock for the American variety. The and made it freely available to turkey North America, but modern domestic American Poultry Association accepted breeders and keepers on their website turkeys have descended from the South the standard for the Black in 1874. (livestockconservancy.org). Mexican subspecies. They were first do- Although not as popular as other heri- mesticated by Mesoamerican cultures in tage breeds, such as Bronze, it was bred Biodiversity: Although considered va- Central America 2000 years ago for meat, for commercial meat production up to the rieties of a single breed, heritage turkeys eggs, and feathers. In the early sixteenth mid-20th century, when broad-breasted conserve important survival traits lost to century, Spanish explorers noted wild and varieties were developed. By the 1960s, industrial strains. domestic turkeys, including rare black consumers preferred the paler carcasses individuals among those with the more of large white turkeys and traditional Description: Red head and neck common bronze plumage. breeds fell out of fashion. Turkey pro- (changeable to bluish-white), dark eyes duction intensified, and today only a few and black beak. The plumage is dense History: In the sixteenth century, genetic lines of broad-breasted whites are metallic black with a green luster. Poults Spanish explorers regularly took turkeys used for all industry production. Howev- have creamy-white head coloring and from Mexico back to Spain. Turkeys er, these lines produce birds that cannot may have some white or bronze feath- quickly spread over Europe. The Span- breed naturally, forage effectively, or ers, although these change as they molt. ish and English favored black coloring, survive without intensive management. Shanks and toes may be initially black but which was also popular in France and It- While industry turkeys are very pro- change to pink as they mature. aly. In East Anglia, England, and particu- ductive in controlled conditions, we larly in the county of Norfolk, this variety need to maintain productive varieties Skin Color: White with dark pin feath- was developed as a meat bird, leading to that retain the ability to breed naturally, ers and sometimes dark spots on skin. the Norfolk Black. From the seventeenth raise young, and support themselves at century onward, the Norfolk Black and range. Such self-sufficient animals are Popular Use: Premium-quality meat, other European varieties arrived at the vital for conserving a gene pool of traits insect control.

82 Backyard Poultry Egg Color: Cream to medium brown with spotting.

Egg Size: 2.5–2.8 oz.

Productivity: Poults reach market weight at 28 weeks. Hens mature from one year old, laying in spring and sum- mer. They lay 40–50 eggs per year during their first two years, then fewer as they age. If brooding their own eggs, you can expect 20–25 eggs per year. Hens remain productive for 5–7 years.

Weight: Mature tom up to 33 lb.; ma- ture hen 18 lb.; market weight 14–23 lb.

Temperament: Generally calm, but varies according to breeder selection. Black hen in foreground followed by her poult, with Bronze hen behind. Most can be tamed for handling.

Adaptability: With a robust immune system and excellent foraging skills, heri- tage turkeys are adapted to pasture-based systems, and are great hunters of insects. They suit most climates, but suffer frost- bite in extreme cold. Large birds are susceptible to heat stress, but cope given shade and ample water. They also appre- ciate rudimentary shelter from the rain and snow. Well-balanced selection pro- duces better mothers, as larger hens can be clumsy and break eggs. Slower growth develops sound muscles and skeleton which endow hardiness and longevity, and enable birds to breed naturally. They also retain the ability to fly.

Quote: “The Black turkey is in need of more stewards. A renewed interest in the biological fitness, survivability, and superior flavor has captured consumer interest and created a growing market niche. This personable, attractive bird can recover to its early twentieth cen- tury status with the help of a few more conservation-minded producers.” — The Livestock Conservancy.

