Chicken Breeds EDITORIAL

Volume 15, Number 2 Backyard April/May 2020 Poultry America's Favorite Poultry Magazine

RARE AND EXOTIC BREEDS

FOWL TYPHOID AND PULLORUM DISEASE

HANDICAP- ACCESSIBLE COOP INSPIRATION

Plus: THE FOUR- LEGGED CHICK

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 1 2 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 3 contents // 15.2 08 Editor’s Letter

10 Photo Essay: Happy Harvest Farm

14 Coming Events

18 Something to Crow About

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

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

30 All Cooped Up: Fowl Typhoid and Pullorum By Lacey Hughett

34 Halal Chicken By Rita Heikenfeld

36 Dutch Baby Pancakes By Rita Heikenfeld 36 38 Easter Savory Breakfast Bake By Hannah McClure

40 Backyard Chickens Prove Hardy and Resilient By Tamsin Cooper

44 Four Threatened Duck Breeds By Kenny Coogan

48 Holderread’s Lost Bantam Ducks By Craig Bordeleau

50 Exotic Pheasants at Waddesdon Manor By Susie Kearley

54 Pink Pigeons By Susie Kearley

56 Crèvecœurs By Christine Heinrichs

60 The Farm at Prophetstown By Rebecca Sanderson

62 Broken Arrow Farm 50 By Kendra Paulton

4 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 5 contents // 15.2 66 Raising Heritage Poultry By Ann Accetta-Scott

68 Brown vs. White Eggs By Kate Johnson

72 Efficiently Hatching Eggs with a Broody Chicken By Amy Fewell

74 The Four-Legged Chick By Rebecca Krebs

76 Chickens and Compost: A Match Made in Heaven By Patrice Lewis

78 Coop Inspiration: Zachariah’s Acres By Steph Merkle

82 Breed Profile: Hamburg Chicken By Tamsin Cooper

84 Secret Life of Poultry: Topper the Comback Duck By Lacey Hughett 74

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 Backyard Poultry tote. Enter by 4/9/20. These handy totes are new to the Backyard Poultry store.

February/March 2020 issue winner: 82 • Lisa Bakos, California 6 Backyard Poultry B:8.75” T:8.25” S:7.75”

Bolster your chicks from the inside out. B:11.375” S:10.375” T:10.875”

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Production 16055-1_NUT_NW_Bolster-Print_BackyardPoultry_012420.indd print scale None Round 1F printed 1-24-2020 9:37 AM page 1 of 1 location Creative:Cargill_Nutrena:16055_Chick_Days_2020:16055-1_Chick_Days_2020_Paid_Advertising:Development saved 1-24-2020 9:35 AM by Justin Schraff

JOB INFO AGENCY CREDITS COLORS – FONTS – IMAGES Job 16055-1 Account Director Ellen Brinn Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Client Nutrena Account Manager Perrin Burke Fonts: Klinic Slab (Bold, Medium, Book), Helvetica Neue (45 Light) Media Type Print Creative Director Patrick Clifford Images: LightBrahma-shutterstock_153340169-2_OL_Brighten-sk.psd (CMYK; 341 ppi; 87.87%), NT_NW_ Color CMYK Art Director/Designer Sarah Koster CSG_Med_Thumb_FrontView_OL.ai (50.13%), NT_NW_CSG_Thumb_FrontView_OL.ai (50.13%), Nutrena_ logo_TaglineWIC-stack_White_R.eps (10.82%) Description FP ad Copywriter Brenna Ruiz Project Management Tayne Hall Live 7.75” x 10.375” Mac Artist Katie Byrd Trim 8.25” x 10.875” Bleed 8.75” x 11.375” Folded None IMAGE INFORMATION NOTES (scaling, special instructions, etc.) CC 2018 Pubs Backyard Poultry Required Final Resolution 300 ppi None Usage None from the editor Backyard Poultry backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com

Chicken Breeds EDITORIAL

Marissa Ames, Editor ’m a breed geek. My hatchery orders [email protected] have been known to top 40 chickens: Madagascar not because I NEEDED 40 more Game Steph Merkle, Content Director I pullet chickens but because I saw 20 breeds I [email protected] didn’t own, and I wanted two of each. Editorial Assistants Salmon Faverolles, Cream Brabanter, Samantha Ingersoll, Ann Tom Red-Shouldered Yokohama. I loved my Madagascar Game chicken and my Malay Publication Designer pullet. Of all the rare breeds I’ve owned, Sara Heideman my favorites were my Russian Orloff and ADVERTISING my very sweet and friendly Exchequer Leghorn. Alicia Soper, Advertising Director Of course, the very common sex-links [email protected] always had a place in my flock for the 715-748-1388 sheer number of eggs they produced, and Malay Kelly Weiler pullet I loved cuddling my Blue Cochin and [email protected] Dark Brahma. But still, none of these 715-748-1389 replace Delawares as my favorite chicken breed of all time. love to see your pictures and share them Sue Lapcewich I’ve owned Narragansett and Royal with our other readers in our Something [email protected] 970-373-7301 Palm heritage turkeys and Welsh Harle- to Crow About section. Email high-reso- quin ducks, but so far, no rare or endan- lution copies or snail-mail them, and we Backyard Poultry’s Main Coop gered geese. And someday, I hope to have will happily share them in a future issue. Backyard Poultry beautiful Chinese pheasant breeds. Here’s to beautiful birds! P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451 I hope you enjoy reading this issue Backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com as much as I enjoyed editing it, for the sheer eye candy of the spectacular breeds Subscriptions (U.S. funds): showcased. Have you ever seen what $29.97 for six print issues happens when you cross a pheasant with $29.97 for digital only a peacock? Turn to page 50. Or do you $39.97 for all-access (print + digital) Backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ want to help conserve a breed while add- all-membership ing a little splendor into your flock? Try Crèvecœurs. Hamburg chickens are stun- Or mail to: ning, but aren’t the best for free-ranging Backyard Poultry Subscriptions in a small yard because they fly very well. P.O Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 970-392-4419 And if you want to keep a breed that your friends have probably never heard of, read Printed in the U.S.A. about Bantam Aztec ducks on page 48. Backyard Poultry (ISSN 1559-2251, USPS 023-374) is published Do you have a favorite rare or exotic bi-monthly by Countryside Publications, at P.O. Box 566, breed of poultry that you keep? We would Medford, WI 54451. Periodicals postage paid at Medford, Marissa Ames WI and additional mailing offices. ©2020 Countryside Publications. Countryside Publications is owned and operated Editor by Fence Post Co. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of the editor or publisher. All contents of this 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); On The Cover NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Backyard Poultry Subscriptions, Silkie hen, Patsy Cline, with Silkie/Polish chick, P.O. Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 Johnny Cash. Photograph by Jessica Crouse.

8 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 9 Happy HarvestBy Kelli Lage Farm

grew up in a small Iowa farming community. It was common to have Iclassmates that lived on a farm, but the town kids were different. I was a town kid and the concept of farming was foreign to me. I couldn’t imagine waking up earlier than 7:00 in the morning, no less to get up that early and do farm chores. In elementa- ry school, my class would take field trips centered around farm safety. I thought to myself, “When am I ever going to need this?” Then at the age of 19 I met, fell in love with, and married, yeah you guessed it — a farmer. My husband Ryan has been passion- ate about farming for as long as he can remember. He grew up on the family farm, often helping his dad complete farm chores. When I met Ryan, I admired the hard work he did as a farmer, but it never crossed my mind as something I could do as well. However, as our marriage began, I watched him work and I was drawn in. Over time he’s shown me the beauty of planting something and watching it grow. Without him, I would have never discovered my passion for agriculture. When Ryan saw my interest, he joyfully began to teach me. Since we both found so much delight in farming, it became a shared goal to start a farm of our own someday. At Ryan’s family farm we have beef cattle and grow corn and soybeans, but beginning our own journey always After I thrifted this miniature bench, the idea came to have our spring chicks model it. If you stayed in the back of our minds. know chickens, then you know I have about 100 outtakes for this photo. After a couple of years of marriage, we moved to the country. The previous owners decided to include their chickens along Follow Kelli Lage: with the acreage, thus Happy Harvest Farm was born. Our dog Cedar can often facebook.com/HappyHarvestFarm be seen running around the acreage with instagram.com/HappyHarvestFarm a skip in her step. She likes to feel just as included as us, so she has dubbed herself the professional digger for planting. A staple of our farm is the bright rob- on our farm that always brought cheer, Chickens are now a huge part of our tiny in’s-egg-colored coop that Ryan hand-built even in the midst of gray winter months. farm. On Happy Harvest Farm, we have over a year ago. The coop stands 10 feet For myself a first-generation farmer, 20 chickens, including 10 Rhode Island tall, 16 feet long, and 12 feet wide. Many and Ryan a fifth-generation farmer, we Reds and 10 Easter Eggers. We also plant pass by our acreage and it has become a often see farming differently, but one vegetables. In the summers we travel to focal point of conversation when we see aspect we both agree on wholeheartedly the local farmers market selling our eggs friends and community members. I select- is that there is nothing better than doing and produce. ed the color, because I wanted something it together.

10 Backyard Poultry All of my favorite things combined — tea, chicks, and photography. This is the first and only time I brought a chick into our home. It made for a cute photo, but this little one kept wanting to scamper off and explore our home. It seems all of our chicks like to learn about the world around them.

It interests me to see how eggs from the same breed can look so different. It’s always Here our first rooster, Arnold, is pictured eating watermelon, with some chickens behind him. exciting to check the laying box each Arnold has since passed on, but we have fond memories. All our chickens love eating watermelon morning. Speckled eggs are one of my on warm summer days. favorites.

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 11 TOP LEFT: This little yellow chick would have been content sitting in the strawberry tin all day. She made my photoshoot easy since she was ready to fall asleep in there. TOP RIGHT: This was the first time we added a breed other than Rhode Island Reds to our flock. I was quite excited about the color variety so I found three willing chick models of each breed and set them in the basket. BOTTOM LEFT: My favorite part about new spring chicks is how curious they are. We bring them out to explore the world as they grow. BOTTOM RIGHT: Here our lively dog Cedar is pictured by our John Deere 3010. She’s most content when spending time outside. She is the best farm helper that we could ask for.

12 Backyard Poultry Our chickens free-range during the day and sleep in here to stay safe Ryan, in the process of building our coop. It took him less than a from predators. In Iowa, common predators are foxes, raccoons, and week to complete. coyotes.

Once Ryan and I named Happy Harvest Farm, we commissioned a stamp to use on our cartons. We were thrilled with the final product. I love when customers post photos to show off our logo.

April/May 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.

ARIZONA May 2, 2020 — Kimmell, Indiana, Wolf's Swap May 23, 2020 — Iowa City, Iowa, Eastern Iowa meet Poultry Association April 16-26, 2020 — Tuscon, Arizona, Pima https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Wolfs_Swap_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Eastern_ County Fair Meet.html Iowa_Poultry.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Pima_ County_Fair.html May 10, 2020 — Knox, Indiana, Golden KENTUCKY Horseshoe Saddle Club Swap Meet ARKANSAS https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Golden_ April 18, 2020 — Brownsville, Kentucky, Green Horseshoe_Saddle_Club_Swap.html River Poultry Club, Inc. Spring Show April 4, 2020 — El Dorado, Arkansas, South https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Green_River. Central Regional Classic - South Arkansas May 15-16, 2020 — Topeka, Indiana, Topeka html Poultry Club Exotic Animal and Bird Auction https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/South_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Topeka_ May 9-10, 2020 — Milton, Kentucky, Semi Central_Regional_Classic.html Exotic_Animal_Bird_Auction.html Annual Animal Swap Meet & Flea Market https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Semi_ April 30-May 2, 2020 — Little Rock, Arkansas, May 16, 2020 — Shipshewana, Indiana, Annual_Animal_Swap_Meet_Flea_Market.html Arkansas State Fair Spring Poultry Show Shipshewana Swap Meet https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Arkansas_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Newbury_ November 21, 2020 —Morehead, Kentucky, State_Fair.html Square_Swap_Meet_Flea_Market.html Derrickson Agricultural Complex, 5th Annual Appalachian Classic, Single Show CALIFORNIA IOWA https://www.facebook.com/ groups/611249925682088/ April 29-May 3, 2020 — Santa Barbara, Califor- April 4, 2020 — Aplington, Iowa, Central Iowa nia, Santa Barbara Fair Livestock Exchange — Tack, Horse & All Animal LOUISIANA https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Santa_ Auction Barbara_Fair.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Central_ April 17-18, 2020 — Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Iowa_Livestock_Exchange.html Cajun Serama Classic May 14-17, 2020 — King City, California, Salinas https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Cajun_ Valley Fair April 4-5, 2020 — Council Bluffs, Iowa, Serama_Classic.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Salinas_ Southwest Iowa Animal Swap Valley_Fair.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Southwest_ MAINE Iowa_Animal_Swap.html COLORADO May 24, 2020-May 26, 2019 — Windsor, Maine, April 11, 2020 — Algona, Iowa, Kossuth County Central Maine Bird Fanciers Spring Show April 11, 2020 — Pueblo, Colorado, Colorado Fair Board Exotic Animal & Bird Sale https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Central_ Poultry Association Spring Show https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Kossuth_ Maine.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Colorado_ County_Fair_Board_Exotic_Animal_Bird_Sale.html Poultry_Association.html MARYLAND April 18-19, 2020 — Waverly, Iowa, Waverly Iowa May 29-30, 2020 — Fruita, Colorado, Mike the Exotic Bird and Animal Swap April 25, 2020 — Sharpsburg, Maryland, Mary- Headless Chicken Show and Extravaganza https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/ land Poultry Swap & Farmers Market https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Mike_Head- Waverly_Iowa_Exotic_Bird_Animal_Swap.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Maryland_ less_Chicken_Show_Extravaganza.html Poultry_Swap.html April 19, 2020 — West Burlington, Iowa, West CONNECTICUT Burlington Flea Market MASSACHUSETTS https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Southeast_ April 11, 2020 — Connecticut, Southern New Iowa_Pigeon_Club.html May 3, 2020 — Brockton, Massachusetts, New England 4-H Poultry Show England Bantam Club Spring Show https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Southern_ April 19, 2020 — Maquoketa, Iowa, Eastern Iowa https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/New_ New_England_4-H_Poultry_Show.html Bird and Small Animal Swap England_Bantam_Club_Fall_Show.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Eastern_ ILLINOIS Iowa_Bird_Small_Animal_Swap.html MICHIGAN

April 25, 2020 — Freeport, Illinois, Illinois Pet & May 2, 2020 — Albia, Iowa, Exotic Animal and April 25, 2020 — Imlay City (Eastern MI Game Breeders Society Spring Swap Bird Auction Fairgrounds), Michigan, Michigan Bird & Game https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Illinois_Pet_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Exotic_ Breeders Assoc. Sale - Imlay City Game_Breeders_Society_Swap.html Animal_and_Bird_Auction.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Michigan_ Game_Breeders_Swap_Imlay.html April 25, 2020 — Medora, Illinois, Tri County May 9-10, 2020 — Avoca, Iowa, United Poultry Auction & Café Fanciers Spring Double Show May 23-24, 2020 — Hillsdale, Michigan, Saulk https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Tri_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/United_ Trail Poultry Show County_Auction_Cafe.html Poultry_Fanciers.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Saulk_Trail_ Poultry_Show.html INDIANA May 17, 2020 — West Burlington, Iowa, West Burlington Flea Market MINNESOTA April 11, 2020 — Spencer, Indiana, White River https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Southeast_ Poultry Club Spring Show Iowa_Pigeon_Club.html April 4, 2020 — New Ulm, Minnesota, New Ulm https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/White_ Bird & Small Animal Swap & Sale Days River_Poultry_Club_Show.html May 17, 2020 — Maquoketa, Iowa, Eastern Iowa https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Brown_Co_ Bird and Small Animal Swap Pigeon_Poultry_Club_Swap.html April 25, 2020 — Shipshewana, Indiana, Shipsh- https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Eastern_ ewana Swap Meet Iowa_Bird_Small_Animal_Swap.html April 4, 2020 — Wabasha, Minnesota, Wabasha https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Newbury_ Small Animal Swap Meet Square_Swap_Meet_Flea_Market.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Wabasha_ Small_Animal_Swap.html

14 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 15 April 24-25, 2020 — Pierz, Minnesota, Skis Alter- OHIO OKLAHOMA native Animal Auction https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Skis_ April 18, 2020 — Fremont, Ohio, Fremont Pigeon April 4, 2020 — Guthrie, Oklahoma, Serama Alternative_Animal_Auction Club Spring Swap Territorial Classic https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Fremont_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Serama_ May 2, 2020 — New Ulm, Minnesota, New Ulm Pigeon_Club.html Territorial_Classic.html Bird & Small Animal Swap & Sale Days https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Brown_Co_ April 25-26, 2020 — Greenville, Ohio, Dayton PENNSYLVANIA Pigeon_Poultry_Club_Swap.html Fancy Feather Club https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Dayton_ April 18, 2020-December 30, 2020 — Lebanon, MISSOURI Fancy_Feather_Club.html Pennsylvania, Lebanon Valley Livestock Market & Exotic Animal Sale April 2-5, 2020 — Versailles, Missouri, Jacob's April 25-26, 2020 — Lucasville, Ohio, Lucasville https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Lebanon_ Cave Swapping Days Trade Days Valley_Livestock_Market.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Jacobs_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Lucasville_ Cave_Swapping_Days.html Trade_Days.html April 19, 2020 — Dunbar, Pennsylvania, Union- town Poultry and farm products association April 3-5, 2020 — Boonville, Missouri, Lake of May 5, 2020 — Eaton, Ohio, Dayton Fancy https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Uniontown_ the Ozarks Pigeon Club Swapper's Days Feather Club Swap Days Poultry_Association.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Lake_of_the_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Dayton_ Ozarks_Pigeon_Club_Swappers_Days.html Fancy_Feather_Club_Swap_Days.html May 16, 2020 — Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Green Dragon Small Animial Auction April 18, 2020 — Sedalia, Missouri, Missouri May 9-10, 2020 — Wapakoneta, Ohio, Moon City https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Green_ State Poultry Association Swap and Show Poultry Club Dragon_Small_Animial_Auction.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Moon_City_ Minnesota_State_Poultry_Association.html Poultry_Club.html May 24, 2020 — Dunbar, Pennsylvania, Uniontown Poultry and Farm Products NEW YORK May 9-10, 2020 — Chillicothe, Ohio, Chillicothe Association Trade Days https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Uniontown_ May 3, 2020 — Schaghticoke, New York, https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Chillicothe_ Poultry_Association.html Brunswick Grange Tailgate Swap Trade_Days.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Tailgate_ RHODE ISLAND Sale-Schaghticoke.html May 15-16, 2020 — Mt Hope, Ohio, Mid Ohio Swap Meet May 17, 2020 — Richmond, Rhode Island, Little NORTH CAROLINA https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Mid_Ohio_ Rhody Poultry Fanciers Annual Spring Show Swap.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Little_Rhody_ May 16, 2020 — Lincolnton, North Carolina, Poultry_Fanciers.html Carolina Chickenstock May 16, 2020 — Jefferson, Ohio, Western https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Carolina_ Reserve Poultry Club Show SOUTH CAROLINA Chickenstock.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Western_ Reserve_Poultry_Club.html April 25, 2020 — Easley, South Carolina, Dacusville Chickenstock https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Dacusville_ Chickenstock.html Incubators, Brooders, Cages & Supplies TENNESSEE April 4, 2020-December 30, 1899 — Cleveland, Tennessee, Flock Swap https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Flock_Swap. html

April 11, 2020 — Knoxville, Tennessee, Tennessee Valley Poultry Club Spring Fling https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Dixie_ Classic.html

May 2, 2020 — Newport, Tennessee, Something to Crow About Spring Poultry Show https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Something_ To_Crow_About.html

May 2, 2020 — Cleveland, Tennessee, Flock Swap https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Flock_Swap. html

TEXAS

April 11, 2020 — Gilmer, Texas, East Texas Poul- try Trade Days https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/East_ Texas_Poultry_Trades_Day.html

April 11-12, 2020 — Comanche, Texas, Comanche Crossroads https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/ Comanche_Crossroads.html

April 25, 2020 — Amarillo, Texas, Amarillo Bantam Club Show Quality, Utility, and Performance at a Reasonable Price https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/ Amarillo_Bantam_Club.html GQF MANUFACTURING CO. PO BOX 1552 SAVANNAH, GA 31402 USA visit GQFmfg.com

16 Backyard Poultry VERMONT May 16, 2020 — Kalama, Washington, Spring May 16, 2020 — Ladysmith, Wisconsin, Rusk Kalama Poultry and Small Animal Market County 4-H Small Animal Swap May 9, 2020 — Tunbridge, Vermont, Green https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Kalama_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Ladysmith_ Mountain Poultry Show & Sale Poultry_and_Small_Animal_Market Swap.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Green_ Mountain_Poultry_Show.html May 22-24, 2020 — Chehalis, Washington, May 16, 2020 — Shawano, Wisconsin, Shawano Washington Feather Fanciers Spring Wing Ding County 4-H Small Animal Swap VIRGINIA https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Evergreen_ https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Shawano_ Spring_Poultry_Expo.html County_4H_Small_Animal_Swap.html April 18, 2020 — Berryville, Virginia, PS Pearrell Poultry Auctions WISCONSIN https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/PS_ Pearrell_Poultry_Auctions.html April 11, 2020 — Walworth, Wisconsin, Walworth County Fur and Feather Swap May 2, 2020 — Glen Allen, Virginia, Gilmanor https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Walworth_ Swap & Sale County_Fur_Feather_Swap.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/ Gilmanor_Swap_Sale.html April 11, 2020 — Weyauwega, Wisconsin, Fox Valley Rabbit Club Small Animal Swap May 23, 2020 — Berryville, Virginia, PS Pearrell https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Fox_ Poultry Auctions Valley_Rabbit_Club_Small_Animal_Swap.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/PS_ Pearrell_Poultry_Auctions.html May 2, 2020 — Neillsville, Wisconsin, Neillsville Small Animal Swap & Market WASHINGTON https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Neillsville_ Small_Animal_Swap.html April 4, 2020 — Kennewick, Washington, All Things Poultry Event May 3, 2020 — Seymour, Wisconsin, Outagamie https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/ County 4H Animal Swap Leftovers_4-H_Poultry_Club_Show.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Outagamie_ County_4H_Animal_Swap.html April 11, 2020 — Port Orchard, Washington, Western Washington Poultry and Homestead May 9, 2020 — Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Swap West Central WI Pigeon and Poultry Club https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Western_ Summer Swap Washington_Poultry_and_Homestead_Swap.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/West_ Central_WI_Pigeon_Poultry_Club_Swap.html April 16-19, 2020 — Payallup, Washington, Washington State Spring Fair May 10, 2020 — Amherst, Wisconsin, PK Annual https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/ Mothers Day Swap Payallup_Fair.html https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/PK_ Annual_Fathers_Day_Swap.html

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April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 17 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].

Aggressive Rooster Tip tus you need to have the testing performed Hi, annually and every six months for avian I love your magazine. I’d like to share influenza. They also send NPIP regis- my solution to an aggressive rooster. I tration forms to accompany birds and keep a spray bottle filled with water on hatching eggs, for customers that request hand. Whenever the rooster gets aggres- the NPIP documentation, and this doc- sive, I spray his feet. He HATES this. umentation is registered with the state. Runs in the opposite direction. After a Here is more information: while, I just had to show him the bottle and he would run away. Now he just nda.nebraska.gov/animal/poultry/ avoids me. A hose works too but you have index.html to gentle as you don’t want to hurt your rooster. He is just doing his job. Kind Regards, Karen Simons Valerie Boese, TarBox Hollow Poultry Hen Sex Reversal My hen is undergoing sex reversal, she BYP Find the Roo Contest Winner has started crowing and taking on male/ Thank you! Love my new Roo bag! rooster characteristics. Not sure who Jacquelyn Olmeda, Massachusetts might be interested but I will look for the podcast that was suggested. Order yours here:

backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ iamcountryside.com/shop/tote-bag- feed-health/spontaneous-sex-reversal-is- poultry/ that-my-hen-crowing/ Smart Hawks Maria T. Brimat Here’s an unusual New Year’s Eve story. NPIP Certification I try to maintain 10-20 guineas. They In regards to acquiring our NPIP cer- often free range in the day but always tification, the Nebraska Department of return to their predator-secure pen before Agriculture mandates testing your entire dark, at which time I always close the flock, unless you have a larger flock. door to prevent nighttime attacks. Upon opening their door and letting backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ them outside for their last 2019 free feed-health/how-to-get-npip-certified/ range, this juvenile Sharp-shinned hawk had evidently spent the night inside their Our flock is around 300 birds, so the pen and had a good breakfast! The hawk veterinary tested 10%, 30 birds. The is about half the size of the guinea! tests are then sent to Nebraska Veterinary I finally lured him out by tossing the Diagnostic Center for analysis and they dead guinea just outside the door. respond back with results within a week. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. To maintain NPIP pullorum/typhoid sta- Muff Harner, South Carolina

18 Backyard Poultry Chicken Artwork I love reading I have always loved to draw and paint. After owning chickens myself, and living your articles! in the Farm Coast community of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, I figured out I I always can't really love to draw animals — especially chickens! I just started this new venture this wait for the next fall, after my garden wound down. I am so happy to be making art again and have the support of fellow chicken/animal lovers! issue. I have a I have been busy with original requests from the amazing Instagram community! small flock in This particular chicken is a commission I made for @petroschickinn on Instagram. Elk Grove. I am told she is a black Asian mix. Drawn on 9"x12" paper with micron, watercolors, — Lori Merklein, and colored pencil Erica Russo, Massachusetts California Instagram.com/the_russo_roost

Hip Hybrids Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers with Eggers produce blue eggs which are I am writing in regarding the article by Leghorns to increase egg production and higher quality than a pure Araucana?” Kenny Coogan titled “Hip Hybrids” in then breeding back to the parent stock. If Mr. Coogan is referring to egg color, the February/ March 2020 publication. In the case of Lakeshore Eggers that then that is untrue. Since, according Prairie Bluebell Eggers are not created by can be bought through Meyer hatchery, to the Prairie Bluebell Egger descrip- crossing Araucanas with White Leghorns, they cross Crested Legbars with some tion provided that says they are Arau- as the blurb on Prairie Bluebell Eggers common layer breeds to create a “new” cana-White Leghorn crosses, that means says. Prairie Bluebell Eggers and all other breed. As mentioned before, chickens all the offspring are heterozygous for colored-egg-layers that don’t go by the that go by the names of Whiting True the blue egg gene. In a 2013 article Easter Egger term are in actuality Easter Blue, Whiting True Green, Super Blue on Virology Blog by Professor Vincent Eggers. Easter Eggers are mixed-breed Egglayer, Lakeshore Egger, Prairie Blue- Racaniello (link below), the second para- chickens that carry the blue egg gene. But bell Egger, Starlight Green Egger, etc. are graph states that “Blue eggshell color is back to the Prairie Bluebell Eggers: they all just Easter Eggers since they carry the controlled by an autosomal dominant cannot result from an Araucana-White blue egg gene but do not have uniformity gene: eggs produced by homozygote Leghorn hybrid because, assuming that in plumage color, egg color, comb type, chickens are darker blue than those from the Araucana is homozygous for both the body weight, and leg color. By looking at heterozygotes.” dominant pea comb and rumpless gene, regular hatchery Easter Eggers, one can virology.ws/2013/09/11/a-retrovirus- such a cross would yield pea-combed, identify plumage colors that are common makes-chicken-eggshells-blue/ rumpless offspring. Not a tailed, sin- among individuals of the breed. To me, These are just my thoughts on the gle-combed bird as is shown in the picture Easter Eggers are more of a landrace than subject. And above are some pictures provided by Hoover’s Hatchery. an actual breed since they lack distinct of my Araucanas, Ameraucanas, and The Prairie Bluebell and others are color varieties like Ameraucanas. Easter Eggers. derived most commonly by crossing What is meant by “Prairie Bluebell Aryeh Wiesel

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 19 Falcon Attack day. A couple of weeks ago, I was very dig a grave for Chloe, I looked out and Hi, surprised to find one of my chickens had saw the bird again, this time plucking at During the last seven years, my wife been attacked and killed by a Peregrine the wound in Chloe’s neck. I approached and I have kept up to six chickens at a falcon. I’d never before even seen one of again, and again it flew away. time, acquiring a total of 18 chickens and those birds around where I live (western I buried Chloe and haven’t seen that losing 12 of them to predators over the North Carolina). bird since then. At first, I wasn’t sure what years. I know it’s just an unfortunate part I had let the chickens out just a little kind of bird it was that had attacked her. I of letting them live as natural as possible earlier than usual. After about an hour, knew it wasn’t a hawk, as I’ve seen lots of and free-range for several hours each I happened to look out the window and them. This one, I had never seen before, saw a bunch of feathers all over my so I did some research to try to determine driveway near my garage. I went out what it was. After looking at many pic- and saw our beautiful and very friendly tures and descriptions on the internet, the Chloe, a 10-month-old golden sex-link, one that looked exactly like this bird was lying dead. As I approached her, I saw a Peregrine falcon. I am 99.9% sure that’s a large bird — about the size of a large what it was. I also learned that falcons crow — walking around a few feet away. don’t kill with their talons but with their As I got closer, the bird jumped up and beaks, which fits the description of how flew away. It was a slate gray color as it Chloe was killed. walked around, but I saw little light-col- I know Peregrine falcons are classified ored stripes on its wings as it soared as an endangered species, at least in my away through the trees. I looked closely state. I am just very surprised one came at Chloe and saw a large gaping wound around my house to attack my chickens. I on the back of her neck. I think her neck wonder if anyone else has had experience was probably broken as well. A short with falcons attacking their chickens. time later, as I was getting some tools to Kriss Sands, North Carolina

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April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 21 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/

Double-Shelled Egg formed, or foreign material that may be there anything safe I can use on chicks of Has anyone else had an egg like this present when that last layer was formed. that age, other than DE? (white shell inside, dark shell outside)? Biliverdin/oocyanin (the green and blue First one I've found. Wonder why. coloring in poultry eggs) permeates the Hi, entire shell and protoporphyrines (the That is a good question. This is one brown or speckles) are “painted” on reason it’s suggested to make sure broody during the final stage in egg production. hens are free of mites and lice before they So, if the chicken is anything other than hatch. Of course, that’s easy for me to say, something with Chilean heritage, that but doesn’t help in this situation! would explain why the inside shell is Of treatments that are approved for white. If the hen is a white-layer, the color use, a product that claims to be an en- is probably because of foreign material zyme treatment (Poultry Protector, as an or something surplus in the feed. If it’s a example) says it is not recommended for brown-layer then some of the protopor- chicks under 10 days old. phyrines probably deposited after the I think permethrin products will excess calcium formed. probably be safe for chicks, but I don’t I hope this helps! know for sure. This is not a common Marissa problem in commercial situations, so I don’t know of any research on it. A Thank you very much for the informa- permethrin or pyrethrin dust may be tion! The outside was dark brown, though most effective and easiest to use on some of it was so thick it looked dusty. the chicks. The inside shell was totally white. I hav- There is another product, Elector PSP, en’t found one since, but it was definitely with the active ingredient spinosad. It’s interesting. pretty expensive, but it seems to be pretty Lorri effective. It is a liquid you can spray on the birds. Lorri Melton Atwell Jones If you’re using a liquid spray, you Bugs on Chicks will need to be very careful not to chill Hi Lorri, My mother hen passed two days after the chicks. Definitely keep them under The outside layer is excess calcium, hatching five chicks. She was nine years a heat source, and try not to overdo the though it’s more than you normally see old and now I see bugs on my chicks. I spray. with excess calcium deposits, and that used white DE but they're still feather It may be helpful to change the bedding can be caused by too much calcium in picking. I have them in the extra bedroom often, too, to get rid of as many bugs as the feed, a defective shell gland, stress under a red lamp, proper setup. I need possible that may not be directly on the during the time when that last layer was them bug-free as they're in the house. Is chicks.

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22 Backyard Poultry Sorry I can’t give a more definitive healthy for six years and counting, but nickel-sized hole in the bottom of her answer. Good luck with them! to do this they had to allow their chick- foot. For her, my vet recommended Ron ens to free-range. When kept inside a Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid at a stronger coop and run, given full-time access to dose than was used for Haley. Also given chicken food, they tended to overeat and to me was a recipe for something called Rooster on Deck developed problems like ascites and leg Dakin’s Solution. Dead tissue with this How do you keep a rooster off your deformities due to their body weight. wound was the biggest problem. It had to deck? Don’t want to put up a pet fence nor But when they must walk and hunt for be cleaned out for several days in a row. is it practical. They leave their droppings much of their food, their weights stayed In September 2014, Chirpy still had the and we just don't think it’s sanitary. We at levels healthy enough to prolong life bumblefoot. The wound had been slow to tried throwing things at them, chasing and allow for laying eggs and hatching/ heal and she had to have checkups with them, hosing them down as they approach raising chicks. the vet. Chirpy was prescribed, at my and even had window screens put around I have reached out to Freedom Ranger suggestion, a cream called Silver Sulfa- the walk way to limit their access. Help! Hatchery for input. Though not specif- diazine, most commonly used on people Jim Gildein ically Red Rangers, their breed is very with burns or bad infections. similar as far as growth, metabolism, and This cream is stronger than over the Hi Jim, life expectancy. counter antibiotic creams. Chirpy had Unfortunately, your deck offers two I hope this helps! been prescribed the amoxicillin/clavu- things that roosters love. It gives them a Marissa lanic acid when the infection set in. In perfect perch where they can watch over October 2014, Chirpy was switched to their flock. It’s also where humans con- We have had people keep them (Free- Wonder Dust powder. This worked for the gregate, and humans are the providers of dom Rangers) for at least two years, not infection and her foot is finally healing.” all things tasty. Though you’re not keen sure if anyone has kept them much past You can read the whole story here: on the idea of a pet fence, that combined that. They will thrive as long as they are with a good wing-clipping may be your free range and have their feed limited. backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ best options. Other chicken-repelling They are bred for meat production, so feed-health/lessons-from-a-neverend- ideas include adding sprinklers/misters they tend to get heavy and have the health ing-battle-against-bumblefoot-in-chick- around the perimeter or a heavy sprin- issues broilers have if that happens. If ens/ kling of strongly scented herbs/spices their feed is limited and they are kept to a such as black pepper and cinnamon, both healthy weight they should live for years. Marissa of which may not be good for your deck The females will also lay eggs, just not as or its general aesthetic. For my property, many as a chicken that is bred to lay eggs. I’ve tried different options for gardens Hope that helps, let me know if you Delaware Chickens and walkways and have always resorted have any other questions. I want to get the Delaware breed back. back to wing-clipping and fences. Kendall at Freedom Who has those? I have been working on I would love to open this question up Ranger Hatchery it for five years. for other Backyard Poultry readers and Sam St Romain see if they have suggestions! Good luck, Treating Bumble Foot Delawares are available all over the Marissa Help, I live in Spain and I just tried to place, including a lot of hatcheries. But treat a bumble foot. The scab came off, since you are focusing on serious breed there was no pus. There was blood and standards, I recommend going to the Life Expectancy of it looks like flesh. I tried to see if lump Livestock Conservancy Breeders Direc- Red Ranger Hens would come out. It is covered now. I tory and searching for Delaware chickens What is the life expectancy is of Red used Betadine etc. and covered it. She is to see breeders within the U.S. who are Ranger hens? separated from the small flock. Can you dedicated to saving that specific breed Dawn suggest anything else? according to standard and heritage. Chris Smith I hope this helps! Hi Dawn, P.S. This is my favorite breed of all Since Red Rangers are such a new Hi Chris, time. breed, and since they are sold by hatch- It looks like you’re on the right track. Marissa eries specifically for processing at nine to Now, pay close attention to the wound 10 weeks of age, I had to do some dig- to see if it heals. It usually does, but not ging. Reports from individual backyard always. If the infection persists, here is Aggressive Rooster chicken owners give a general consensus: what one Backyard Poultry contributor I have a rooster that has spurred me sev- they can live as long as your dual-purpose did that helped: eral times in spite of being booted, moved breeds, if allowed to forage and exercise. “In July 2014, my five-year-old Rhode with a rake (not so gently), chased, stared Some chicken owners reported keep- Island Red hen, Chirpy, had a foot pad at, and talked to. Any other suggestions? ing their Red Ranger hens alive and that also got infected badly. She had a Louise Thomspon

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 23 Hi Louise, And if that doesn’t work, I feel you can infect chicks and adult birds and Your problem is unfortunately very indeed have a culling situation on your create respiratory illness that can lead to common, and one reason some people hands. It could mean they both get culled salpingitis. Is this a concern? choose to forego the rooster and just into the Mean Girls cage or culled out of Betty Jo acquire chicks or fertile eggs somewhere your flock entirely. else. We have some great tips here: Good luck! Hi Betty Jo, backyardpoultry.iamcountryside. Marissa Are you talking about a human head com/feed-health/how-to-tame-aggres- cold and bronchitis? If so then no, you sive-rooster-behavior/ don’t have to worry about it. Very few But sometimes, these tips just plain Hens Not Laying human viruses will infect birds. Human don’t work, and it may be time to get a I have a mixed flock of 24 hens that bronchitis and avian bronchitis are two different rooster. includes Speckled Sussex, Ameraucana, totally different diseases, and it’s the Good luck! and Wyandotte. I have been getting a avian infectious bronchitis that causes Marissa maximum five eggs per day. Sometimes reproductive issues. one, for a month or so. Almost all are If you are experiencing avian infectious from the Ameraucanas that are were bronchitis, then please take as many bi- Bullying Hens chicks this spring. I have tried changing osecurity measures as possible, though I have two hens that have been bullying feed brands (layer pellets). I also feed a I will warn you that this viral disease their respective flocks. I have removed small amount of cracked corn plus limited is highly contagious. Incorporate other them both from their coops and placed table scraps, grass clippings. They free methods of keeping your chickens com- them in separate cages. Both flocks range for at least four hours per day. There fortable, such as ensuring the coop isn’t calmed down almost immediately and was some diarrhea and loss of feathers, drafty, adding electrolytes and apple cider the bullied birds are interacting with so I started using Corid in their water. vinegar to the water, and using products their respective flocks. One of the hens The oldest girls are a little more than two like VetRx to help ease respiratory issues. has begun biting and attacking me as a years of age. These girls have been great Marissa rooster would. Would rehousing them in layers in the past. I do have some that a coop with a rooster help? Or is this a are molting. I cannot see anything that All our birds are well, thank goodness. situation that requires culling? This has would be stressing them. I am at a loss My husband and I are the ones sick. We not been a problem for me before. Both to figure this one out. Your ideas would wear masks and gloves when we are of these hens are excellent layers. One be appreciated. feeding, watering, and gathering eggs is a Rhode Island Red and the other is a Jerry Bair when we are sick just to make sure our Sapphire Gem. The RIR is approximately birds are protected. We practice biose- 20 months old and not molting. The Gem Hi Jerry, curity measures always. Thank you for is 18 months and molting. The RIR began Normally, I would say they are just the tips on extra care if birds do get sick. being aggressive at approximately six molting or are older hens, but one egg We really appreciate the chance to talk months old. The Gem has been bullying from 24 hens, in October, is a sign that with someone more experienced and for at least six months. Both hens’ nega- you’ve got something going on. You knowledgeable. tive behaviors have become significantly should at least be getting a few from the Betty Jo worse in the last month. Ameraucanas. Since you mentioned diar- Betty Saenz-Byars rhea and feather loss, have you considered worms? Corid is great for coccidia but not Sick Hen Hi Betty, for actual worms. I recommend bringing I could use some help. My 11-week-old Both hens sound like they had nasty some very fresh fecal samples to your pullet is acting weird. I called the hatch- dispositions from the start and are get- nearest veterinarian that helps chickens ery and they couldn’t help. She’s acting ting worse as their situations allow. Of and asking for a fecal float test to see if like she is drunk when she walks and all the breeds I’ve personally known for the hens have worms, and what kinds if keeps her head low and cocks it to look bullying, Rhode Island Red is at the top. they do. Also, if you are still putting Corid up at me. She’s not bleeding or missing And I’ve had two Andalusians (similar to in their water all this time, hold off on that feathers. Not sure what it is. Sapphire Gem) and neither were known until you get the fecal results back, as it for personable behavior. Housing them keeps them from absorbing the thiamine with a rooster could put them in their they need. place for now, but I fear they would return Good luck! to bullying if you put them back with their Marissa respective flocks. And the fact that one is attacking you is a problem. I recommend trying the suggestions in this story: Passing Illness backyardpoultry.iamcountryside. My question concerns passing head com/feed-health/how-to-tame-aggres- cold/bronchitis to chicks or adult birds. I sive-rooster-behavior/ have read that head colds and bronchitis