Sources: The Livestock Conservancy | FAO | Roberts, V., 2008. British Poultry Standards. Wiley-Black- well.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 83 LIFE SecretOF POULTRY TINY THE ATTACK HEN By Lacey Hughett

irror, mirror on the wall, who is the feistiest little chicken of them all? I have my bets placed on Tiny Mthe Terrorist, a Sumatra/Ameraucana mix hen who lives in Georgia with her owner, Cynthia. What was originally a small story posted on the Backyard Chickens forums back in 2011 turned into almost a decade worth of watching Tiny’s antics. Fans of Tiny, myself included, would hear occasional updates from Cynthia, online as “speckledhen,” until the forum thread grew silent and I had to reach out for an update. A decade ago, Cynthia bought some Black and Blue Ameraucana hatching eggs from a breeder, and Tiny hatched from a beautiful blue egg. She was a fraction of the size of her brood-mates and didn’t have a beard. Tiny appeared to be partially blind as well, because while the other chicks were eating, Tiny would just run across the top of the feeder. Tiny would watch them eat but wouldn’t participate. At three days old, it became apparent to Cynthia that the tiny chick wasn’t eating. “I don’t think she could see the feed,” Cynthia commented in a video on her YouTube channel. She Tiny, the feisty mixed hen. mashed up some cooked egg yolk and put it in a dark blue bowl, and tapped on the surface as a mother hen would. “She started eating and singing,” Cynthia said, mentioning that the color contrast seemed to help Tiny see. To help her survive, Cynthia changed from her aluminum feeder she’d used for years to a red one. The change seemed to help Tiny see the feed better and soon she was eating as well as her brood-mates. Tiny appeared to have bad depth perception, an issue that has gotten worse as she has aged. “She gets frustrated that she can’t see, and she will attack!” Cynthia said. Additionally, the more she grew, the more it became evident that she was not a pure Ameraucana. “Her shape, overall appearance, lack of a beard, the presence of spurs, the wild game hen look in her eye and her bad attitude, the latter of which earned her the ‘Tiny the Terrorist Attack Hen’ moniker, all screamed ‘Sumatra!’ not Tiny's respectable-sized spurs. Ameraucana,” stated Cynthia.

84 Backyard Poultry Once she reached adulthood, instead of laying the typical blue egg of the Ameraucana, Tiny laid a brown egg. “She’s one of my best layers, which is bizarre. Her eggs are as ugly as can be.” After some time pondering this mystery, Cynthia reached out to the breeder from whom she purchased the eggs. That breeder told her that the rooster they were using had been purchased from another breeder that also bred, drum roll, please ... Blue Sumatras! Apparently, several generations ago, a Sumatra rooster flew over the fence into the Ameraucana pen. Tiny, although she hatched from a blue egg and her sisters were all perfect examples of the breed, was a throwback to that Sumatra. As Tiny grew, so did her attitude. Tiny would wait patiently to be carried into the coop each night, as Cynthia eloquently described, “She waits outside under the edge of the coop for every other hen to go inside, then walks out to be picked up and carried inside like Cleopatra on her barge.” As soon as the coop door closed, Cynthia and her husband knew they couldn’t reenter. Tiny, with her bad Tiny as a pullet. eyesight, would attack anything that came in the coop at night. Cynthia recounted a tale of when she had to go into the coop after hours to The day came when Cynthia decided readjust a fan. “From under the roosts to tame Tiny the Terrorist. She began flew the Tiny Terrorist,” she recounted, petting her and giving her a lot of positive “hackles flared like a cobra, making her attention. “I avoided her. But I made the look twice as large as she is, screaming, decision to baby her and pick her up.” feet flying.” Cynthia was forced to fight After some time, Tiny came to enjoy and the wild hen off while the rooster of the seek out the special care she was given. coop, Isaac, duly watched the commotion In the video Cynthia posted on YouTube, from his roost. Tiny can be seen coming up and looking Isaac would go into the coop every at the camera inquisitively. “She’s like a night at around five, jump on the roost, kitten with me,” Cynthia said. and close his eyes peacefully. “It was It definitely isn’t a complete personality like he was clocking out and putting Tiny turn around and Tiny is getting crotchetier in charge,” Cynthia reminisced. Tiny every year. She is still a feisty little would attack anything that came into the bird with an outgoing personality and coop at night without fail, giving Isaac a stubborn, in-your-face attitude. When I nightly break. asked to run an article on her, Cynthia For several years, Cynthia and Tiny told me “Her head is big enough already,” butted heads. She wasn’t fond of Tiny and but luckily told me all about her story commented about how she’d likely outlive despite the risks. all her nicer, sweet hens in the flock. To keep up with Tiny’s antics, visit Although he was key in keeping Tiny alive Roots, Rocks & Feathers Farm, A as a chick, Tiny would attack Cynthia’s Homestead Blog on Facebook, or Roots, husband as well by flying at his head and Rocks, & Feathers on YouTube. Cynthia pecking him. When that happened, some uploads a huge variety of videos about of the nicer hens would target Tiny for not only her chicken’s stories, but chicken-on-chicken justice. homesteading tips and tricks as well.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 85 Backyard Poultry Bookstore