24 Backyard Poultry My husband just told me he found them It is possible to keep blind chickens. sleeping on top of the run and picked her They should usually be raised with other up; he dropped her, I’m not sure how. But chickens, so they can hear them finding she fell on the ground. I’m going to check feed, water, etc. If the hen doesn’t have his picture to see if it’s the same bird. It some other health problems, she may was about five days ago. adjust pretty well. Rachel Good luck with her! Ron Hi Rachel, It looks like your pullet has one of two Ron, things. It is very possible that she fell and Thanks for your input. I did not see injured her neck, as I once had a duck- the gray eye mentioned but will be on ling that did that, as well. It could also the lookout. Ammonia does not seem to be wry neck, also called star gazing or be a problem in the coop. The ventilation torticollis, which is a vitamin deficiency. is still very good. When I checked her This is easier to treat than an injury. If yesterday, she did drink water but I could you have a Tractor Supply or other feed not get her to eat. While holding her it felt store available, look for a product called like there was food in her crop. She has Nutri-Drench Poultry and administer been in the same coop for four years and according to the label. If you don't have off. Not too bad. She is back to her frisky I believe she can find the food and water. a local feed store, look for Poly-Vi-Sol self. She eats and drinks on her own. May She was able to walk completely around infant drops in your pharmacy/drug store, have been the vitamins ... or just testing the coops and found her way home. So, but be sure it's withOUT iron. It's easy a few days helped. But she seems better. I’ll just play it day by day, trying to use to overdose on iron, so getting the one Thank you so much for being there. You common sense. By the way she is an without iron means you don't have to guys are amazing! ISA Brown, four years old, the last of worry as much about dosage. my original six. She had laid her last egg Marissa about three weeks ago. Right now, all Blind Hen my egg production is down; many are One of my hens went blind seemingly molting. Plus, with the reduced sunlight, overnight. No other symptoms. Second it is pretty much expected. day she was getting lethargic but did drink Thank you so much for your time. water. I could not get her to eat. Chris Grundman Chris Grundman

Hi Chris, Malay Roosters Interesting — that’s not a common Can you keep Malay roosters with thing. There are a couple of things that other rooster breeds, or will they kill can affect the eyes. Marek’s disease each other? can cause gray eye, which can cause Jared Piehl blindness. If this is the cause, you should be able to see a graying of the eye, and Hi Jared, sometimes changes in the shape of the Since I do not keep Malays, I looked pupil. into the experiences of other chicken There are some reports of a type of owners. Malays were originally used for Salmonella (S. arizona, formerly called cock fighting, and those behaviors still Arizona hinshawii) that has caused run deep. While some readers reported - Thank you! I will get that for her and blindness in young turkeys. I think that that, “Malays are most aggressive with see how she does. Thank you so much! is probably unlikely to be the cause for other Malay roosters but aren’t as bad - Got a couple of drops of the meds in your hen. with roosters of other breeds,” other her. Wrapped her in a towel. She’s eating Ammonia can certainly cause blind- readers said that introducing a Malay into when I put her in front of the food. Long ness, too. With the cooler weather, there their rooster coops meant fighting and of- breaks in between. And got her to drink is a tendency to cut down on ventilation, ten death of the less aggressive breeds. It a little water with the vitamins in that. and this can cause a buildup of ammonia is also reported that their aggression gets Hopefully she will make it through the in coops. It is important to keep good worse when confined and not allowed to night. litter conditions and adequate ventilation. free range. - She made it through the night. Yay! I suppose there could be some rarer I hope this answers your question! Feeding her breakfast and gave her some causes — some sort of tumor, an injury, Marissa more vitamins. etc. These would be difficult to diagnose - This is Charm today. She’s just a little without a necropsy.

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 25 Reducing Coop Smell a bucket of water. If you want to make wild birds can also transmit to chickens. We were hit by hurricane Irma in 2017 your geese extra happy during warmer It may be as simple as dropping coccidia and underwater for a week (we lost two weather, purchase a cheap plastic kids’ into water with their poop or as serious of our girls). Ever since then, when there pool and keep it full. as bringing in a deadly virus. is a rainstorm, the smell in the chicken Good luck! You should, at the very least, be sure yard is intense. I have tried baking soda Marissa the wild birds can't get anywhere near the but that only works for a day. Can I use chicken water. Just doing that will miti- lime in the chicken yard without harm- I do hope to convert some heavily gate a lot of issues. The chickens aren't ing our girls? I tried digging a trench wooded wetland into a pond, but don't going to be snuggling the birds. to keep the area drier and cover it with know yet if it will be economically pos- Marissa Ames gravel and sand. That cut down on some sible. Knowing geese can do well without of the mud but has done nothing for the one is encouraging. odor. Would appreciate any info you can How well do they fly? There is a very Sick Silkie provide, thanks. large area of wetlands on the adjacent My baby, a two-day-old Silkie, is Barb Allen-Coil, Lakeland, Florida property. Will I need to worry about them dying. I don't know what it's from, but going over a 4' fence to get there? she won't move or poop. She lets other Hi Barb, Thank you. chicks run over her and won't move. Help I'm sorry to hear about the mud and Marguerite me please. smell! Using lime in chicken coops can be Audrey tricky, and information on the internet can Flight depends largely on breed. Afri- be deceiving. For instance, I ran across a can geese and production Toulouse can Hi Audrey, blog that says to ONLY use agricultural be easiest to confine due to their heavy I hope my response gets to you on lime, then I found this university-written weight, while Chinese geese can fly over time. Judging by her age and that she article that says agricultural lime should a low fence, and Shetland and Egyptian sounds like she is the only Silkie in your NEVER be used in chicken coops. geese can fly exceptionally well. Se- brooder, I’m going to guess she came articles.extension.org/pages/66918/ bastopol geese stay low to the ground, from a hatchery? In that case, it could be use-of-lime-in-poultry-houses primarily because of feather structure. several things. Pasting happens frequently This same article does tell how to use No matter which breed you get, clip- in hatchery chicks due to stress; check lime, and which kind to use if you choose ping their wings generally works to con- the backside to see if she has poo glued it. When I search for information, I lean fine geese, chickens, and ducks. to her feathers. If so, moisten it with a toward university studies, especially Marissa warm cloth and gently clean it off, being peer-reviewed publications. But either careful not to chill the chick. It could be way, keep in mind that lime is so alkaline overall stress from being transported, or that it can range from irritating to highly Raising Chickens with Wild Birds she could have been unhealthy to begin caustic on both animal and human skin I am new to the chicken world and I with but not unhealthy enough to notice surfaces, and it should never be inhaled. recently adopted three chickens from when she went into the box. Silkies are a Have you considered Sweet PDZ? It's my neighbor who had to move. I never very fragile breed as chicks, with a vault- made of clinoptilolite zeolite and is safe knew how much I would enjoy having ed skull susceptible to injury. If you can for humans and your poultry them and want the absolute best for the find a product called Sav-a-Chick, offer Good luck! girls. I let them roam the yard every day, that to her, or electrolytes in the water. Marissa which they love and is a new experience I wish you luck and hope she pulls for them. I don't want to take yard time through! away from them if I don’t have to. I enjoy Marissa Geese Without a Pond seeing how happy they are when they are Is it possible to have geese without a in the yard with me. Hi thank you so much for your con- pond? I have always had a love for birds and sideration! Marguerite have a couple of wild bird feeders in I honestly didn't think that anyone my yard. Is there any concern I should would care but I'm so glad they did! Hi Marguerite, have with this? I keep the feeders clean Unfortunately, I didn't get your email Though geese do love a nice pond, and yard clean, meaning I don’t allow until after she died. I am only 13 and it it’s not necessary for their health and any mold to grow from the bird food. Is was pretty scary for me. But thank you survival. They can live on dry land just it possible to have everyone co-exist if for responding; it means a lot. fine, sleep in large floor-level boxes in the you will? The most avid BYP fan, magazine coop, and wander around a dry yard. The Renée reader, website reader, ever, one requirement is that they must have a Audrey source of water deep enough for them to Hi Renée, fully immerse their bills and wash food I would be very concerned about the off their nostrils, so a normal chicken diseases those birds could carry. Par- Chicks Pooping Worms? waterer isn’t enough. Provide at least asites, viruses, and bacteria carried by Help, my chicks are pooping worms!

26 Backyard Poultry They are still in the brooder. Only four such as parasites might be a problem. which tend to lay eggs of a different size days old. I brought a handful of grass into Several factors will naturally keep or different luster. Another trick is to hold the brooder for them to play with. Now even the healthiest hens from producing the chicken upside down and drop food they have worms! What do I do? eggs, and though some owners choose coloring onto her cloaca, so the next few Miranda Ames to augment these through environmental eggs come out with a bit of that coloring. changes, others choose to let their chick- This would be the most labor-intensive, Hi Miranda, ens live natural lives and they purchase as you have to reapply it every few days, I am not aware of worm eggs being eggs from the store for a season or two. but I have friends who have done it, passed through the chicken egg (though That’s all personal choice according to and it worked. You could even isolate an adult worm is occasionally found in your own coop and budget. them in different cages, but this can be an egg), so it seems that the chicks would Certain breeds lay through the winter, counterintuitive as the added stress may have to have been infected after hatch. I while others don’t. I had great luck with affect egg production. I’ve always been a don’t know what kind of worms would be my Andalusians laying all winter. Age is breed geek, wanting a rainbow flock, so able to mature in four days in the chick. a huge factor, and a hen will produce best knowing each chicken by its individual Might these be maggots (fly larva) in the first two years of life; after that, she egg was how I did it. instead of worms? They can hatch in will often be eating more in feed than she Marissa about a day. Or, were there some kind produces in eggs, with the exception of of worms in the grass? Also, sometimes certain breeds such as Deathlayers. When Thanks for the tip! I like the food chick droppings can be a bit stringy, and daylight reduces below 14 hours per day, coloring. might look like worms. the chickens’ seasonal rhythms prompt Jim I am skeptical that the chicks have them to take a break. Some chicken own- worms at four days of age, as the life ers add lights to their coops, being sure cycles of worms should take considerably to turn them off at 9pm so the chicken longer than that. can still experience nighttime. Chickens I think I would suggest monitoring tend to prefer warm-spectrum bulbs. FASTFENCE them for a while to see if it continues. Or, And finally, molt will stop production Infoandbuynowat if you could send a picture (not pleasant, temporarily and there isn’t much you can www.electricnets.com I know, but…) it might be helpful. do about it other than adding a bit more Good luck with them! good-quality protein to their diets so they 800-356-5458 Ron can finish growing those feathers sooner. Feathers take protein; eggs take protein. A chicken can’t produce both at the same Keeping Up with Egg Production time without taxing her body too much, Hello Marissa, so most just plain stop laying. Funny but not funny that you are writ- Please keep in mind that a chicken ing about predators this week. I lost a can only lay the calories, nutrients, and good six-month-old, that just laid her first calcium/protein she ingests, minus what egg, last Saturday to a hawk that caught her body uses to maintain homeostasis, so me not looking. that’s why your very best bet is choosing backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/ the best, balanced layer feed. Every egg coops/winter-tips-keep-your-flock-safe/ laid means something is taken from her My question: what is the best way to body, which is why so many chicken keep up on egg production on each hen? owners allow that natural rest to occur. I only have three right now but more will I hope this helps! I’m sorry to hear be on the way soon. about your hen, and good luck with the Jim Henry new chickens! Marissa Hi Jim, The best ways to keep up egg produc- Thanks for all the wonderful information are to maintain optimal health, with tion, Marissa. a good feed that provides both the protein My next question is: how do I track they need to make the yolks and albumen individual chicken production? and the calcium they need to form strong Jim shells. Reduce stress in the coop and provide areas for them to undergo natural I would say the easiest ways are to: 1) habits such as nesting in protected areas, Keep chickens of different breeds that all foraging, and dust-bathing. If you notice ill lay different-colored eggs. 2) Get to know health or an unseasonal decline in eggs, it’s your chickens, so you know in which time to investigate further to see if issues time of day they lay, in what nests, and

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 27 This is Handsome. — Margaret Kellogg, Alaska

My young Welsummer rooster. He recently chose to pose on the fence in my backyard near a blooming manzanita bush. I truly enjoy — Tim Friederichs, California raising chickens in my backyard.

Kimber & Gizelle, The Chicken Whisperer of NW Montana. This is my Grandaughter, Kimber, and her pet chicken named Gizelle. They are inseparable. They live in NW Montana and have a backyard chicken coop. I got some baby ducks and I can’t wait to watch — Michael Williams, them grow! Montana – Chayse Chandler, Florida

WAYS TO SHARE: EMAIL PHOTOS IN JPG FORMAT TO [email protected] MESSAGE US ON FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/BACKYARDPOULTRY TAG US ON INSTAGRAM OR USE #BACKYARDPOULTRYMAG: INSTAGRAM.COM/BACKYARDPOULTRYMAG MAIL YOUR ENTRY TO: BACKYARD POULTRY, P.O. BOX 566, MEDFORD, WI 54451

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. This is Handsome. — Margaret Kellogg, Alaska

Tank and the girls sharing some old bread. — M. Henderson

My loving buff. They all love me so much. — Ellie Fashingbauer, Wisconsin

My chicken Fergie, she is a great model. This is her when she was little. She was raised in my bedroom. I am homeschooled and all— Bellamy animals Vogel, are my best friends. Pennsylvania

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 Fowl Typhoid and Pullorum Disease

The facts: What is it? A highly contagious bacterial disease. Causative Agent: A rod-shaped, facultative aerobic bacteria called Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Galli- narum and biovar Gallinarum and Pullorum. Incubation period: 4-6 days. Disease duration: Infection can be acute or chronic, with birds carrying the disease into adulthood and passing it to their offspring. Morbidity: High. Mortality: Very high in young birds, moderately high in older birds. Signs: Embryos can die in the egg prior to hatching. Birds exhibit depression, drooping wings, huddling, labored breathing, poor appetite, and have thick white paste-like diarrhea. through cannibalism or feather picking of infected birds. Bacteria Diagnosis: A necropsy examination with culture at a state can be mechanically spread through equipment, mammals, wild diagnostic laboratory is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. birds, insects, or owners traveling between farms. Treatment: Not recommended. One of the many organ systems affected by these diseases is the ovary, so hens of producing age may lay eggs infected with The scoop: the bacteria. Zoonotic transmission to humans is unlikely but Pullorum disease and fowl typhoid are both caused by two not impossible. If infected eggs are incubated, chicks will either strains of the Salmonella enterica bacteria. These bacteria affect hatch with the disease or die during development. Even if very chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, guineas, peafowl, pheas- few infected chicks hatch, they can soon infect their brood-mates ants, and various wild birds. These diseases have been virtually through horizontal transmission. eradicated from commercial flocks in most developed countries, Clinical signs of pullorum disease are usually seen in chicks but outbreaks in backyard flocks, game birds, and wild birds still less than a month old. Infected chicks will be found dead or dy- happen. Although rare, some mammals such as dogs, pigs, rabbits, ing soon after hatching, with signs peaking around two to three and cats can contract these diseases as well. Birds can contract these diseases either horizontally or vertically. Horizontal transmission occurs from fellow birds in the DID YOU KNOW? environment at the same time, and vertical transmission is when bacteria are passed from a hen to her offspring through egg transmission. Lighter breeds are more resistant to these diseases, Due to the nature of these diseases, your while heavier breeds are more susceptible. veterinarian will be mandated to report Horizontally, transmission can occur through the respiratory an outbreak for a positive test result or tract, orally, or through an open wound. The bacteria can be found in the feces of infected birds, so contaminated drinking water a suspected infection. or feed is a source of disease. Additionally, birds can contract it

30 Backyard Poultry types are one of the agents tested for by the National Poultry Improvement Plan, so flocks that are NPIP certified are safe to buy stock from. Biosecurity is always a foundational aspect of keeping poultry safe. Keep wild birds and rodents away from your flock as much as possible. Don’t allow visitors if they have sick birds. Clean all equipment prior to use. Be mindful of all feed, bedding, or other materials brought onto your property. Additionally, certain insects, like poultry mites, are known mechanical vectors so preventing and treating infestations quickly is a priority.

ALL COOPED UP is a Infected hen's ovary. Copyright: World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Extracted from collaboration between Shivaprasad H.L. (2000). – Fowl typhoid and pullorum disease. Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz., 19 (2), Fig. 11, page 409. DOI:10.20506/rst.19.2.1222. medical professional Lacey Hughett and poultry specialist weeks old. Chicks will have nonspecific conduct serological testing or bacterial at University of Pennsylvania, septicemia symptoms, including depres- isolation typing. Due to the nature of these Dr. Sherrill Davison. Every "All sion, drooping wings, huddling, labored diseases, your veterinarian will be mandat- breathing, poor appetite, and have thick ed to report an outbreak for a positive test Cooped Up" publication has white paste-like diarrhea. Fecal pasting result or a suspected infection to the state's been vetted by Dr. Davison. can be seen as well. Department of Agriculture. Birds that survive into adulthood will be Any animal suspected of being exposed smaller than average, be poorly feathered, to the disease will be quarantined and test- and some of the eggs they lay will hatch ed depending on local regulations. Positive and become infected chicks. If an older flocks will be depopulated and the area bird becomes infected with these diseas- will be decontaminated. es, it will have fewer presenting signs. Different antibiotics have been used Usually, the bird doesn’t appear sick other to treat clinical cases of these diseases in than decreased egg hatchability, decreased the past, but they do not cure the disease production, and reduced fertility. and multidrug resistance is common with Fowl typhoid is very similar, with the S. enterica bacteria. Treatment will not exception that it affects birds of any age prevent birds from passing the disease on with the same symptoms. Chicks and to the next generation. The only real treat- adults alike will have ruffled feathers, ment is to cull infected birds, disinfect the anorexia, weight loss, dehydration, and living area, and prevent future generations diarrhea. With both strains of this bacteria, from becoming infected. outbreaks can have few or atypical symp- Disinfection can be difficult with an S. toms. Birds will be infected for life, and enterica infection. The bacteria can live chronic infections present with weakness, for several months to years in the ambient production loss, respiratory problems, and environment, however, they don’t survive inflamed joints. in high heat or direct sunlight. Equipment Postmortem examinations reveal lesions needs to be cleaned with phenol-based for both diseases. Pullorum consistently disinfectants before use. affects the ovary, but almost every organ Prevention is the only way to protect a can develop lesions. Lesions are indistin- flock from these diseases. Since they can guishable between the two diseases. be transmitted vertically, it is incredibly Both fowl typhoid and pullorum disease important to only buy hatching eggs and are diagnosed by a veterinarian. Testing chicks from parents that are known to be must be conducted at a state diagnostic disease-free. Advocate for your future laboratory. The veterinarian will take flocks by asking breeders about the parent samples from live or diseased birds, then bird’s health. The Salmonella bacteria

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 31 Fowl Typhoid and Pullorum Disease

By Lacey Hughett

The facts: What is it? A highly contagious bacterial disease. Causative Agent: A rod-shaped, facultative aerobic bacteria called Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Galli- narum and biovar Gallinarum and Pullorum. Incubation period: 4-6 days. Disease duration: Infection can be acute or chronic, with birds carrying the disease into adulthood and passing it to their offspring. feathered, and their eggs may hatch infected chicks. Infection Morbidity: High. in older birds presents fewer signs; the bird may only show Mortality: Very high in young birds, moderately high in decreased egg hatchability, production, and fertility. older birds. Fowl typhoid: Affects birds of any age with the same Signs: Embryos can die in the egg prior to hatching. Birds symptoms. exhibit depression, drooping wings, huddling, labored breath- Outbreaks of both diseases can have few or atypical symp- ing, poor appetite, and have thick white paste-like diarrhea. toms. Birds are infected for life, and chronic infections present Diagnosis: A necropsy examination with culture at a state with weakness, production loss, respiratory problems, and diagnostic laboratory is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. inflamed joints. Postmortem examinations reveal lesions that Treatment: Not recommended. are indistinguishable between the two diseases. Both diseases require veterinarian diagnosis through testing The scoop: conducted at a state diagnostic laboratory. Veterinarians must Pullorum disease and fowl typhoid affect all poultry and var- report positive test results or a suspected infection to the state's ious wild birds. Though virtually eradicated from commercial Department of Agriculture. Any animal suspected of exposure flocks in most developed countries, outbreaks still happen in will be quarantined and tested depending on local regulations. backyard flocks, game birds, and wild birds. Lighter breeds are Positive flocks will be depopulated and the area decontaminated. more resistant; heavier breeds are more susceptible. Although Antibiotics do not cure the disease and multidrug resistance rare, some mammals can contract these diseases as well. Zoo- is common. Treatment will not prevent transmission to the next notic transmission to humans is unlikely but not impossible. generation. Cull infected birds and disinfect the living area to Horizontal transmission occurs from fellow birds through prevent future infection. Clean equipment with phenol-based the respiratory tract, orally, or through an open wound. The disinfectants. bacteria are shed through feces of infected birds. Additionally, Prevention: Only buy hatching eggs and chicks from sources birds can contract it through cannibalism, feather picking, or known to be disease-free. The National Poultry Improvement Plan mechanically spread through equipment or animals/humans tests for Salmonella bacteria types, so NPIP-certified flocks are traveling between farms. safe. Keep wild birds and rodents away from your flock. Don’t Vertical transmission is when bacteria pass from hen to off- allow visitors if they have sick birds. Clean all equipment prior to spring through egg transmission. Chicks will either hatch with use. Be mindful of all feed, bedding, or other materials brought the disease or die during development. Infected chicks soon onto your property, including mechanical vectors like poultry mites. infect their brood-mates. Pullorum disease: Infected chicks die soon after hatch- All information vetted for accuracy by Dr. Sherrill Davison, ing, with signs peaking around two to three weeks old. Birds Poultry Specialist at University of Pennsylvania School of surviving into adulthood are smaller than average and poorly Veterinary Medicine.