Chicken Coops Reinventing the Chicken Coop

By JuDy panGMan By Matthew wolpe & Kevin Mcelroy Backyard chickens meet contem- Whether you keep one hen or porary design! Here are 14 com- 1,000 hens, you will find a hous- plete building plans for chicken ing plan in this comprehensive coops that range from the purely book. Coops range from fash- functional to the outrageously ionable backyard structures to fabulous. Complete step-by-step large-scale, movable shelters. building plans are accompanied You will also find plans for con- by full-color photographs and verting trailer frames, green- detailed construction illustrations. houses and sheds using recycled 192 pages. $19.95 materials and simple ways to make waterers, feeders, and nestboxes. 166 pages. $19.95 SAVE Chicken Health Handbook 25% Storey’s Guide to By Gail DaMerow SAVE 25% Raising Poultry A must-have reference for the small flock owner. Gail Damerow, By Glenn Drowns leading authority on all things A diverse flock of poultry can pro- chicken, provides a complete ref- vide free-range meat, a rainbow of erence to answer the questions eggs, and endless entertainment— and resolve the problems of any all delivered from the confines of chicken raiser from beginner to your backyard or small farm. Glenn professional. This fully updated Drowns, an expert on rare breeds and expanded edition of a long- and varieties of turkeys, ducks, time classic offers expert guid- geese, chickens, and other birds, de- ance on nutrition, reproductive issues, and a full range of livers everything you need to know health problems. 487 pages. to raise healthy, safe poultry. 454 pages. $24.95 $19.95 Now $18.75 — Save 25% Now $14.99 — Save 25% SAVE City Chicks SAVE 25% How to 50% Raise Chickens By patricia ForeMan By christine heinrichs Chickens have become the mascot of the local food movement. A desire This book provides information for sustainable, clean, wholesome on breed types, obtaining stock, food and superior soil quality has housing, feeding, flock manage- led more and more suburban and ment, breeding programs, incu- city dwellers to keep laying hens in bation and care of chicks, selec- their backyards and gardens. City tion and culling, showing, health Chicks has the ambitious intent of care, and the legal aspects of exploring three subjects: urban ag- raising chickens. 208 pages. riculture systems, recycling food and yard waste, and using local resourc- $19.99 es to preserve and enhance the en- Now $14.99 — Save 25% vironment. This is a book that sees chicken-raising as much more than an avian hobby interest. It’s For a complete list of books visit: a book for our times. 460 pages. $22.50 iamcountryside.com/shop Now $11.25 — Save 50%