32 Backyard Poultry

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 33 HALAL CHICKEN By Rita Heikenfeld

here aren’t a lot of recipes that are extremely involved that I’m willing to cook. But this recipe, also known as Halal-style chicken, is worth the time and effort. Plus, it’s not difficult at all. T Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. Get the marinade ingredients ready for the chicken and, while it’s marinating in the refrigerator (one to four hours), concentrate on the rest of the recipe. Not only is this recipe healthy, it’s a good looker on the plate. Yes, there are a lot of flavors going on, but they meld together seamlessly. I have served this crave-worthy dish to my family for supper. It transitions well into easy entertaining for friends, too. Do yourself a “flavor” and try it, won’t you?

STREET CART-STYLE CHICKEN AND • 3 large garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons) 1 RICE WITH YOGURT LEMON SAUCE • /3 cup olive oil • 1 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper This recipe is my adaptation of one shared by a colleague. For the rice: • 3 tablespoons butter Ingredients • ½ teaspoon turmeric For the chicken: • ½ teaspoon ground cumin • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs and breasts, • 1 and ½ cups jasmine, basmati, or long grain rice or either one • 2 and ½ cups low sodium, fat-free chicken broth • Salt and freshly ground black pepper Marinade: • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice For the yogurt lemon sauce: • Palmful of chopped fresh oregano Go to taste on the ingredients. Add a bit less mayonnaise • Generous ½ teaspoon ground coriander for a tangier flavor, or up the lemon juice, etc.

34 Backyard Poultry GILDING THE LILY: Want to add even more “pop” to this dish? Serve with a dollop of roasted red pepper sauce, a quick version of the classic Muhammara dip. No real recipe — just put ¼ cup roasted almonds or walnuts into a food processor with one roasted red pepper, a teaspoon or so each of red wine vinegar and finely minced onion, and a drizzle or so of olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Left to right: jasmine, basmati, and converted long-grain rice. Basmati vs. jasmine vs. long grain: • ½ cup real mayonnaise For the rice: What’s the difference? • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt 1. Melt butter over medium heat in a • Jasmine rice is originally from Thai- • 1 tablespoon sugar pan. Add turmeric and cumin and cook land, and this long grain has a floral • 2 tablespoons clear vinegar until fragrant but not brown, about one aroma. It cooks up soft and slightly sticky. • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more minute. • Basmati is a nutty-tasting long grain • Handful of chopped fresh parsley 2. Add rice and stir to coat. Cook, stir- rice from the Himalayas and Pakistan. It • Salt and freshly ground black pepper ring, until rice is lightly toasted, about cooks up soft and slightly sticky. four minutes. • Long grain cooks up drier and more Add-ins to finish the dish: 3. Add broth. Season with salt and separate. I grew up eating converted long • Iceberg lettuce, shredded pepper. Raise heat to high and bring to grain rice, which is steam-pressured before • Tomatoes, cut up boil. Cover, reduce to simmer, and cook milling. It cooks up fluffy and separate. • Fluffy pita bread 15 minutes. • Hot sauce — I use Sambal Oelek but 4. Remove from heat and allow to rest ABOUT THE AUTHOR your favorite will work nicely. until water is absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes. RITA HEIKENFELD comes from a Instructions family of wise women in tune with For the chicken: For the yogurt lemon sauce: nature. She is a certified modern 1. Combine lemon juice, oregano, co- Do this a day ahead if you want, and herbalist, culinary educator, author, and national media personality. Most riander, garlic, and olive oil in a blender. add the parsley right before serving. important, she is a wife, mom, and Blend until smooth. Season with salt and • Whisk sauce ingredients together. grandma. Rita lives on a little patch pepper. of heaven overlooking the East Fork 2. Place chicken in a baggie and add How to Serve Chicken River in Clermont County, Ohio. She half of marinade (reserve remaining 1. Return chicken and juices to skillet. is a former adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati, where she marinade in the refrigerator). Turn the Cook until heated through. developed a comprehensive herbal chicken to coat, seal bag, and marinate in 2. Divide rice, lettuce, and tomato course. refrigerator for at least one hour and up to between plates. abouteating.com four hours, turning occasionally. 3. Pile chicken on top. Drizzle with column: [email protected] 3. (Important: Don’t marinate chicken sauces. Serve with bread. Serves 4-6. longer than four hours or it’ll get a mushy texture. If necessary, remove it from marinade, pat dry, and refrigerate until ready to cook). Remove chicken from bag. Let excess marinade drip off. 4. Pour a little oil in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned on first side. 5. Turn over, reduce heat to medium, and cook about six minutes, or until done. Don’t overcook or chicken will be dry. Season with more salt and pepper. 6. Transfer to cutting board to cool. Chop into ½-inch chunks. 7. Transfer to bowl, add remaining marinade, cover loosely with plastic, and refrigerate while you cook rice and prepare sauce.

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 35 Dutch Baby Pancakes By Rita Heikenfeld

ur girls lay an abundance of eggs in the spring, and I’m always looking for ways to incorporate these healthy offerings in my meal planning. O Well, how about this for something different: Dutch baby pancakes. Also known as Ger- man pancakes or Dutch puffs, a Dutch baby pancake reminds me of a giant popover. Regardless of the name, this large pancake is just the ticket for a springtime breakfast, brunch or lunch. Make it savory for an entrée or sweet for a lovely, not-too-heavy dessert. The bonus? Dutch baby pancakes take few ordinary ingredients, are easy enough for the little ones to help mix, and are unusual in shape and form. After about 20 minutes in the oven, puff! The Dutch baby is done! Here’s how to make my family’s favorite Dutch baby pancakes.

DUTCH BABY PANCAKE

Having eggs at room temperature allows for a faster rise in the oven.

Ingredients • ½ stick unsalted butter • 3 large eggs, room temperature, beaten lightly • ½ cup milk • ½ cup all-purpose flour • Couple dashes of salt • 1 tablespoon sugar for sweet pancake; leave out for savory pancake • Choice of toppings

36 Backyard Poultry have a buttery note to it. Sub in ¼ cup olive oil for the butter.

Tip: which pan is best? Straight-sided skillets allow sides to Jumbo French puff up more evenly than a sloped-sided Guineas, Bantam omelet pan. (I used an omelet pan). Silkies, Brown Chinese Pie or cake pans can be used in place Goslings, Muscovy Ducks, & of a skillet. Khaki Campbell Ducks Top it! So many choices. Here’s a few of mine:

Sweet toppings: Serve plain just dusted with powdered sugar. Smear jelly or jam in the center and Instructions dust with powdered sugar. 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Fresh berries dusted with powdered 2. Melt butter in a 10-inch ovenproof sugar. omelet pan or skillet over medium-low Apples, peaches, or pears chopped and Guineas are fast growing, suitable for heat, brushing butter up sides of the pan sautéed with a little butter, water, brown backyard growers who want to control ticks as well. sugar, and cinnamon. and for those who would want to use them as 3. Meanwhile, add milk, flour, salt, and a meat bird. sugar to egg mixture. Whisk well until Savory toppings: Bantam silkies are very smooth. You can also mix this in the Scrambled eggs and crumbled bacon. excellent sitters with a blender for faster mixing. Herbed omelet made in an eight-inch gentle nature that make 4. Remove skillet from heat. skillet so that it fits in center of Dutch excellent pets. 5. Pour egg mixture into skillet. baby. 6. Place in oven and bake until pancake puffs its way up high over the sides and Tip: Fluffiest scrambled eggs “To order bantam silkies, call Blue Banty Farm at 717-917-6729 or order online at is golden brown. It may puff in places in For every two eggs, add about a table- www.jmhatchery.com” the middle, too. (My kids say it looks like spoon of cream or milk. a pancake on steroids!) This takes 15-20 First, whisk eggs until combined well. minutes or so. Then add cream and any seasonings. 7. Important: Be sure to use a potholder Whisk again just to combine. when removing skillet from oven; handle Place skillet over medium heat and will be hot. Leave potholder on until add enough butter to coat the bottom of handle cools. the pan. After butter melts but before it 8. Either leave pancake in pan or slide foams, turn heat to low. The Muscovy is fast growing and a the pancake out. Either way, you can Add eggs and stir occasionally until great range duck with a lean meat that is leave whole and add toppings, or cut you see curds forming. Break them up as desired by many restaurants. into serving pieces and add toppings. they form and cook a little under-done. To order Muscovy, Khaki Campbell ducklings and Brown Chinese goslings Note that the pancake starts cooling and Eggs will appear shiny and a bit wet. call Fifth Day Farm at collapsing pretty quickly once it comes Remove skillet from heat and residual 717-917-6729 or order online at out of the oven. heat in pan will continue to cook the eggs www.freedomrangerhatchery.com I like to leave the pancake in the skil- to perfection. let and add toppings in the middle. This makes for a lovely presentation. Tip: Measure pan correctly. J.M. Hatchery Measure top-inside edges. The outside 178 Lowry Road Tip: No unsalted butter on hand? edge may be larger than the inside, de- New Holland, PA 17557 No worries. Use salted, and eliminate pending upon the kind of skillet. 717-354-5950 salt in the recipe. Sub in olive oil for butter? What’s your favorite way to serve the www.jmhatchery.com Yes, you can, but the pancake won’t Dutch baby pancake?

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 37 Easter Savory Breakfast Bake By Hannah McClure

dont know about y'all, but when it comes to holidays, I want low- I stress and enjoyable meals. Easter is no exception. So, I reach into my egg bake collection of recipes and search for a savory warm breakfast that is either a quick fix or a make-ahead fix that will ride us all over through church and ‘til we meet as families for Easter dinner. Which is usually about 2pm. This recipe is both a quick or fix-ahead bake that is filling and savory and full of that hearty breakfast taste. Whether you’re eating before you run out the door to celebrate, or hosting friends and family for breakfast, this is a crowd pleaser and will hold you over for the better part of the morning. I hope y'all enjoy this Easter bake!

EASTER SAVORY BREAK- FAST BAKE

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Ingredients • 4 potatoes, washed, diced into small squares and fried • 1 lb ground breakfast sausage, cooked • ½ red bell pepper, washed and diced • ½ onion, diced • 3 cloves of garlic, diced • ½ cup Parmesan cheese • ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese • 8 eggs • ½ cup milk • salt and pepper to taste • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pulling it together NOTE: The eggs and milk will sink to In a greased 9x13” pan, layer fried the bottom of the pan. This is normal, so HANNAH MCCLURE is an old soul homemaker and mother of four from potatoes, cooked sausage, diced bell fight the urge to add more eggs. It will Ohio. Gardening, keeping bees, peppers, and diced onions. rise, and adding more will cause it to sewing, raising chickens/seasonal In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, boil over. hogs, and baking/cooking from scratch milk, garlic, cheese, red pepper flakes, are a few things she enjoys in her salt, and pepper until well blended. Cover with foil and bake for 25 min- homemaking. Always learning and always chasing her littles. Pour egg mixture over top of potatoes utes. Uncover and bake for an additional Find her on Instagram evenly. 20 minutes. @muddyoakhenhouse

38 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 39 Backyard Chickens Prove Hardy and Resilient Heritage and Local Breed Chickens Most Suitable for Backyards and Smallholders By Tamsin Cooper

Selling backyard chickens in Cameroon. Photo credit: Bedoing/Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0.

re you looking for a hardy, fer- studying locally adapted backyard chick- by an international team, led by Penn tile, long-living, and productive ens (called ecotypes) living free-range in State professor Vivek Kapur. They iden- Aflock? Local types of chicken African villages. Some of these birds re- tified genes that help Egyptian Fayoumi have long proven to remain productive sist such devastating diseases as virulent chickens resist vND and compared their and healthy for longer in outdoor condi- Newcastle disease (vND), while others immune response to that of the more tions. They even forage for the majority are tolerant of environmental hardships susceptible Leghorn. of their feed. These birds are best suited such as high temperatures and altitudes. to free ranging, whether in American Researchers have identified genetic The Amazing Resilience of Local backyards or rural villages in Africa. differences between ecotypes relating to Breeds and Ecotypes Some have amazing abilities to resist or their varying responses to such challeng- “These local ecotypes of chickens recover from diseases, including those es. Pinpointing these genes could help have been running around backyards for that seriously threaten poultry production. breeders develop more resilient flocks. A hundreds of years, even in the face of con- During the last decade, scientists from recent innovative study into the immune stant exposure to Newcastle disease, so, universities around the world have been response of embryo cells was carried out evolutionarily, there's something innate

40 Backyard Poultry that has enabled them to survive in this environment where the disease is endemic,” noted Kapur. Research confirms that Fayoumi chickens are less susceptible to many diseases, including Salmonella, coccidiosis, Marek’s disease, avian influenza, Rous sarcoma virus, and vND. They are also fertile, thrifty, heat-tolerant, and excellent at foraging and avoiding predators. They lay plentifully, and their eggs have thick protective shells and low cholesterol. These factors make them ideal smallholder egg producers in a low-input, free-range system, especially in their native African countries. In Africa, such abilities are of paramount importance, since smallholders are responsible for 80-90% of some countries’ production. Small farms will benefit enormously from including resilience and disease-resistance traits in their breeding plans.

The Economic Burden of Disease Outbreak and Prevention Although vaccines and medications exist in Africa, economic and practical issues often limit smallholders’ ability to take up such options. “If you have 20 chickens in your backyard, for example, you first have to find someone who will come give your flock the vaccine and there’s a cost involved in that whole process and, on top of that, the vaccine has to be available,” clarifies Kapur. “The barriers, both real and perceptional, are therefore rather high for backyard farmers to vaccinate their chickens.” Susan Lamont, leading a study of African chicken genetics at Iowa State University, stated, “Addressing Newcastle disease through genetic resistance is of particular importance because most vaccines available to combat the disease require refrigera- tion, which often is not an option in areas of Africa with limited access to electricity.” Feeding backyard chickens in Kenya. Photo credit: Fredrick Omondi, Newcastle disease threatens poultry production in many CTA ACP-EU/flickr CC BY-SA 2.0. African countries. “Newcastle disease is an important poultry pathogen,” said Megan A. Schilling, who earned her doctorate This makes them less suitable for small-farm and backyard through the study at Penn State. “You might not hear much production, where longevity and self-sufficiency are prized. about this disease in the U.S. as it is generally well-controlled, but it’s endemic in a lot of African and Asian countries. If a Why Heritage Breeds Are Vital to Sustainable Farming virulent strain is introduced into a flock, it will wipe out the Resilience and adaptability traits are vital to us all, in what- flock and cause significant economic burden, particularly for ever country or society we live. Landraces, heritage breeds, smallholder farmers." and local strains are essential for poultry to survive and adapt to changing conditions. If we depend on commercial breeds, How Susceptible Are Our Birds? with their limited genetic variation, tailored for high production Countries employing more industrialized methods have traded in a sheltered environment, we will lose the genetic resources hardiness for productivity in a protective, high-input system. As required to adapt to new situations. Those changes may come Kapur explains, “… birds that are bred for high productivity, as from the climate, from the spread or evolution of disease, or is the case in high-income countries — they put on weight very from changes in market demand. Consumers are becoming more quickly, produce a lot of eggs — their survival in the presence of conscious of the need for better animal welfare and preference infectious diseases was not selected for because there is usually is shifting towards more natural and free-range systems. a trade-off between increased resistance to disease and egg or When chickens live naturally and need to look after them- meat production.” However, even such countries are not immune selves, they require intact natural instincts, such as those to outbreaks of vND, as witnessed by California in 2018/2019, acquired from their wild ancestors. These include predator when over 100,000 backyard birds and 1.2 million chickens in awareness, ability to forage, agility, alertness, and good brood- commercial facilities were lost. ing and mothering skills. They also need resistance to disease, Not all farmers can afford the costs of a high-yield indus- resilience, tolerance of parasites and weather conditions, and the trial system, which requires investment and is dependent on a ability to adapt. Chickens that have lived free range in an area for supply of feed and energy. In future, even developed countries many generations, and survived, possess such adaptations. The may struggle to maintain such systems in the face of resource longer they have had to manage their own survival in a particular shortages and climate change. Commercial birds are bred for region, the healthier and more productive they will be overall. high output over a short period, and do not tend to live long. This is why landrace animals, the native breeds, are the best

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 41 and become rare. With a smaller gene pool, their productivity drops, they lose popularity, and fall into obscurity. Soon they become unknown to new farmers and backyard keepers who find it easier to acquire commercial hybrids. Even traditional breeds can lose the richness of their gene pool and the ability to adapt. Two factors reduce genetic diversity: a small breeding population and the strict standardization of traits. Researchers in Germany focused on compiling a database of breed diversity. They found that there is still consider- able genetic diversity in African, South American, and some Asian and European breeds. However, they noted, “… fancy breeds as well as the highly selected com- Ethiopian village farmyard. Photo credit: Rod Waddington/flickr CC BY-SA 2.0. mercial layer lines have reduced genetic diversity within the population ...” In survivors and have the longest productive locally will be better acclimatized than conclusion, they wrote, “It is important lives. They do not initially yield as much strains sought out from a climatically that such highly diverse breeds are main- as their purpose-bred cousins, but are different area or imported from abroad. tained for the sustainability and flexibility multi-purpose and produce for longer. of future chicken breeding.” Local heritage breeds, such as Dom- Risks to Our Avian Future How can we help poultry adapt to inique and Java in the U.S., have long So why do heritage breeds become future challenges? We can keep heritage been resident and are well adapted to endangered? When farmers invest in breeds and local ecotypes. We can take local conditions. They have been selected intensive systems, the immediate return care to choose birds that have a long his- for good production while free ranging in from commercial strains impresses tory in the area, that are kept free-range the backyard or barnyard. Birds bought them. Local breeds are abandoned. Con- and largely self-sufficient. We can avoid from a flock raised for many generations sequently, native populations diminish inbreeding and encourage proliferation of hardy types, while embracing the beauty of natural diversity.

Sources: Phys.org; Megan A. Schilling et al. 2019. Conserved, breed-dependent, and subline-dependent innate immune responses of Fayoumi and Leghorn chicken embryos to Newcastle disease virus infection. Sci Rep 9, 7209; Elbetagy, A. R. et al. 2017. Evidence of natural selection footprints among some African chicken breeds and village ecotypes. Anim Ind Rep AS 663(1), 40; Malomane, D.K. et al. 2019. The Synbreed chicken diversity panel: a global resource to assess chicken diversity at high genomic resolution. BMC Genomics 20, 345.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TAMSIN COOPER is a smallholder who owns goats and chickens in France. She follows the latest research on behavior, welfare and sustainability, and mentors on animal welfare courses. Find her online at goatwriter.com.

42 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 43 Four Threatened Duck Breeds By Kenny Coogan

Silver Appleyard. Courtesy of Angel Stipetich.

Buff ducks. Courtesy of Katrina McNew. Magpie ducklings. Courtesy of Janet Farkas.

first became aware of rare duck breeds and endangered do- How Are Rare Duck Breeds Calculated? mestic animals when I was a teenager. I was gifted Storey’s The Livestock Conservancy, who creates the conservation IGuide to Raising Ducks from an acquaintance at a pet store lists, contacts hatcheries, major breeders, and their members to that I frequented. This book, written by champion breeder Dave calculate the status of domestic animals. The Livestock Con- Holderread, made my passion of raising rare duck breeds into an servancy also sends out surveys through the American Poultry obsession. My parents’ one-acre property, which started off with Association, breed clubs, and the Society for the Preservation a shed and three English call ducks, quickly grew into hundreds of Poultry Antiquities. They advertise the poultry census in of ducks, geese, and chickens inhabiting multiple sheds. Many of magazines and make the survey available on The Livestock which were rare and purchased directly from Dave Holderread. Conservancy website. Only birds that will contribute to the next In the 1920s, mechanization of farms led to the poultry indus- generation are counted. If farmers are keeping just one bird, or try narrowing their interest to a few specialized hybrids which a few hens with no males, they are not be included. Below are could produce a lot of meat and eggs with the biggest ROI. This the four threatened duck breeds that the Conservancy has listed. regrettably led to the demise of various rare duck breeds and Consider adding these to your flock or devoting your farm to other niche historical livestock. them to help increase biodiversity.

44 Backyard Poultry Buff or Orpington Duck

In 20th century England, buff-colored plumage was in vogue. Poultry breeder, author, and lecturer William Cook of Orpington, England created several colors of Orpington duck varieties. His most popular was the Buff, which has heritage that includes Aylesbury, Cayuga, Runner, and Rouen ducks. While promoting his breeds and birds, Cook would sell his 1890 book Ducks: and how to make them pay. In 1914 this breed was added to the American Standard of Perfection under the name “Buff.” Katrina McNew, owner of Blue Bandit Farms in Benton Harbor, Michigan says it’s a simple standard to adhere to, although she admits that getting the buff color to be the same shade throughout individuals is a task. The drakes’ heads being the correct greenish brown is also a challenge. “I originally got them for their dual-purpose characteristics. I’m astounded at the fast growth rates,” McNew says. “The Buffs reach market rate and mature much faster than the other heritage duck breeds.” She adds that they are perfect for eggs and meat and are calm and easy to handle for kids and adults. They’re quieter than other breeds she raised and would make great companions for someone living in the country or city. “I got into them because I loved the dual-purpose qualities of Orpington chickens, and I’m not disappointed. They’re incredibly similar, just a different species” Deborah Evans owner of Bagaduce Farm in West Brooksville, Maine has been raising Buff hens for three years. “They are very dedicated to going into the hen house for lockup at dusk (whether I’m there or not) for safe-keeping and they lay delicious eggs many mornings.” She adds, “They are beautiful, friendly, egg-productive, and so easy to handle. My Magpies are a little flighty and standoffish by comparison.”

Magpie Ducks

Magpies were recognized by the APA in 1977. They are a light breed, with mostly white plumage with a few specific marks on their body (from shoulders to the tail) and crown. The standard includes two colors: Blacks and Blues, although some breeders have created nonstandard colors like Silvers and the elusive Chocolates. Duckling markings do not change when they mature, so breeders can choose utility birds and breeding stock when they are young. When choosing breeding stock, select active, strong-legged birds that come from high-egg-production families. Laying ability and egg size are strongly influenced by genes on the male side, so choose drakes from high-producing families. According to Holderread, Magpies are triple-duty: decorative, productive egg layers, and gourmet meat birds. Janet Farkas owner of Barnyard Buddies in Loveland, Colorado has been raising Magpie ducks for over 10 years. She says Magpie ducks are very family-orientated. “They do enjoy people and they love to swim or play in a sprinkler. Magpie ducks are very low maintenance. It does not take much to keep them happy. My Magpie ducks free-range on the farm all day and then are locked up at night for their safety.”

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 45 Saxony Ducks

In Holderread’s 2001 book he says, “Saxonys are one of the it is very prevalent in our area. The intermediate host for this best large all-purpose breeds of ducks and adapt well to a wide worm is slugs and snails. Saxony are great foragers and spend range of environments.” the day walking my goat pastures reducing the number of slugs “Saxony are a beautiful, hardy, easy going breed,” Terrence and snails and in turn helping the goats.” Howell of Two Well Farms in Fabius, New York says. He has Currently, Howell is working on balancing the color and mark- been raising Saxony ducks for three years. He says their best ings with standard appropriate size. characteristic is that they are very calm. “My ducks tend to have beautiful color and marking but are “They are truly a multipurpose farm duck. They are great for on the smaller size for a heavy bird. I am working on improving eggs, meat, and show. My husband and I also raise Myotonic that by introducing a second line.” goats on our little farm. Goats are prone to meningeal worm and Silver Appleyard Ducks

For Angel Stipetich, Vice President of Preserving Heritage Dorsey says that the hardest part of breeding to their standard Ducks, love of Silver Appleyards started when she purchased a is the correct color trio of girls that originated from Dave Holderread back in 2016. “The darker color trait is not desired. We have had a lot of She then decided on ordering a drake from him to start breeding. them over the years. For us, it’s not a big deal. We have a darker “An enormous box arrived with my big 10-pound boy and I flock in a separate location. They can be used to breed back to was in love,” she remembers. “The Silver Appleyard is a large, ones that are too light in color and, in our experience, the darker sturdily built duck that weighs between seven to 10 pounds. They ones tend to be a little larger. This is great from the standpoint tend to have a stockier conformation.” of meat birds.” She adds that they are excellent layers averaging 200-270 Dorsey concludes, “Silver Appleyards are an awesome du- eggs a year. al-purpose breed. Early on, we chose them to be able to show Chris Dorsey, founder of Warrior Farms in North Georgia’s our kids and grandkids one day this amazing breed. Whether first Veteran Healing Farm, has also been raising Silver Apple- it’s for self-sustainability, conservation, or a little of both, Silver yards since 2016. Appleyards should be on the top of your list.”

Parameters of Poultry Breeds on the Conservation Priority List To learn about the most critical breeds visit my post about Dutch Hookbills and Aylesbury ducks on the Backyard Poultry website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KENNY COOGAN is a food, farm, and flower columnist. Coogan leads workshops about owning chickens, vegetable gardening, animal training, and corporate team building on his homestead. His newest gardening book 99 ½ Homesteading Poems: A Backyard Guide to Raising Creatures, Growing Opportunity, and Cultivating Community is now available at kennycoogan.com.

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At the time, there were only three Bantam breeds readily available to the public: Calls, Mallards, and Black East Indies. None of which occurred in the porcelain or blue pearl (now known as blue fawn/blue Mallard) colors that the Aztecs did. In fact, Dave commented that, at that point in time, he had never seen either color. After some years and huge increases in the scope of the Holderreads’ lifelong preservation efforts, it was decided that the Aztecs would no longer be a part of their breeding programs. More time went by and it seemed the breed lost any definition as such, becoming part of the ever-popular “barnyard mixed ducks” group. But as fate would have it, this was not the case for a small flock in Vermont. Back in 1986-87, a lady purchased a handful of them from Dave. She maintained her flock until her passing, at which point another woman inherited the birds. She also maintained ztec ducks — you may have heard of them, but most the breed until her passing and again the flock changed hands. have not. I certainly had no idea they existed when the The woman who next obtained them discovered what she had Aopportunity to raise them fell in my lap by happen- through old documentation kept by the original owner, as well stance. I’ve since learned every bit of information available, as through contact with Dave, who confirmed that they were but there wasn’t much to glean out there. There was enough to in fact his creation. put together a general history to share with you all. Since their rediscovery, a handful of us have had the pleasure These personable little guys have an interesting story. Dave of helping the breed regain footing in the Bantam waterfowl Holderread created this breed in the 1980s in order to make world. Aztec ducks truly are what Dave had envisioned — a available a Bantam breed of duck smaller than a Mallard and diminutive, hardy, and highly decorative duck that isn’t as much easier to raise and hatch than Call ducks. He was success- delicate and difficult to raise as Call ducks. A friendly breed ful in his attempt, creating his exotic-looking- Aztec ducks. The easily raised by the non-specialist. plumage reminded the Holderreads of beautiful Aztec-styled Efforts have been underway to increase the genetic variability rugs they had seen during their travels. within the breed while simultaneously correcting a few small

48 Backyard Poultry Aztec ducks truly are what Dave had envisioned — a diminutive, hardy, and highly decorative duck that isn’t as delicate and difficult to raise as Call ducks. A friendly breed easily raised by the non-specialist.

imperfections in type. But as Dave both retained and made available his original breed standards, this has been a fairly simple task. The birds originally purchased were all of porcelain color. To inquire about Bantam Aztec ducks, As of yet, the blue pearl color has not been perfected. The 2020 contact Craig Bordeleau of Duck Buddies and hatching season should see this accomplished. Side Chicks, LLC

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Duckbuddies.org

CRAIG BORDELEAU raises rare, threatened, and unique [email protected] waterfowl in southern New England. Preserving heritage breeds, as well as researching domestic duck plumage genetics, are his main breeding focus points. Facebook.com/duckbuddiesandsidechicks

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April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 49 Exotic Pheasants at Waddesdon Manor By Susie Kearley

addesdon Manor is a grand country house with gardens in WBuckinghamshire, England. It was built in the style of a French château and is open to the public with ornate Victorian aviaries — the only historic aviaries still being used in Britain. Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild commissioned the construction of the manor house and landscaped gardens. He had a keen interest in birds and the natural world. He kept flamingos, parrots, Afri- can cranes, ibises, and exotic pheasants. Some of the smaller birds from his collection are still present in the aviaries at Waddesdon today. Ferdinand’s sister, Alice, would go to feed the birds twice a day and they’d fly to her with great en- thusiasm. The birds had a floor layer of sand or gravel, with trees and perches to sit on, as they do today. They have inner chambers with central heating, heated to 20 degrees Celsius, which keeps them warm all year round. It was the 1970s when the work of the aviary keepers became focused on conservation and breeding. Today, Wad- desdon’s breeding program focuses on threatened or endangered species and has been carefully designed so that, combined with education and research, it helps to conserve the rarest species. The keepers work with zoos across Europe to create and support viable captive populations, to ensure the survival of the species.

Meet the Keeper I met Gavin Harrison, Assistant Cu- rator, who cares for the birds and is involved in the conservation work. “We’re members of the European Association of Photos © Waddesdon Manor and The National Trust. Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA),” he explains.

50 Backyard Poultry Waddesdon’s breeding program focuses on threatened or endangered species and, combined with education and research, helps to conserve the rarest species.

“We work with them primarily, and some the protein element is important for egg other organizations, to breed and con- laying.” serve vulnerable species. Our pheasants We see a blue-crowned laughingthrush, are the Palawan peacock-pheasant, the a bleeding-heart pigeon, and a spectacled Rothschild peacock-pheasant and the laughingthrush. “We have six different Bornean peacock-pheasant. They’re all species of laughingthrushes,” says Gavin. threatened in the wild to various degrees.” “We’ve been involved in the EAZA Silent A colourful bird hops up to the edge of Forest Campaign to address the loss of the aviary and spreads his wings on the birds in South East Asia, raising funds for ground to sun himself. “That’s a green- education and awareness, and supporting naped pheasant pigeon,” says Gavin. “It’s projects in Indonesia for the breeding of one of the biggest pigeons in the world.” threatened species. Species decline is a As we walk around the aviaries, Gavin problem throughout the world, though. points out a Rothschild’s mynah, a col- It’s happening in Europe, too.” lared hill-partridge, and the pheasants There’s a Socorro dove in the aviaries. we’ve come to see, who keep disappear- This species is extinct in the wild, but ing into the undergrowth. “We keep the there’s a reintroduction program afoot to aviaries densely planted because it’s good reintroduce these birds to their homeland, for their welfare and encourages them to the remote island of Socorro, off the west breed,” he explains. “Diet is important coast of Mexico. too. A high level of protein can be really EAZA coordinates the breeding pro- important for successful breeding. We grams and some birds that are bred here give them live insects. I feed ours locusts, do get released into the wild, or sent onto crickets, mealworms, and wax moth breeding programs in their native coun- larvae. I also feed them a commercial tries. Then their offspring are released pheasant breeding pellet and a commer- in the wild. This helps maintain genetic cial insectivorous mix. The birds eat the diversity for the survival of the species. plants in the aviaries and I give them “We try to explain to people who are some green foods like Chinese cabbage, trapping the wild birds for singing com- diced, and finely grated carrot. A wide petitions or the pet trade, that if they drive and varied diet works well for them, and them to extinction, there won’t be any for

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 51 Waddesdon Manor is the only public “zoo” in the world with the Bornean peacock-pheasant species at present. their competitions, or to see in the wild,” practices of the Palawan peacock-pheas- continue to fail, I’ll introduce a younger says Gavin. “But it’s a global problem, ants has helped both breeds to thrive in female next year. and a constant battle.” our care. “The female pheasants are pretty much “Some of the pheasants are more diffi- “The breeding to the Bornean pea- on their own when it comes to rearing cult to breed than others. We’ve had suc- cock-pheasant has been less successful so young,” he continues. “The males don’t cess with the Palawan peacock-pheasant. far but we remain optimistic. Our female help — they’re more interested in female Our breeding pair have had eight of their is quite old for breeding and is currently attention than in youngsters. In the wild, own young, which is good, given as they laying soft shelled eggs, this species only some pheasants will kill the chicks if they only lay two eggs a year. They have also lays one egg in a clutch. Some pheasant believe they belong to another male. But incubated eggs laid by our Rothschild’s species lay 12-15 eggs in a clutch, so it’s a peacock-pheasants are more docile, and peacock-pheasants, who are not such big contrast. I haven’t given up on the pair because they’re in captivity, the young successful parents. The good parenting we have yet, but if the breeding attempts are usually their own anyway.”

52 Backyard Poultry The aviary keepers cooperate with EAZA zoos and World Pheasant Asso- ciation members to bring in new blood lines, which keep the populations healthy. Gavin leads me to the off-show aviaries where more breeding birds are found. “The planting is denser here,” he explains, “because the birds don’t need to be visible for visitors.” Gavin lives in the manor grounds, which is just as well when they have to hand-rear a chick. “We do prefer the adult birds to rear their own young,” he explains, “but sometimes it’s necessary to take an egg or a chick into an incubator. When we’re hand-rearing, we work on rotation because some chicks need feeding every hour-and-a-half between 6am and 10pm.” Gavin leads me into the incubation room where there are young pheasants in various stages of development. Two Roth- schild’s peacock-pheasants are inside the brooder and we peer inside, as they scuttle warily to the farthest corner. “I manage the studbook for the Rothschild’s peacock-pheasants,” says Gavin. Back outside, he also shows us the breeding pheasants, including the older female Bornean peacock-pheasant, who looks quite startled when we step insider her aviary. “We’d quite like to keep Malayan peacock-pheasants, because I also manage this species studbook and we have the knowledge and expertise to breed them,” says Gavin. “We now have 11 Rothschild’s peacock-pheasants and can contact other EAZA holders through the live database of all species in breeding programs in Eu- ropean Zoos. We can see what’s available for breeding at a glance, which is really useful.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SUSIE KEARLEY is a freelance writer and journalist who lives in Great Britain along with two young guinea pigs and an aging husband! In Britain she has been published in Your Chickens, Cage and Aviary Birds, Small Furry Pets, and Kitchen Garden magazine. facebook.com/susie.kearley.writer twitter.com/susiekearley

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 53 PigeonsPink By Suzie Kearley

pink pigeon might sound like introduced other predators, like cats, reserve island Ile aux Aigrettes, which fake news, but it’s a real bird crab-eating macaque, mongoose, and is free from predators. A from Mauritius, and it’s very black rats, which threatened the birds’ Two more sub-populations are being rare. The species was almost driven to survival. Non-native plants were intro- created at Ferney and in Chamarel Eb- extinction in the 1980s, and by 1990, duced - they invaded the little habitat ony Forest. Captive-reared birds will only nine individual pink pigeons re- that was left, choking native plants and bolster the numbers of wild populations, mained in the wild. However, under the preventing regeneration of woodlands, and for genetic diversity, conservation- close watch of the Mauritian Wildlife so by the mid-1970s, there were just 20 ists encourage the birds to move around Foundation, its numbers have increased birds living in an area known as Pigeon to different territories. The bird is now and it’s now doing well with 473 in- Wood. By 1986, there were 12 pink listed as “vulnerable.” dividual birds in the wild. To put this pigeons left. Five nesting attempts were In 1997 Cotswold Wildlife Park in in context, all other pigeons from the recorded, but they were thwarted by rats. Oxfordshire UK joined the European Mascarene Islands have become extinct, By 1990 only nine birds remained. Breeding Programme to ensure a viable making the pink pigeon, a very special The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation captive population of pink pigeons in survivor. was determined to save the species. In Europe. They have since become one of The decline of pink pigeons began 1976 they set up a captive conservation the most successful breeders. with the arrival of humans in Mauri- and breeding program, supported by Keeper Chris Kibbey said, “We got tius, who destroyed the bird’s habitats, organizations across the world. The our first pink pigeons in 1997. They cutting down native vegetation until first wild releases took place in 1987. bred for the first time in 1999 and we only 1.5% of the original, good-quality There are now small populations near to used barbary doves to foster rear. Pink forest remained. This forced the pigeons the original nesting site, Pigeon Wood, pigeons don’t always make the greatest into confined spaces in upland forests. within the Black River Gorges National parents in captivity. By placing pink But the destruction didn’t end there. Park. Their terrain is spreading, and pigeon eggs under barbary doves (who People hunted the birds for meat, then there are sub-populations in the nature are much better at rearing young in cap-

54 Backyard Poultry Research is ongoing and the Mauritian Strange Wildlife Foundation Appearances hopes to achieve 600 In 2015, pink pigeons made saying the pink birds looked noth- wild pink pigeons in headlines in the UK, when fla- ing like the Mauritius pink pigeon. mingo-pink pigeons appeared in It turned out that people were the next 10 years. Bristol, Northumberland, Bucking- dying pigeons pink. A man came hamshire, and Dorset. Some people forward to admit to dying his hom- thought a magician had been dying ing pigeons because he believed the birds for a show. Others speculated color would deter predators. The that the birds were eating something Royal Society for the Protection tivity), more chicks survive.” Keepers pink. for Animals said it was cruel and had a particularly good year in 2008, As sightings continued, people unnecessary, so he promised not to breeding eight pink pigeons, and in suggested they might be cousins of do it again. 2016, three pink pigeons hatched at the the Mauritius pink pigeon, who’d Occasionally people may dye park. Another two chicks hatched in either migrated here or escaped birds for weddings and ceremo- 2017 — the latest brood. Chris says, “In from a private collection. However, nies, which could explain other total we have successfully bred 23 pink experts quickly rebutted that idea, sightings. pigeons and we currently have six.” In time, pink pigeons from the European Breeding Programme will be sent to Mauritius to increase genetic diversity among the wild population. Monitoring progress in Mauritius Every Pink Pigeon bred in captivity in Mauritius, is ringed so they can be identified and their progress monitored. Nests are monitored. Wheat and cracked maize are supplemental food provided at each of the field sites, because their natural tendency to forage for fruits is hindered by human destruction of forests and feeding grounds. Conservationists endeavor to remove or control predators around the field sites, and they’re researching and fighting diseases, especially trichomonosis, which can kill pink pigeon chicks. Eventually they hope to restore large areas of forest to provide safe nesting sites and plentiful natural food sources, with fewer predators. Birds from captive populations across Europe have genetic variations, which are no longer found in the wild populations. Some of these will join the wild birds in due course. Research is ongoing and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation hopes to achieve 600 wild pink pigeons in the next 10 years.