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Chicken Coops Reinventing the Chicken Coop Storey’s Guide to Backyard Chickens SAVE SAVE 25% By JuDy panGMan By Matthew wolpe & Kevin Mcelroy 25% Raising Chickens 4th Edition Beyond the Basics By Gail DaMerow Backyard chickens meet contem- By paM FreeMan Whether you keep one hen or porary design! Here are 14 com- Completely revised and rede- A must-have for every backyard 1,000 hens, you will find a hous- plete building plans for chicken signed, making Storey’s Guide ing plan in this comprehensive chicken keeper. From odd eggs and coops that range from the purely to Raising Chickens full of more molting to feeding and preparing book. Coops range from fash- functional to the outrageously accessible and updated informa- ionable backyard structures to for the seasons, this book covers the fabulous. Complete step-by-step tive than ever. You’ll get the most subjects beginner books don’t ad- large-scale, movable shelters. building plans are accompanied up-to-date details on shelter, equately address and re-examines You will also find plans for con- by full-color photographs and common knowledge that may not ac- verting trailer frames, green- food, health care, eggs, chicks, detailed construction illustrations. and meat, and recent research tually hold true. It’s a resource to turn houses and sheds using recycled to time and again for expert advice 192 pages. $19.95 into chicken behavior and com- materials and simple ways to make waterers, feeders, and to make sure your birds are happy, nestboxes. 166 pages. $19.95 munication makes the sections on flock management truly healthy, and productive. 192 pages. SAVE authoritative. New color photos and illustrations provide 25% Chicken Health Handbook more specificity and information about chicken breeds, $21.99 Storey’s Guide to By Gail DaMerow anatomy, and health. 424 pages. $24.95 Now $18.95 Now $16.49 — Save 25% SAVE 25% Raising Poultry A must-have reference for the SAVE small flock owner. Gail Damerow, 50% By Glenn Drowns Storey’s Illustrated Guide My Pet Chicken leading authority on all things By lissa lucas & traci torres, the experts at My pet chicKen A diverse flock of poultry can pro- chicken, provides a complete ref- to Poultry Breeds SAVE vide free-range meat, a rainbow of erence to answer the questions By carol eKarius Detailed care instructions for baby eggs, and endless entertainment— 25% chicks and mature hens help to and resolve the problems of any This definitive guide includes a brief all delivered from the confines of ensure a friendly and enjoyable chicken raiser from beginner to history of each breed, detailed your backyard or small farm. Glenn flock. Then the joy of chicken keep- professional. This fully updated descriptions of identifying charac- Drowns, an expert on rare breeds ing comes full “ovoid” with 50 reci- and expanded edition of a long- teristics, and colorful photography pes for breakfast, lunch, and din- and varieties of turkeys, ducks, time classic offers expert guid- geese, chickens, and other birds, de- of more than 128 birds that cele- ner, featuring the incredible and ance on nutrition, reproductive issues, and a full range of brate the birds’ quirky personalities versatile egg, from homemade livers everything you need to know health problems. 487 pages. to raise healthy, safe poultry. 454 and charming good looks. Includes: egg noodles and sesame mayon- naise to a vegetable frittata and pages. $24.95 chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, emus, $19.95 Now $18.75 — Save 25% guinea fowl, ostriches, partridges, caramel custard. 246 pages. Now $14.99 — Save 25% peafowl, , quails, and $17.99 swans. 277 pages. Now $8.99 — Save 50% SAVE City Chicks SAVE 25% How to 50% $24.95 By patricia ForeMan Raise Chickens Now $18.71 — Save 25% Mushrooming Without Fear SAVE 25% Chickens have become the mascot of By alexanDer schwaB By christine heinrichs Storey’s Guide to the local food movement. A desire Raising Ducks Novices eager to collect tasty This book provides information for sustainable, clean, wholesome SAVE By Dave holDerreaD wild mushrooms will find this on breed types, obtaining stock, food and superior soil quality has 25% Raise ducks successfully, this book unique guide invaluable. Unlike housing, feeding, flock manage- led more and more suburban and covers everything from choosing the others, it focuses only on those ment, breeding programs, incu- city dwellers to keep laying hens in right breeds to breeding and rearing types that are both safe to eat bation and care of chicks, selec- their backyards and gardens. City practices, feeding, housing, health and delicious. Most important, it tion and culling, showing, health Chicks has the ambitious intent of care, butchering, and much more. presents the eight rules of mush- exploring three subjects: urban ag- care, and the legal aspects of This revised and updated second room gathering in a straightfor- riculture systems, recycling food and raising chickens. 208 pages. edition includes coverage of more ward fashion. Each is identified yard waste, and using local resourc- breeds plus expanded information with several color photographs $19.99 es to preserve and enhance the en- on facilities for ducklings, health and and identification checklist, and Now $14.99 — Save 25% vironment. This is a book that sees disease treatment, marketing, record there’s also information on mush- chicken-raising as much more than an avian hobby interest. It’s keeping, color genetics, and rare room season, handling, storage, and cooking, complete with a book for our times. 460 pages. For a complete list of books visit: breed conservation. 356 pages. recipes. 128 pages. iamcountryside.com/shop $22.50 $19.95 $14.95 Now $11.25 — Save 50% Now $14.99 — Save 25% Now $11.20 — Save 25%