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 55 Crèvecœurs Conserving a Historic Breed By Christine Heinrichs

eritage chicken breeds are be- breed as a broiler chicken. Ten years later, She had bred and improved her flock ing lost. The senior breeders the breed was moved from the Critical to since then. Hthat kept them, the show circuit the Threatened category on the Conser- “We fell completely in love with the where they exhibited, farmers who kept vation Priority List. Crèvecœurs.” flocks, and consumers who sought them out for the difference in meat and eggs, Next: Crèvecœurs Breeding to the Standard have declined as society has changed. Ms. Beranger turned her attention to Those chicks grew up to have strengths Market pressures are against the tradi- Crèvecœurs six years ago. Her husband and weaknesses. She looked for the V tional breeds, which mature more slowly Fred, a professional chef, is from Brit- comb, the beard, black plumage with no than commercial and hybrid cousins. It tany, in France, the ancestral home of more than one inch positive white in any takes focus and will to bring rare historic Crèvecœurs. She and her husband visit feather, and weight. Some grew out to breeds back to popular use. relatives in France regularly, and she meet those traits, but some did not. Jeannette Beranger and The Livestock speaks and reads French. All those helped “That V, horned, comb makes them Conservancy are doing that. The Conser- her fill in the background on Crèvecœurs. look like devil birds,” she said. vancy champions all livestock, but Ms. She wanted to find a private breeder who She separated the birds into two flocks, Beranger, as program manager, has taken could affirm the flock’s history. She found to improve them toward the Standard. The special interest in poultry. After success Connie Abeln in Missouri and called her. exhibition birds became her main flock. with the Buckeye, she is now working “People’s memberships lapse, but they The rest are a secondary flock. with the Crèvecœur. might still be breeding Crèvecœurs,” “When I realized that they were rare, she said. “Sure enough, she still had I separated the flock so that I could out- Buckeyes First Crèvecœurs.” cross them,” she said.” The Buckeye project started in 2005. Ms. Abeln was populating the family’s She prioritized the seven or eight points Don Schrider, an accomplished breeder three-acre farm with chickens. She had she wanted to improve, such as height, who was then on TLC’s staff, led the placed her first order for 25 Crèvecœur comb, and laying. She kept in mind Tem- project. He invited several other groups chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery ple Grandin’s advice on breeding, that if to collaborate in recovering this American in 1997, adding a second 25 in 1998. you single-mindedly select for a certain

56 Backyard Poultry Crèvecœur Qualities

In addition to the description in the Standard, Crèvecœurs are known for:

• Ultrafine meat texture • Non-setting • Calm, not flighty or aggressive • Tall and aristocratic

set of traits, you can lose other traits you sexes, from both flocks. organs — testicles, liver, heart — of ev- want to keep. “I split both these flocks with Jeannette ery bird she processes. Testicle size has She kept records of every bird she bred, to make sure she got a sample of all the quadrupled, from the size of a fingernail on a spreadsheet and in a card file. good traits,” she said. to as big as a quarter. Aggression has in- “I made sure I had somebody excep- Those birds were the start of the Con- tional on every one of those traits, so I servancy’s flock. She provided TLC with would be able to use that bird to improve both the birds she intended to show and the that trait in my flock.” birds that, while good, had traits that would She gave her birds time to grow up. disqualify them according to the Standard. After two years, they have mature plum- “She took a leap of faith to trust me age. The hens proved laying potential for with her birds,” she said. “It’s a project two seasons. They resisted disease and of love for her. It’s humbling that she gained weight. trusted me.” “By the time they are two years old, you know a hen is a good layer or not.” Reaching Out Across the Atlantic Over the years, she added longevity to The next step was international, to get her selection. One rooster lived to be 18. birds from France into the mix. Currently, she has one who is 14, who Ms. Beranger worked with an import she paired with a beautiful two-year-old vet from USDA and Paul Bradshaw at hen who has won at shows, but isn’t a Greenfire Farms in Florida to arrange good layer. to import Crèvecœurs. He was able to “She is a good companion for him,” import two bloodlines. she said. “I was stunned that we were able to Her flock now numbers about 60, and make that happen,” she said she knows every one of them. The French imported lines produced birds that met the Standard right away, Conserving a Historic Breed reaching six pounds at 22 weeks old, far When Ms. Beranger called in 2014 and outpacing the four pounds her flock was they connected about their Crèvecœurs, producing. the Crèvecœur project took a big step “It was quite a step forward.” up. The strands of hatchery flocks and a private breeder came together. Documenting a Rare Breed Ms. Abeln gave Ms. Beranger, on be- Ms. Beranger documents everything half of TLC, half of her adult birds, both about her birds. She weighs internal

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 57 creased, but they are nearly 100% fertile. She takes pictures of everything, “Even if it seems stupid,” she said. “It’s part of documentation. What does a chick look like? You don’t know what’s normal un- Finding Crèvecœurs less you can see it.” Breed History Ms. Beranger is recovering historic Crèvecœur breeders who can supply stock: detail about the breed. The APA’s Stan- dard description dates back to the first • Jeannette Beranger, The Livestock Conservancy, Senior Program Standard in 1874. She’s scouring stock Manager, 919-542-5704 ext 103, livestockconservancy.org journals from the 19th century for details and translating the Crèvecœur chapter • Connie Abeln, [email protected], 636-271-8449 from a French book written in the mid- 19th century. She’s got the most nearly • Virginia Kouterick, [email protected] complete history of the breed to date, but she’s still working on it. • Tammie Glammeyer, 970-618-2902, [email protected], “If you are getting involved with a Facebook ITSAR Ranch foreign rare breed, it’s really helpful to go back to where they came from to find • Sue Dobson in Oklahoma, [email protected] out what they are all about.”

• Murray McMurray Hatchery in Iowa, mcmurrayhatchery.com Starting New Flocks With a breed that is rare, having multi- • Ideal Poultry Breeding Farms in Texas, idealpoultry.com, ple flocks in various locations improves will have Crèvecœurs through the fall. the breed’s resilience. It’s important to make sure yours isn’t the only flock around. Ms. Beranger will share hatching egg and stock, but she figures only about one person in ten she shares stock with will stay with the breed. Over the years, Ms. Abeln has helped other breeders start flocks. She will ship live juvenile and adult birds, but not chicks. She brings birds to sell to shows and posts the shows she will attend to Poultry Show Central. “My focus is on getting birds into the hands of people who will take care,” she said. Breeders in Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and other states are keeping flocks of Crèvecœurs. The separate flocks support genetic diversity.

Advice on Crèvecœurs “Crèvecœurs are not for everyone,” Ms. Beranger said. They can’t see well because the crest gets in the way. They aren’t safe as free range birds. “They must be protected from predators,” she said. “It’s easy to sneak up on them. My chicken coops are Fort Knox.” Unless they have immaculate housing, they get wet and dirty. “The birds aren’t going to look picture perfect all the time,” she said.

58 Backyard Poultry Weather can be a problem for chickens, especially when it’s icy. Crèvecœur beards and crests can ice up when they drink water in cold weather. Ms. Abeln removes it from their crests and beards only if they are annoyed by it. They are well suited for a chicken Helpful Crèvecœur Links tractor for backyard flocks. They have a sweet and gentle temperament, and make wonderful backyard layers. The Livestock Conservancy, livestockconservancy.org, includes informa- “Part of my market is backyard birds,” tion on heritage breeds, its Conservation Priority List, and its Breeders said Ms. Abeln. “They lay a long time, Directory. and age gracefully into a backyard pet.” Ms. Abeln has posted videos of her birds on YouTube. Going Forward Half of this flock went to Jeannette Beranger: One of the issues Ms. Beranger is youtu.be/FMmQDzemGbA pursuing is perfecting the finishing diet to optimize their weight gain in the last This trio that includes the sport white Crèvecœur: month before processing. Crèvecœurs youtu.be/-LG8JdQd6so in their native Normandy gain plenty of weight in that month. She wants hers to These three roosters are neighbors, if not neighborly: do that, too. youtu.be/y5yPK21nqyA “Don’t be afraid to talk about eating your chickens,” she said. “They are not These two boys were raised as brothers by Nankins parents: just lawn ornaments. We want to make youtu.be/WoLt4zfzD6k them useful table birds.” She’ll return to France in February for further research into local records. Association is getting organized. Beranger said. “I’ve learned a lot, but I’m North American Crèvecœur Breeders “It’s a really interesting project,” Ms. not an expert by any means.”

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 59 The Farm at Prophetstown Where you can visit a 1920s working farm. By Rebecca Sanderson All photos by Laura Frank Hale

estled right in Prophetstown staff is dedicated to showing, sharing, and State Park, you will find a trea- teaching about historic agriculture and the Nsure worth visiting. The Farm homesteading arts.” is a 95-acre working farm that you can Because The Farm at Prophetstown visit from April until November seven was established before Prophetstown days a week. Set with a 1920s Sears and State Park was instituted, they are techni- Roebuck catalog home, there is also a cally in the park yet not part of the park. replica Gibson farmhouse in which you The very beginning of The Farm was as can tour and enjoy a five-course farm-to- a museum in 1995, but they have evolved table dinner. much since that time. Hosting primarily The Farm is a private not-for-profit heritage breeds of livestock, they are also establishment dedicated to the educa- a home to many rescued animals. These tion of the community about animals animals have been well-acclimated to hu- and homesteading skills. Their mission mans to where even the roosters are calm statement reads, “Located in West La- and friendly. As soon as you set foot on fayette, Indiana near the town of Battle The Farm, you will surely notice the flock Ground, The Farm at Prophetstown offers of over 100 chickens roaming free range a unique experience on all aspects of farm throughout everything. There are fifteen life. Programs revolve around the 1920s different breeds in this flock, including farms as they began their transition from the critically endangered Crèvecœur animal to tractor power. The Farm is a chickens. Other breeds include Buckeyes, training farm for sustainable agriculture, Javas, Speckled Sussex, and Brahmas. A homesteading, gardening, canning, as good place to watch the chickens would well as farm-to-table cooking, sewing, be near the gooseberry and currant bush- and quilting. It draws on a wide range es, where you may see them jumping up of resources such as beekeepers, master to pick berries and eat them. gardeners, farm experts, and home eco- In keeping with the 1920s setting, The nomics experts. The Farm is a non-profit Farm grows all of its own hay and corn organization operating 100 acres of land to feed the animals. While they do allow leased from Prophetstown State Park. Our their chickens to sometimes hatch a batch

60 Backyard Poultry As soon as you set foot on The Farm, you will surely notice the flock of over 100 chickens roaming free range throughout everything.

of chicks naturally, they prefer to raise veterinary program, Purdue also has a volunteering, The Farm at Prophetstown chicks in autumn so that they are mature specific avian studies program which is worth your visit. You can fit in a few and ready to lay eggs by the next spring. brings students to The Farm quarterly to hours while camping in the surrounding This way, there is always a good supply practice on the flock of chickens. Keeping Prophetstown State Park. You can follow of eggs for the summer crowds. a flock of 100 chickens healthy is hard them on social media or reach them at The Farm at Prophetstown offers many work, and often difficult when faced (765) 567-4700. They appreciate a heads classes to the community. These classes with the financial limitation of being a up for large groups or volunteers. include seed saving, horses, food preser- non-profit. The veterinary students are vation, beekeeping, cooking with organ able to help keep the flock healthy and meat, benefits of local meat and eggs, cast flag down chickens that are not thriving. ABOUT THE AUTHOR iron cooking and care, medicinal plants Lauren Reed, events director, cook, and of Indiana, making Christmas ornaments “Chicken Maven” at The Farm, wants vis- REBECCA SANDERSON grew up in a from eggs, and a two-hour class all about itors to see that homesteading is possible very small town in Idaho with a backyard full of chickens, goats, sometimes sheep keeping chickens. The Farm at Prophet- for everyone. She believes that raising and ducks, and other random animals in stown also offers guided tours for local animals, chickens especially, can help addition to the cats and dogs. She is now schools. Tours begin at 8:30 AM from teach children how to care for animals married with two little girls and loves the April 1st until November 1st. If you are and respect them. She loves when people homesteading life! Her husband is very wearing jeans and closed-toe shoes, you are able to see how even the chickens all supportive (tolerant) of her continued can even help with the chores. have different personalities, each being experiments in making many items from Speaking of doing chores, as a very unique. Whether you drop in for a scratch and he even helps sometimes. non-profit The Farm is always in need quick tour, a class, or spend some hours of volunteers. Run by a volunteer board of directors, they rely on volunteers to help with chores, cleaning, running tours, and the everyday work of a real farm. They will accept volunteers ages eight and up. If you come to volunteer, or even just to visit, be sure to follow staff guidance and don’t enter the pen of any animal unless instructed to do so. While these animals are very accustomed to human interac- tion, they can still be startled. Some of them might even be friendlier than you wanted! One benefit to their location in Indiana is being near Purdue University with their veterinary program. As part of their

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 61 BROKEN ARROW FARM Pastured Poultry in Northeast Wyoming By Kendra Paulton

aul and Bailey Eitel of Newcastle, Wyoming are no strangers to hard Pwork, ingenuity and agricultural opportunity. Their passion for farm-to- table wholesome food products has driven the genesis of their poultry operation, Broken Arrow Farm, where they raise and harvest over 800 fryer chickens for their local community each year. Paul grew up on a family ranch in northwest Nebraska, where his family raised Simmental cattle and grew wheat and alfalfa. His father was always looking for ways to diversify and eventually started an elk operation near Crawford, Nebraska.Paul developed his love for poultry during his 10 years as an active 4-H competitor. “I showed everything from hedgehogs to market steers,” he laughed. Chickens were his main focus, however, and he even hatched out a lot of his chicks with an incubator. Salatin’s book, Pastured Poultry Profits. 200 chicks. Bailey also has her roots in agriculture “[Salatin was] dealing with a smaller “The third year, I was over 400,” he through 4-H opportunities. “I grew up in acreage, which is what I have in Wyo- said. “Now, we do around 800 fryers town, but I was able to raise hogs and ming,” Paul explained. “If you diversify every year.” rabbits for 4-H,” she explained. and branch out, there are a lot of oppor- Bailey’s and Paul’s paths crossed in a Paul and Bailey both went to college tunities.” The next spring, Paul ordered stroke of destiny when Bailey was invit- for the same degree, Rangeland Manage- his first batch of fryer chicks, 30 Cornish ed by a mutual friend to “go help butcher ment. Paul spent his collegiate years at Rocks, from Welp Hatchery. “It’s like a few chickens” in the summer of 2016. Chadron State University and minored in taking a Simmental cow and crossing In 2018, the couple was married on Bai- ag-business; Bailey attended University it with an Angus,” Paul explained when ley’s family’s place north of Newcastle. of Wyoming and put her focus in botany asked about growth hormones. “There’s Since then, the couple’s enterprise has and forestry. Currently, Bailey serves as nothing injected into them, it’s just grown from their main focus — chickens the range ecologist at Custer State Park genetics. It’s the way they are bred.” — to include two dairy cows, a group of in Custer County, South Dakota. Paul’s He also noted that he has tried other meat rabbits, and turkeys. employment with the NRCS in Weston breeds of meat chickens, including Red The Eitels say that the diversification County, Wyoming, is what moved him Rangers, but they take longer to get to of their program as multiple benefits. westward from his post-collegiate home harvest size and the pin feathers are “The cows will hit wherever the chickens near Colome, South Dakota. His ranch- harder to remove. were, due to the increase of nitrogen ing heritage engrained a deep passion “I processed [the first group of chick- and extra in the grass from the chickens for locally produced, quality food, and ens] just for myself, and when people scratching up the ground and new growth so he continued to dabble in chickens heard I had them, they started to ask coming,” Paul explained. Chickens also alongside his day job, enjoying a small about purchasing processed chickens spread apart the cattle manure, naturally group of laying hens. In the fall of 2014, from me,” Paul said. So, the next year, fertilizing the soil. a vision was born after he read Joel he took preorders and ended up ordering The way the Eitels have sourced their

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chicks has evolved from the beginning they arrive. “We have everything in the as well. “When I bought my laying hens, brooder rooms set up a couple of days I went through the feed store in town,” before the chicks are set to arrive, except Paul said. “Then, I started dealing with for the water, which we add electrolytes the [Welp] hatchery directly.” to the morning of arrival,” Paul said. At one point, Welp Hatchery was out They dip each chick’s beak in the water of the breed of meat chicken they wanted as soon as they are unboxed and careful- to order, which forced them to try a new ly observe in person and from afar via a one, Duncan Hatchery. Now, they split camera system, to ensure that the tem- their chicken orders between the two perature in brooder rooms is adequate. companies. “If you buy a big order, the Hens receive their chick grower ration survival rate is not as good as when you from a local grain mill. As they grow, do smaller orders,” Paul explained. “At chicks are fed locally sourced grain such the end of the day,” Paul said, “the choice as wheat or oats. By the time they are in a hatchery comes down to the dollar on pasture, the bulk of the chicks’ feed and the customer service.” is pasture. “Duncan’s has a 48-hour replacement The Eitels used the wisdom in Sala- policy,” Bailey said. “Especially when tin’s book to inspire their pastured poul- you live in Wyoming and [the chickens] try operation. Groups of chickens enjoy come from Iowa, two-day shipping is “tractor” runs eight feet long by four feet more like three-day shipping.” wide by two feet tall with shaded shelter Both hatcheries, the Eitels say, have and waterers. Tractors are moved daily had top-notch customer service and to fresh ground, which the Eitels admit quality stock. is labor intensive — but worth it. The Eitels take special care to attend “We also have a group of chickens in to each chick individually as soon as electric poultry netting,” Bailey added,

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 63 “and that doesn’t have to be moved as often since it’s a larger area.” She also noted that those fryers tend to take closer to 11-12 weeks to mature instead of eight weeks like the chickens in the tractors. When processing time comes around, the Eitels have a core group of friends and family who pitch in over the course of a weekend. Processed in an open-air station, they utilize automatic plucking machines and camaraderie to get the job done. “It’s kind of like a branding,” Paul laughed, “only with chickens.” While federal standards mandate up to 1,000 poultry to be processed annually without specialized labeling, the Eitels have the ability to process up to 10,000 in accordance with their current facilities and practices. “But 800 is a pretty good number for us,” Paul said. “We may increase our turkey orders this year, but other than that we are meeting our demand right now.” “Our goal,” Paul said, “is to enjoy the lifestyle we live while providing good, wholesome, quality food that is locally, naturally raised.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KENDRA PAULTON is a freelance writer, photographer, and Certified StoryWay Guide in the Black Hills of South Dakota, specializing in family legacy books. She resides on a fourth-generation cattle ranch with her husband, four children, and pack of German Shepherds. Visit her website dakotacanyonranch.com to connect!

64 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 65 seven to nine weeks, half the time it takes for heritage breeds. Butchering cannot be delayed as it can lead to potential health risks such as heart issues and broken legs due to their size. Because this breed carries around quite a bit of weight, along with how much they consume, dehydration is a big issue. This breed can forage for fresh vegetation, yet they prefer sitting in front of the feed bowl. Heritage poultry breeds take longer to mature, but the wait is worth it. There is no strict butchering time.

as a Sustainable Meat Source Chicken Breeds By Ann Accetta-Scott • Seven to 12 weeks — broilers • 12 to 20 weeks — fryers • Five to 12 months — roasters • Over 12 months — stewing birds

Duck Breeds • Up to eight weeks — fryer hen I first began keeping The need to utilize heritage poultry • Eight to 16 weeks — roaster poultry, my flock consisted breeds for meat production began to die • Over six months — stewing bird Wof birds from the local feed when supermarkets came into existence. store. The idea of a heritage breed, or its In addition to this, those who continued Turkey Breeds importance, was not in my mind. However, to raise backyard poultry focused more on • 26 to 28 weeks — roaster that changed once we toyed with the idea exotic breeds and poultry which laid col- • Over 18 months — stewing bird or of raising poultry for meat consumption. orful eggs. Popular dual-purpose poultry ground to sausage Upon researching our options, I stum- breeds which once fed many American bled upon an article about raising dual-pur- families struggled to exist. Geese Breeds pose heritage poultry breeds. The idea of Thanks to the Livestock Conservancy • Up to nine weeks — fryer utilizing poultry for both eggs and meat, and their drive to educate homesteaders • Nine to 17 weeks — roaster as a sustainable option, enticed me. I was and farmers across America, many of these • Over six months — stewing bird even more intrigued by the information I breeds are slowly making a comeback. had gleaned from the Livestock Conser- Selecting Heritage Poultry Breeds vancy’s website. The Draw to Raise Heritage Poultry as a Sustainable Meat Source And that’s how it began. Raising broiler Breeds Of the many poultry breeds found on poultry breeds was not my only option. I Unlike the Cornish Cross broiler chick- the Livestock Conservancy list, I would would be adding heritage breeds to the en breed which are not meant to be bred, say only a handful make a sustainable homestead. dual-purpose heritage poultry breeds meat option. These particular breeds are are capable of reproducing and hatching good layers, prone to becoming broody, The History of Heritage Poultry eggs. A sustainable meat source is an forage well, and are a good meat breed. Breeds important factor for many homesteaders In truth, one cannot go wrong with any The Livestock Conservancy’s mission and small family farms. of the birds mentioned by the Livestock is, “To protect endangered livestock and Heritage poultry breeds forage for food Conservancy. The breeds mentioned here, poultry breeds from extinction.” well, opting for greens and protein prior in my opinion, surpass the others. This made perfect sense and struck me to consuming pellet feed. This benefits to the core. Much effort is put forth into those looking to reduce the processed Raising Chicken Breeds saving heirloom seeds; why wouldn’t we feed offered to their flock. Twenty out of the 51 chicken breeds put as much effort into saving heritage Unlike broiler birds, the meat on heri- mentioned by the Livestock Conservancy livestock and poultry? The Livestock tage breeds is darker and does not require can be classified as well-rounded heritage Conservancy compiled a list of poultry or brining or smoking to provide flavor. breeds and raised as a sustainable meat livestock breeds with an extremely low source. When raising chickens, select population. These animals are classified as Heritage Breeds over Production breeds which do well in the climate in being watched, threatened, or even critical, Broiler Breeds which you reside. For example, Chante- with some breeds being studied. Production broilers reach maturity in cler thrive better in colder climates.

66 Backyard Poultry • Australorp • Chinese — great egg production, ABOUT THE AUTHOR • Brahma good for smaller properties • Buckeye • Toulouse — the largest bird on the list ANN ACCETTA-SCOTT homesteads • Chantecler with extra large eggs on two acres in Washington State, raising • Delaware poultry, goats, and rabbits. She is an educator • Dorking Ultimately, the decision is yours. and encourager to all who are seeking to live • Faverolles Many enjoy the quick grow-out time a more sustainable lifestyle. Ann is also the face behind the website, A Farm Girl in the • Java of production broiler breeds and do Making and the author of, The Farm Girl's • Jersey Giant not mind that they are a one-shot deal. Guide to Preserving the Harvest. • Langshan Preserving a breed, while enjoying the WEBSITE: afarmgirlinthemaking.com • New Hampshire process of raising and consuming foods INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/ • Orpington as our great grandparents once did, is afarmgirlinthemaking/ • Plymouth Rock priceless. If you’re not quite convinced YOUTUBE: youtube.com/ afarmgirlinthemaking/ • Sussex that this is the best choice then why not FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ • Wyandotte raise both broilers and heritage breeds? afarmgirlinthemaking We do. Raising Duck Breeds Out of the 14 duck breeds mentioned by the Livestock Conservancy, the following 10 ducks classify as well-rounded dual-purpose breeds. The duck’s ability to be broody, and how much meat it provides after butchering, is key.

• Ancona • Aylesbury • Buff • Cayuga • Magpie • Rowan • Saxony • Silver Appleyard • Swedish • Welsh Harlequin

Raising Turkey Breeds All 12 breeds mentioned by the Live- stock Conservancy qualify as dual-purpose. Hens are seasonal layers and capable of becoming broody. However, use of an incubator increases hatch rate.

• Beltsville Small White • Black • Bourbon Red • Standard Bronze • Narragansett • Royal Palm • Slate • White Holland

Raising Geese Breeds The Livestock Conservancy mentions 11 goose breeds. All, except for the Se- bastapol, classify as well-rounded birds to raise as a sustainable meat source. The following breeds stand out above the rest:

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 67 Brown vs. White Eggs By Kate Johnson

rown vs. white eggs — is one eggs are only brown on the outside of the long before the pigment is added, if the more nutritious than the other? shell but are white on the interior. In the chickens are fed and raised in the same BAre white eggs bleached? What case of the white eggs, there is just no way, the color of the egg has no bear- is the difference between white and pigment added at the end because that ing on the nutrition found inside. But brown eggs? And why are organic eggs particular breed of chicken is genetically you might pay more for those brown brown? These are just a few of the ques- programmed to skip that last step. In the vs. white eggs! Why? “The brown egg tions that are commonly asked by folks case of blue eggs, the pigment oocyanin layers need to have more nutrients and standing in front of a crowded case of is deposited on the egg earlier in the energy in their body to produce an egg eggs at the local grocery store. It used process, as it travels through the oviduct, than the white shell layers,” USDA to be that you only had to choose the and this pigment actually permeates the research food technologist Deana Jones size of the eggs you wanted to buy. But eggshell, making the egg blue on both explained in a Huffpost story. “It takes now there are so many different choices, the exterior and the interior of the shell. more feed for a brown-shell egg layer and so many different prices, it can be And then there are the “olive eggers” to accommodate production of the egg.” hard to decide which ones to purchase. where the brown pigment overlays a blue There is also a common misconcep- Or for many of our readers, which ones egg, resulting in a green egg. The darker tion that all organic eggs are brown, or to produce. Let’s unravel some of the the brown pigment, the more olive the that if an egg is brown, it must be organ- mysteries — and misconceptions — color of the egg will be. ic. That is simply not the case. Any egg about egg color. Another interesting fact about brown can be organic if the chicken that pro- First off, when it comes to white vs vs. white eggs is that the shade of the duces it is fed only organic feed and is brown eggs, the breed of the chicken is brown eggs will change as the egg-lay- raised according to the guidelines of the what determines the color of the egg. ing season progresses. The brown eggs National Organic Program (NOP). And So, no — white eggs are not bleached. will get lighter later in the season. This although the hen itself may be healthier In fact, all eggs start as white eggs in- is because as the hen ages her eggs get and happier under these NOP guidelines, side the chicken. It takes over 24 hours bigger, but the amount of pigment that the resulting egg is not necessarily more for an egg to be fully formed within the gets added at the end of the process nutritious. The flavor may be stronger hen’s reproductive system, and it’s only stays the same. That means less pigment because the chicken is possibly eating during the very last step of the process per surface area, resulting in a lighter a more varied diet including bugs and that a pigment is sometimes deposited brown color. worms, but the flavor does not equate on the egg to determine its final color. As far as nutrition goes, there are no to nutrition. It is true that most of the The pigment protoporphyrin is respon- major differences between eggs from organic eggs available in your grocery sible for the brown color and it is more different breeds of chickens; hence store case are brown, but this is probably or less “painted” on the outside of the brown eggs are not necessarily higher more likely due to the fact that consum- white shell very late in the process of in nutrition than white eggs. Since the ers think brown eggs are always organic forming the shell. That’s why brown nutritional content of the egg is formed and are more nutritious than that they

68 Backyard Poultry actually are either of these things. are pale green or blue in color and sure enough, their eggs So, what is the difference between white and brown eggs? are green or blue. You guessed it — just the color! And only the breed of the When deciding whether you want brown vs. white eggs, the chicken that lays it determines the color of the egg. But there’s choice is really just a matter of which color you like better. nothing wrong with wanting a little color in your life. I, myself, love to have a nice variety of egg colors from my hens if only because it just looks so nice to see all the different hues. So, when it comes to picking out the hens that you’ll have in Resources: your henhouse, you might decide that choosing your breeds partially based on what color of eggs they lay is a good idea. canr.msu.edu/news/why_are_chicken_eggs_ There are many charts that will tell you what color of egg different_colors your hen will lay, but if you’re trying to answer the question, “Where do brown eggs come from?” you might not have to web.extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res04-consumer. look any farther than the chicken’s earlobe. Yes, chickens have earlobes! While this isn’t a perfect predictor of the color html of the egg that will be laid, it’s pretty accurate. Red earlobes generally mean the hen will lay brown eggs whereas white canr.msu.edu/news/what_you_should_know_ earlobes almost always predict white eggs. And some chickens, about_organic_eggs like the Araucana chicken breed, actually have earlobes that backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-color-chart- find-out-what-egg-color-your-breed-lays.48143/ ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATE JOHNSON raises chickens and dairy goats at Briar academic.oup.com/ps/article/86/2/356/2962609 Gate Farm (briargatefarm.com), runs a cheesemaking school called The Art of Cheese (theartofcheese.com), and is an active huffpost.com/entry/brown-white-eggs-difference volunteer with the Boulder County 4-H program. She’s also a member of the Colorado Dairy Goat Association. _n_5a8af33be4b00bc49f46fc45

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 69 70 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 71 Efficiently Hatching Eggs with a Broody Chicken By Amy Fewell

aving a broody chicken is one of When they do, there are a few tell-tale • She lays fairly flat. Broodies like to the most exciting things one can signs to know if she’s truly broody, or if settle into a naturally relaxed state. This Hdiscover in their coop. While it she’d just like to think that she is. Giving means that their bodies will tend to lay depends on the breed and the genetics of your hen a few days in the nesting box, flatter on the nest than a regular chicken the bird, more than likely you’ll experi- or wherever she originally decides to set, laying an egg or sleeping. ence a hen that is broody at least once are best in order to know if you have a If all of these signs are happening, then in your life. When you do, you’ll need hardcore broody or not. Here are some you’re ready for the next step –– setting to know how set your hen efficiently for things to look for while she’s setting. up a safe environment for your broody optimal success. • She’s a permanent sitter. Your hen will for the next couple of weeks. only get up to leave the nest to eat, drink Broody Chicken Breeds water, and take a quick dust bath. She will Setting Up Your Broody Space While barnyard mixes and random hens not get up to roost in the evening with the Once you have your broody, you need can certainly go broody, there are breeds other chickens when there are eggs in the to decide whether or not you want to that tend to go more broody than others. nest. She’ll return to the nest after only allow your broody to hatch her chicks in Some of the best broody hens that you’ll 10 to 15 minutes of being off of it to eat your coop or in a separate area away from find are the Brahma, Cochin, Orpington, and drink. the flock. You can either leave her be in Silkie, Marans, and Sussex. My favorite • She pulls feathers. In order to fluff her the nesting box, move her to a secluded broodies are landrace breeds, such as the nest and create a long-term environment area in the coop, or move her completely Icelandic chicken. A landrace breed is not for her to hang out in, she will often pull out of the coop. We prefer to leave her in really a breed at all. Instead, a landrace feathers to feather her nest with. the coop but in a secure area. This way she is a group of animals that have been • She screams at you. If you go into the can raise her chicks right beside the rest of mostly kept in the wild and adapted to coop to remove her from the nest, and she the flock, which ensures easier transition. the ever-changing environment around it puffs up her feathers and starts screaming How a broody hen hatches chicks is with little help or alterations to the breed a shrill sound towards you, chances are, an extremely delicate process. If at any by humans. Think of the term “survival she’s broody. time that process is hindered, it can mean of the fittest”, and that’s what a landrace • Broody poop. Broody poop is the worst. losing the entire clutch of eggs. If this is. Their natural instincts are impeccable. It is chicken poop times five, in every happens, you can go buy chicks to place way. And it normally comes out as soon under her if she loses her clutch if you’d Signs of a Good Broody as she gets off of her nest and into her like, or just leave her alone and remove Some hens will just go broody, period. regular living area. the eggs. Often times people wonder,

72 Backyard Poultry will a broody hen adopt ducklings? Maybe you have ducklings eggs from over-crowding while trying to keep all of them warm. available but not chicks when a hatch fails. The quick answer • Give her food and water. Make sure you have given her a space is, yes! She very well may. We’ve done this a few times with that is big enough to put a small bowl of food and water away success by placing the ducklings under her at night. We’ve even from the nest, but in her general area. had chickens hatch ducklings for us. Whether it’s ducklings or • Make sure she gets back on her nest. Whether she’s in the chicks, however, there is always the risk that she’ll simply reject coop without security, or within her own separate area, make them and go about her way. sure she gets back on her nest successfully. You’ll also want to Here are some things you can use as a separate broody area make sure no other chickens are raiding her nest while she’s off. away from the coop: If you’re able to make sure these simple steps take place, • An old dog house (protected) you’ll be on your way to a successful hatch with your broody • An enclosed (with sides) pet carrier/dog crate chicken! • Rabbit hutch (or any type of hutch) There’s nothing like watching your hen hatch and raise her • Small portable chicken coop with run sweet babies. There truly is nothing quite as enjoyable on your • Create your own area with reusable resources homestead. With these simple steps, you’re sure to enjoy your While these are all great options, we prefer to set up a sepa- broody hen for years to come without ever having to pull out rate space inside the actual coop. You can do this by building a the incubator! specific broody pen (or even a rabbit hutch) in the coop, or by using simple large dog crate. As long as the flock can’t get to the nest, you’re good to go! ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steps to Efficiently Hatching with a Broody Chicken It’s time to set your broody! Here are the steps to take when AMY FEWELL is the head chicken wrangler and homesteader of The Fewell Homestead. Along with her family, she resides you’re ready to move her. It’s important to follow these so that in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia. She is she stays on the nest instead of trying to get back to her old nest. the Founder of the Homesteaders of America conference and • Move your broody at night. This helps her adjust easier, and organization, and the author of the books, The Homesteader’s makes her think she’s still on her original nest. Herbal Companion and The Homesteader’s Natural Chicken • Make sure her eggs are good. How many eggs can a broody Keeping Handbook (to be released Spring 2019). hen sit on, anyway? A standard size chicken can sit on a clutch thefewellhomestead.com of six to 12 eggs. This ensures that she doesn’t crack any of the

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 73 The Four- Legged Chick By Rebecca Krebs

t was Monday morning, hatching day here at North Star Poultry. Freshly hatched chicks of assorted breeds filled Ithe incubator. Many of them would be on their way to new homes by that afternoon, but I planned to keep most of the Rhode Island Red chicks to raise as my future breeding stock. I couldn’t wait to see them. I got more than I bargained for. As I pulled the tray of chicks from the incubator, I noticed a pair of funny little legs sticking out of the mass of fuzzy bodies. I did a double take. A four-legged chick! I snatched up the chick and examined him more closely, unable to believe what I saw until I gently pulled on the extra legs attached to his backside — the legs didn’t come off! I ran into the other room to show my colleague. “You’ve never seen anything like this!” I said, shoving the chick rear-first toward her. She was shocked. The chick cheeped his indignation at such rude proceedings. I searched “four-legged chickens” online and discovered that the miniature limbs dangling from the chick’s posterior resulted from a rare congenital condition called polymelia. This peculiar chick was likely the first and last one I would ever see. The word polymelia comes from the Greek and means “many limbs.” Polymelia occurs in numerous kinds of creatures — including humans — but it is particularly rare in birds. The extra legs of polymelus creatures are often underdeveloped and malformed. My polymelus chick’s extra legs were nonfunctional but looked like perfect miniature versions of normal legs, thighs and all, except that only two toes grew on each foot. Four-legged chick with polymelia. Photo by Rebecca Krebs. Several subcategories of polymelia exist, including pygomelia. Defined by the extra legs attaching to the pelvis, pygomelia was possibly the type my chick exhibited. His extra legs se- curely joined his body by shafts of bone positioned below his tail. X-rays would have been required to verify if it was a true case of pygomelia. Scientists are still working to understand what factors cause polymelia, especially in birds; possibilities include conjoined (Siamese) twins, genetic accidents, exposure to toxins or patho- gens, and the environment during incubation. My breeding flock of Rhode Island Reds — the polymelus chick’s parents — came to mind during my research. Could they carry genes that caused polymelia? Probably not. It’s hard to say for sure why my chick developed polymelia, but based on my research, I suspect that it was either a random genetic accident or a byproduct of artificial incubation (since humans can’t flawlessly imitate the incubation conditions under a mother hen, artificial incubation occasionally leads to defects). Ironically, the polymelus chick’s mother belonged to a new group of hens that I had introduced to my flock to maintain my Rhode Island Reds’ genetic diversity and prevent genetic prob-

74 Backyard Poultry lems caused by inbreeding. Apparently it normal, quality lives, and I looked for- Broiler: Anatomical and Radiological As- was perfect timing for a polymelus chick ward to watching the chick grow into a pects. African AVA Journal of Veterinary to appear! The coincidence still makes rooster. But sadly, my little polymelus Anatomy 4(1), 69-77. me chuckle. chick passed away at two weeks old as Obviously this chick was staying on a result of his malformed vent. Though the farm with me. (I can just imagine he lived only a short time, he gave me ABOUT THE AUTHOR someone’s reaction if they opened their a unique hands-on opportunity to learn shipment of fluffy, peeping chicks to about polymelia. I’ll always be glad for discover…!) But I didn’t mind keeping that. REBECCA KREBS is a freelance writer and genetics aficionado who lives in the him. Who gets the chance to personally Rocky Mountains of Montana. She owns observe a polymelus chicken? However, Sources: Hassanzadeh, B. and Rahemi, North Star Poultry, a small hatchery that I worried that the chick wouldn’t survive A. 2017. Polymelia with unhealed navel breeds Blue Laced Red Wyandottes, his first meal. His extra legs seemed at- in an Iranian indigenous young fowl. Rhode Island Reds, and five exclusive tached to his body where his vent should Veterinary Research Forum 8(1), 85-87. chicken varieties. Find her farm online have been; if that was the case, he would Ajayi, I. E. and Mailafia, S. 2011. Oc- at northstarpoultry.com. be incapable of defecating and would die. curence of Polymelia in 9-Week-Old Male I did eventually find his vent, but it was small and deformed. Sometimes he had difficulty passing droppings. The chick couldn’t live with the other chicks because they might have mistaken his extra feet for worms and unintention- ally injured or stressed him by yanking his toes. At first he lived in the incubator and went on regular outings to eat and drink in front of the heater. After a few days, I moved him to a brooder where he had the companionship of one calm Black Star pullet chick. I hoped the Black Star TOTAL chick would grow so accustomed to his anomaly that she could safely keep him company for his entire life. Despite the fuss made over him, the POULTRY chick didn’t notice that he was a rather unusual specimen. He hatched healthy and feisty, and he behaved like a normal chick. I’ve always admired the tenacious CARE and happy-go-lucky personalities of Rhode Island Reds. Nothing fazes their positive outlook on life. My polymelus chick was no different. When I took him on excursions away from the incubator, he flapped his tiny, downy wings in his Clean and help the healing process excitement to be out in the big world of wounds and pecking sores — never mind the extra limbs swinging Soothe skin irritations around behind him. Actually, if I didn’t look too closely, Great for vent prolapse, frost bite, bumblefoot the chick was kind of cute. I’ve heard Free of alcohol, steroids, and antibiotics chickens like him labeled as “polymelus Will not sting or burn monsters,” but you’ve got to know a Safe if ingested polymelus chick before you saddle it with that name. My chick wore an ador- able expression and picked up his food with that pleased little flick of the beak which observers of chick behavior will recognize. Even his extra feet, complete with diminutive toenails, were cute in their own right. Made in the USA | vetericyn.com Many creatures with polymelia live

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 75 Chickens and Compost: A Match Made in Heaven By Patrice Lewis

onsider this: together with one open Two 20-acre side make an ideal area Cparcels right for corralling compost, next to each other. Both though some wily hens families have flocks of have learned to use the chickens. Both families pallets as a jumping-off feed their chickens iden- point to escape their tical layer crumbles. But pen. If this happens, try one family has fat hens, confining the compost the other has skinny to an open-sided chick- hens. Why the differ- en-wire enclosure held ence? up with T-posts within Very likely the dif- your chicken yard. ference is compost. The For a quicker and family with fat hens more scientific ap- has cows, which pro- proach — where the duce manure, which is pile generates heat and piled in a generous heap rapidly breaks down to (along with hay and produce compost suit- other detritus) to break able for gardens — you down into compost for will need a least a cubic the garden. The chick- yard of material en- ens spend most of their closed on all four sides. waking hours on this It should consist of both compost pile, scratching carbon “brown” and for worms and maggots, nitrogen “green” mate- taking dust baths along rial. The majority of the the edges, and otherwise pile should be “brown” behaving as chickens matter (such as leaves, are supposed to behave. saw dust, wood chips, While compost piles coffee and tea grounds, are not a critical element dead plants, straw) with for healthy hens, it is a generous layering of certainly a match made “green” material (live- in heaven. It’s not just the extra protein the from a wide variety of organic debris, even stock manure, aquatic leaves, eggshells, birds get from their foraging. Believe it or in suburban settings. garden weeds, grass clippings, kitchen not, there is also a psychological benefit If you don’t want to be slavishly scien- scraps). Layered together, the pile should for the birds. Confined birds are bored tific about your compost pile — if your be moist but not soggy. For obvious rea- birds, and bored birds are likely to get primary goal is to give your chickens sons, the compost heap must be accessible into trouble (pecking each other, eating something to do and supplement their to the birds if the goal is for them to eat their own eggs, etc.). Scratching for food feed — then you can just dump organic biota. Some people provide “ladders” for is what chickens are born to do. Why not waste into a pile and give the chickens free the ladies to climb inside. give them what they want? access. Yard waste, leaves, kitchen scraps The components of a compost pile — (carrot peelings, onion skins, etc.), and whether formal or informal — should Types of Compost other forms of organic material are all grist be diverse enough that materials don’t Clearly not everyone can keep larger to a compost pile. The action of scratching become matted or waterlogged. Grass livestock to provide convenient quantities hens naturally sifts smaller particles lower clippings piled together are famous for be- of manure for the benefit of chickens. in the pile, where it breaks down and can coming a slimy mat which even chickens Fortunately, chickens aren’t fussy. They’ll then be used on a garden. Avoid putting can’t penetrate, so make sure the clippings scratch in anything that attracts worms, meat scraps, citrus, fats, dairy, or dog and are mixed with other “brown” matter. flies, and other protein sources (collec- cat feces into a compost pile. It never hurts to sprinkle a calcium tively called biota). Compost can be made For a tidier approach, three pallets wired source, such as ground-up oyster shells,

76 Backyard Poultry among the other materials in a compost cultivate worms in the first place for the Worms should be considered at most a pile — not necessarily for composting benefit of chickens. dietary supplement. down, but to give the hens a nutritional The easiest worms to cultivate are red Vermiculture is a science unto itself, boost. Eggshells also work, but make sure worms (Eisenia fetida), the critter most and is usually geared toward managing they’re crushed or the hens may learn to commonly used in indoor vermiculture household organic waste rather than feed- eat their own eggs. compost bins. Red worms are small, but ing chickens; but nothing says you can’t Keep in mind some foods are toxic to they’re hardy, prolific, and voracious ramp up worm production to benefit your chickens, notably avocadoes and dried (they eat about half their body weight poultry. Worms can be cultivated both beans, which should never be fed directly each day). They’re also sociable and live indoors (stackable bins) and outdoors to poultry. However, chickens have a pretty in colonies. Finding a writhing mass of (deep litter, compost piles). Outdoor piles good idea of what they shouldn’t eat. Be- wiggling worms around a food source is can be “planted” or “inoculated” with red sides, the birds are unlikely to eat the com- not unusual. worms and given the opportunity to breed post itself, though they may pick at various Red worms differ from typical gar- and expand before letting the chickens at vegetable scraps. What chickens love is the den worms by their preference for the the piles. insects and worms — the biota — attracted upper layer of topsoil and ground litter to the waste. This provides a high-protein (as opposed to burrowing deep). When Balance is Key snack as well as healthy habits such as hungry, they climb up rather than burrow Happy chickens need protection from scratching through the material. They also down, which is why they work so well in predators and weather, fresh water, proper reduce the compost pile by shredding and stackable compost systems where food is food, and a job. Their job is to obtain food, scratching it to bits, which in turn enhances added to the top. which they do by scratching. Give your how fast it breaks down, while saving you Enterprising chicken owners can take hens a job by providing them with com- the trouble of turning over the compost advantage of red worms’ prolific breeding post to scratch through. Not only will this pile. It’s a win-win scenario. to supplement their fowl. Keep in mind take care of your organic food waste, but chickens need a variety of different foods, it makes for fat, healthy, happy egg-laying Raising Worms not just red worms. It would take some- hens. Chickens with a job — who are It’s one thing to dump organic waste into thing like 100 worms (or more) per bird entertained — are less likely to engage in a pile to compost down, providing worms per day to keep them on a worm diet, so bad behaviors. and other biota as a sort of secondary cultivating enough worms to sustain this Chickens and compost: Truly a match benefit. It’s another thing to deliberately level of consumption would be difficult. made in heaven.