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Identifying and Harvesting 40 Projects for Your Edible Plants SAVE Backyard Homestead By steve Brill & evelyn Dean 25% By DaviD toht More than 260 detailed line draw- ings help readers identify a wide 40 Projects for Building Your range of plants — many of which Backyard Homestead provides are suited for cooking by following details on how to build more the more than 30 recipes included than 40 projects to enhance in this book. This book is both a readers’ sustainable living. field guide to nature’s bounty and Even if you are only moder- a source of intriguing information ately handy, you’ll discover the about the plants that surround us. tools and techniques for build- 336 pages. ing your own feeders, fences, and structures. In the process, $21.99 you’ll save money and have the Now $16.49 — Save 25% satisfaction of doing it yourself. 255 pages. $16.95 Hatching & Brooding SAVE 35% Your Own Chicks Vet Guide for Animal Owners SAVE 25% By Gail DaMerow By c.e. spaulDinG anD JacKie clay If you want to incubate, hatch, and This easy-to-use reference guide pro- brood chicks yourself, rather than buy- vides everything you need to know ing them from a hatchery, this is the about caring for and treating pets guide you need. Learn how to hatch and barnyard animals. With com- healthy baby chickens, ducklings, gos- plete chapters on cats, cows, dogs, lings, turkey poults, and guinea keets, goats, horses, pigs, poultry, rabbits, addressing everything from selecting and sheep, it includes hundreds of a breed and choosing the best incu- bator to ensuring proper set-up and strategies for preventing and curing sanitary conditions, understanding common problems. 432 pages. embryo development, and feeding $14.95 and caring for newborn chicks in a brooder. 240 pages. Now $11.25 — Save 25% $24.95 Now $16.25 — Save 35% Homemade Yogurt & Kefir NEW! Butchering Poultry, Rabbit, Lamb, By Gianaclis calDwell Goat, & Pork Step-by-step instructions cover the basics of making dairy ferments, By aDaM DanForth from necessary equipment to the With Adam Danforth’s full-color myriad options for thickening, comprehensive manual, you can sweetening, and flavoring. Along learn the skills necessary to take an with foundational recipes, you’ll animal calmly and efficiently from find instructions for creating- dif pasture to freezer. Every step of ferent styles of yogurt and kefir as the slaughtering process — from well as other traditional milk fer- selecting the proper equipment to ments from around world, includ- preparing, stunning, and bleeding ing Icelandic skyr, Asian koumiss, the animals — is presented with and Finish viili. Techniques for making simple cheeses, butter, careful consideration for the ani- whipped cream, and other dairy products using yogurt and mals’ well-being and your safety. milk ferments broaden the possibilities of these probiotic- 446 pages. $24.95 packed cultures. 224 pages. $19.95

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Identifying and Harvesting 40 Projects for Your How to Raise Hentopia NEW! Edible Plants NEW! Chickens for Meat By FranK hyMan SAVE Backyard Homestead By steve Brill & evelyn Dean By Michelle Marine 25% By DaviD toht More eggs, less work! And more en- More than 260 detailed line draw- 40 Projects for Building Your If self-sufficiency and raising your joyment for both the chickens and ings help readers identify a wide their keeper! Hyman’s innovative range of plants — many of which Backyard Homestead provides own food is important to you, this details on how to build more book will help you pull together a building projects are designed to are suited for cooking by following save time and money while keep- than 40 projects to enhance complete farm-to-table experience. the more than 30 recipes included ing chickens safe, healthy, clean, and in this book. This book is both a readers’ sustainable living. Divided into four easy-to-navigate How to Raise Chickens for well-fed. Featuring easy-to-follow field guide to nature’s bounty and Even if you are only moder- sections, Meat is packed with practical infor- instructions and colorful photos. a source of intriguing information ately handy, you’ll discover the $16.99 208 pages. $24.95 about the plants that surround us. tools and techniques for build- mation. 176 pages. 336 pages. ing your own feeders, fences, and structures. In the process, $21.99 you’ll save money and have the Now $16.49 — Save 25% satisfaction of doing it yourself. 50 DIY Projects for Keeping Chickens NEW! 255 pages. $16.95 By Janet GarMan, tiMBer creeK FarM Hatching & Brooding Get ready to jump into the world of chickens, one DIY project at a time. Owning and SAVE 35% Your Own Chicks Vet Guide for Animal Owners SAVE raising chickens doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. With imagination, simple tools, 25% and salvaged or bargain materials, you can make everything your flock needs for their By Gail DaMerow By c.e. spaulDinG anD JacKie clay health and safety. 168 pages. $19.99 If you want to incubate, hatch, and This easy-to-use reference guide pro- brood chicks yourself, rather than buy- vides everything you need to know ing them from a hatchery, this is the about caring for and treating pets Want Free Shipping? Upgrade your subscription to ALL-ACCESS MEMBERSHIP and your guide you need. Learn how to hatch and barnyard animals. With com- healthy baby chickens, ducklings, gos- books ship free in the U.S. every day. Visit backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com to learn about all plete chapters on cats, cows, dogs, lings, turkey poults, and guinea keets, the perks of membership or call 970-392-4419. It’s less than $1 more a month! goats, horses, pigs, poultry, rabbits, addressing everything from selecting and sheep, it includes hundreds of a breed and choosing the best incu- If you prefer not to cut your magazine, or if you need more room, please write your order on another piece of paper. bator to ensuring proper set-up and strategies for preventing and curing sanitary conditions, understanding common problems. 432 pages. Backyard Poultry Book Order Form Books: embryo development, and feeding $14.95 $ and caring for newborn chicks in a brooder. 240 pages. Now $11.25 — Save 25% $ $24.95 $ Now $16.25 — Save 35% $ Homemade Yogurt & Kefir NEW! $ By Gianaclis calDwell Butchering Poultry, Rabbit, Lamb, Titles: $ Goat, & Pork Step-by-step instructions cover the $ basics of making dairy ferments, By aDaM DanForth from necessary equipment to the Name: ______Book(s) Total $______With Adam Danforth’s full-color myriad options for thickening, Address: ______sweetening, and flavoring. Along S&H $4 first item comprehensive manual, you can City:______State:______Zip:______$1 each add’l $______learn the skills necessary to take an with foundational recipes, you’ll animal calmly and efficiently from find instructions for creating- dif m Check Enclosed m Charge my credit card: Subtotal $______pasture to freezer. Every step of ferent styles of yogurt and kefir as well as other traditional milk fer- Phone: ______WI Residents Add the slaughtering process — from ments from around world, includ- 5.5% sales tax $______selecting the proper equipment to Visa/MC/AmEx/Disc No.______Exp.______2.50 preparing, stunning, and bleeding ing Icelandic skyr, Asian koumiss, E-mail: ______Total Enclosed $______the animals — is presented with and Finish viili. Techniques for making simple cheeses, butter, careful consideration for the ani- whipped cream, and other dairy products using yogurt and mals’ well-being and your safety. milk ferments broaden the possibilities of these probiotic- Send to: BYP Bookstore, P.O. Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 446 pages. $24.95 packed cultures. 224 pages. $19.95 Call 970-392-4419 • backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 89 The Big Solutions to Every Problem You’ll Ever Face Book of Answers to Every Question You’ll Ever Ask Kombucha By HannaH Crum & alex laGory Veggie gardener’s Marketplace answer Book

Brew your own kombucha at home! More than 400 recipes — Barbara Ellis provides expert answers for all of your for a fraction of the store-bought toughest vegetable-growing questions. Designed to be price. This complete guide shows you how to do it from used as an in-the-garden reference, this sturdy little start to finish, with illustrated volume is packed with helpful information on step-by-step instructions and everything from planning a garden and sowing seeds to troubleshooting tips. battling pests and harvesting organic crops. With clever iamcountryside.com/shop tricks to cut down on weed growth, secrets for maxi- mizing production in confined growing spaces, and fail-safe watering guidelines, you’ll have the know- Basic Emergency how and inspiration to grow your most Preparedness Everyone abundant vegetable garden ever. Should Know 431 pages ~ Household Remedies ~ 100% ~ Herbal Treatments ~ Organic By Brigitte Mars Protects and Contains

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Everything You Need To Know To Raise Chickens

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Whether you want to raise five chickens or 50, whether you have a 40-foot city lot or a 40-acre farm, the expert advice in this hands-on guidebook makes it easy for you to get started raising a healthy flock. Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book will show you what to do next with longtime chicken breeder Christine Heinrichs explaining all the help- ful DOs and important DON’Ts. This brightly illus- trated, full-color guide will prove an indispensable resource for anyone interested in raising their very own flocks. Easy-to-follow advice helps you to: Choose breeds and obtain stock; House and feed chickens; Manage your flock and keep it healthy; Select and cull for breeding programs; Incubate eggs and care for chicks; Raise chickens in the country, suburbs, or city. 208 pages

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October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 95 Name: ______just for fun Date: ______Backyard Poultry SKRAMBLEROctober/November 2020

1. DEELREIBLFE ______

2. CHNIKCE NIOSVI ______

3. TSYUR SOOEM MRFA ______

4. INMUKPP SSDEE ______

5. YRPTOUL ATR ______

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17. ARRABAB AHSW ______

18. FFLUYF ______

19. TNIY THE TTKCAA NEH ______

20. EYUSTKR BY ETH ZEODN ______

ANSWER KEY

0. EYUSTKR BY ETH ZEODN turkeys by the dozen the by turkeys ZEODN ETH BY EYUSTKR 0. 2

9. TNIY THE TTKCAA NEH tiny the attack hen attack the tiny NEH TTKCAA THE TNIY 9. 1

8. FFLUYF fluffy FFLUYF 8. 1

7. ARRABAB AHSW barbara shaw barbara AHSW ARRABAB 7. 1

6. ALRDA darla ALRDA 6. 1

5. EMKARS DEESASI mareks disease mareks DEESASI EMKARS 5. 1

4. IERIENRENDHRE niederrheiner IERIENRENDHRE 4. 1

3. OTORSY THE ORETSRO roosty the rooster the roosty ORETSRO THE OTORSY 3. 1

2. GGE UCRTADS egg custard egg UCRTADS GGE 2. 1

1. ROUYTLP PENIETRDSS poultry presidents poultry PENIETRDSS ROUYTLP 1. 1

0. PRSEEC crepes PRSEEC 0. 1

. AKLCB EKRUTY black turkey black EKRUTY AKLCB . 9

. TEKRUY POT EIP turkey pot pie pot turkey EIP POT TEKRUY . 8

. ETWRA GNSLISGA water glassing water GNSLISGA ETWRA . 7

. EUYRKT TLASI turkey tails turkey TLASI EUYRKT . 6

. YRPTOUL ATR poultry art poultry ATR YRPTOUL . 5

. INMUKPP SSDEE pumpkin seeds pumpkin SSDEE INMUKPP . 4

. TSYUR SOOEM MRFA rusty moose farm moose rusty MRFA SOOEM TSYUR . 3

. CHNIKCE NIOSVI chicken vision chicken NIOSVI CHNIKCE . 2

. DEELREIBLFE bielefelder DEELREIBLFE . 1

Backyard Poultry October/November 2020 October/November Poultry Backyard

Date: ______Date: ______Name:

96 Backyard Poultry just for fun

Show us your art skills by coloring this turkey. Once you're done, snap a picture and send it to us via email at [email protected] or via snail mail at Backyard Poultry, Attn: Coloring Pages, P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451.

October/November 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 97 Coloring Page Fun A Selection of Beautiful Creations from Our Readers

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

1. Micah Shreffler | 2. Zoe Tomas, age 9 | 3. Violet Kizlinski, age 7 | 4. Trella McBroom, age 11, Oregon 5. Stella Johnston, age 9, Wisconsin | 6. Lily Angst, age 10, Missouri | 7. Liberty, age 8, Utah 8. Brian Allison, Virginia | 9. Ava Heppe, age 7 | 10. Alliyah Miller, Oklahoma 11. Bonnie Dreos, age 77, Michigan | 12. Jean Reek, age 71, Minnesota

98 Backyard Poultry

100 Backyard Poultry