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April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 77 Zachariah’s Acres By Steph Merkle

ucked into the rural folds of southeastern Wisconsin, ing school groups of all ages. Most groups visit bi-monthly you’ll find an extraordinary place called Zachariah’s or monthly. The Service Without Boundaries folks are among TAcres (ZA). ZA connects children and young adults the regulars. Emily Enockson, Director of Community Impact, with special needs to nature and agriculture on its universally jokes: “They basically own the place.” designed 48-acre campus. The campus boasts rows of raised Guests like those from Service Without Boundaries help with bed gardens, orchards, apiaries, walking trails, greenhouses, the chickens, whether that’s filling waterers or feeders or collect- butterfly gardens, fishing ponds, and yes, chickens. ing eggs. The two full-time coops are wheelchair accessible, and ZA is home to 63 happy hens. These girls are downright eggs are easily collected from the back side of the coop. Each spoiled. That’s because they are cared for by dozens of volun- nesting box is accessible through a small external door. “We teers, three full-time staffers, and the hundreds of guests the build everything to the chair, whether that’s our chicken coops non-profit serves weekly. And you know what that means — or our raised beds or our paved greenhouse. We never want plenty of scratch grain treats and leftovers from the ZA gardens. any guest to be excluded from our activities,” says Enockson. The ZA layers give back in many ways. On the day Back- Once the outdoor chores are complete, the guests wash and yard Poultry visited the campus, ZA was hosting guests from package the bounty. The eggs are sold through ZA’s CSA at the Service Without Boundaries program of YMCA at Pabst $6/dozen. Extra eggs are sold locally at Stone Bank Market in Farms. Service Without Boundaries connects young adults Oconomowoc, near the campus. All egg sales go to funding the with disabilities to programs where they can access vocational non-profit’s programs and operations. In addition to fresh eggs, skill training. ZA hosts many groups during the week, includ- there are plenty of chicken cuddles for guests from the likes

78 Backyard Poultry of Clementine, Rosalita Jr., Esmeralda, The two full-time coops are wheelchair and Chick-a-dee — a few of the calmest hens. ZA raises Easter Eggers, Sex Links, accessible, and eggs are easily collected Australorps, Brown Leghorns, and ISO Reds, among other breeds. from the back side of the coop. Each So how does a non-profit go from zero nesting box is accessible through a to 60 when raising chickens? Two words: Chicken Math. In 2015, the first year small external door. of full operation, ZA ordered their first flock: 12 chicks. It seemed like a reasonable starting point. Through a clerical er- ror, they received 24 chicks instead — no turning back now! Even with a few early stumbles, the chicken operation runs smoothly now. They acquire new chicks each year — about 30 — to support their CSA egg share. When the pullets start laying, the third-year flock lives out the remainder of their days on a nearby in- dependent farm, happily free-ranging and continuing to lay fresh eggs. The expense of the operation is light- ened through a partnership with Nutrena. Nutrena provides the flocks with feed, scratch grains, and oyster shell supple- ments at no cost to ZA. Nutrena also covers the expense of the yearly chicks, which are supplied through Adentroth’s Hatchery in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Friends of Nature, a local pet food supplier, chips in bedding and egg cartons.

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 79 Connect with Zachariah’s Acres zachariahsacres.org

80 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 81 HAMBURG CHICKEN BREED An Elegant Layer with Multiple Origins PROFILE By Tamsin Cooper

Breed: Hamburg (or Hamburgh) groups birds known as Holland fowl in the Neth- erlands (not to be confused with the U.S. breed of the same name), with birds from northern England formerly known under several names. The group shares the same distinctive features.

Origin: The Penciled strain has been known in Holland since the fourteenth century, while the Spangled variety emerged from local breeds in northern England. Black varieties were derived from crosses with black fowl in Germany, and Spanish fowl in England.

History: The Dutch Penciled strain was exported to Britain in the 1700s under the name of Dutch Everyday Layers. In England they were called Creels, Chit- tiprats/Chitterpats (meaning diminutive hen) and Bolton Grays/Bays. In northern England, chickens known as Lancashire Silver Spangled hen. Photo credit: David Goehring/flickr CC BY 2.0. Mooneys and Yorkshire Pheasant fowl, bearing moon-like and crescent-shaped were recognized by the American Poultry Golden having a black tail, while the Silver spangles respectively, have been raised Association in 1847. However, it lost favor rooster’s face, neck, and tail are predomi- for at least 300 years. Black Pheasant fowl to other egg-laying breeds around 1890. nately white. Silver Penciled and Golden were recorded in 1702. Birds from both Penciled have fine black striping over their origins shared common characteristics. In Conservation Status: “At risk” in ground color, although roosters bear little the 1840s, British poultry experts grouped Netherlands and Germany, “Priority” on penciling and their tails are black, edged in them together under the name Hamburgh the UK’s RBST Watch List, and “Watch” the ground color. All black markings have for show purposes. The German name may on the Livestock Conservancy Priority a glossy green sheen. There is a Black vari- have been chosen due to a trend for the List. ety and a White variety, while other colors exotic and a similarity in coloring to other have been developed in the Netherlands. northern European breeds. The Redcap Biodiversity: Descended from two gene also derived from Pheasant fowl, as a larg- pools of unique foundation. Skin Color: White. er and highly productive bird. For a while, they became overly selected for their large Description: Medium-sized, with Comb: Rose. rose comb, to the detriment of their utility. delicate features, round white earlobes, The British also developed a White variety, bright red wattles and rose comb that Popular Use: Eggs. which remained unrecognized. Although a tapers backwards to a long straight spike, great layer, British breeders concentrated and clean, blue-gray legs. The rooster has Egg Color: White. on their exhibition role. a full sweeping tail and arched sickles. The Hamburg was imported into Amer- Egg Size: 1.7 oz.; Bantam 1 oz. ica before 1856, where hens were valued Varieties: Silver Spangled and Golden for their prolific egg-laying and the White Spangled have large round black spots on Productivity: 120-225 eggs per year variety was encouraged. All six varieties a silver or golden-brown ground color, the (varying by strain) over a longer than

82 Backyard Poultry Top Left: Silver Penciled Hamburg: painting by J. W. Ludlow, 1872., Top Right: Golden Penciled hen. Photo credit: David Goehring/flickr CC BY 2.0., Bottom Right: Silver Spangled rooster. Photo credit: Joe Mabel/ flickr CC BY-SA 2.0. average number of years. Penciled birds “In suitable circumstances they are also plan, roosting at night in sheds entirely mature from five months and Golden most profitable fowls, being quite small open, or even in trees, which hardens Spangles later. Hens rarely go broody. eaters, but most prolific layers, except them… Thus treated, when once past perhaps the Golden Spangled, which vary chickenhood they will be found hardy: the Weight: Rooster 5 lb.; hen 4 lb.; pen- much … These good qualities come out Penciled breeds being most delicate, and ciled varieties may be smaller; Bantam best upon a free range, where Hamburghs specially subject to roup if cooped up in rooster 1.6 lb.; hen 1.5 lb. will to a large extent keep themselves, small runs and houses for which they are foraging all over the ground early in the not adapted.” Lewis Wright, UK, 1912. Temperament: Very active and alert; morning for worms and insects, on which can be flighty, excitable, noisy, and feisty. they depend largely for their great pro- Sources: Wright, L. 1912. Book of Poul- ductiveness … try. Cassell; The Livestock Conservancy; Adaptability: Excellent foragers, they “When free range is thus at command, Dutch Poultry Club; Dutch Rare Breeds need very little additional feed when free these birds do best on the natural open-air Foundation; British Poultry Standards. range at pasture. They need plenty of space and do not tolerate confinement. They ex- cel at fleeing predators and are capable of If a hen could choose… Brinsea the world leading incubator manufacturer has a full line flying long distances. They prefer roosting of incubators, brooders, egg candlers, starter kits in trees and nesting in hedges. They thrive and much more! All with 3 year warranty. in any climate, being winter hardy, as the rose comb is resistant to freezing. The Hatching your own chicks is fun, easy and Penciled variety and young can be delicate, reliable with Brinsea although adults are quite robust.

Quotes: “We have, therefore, in Ham- burghs several real breeds and not mere Free Color varieties of fowls of long distinct breeding, For more information www.brinsea.com Catalog Incubation Specialists yet probably of some one more remote sin- or call 1-888-667-7009 gle origin, of which they still bear traces…

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 83 LIFESecret OF POULTRY TOPPER THE COMEBACK DUCK By Lacey Hughett

Left: Topper, the Pekin duckling with a twisted neck. Right: Topper with her custom cervical collar.

’ve always been one to root for an than-life duck that she presents as now. She was just a day-old Pekin duckling underdog (or underduck?), so when A few questions in with Lisa, I dis- with a poor outlook. The Tractor Supply ITopper of Topsy Turvy Duck came covered Topper was rejected by her store had Lisa listed as a contact for sit- across my social media feed, I contact- local Tractor Supply for having a severe uations like this and they knew Topper ed her owner Lisa Guckelberg to learn disability. It was to the point where Top- wouldn’t have a chance with an inexpe- more. My first exposure to Topsy was a per couldn’t eat, drink, or walk properly, rienced person. Luckily for the duckling, video of her getting into mischief with and her chances of living a normal life they gave Topper to Lisa in hopes that she a tough-looking dog, Buddy, who is an or surviving to adulthood were slim. could fix her twisted neck. unlikely companion of hers. The two Her neck was so twisted that it made a Lisa drew on all her past farming wis- were following Lisa around while she complete circle and Topper’s head rested dom to begin treating Topper. She brought did chores, and Topper was sassy and under her breast. “She was very active and Topper inside her home and made her a talkative. Somehow, it’s always the sassy vigorous; she just could not untwist her cervical collar out of an old sock to start ones who win me over. neck,” Lisa reminisced. gently and gradually straitening her neck. While I originally sought to learn more In July of 2019, the employees at that After a week of therapy with the cervical about this unusual friendship, Topper’s Tractor Supply called Lisa to come to collar, Topper’s neck began to straighten backstory drew me in. pick up Topper. At the time no one real- out to a more natural position. It was Topper wasn’t always the sassy, larger- ized how special Topper would become. a reassuring step in the right direction,

84 Backyard Poultry but that was only the beginning of their a lot of places that struggles. welcome ducks,” At a week, Lisa was able to reduce the Lisa told me. Short- time that Topper had to wear her cervical ly after the first vis- collar. By ten days old, Topper began it, Topper began looking great and was able to see the making weekly vis- world right-side-up. its to that Tractor Soon after their first success, however, Supply and even Topper began having balance problems. went along with She would throw her head behind herself Lisa to help teach a over her back, a move commonly known poultry class at the Topper and Buddy. as stargazing, and end up flipping over Indiana Agricultural backward and unable to right herself. and Technology School. Topper. It is, without a doubt, one of the It was happening so often that she was To be more “official” at Tractor Supply, cutest things in the poultry world current- losing the duckling fluff off her back and Lisa made a custom employee vest for ly. As for future plans, Lisa is searching Lisa began to have anxiety about leaving Topper, fearing that she would flip over while she was alone and get injured. “I worried that she had flipped and was stuck,” she said. As time passed and Lisa worked to strengthen Topper’s neck muscles, Topper began to recognize when an episode was going to happen and fall in a way where she could right herself without assistance. Topper was a fighter though her younger days, and despite her health problems, she continued gradually getting better. Lisa bought some companion ducklings to stay with Topper as she healed. Buddy, Lisa’s dog, showed concern for the little duckling and was attentive to her needs from the first day Topper came to them. Lisa began posting about Topper’s journey on social media. Topper soon had a huge support system of dogs, ducks, and people watching her and rooting for her health. When Topper reached eight weeks old, Lisa decided to take her for a visit to the Tractor Supply store from which she came. The employees and the customers alike delighted in the visit. Topper was personable and friendly, and completely different from the little twisted-up duckling that she started as. Everyone at the store was surprised to see how far she’d come under Lisa’s care and was eager to see how she continued to flourish. Topper did wonderful on her first trip out and seemed to genuinely enjoy meeting people. She also took a liking to ride in Lisa’s Jeep and watching the world from the passenger seat. “There are not

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 85 the rules, Topper and Buddy still follow Lisa into the horse barn while she cares for the horses. Today, Topper is perfectly healthy. She no longer has significant balancing problems and her neck is straightened out. Lisa’s engineered sock cervical collar worked to fix Topper up and allow her to live a normal life both on the farm and while visiting her admirers. She hangs out Left: Topper in her Tractor Supply vest. Right: Topper with her duckling friends. with her duck friends and Buddy when she’s not causing mischief or trying to for ways to branch out and share a little said. “She is very gregarious and does go on car rides. bit of Topper’s magic with the world. She not know a stranger. Very trusting and And how did Topper get her unique wants to have Topper make the transition affectionate ... and Miss Sassy Pants name? Lisa wanted to give a nod to to a therapy animal and visit hospitals and 24/7.” Perhaps one day Topper will have Topper’s struggles and journey. “It just nursing homes with her to share the joy the opportunity to be a therapy duck, but came to me as I was trying to think of a Topper brings to people. for now, her visits are limited to Tractor way to name her that also indicated her It soon became clear that Topper was Supply and colleges. handicap.” She told me. It began as Topsy something special. Something about her On the farm, Topper gets along with Turvy, but later got shortened to Topper. character or the amount of love and time all manner of animals. Lisa has chickens, To follow Topper’s journey, follow she was given as a duckling in Lisa’s guineas, turkeys, and cats that Topper her on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok care developed into a personable, sweet, interacts with happily with ease. Lisa at Topsyturvyduck, or check Lisa’s farm friendly duck. also has horses, but Topper isn’t allowed page on Facebook or YouTube, Finding “Her personality is amazing,” Lisa in with them for safety reasons. Despite Joy on a Small Farm.

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Backyard Poultry Breeders Directory Have birds for sale? Advertise in the Backyard Poultry Breeders Directory for less than $4.50 a month. Your ad will be seen by more than 100,000 poultry enthusiasts. Call 715-748-1389 to get your advertisement in!

Bobwhite Quail Eggs, 50/$25. Chukar Partridge Eggs, Georgia Associations 50/$20. Postpaid. BOB’S BIDDIES HATCHERY, LLC, Bob & Diane Berry, 2155 Weaver Dr., Ray City, AMERAUCANA ALLIANCE: Membership includes GA 31645. 229-455-6437 or 229-375-1991. Ameraucana Newsletters, registration on the Amer- Jersey Giants aucana Forum, a listing in the Ameraucana Directory Family Owned hatchery specializing in early layers: and eligibility for club awards & exhibitor points. First Indiana Amberlink, Bovans brown or black, mature in 4-4 time members receive an Ameraucana Handbook. MARIA’S JERSEY GIANTS, Since 1977. “Quality” 1/2 months, 300+ dark brown eggs per year, climate Dues are $10/year, $25 for 3 years (Newsletters Blue, Black, Splash Jersey Giant eggs, chicks, started adaptable and does great on pasture. Our pasture Emailed) or $15 (Newsletters mailed). Ameraucana. birds, & adults www.mariasjerseygiants.com Cell: broiler is available all year. It’s a fast grower 6-8 org Steve Neumann, 3000 Wedgewood Dr #2351, (502) 548-1075 (texting). weeks with minimum feed requirements. NPIP certi- Pueblo, CO 81004. fied day old chicks hatched per order. Shipping or WISCONSIN BIRD AND GAME BREEDERS, Jim Large Fowl pick-up is available. Bleuer, President, 1756 E. Scott St., Omro, WI 54963. Illinois 920-379-6188. Annual Fall Show & Swap and Spring Swap at Fond du lac County Fair- Tennessee CHICKEN SCRATCH POULTRY, Larry & Angela grounds Expo Center. Spring Sale: March 20, 2020 CHICK-N-STUFF FARM - Crump, TN. (mail: POB McEwen, 14025 Cty Rd 975 E, McLeansboro, IL Fall=Sat., October 31, 2020. 87, Adamsville, TN 38310). 901-490-0022 or 731- 62859. 618-643-5602. Coronation Sussex, Light Sussex, Lavender & Exchequer Leghorn, EE & Pak Lay Hmong. Also Orpington, Chocolate Orpington, Jubilee Orpington, Ameraucana heritage Narragansett turkey. NPIP/APA/ALFA. Expe- Black Orpington, Black Copper Marans, Blue Copper rienced egg/chick/bird shipper. See us on Facebook. Marans, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Crested Cream Legbar, Welsummers, Blue Ameraucana, Black Am- Michigan eraucana, Rumpless Araucana, Olive Egger, Ayam FOWL STUFF, John W Blehm, 4599 Lange Rd, Birch Pigeons Cemani, Maline. Run, Michigan. Bantam Ameraucana chickens: buff, lavender, black & wheaten. Large fowl Ameraucana Pennsylvania Iowa chickens black. FowlStuff.com. LIVE BIRD SHIPPING BOXES USPS APPROVED. COUNTY LINE HATCHERY, 2977 Linn Bu- www.BoxesForBirds.com, sales@boxesforbirds. chanan Rd., Coggon, IA 52218. 319-350-9130. com, ph 501-329-2377. Also Rare Colored Pigeons. Rare and fancy pea- Cream Legbars fowl, guineas, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, ban- tams and more. Featuring Showgirls & Silkies. Most Wisconsin Swans economical and diverse poultry assortment available. WICK PLACE FARM, 1907 43rd ST., Calendonia, Maryland WI 53108. 414-708-4057. Indiana Cream Legbars, Black RANDORIACRES, Randy Groen, 12705 White Oak Copper Marans, Olive Eggers, Orpingtons. NPIP Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 46303. 219-677-7803. Swans - Mutes, Blacks, Whoopers, Trumpeters. Deer Run Farm Freedom Ranger Heritage Chicken Hatchery Various Pennsylvania Emmitsburg, MD FREEDOM RANGER HATCHERY, INC, 187 N. Windy Alabama Mansion Rd., Reinholds, PA 17569. 717-336-4878, VALLEY FARMS HATCHERY, Ryan Kelsey, A quality source for Ameraucana, Fax:717-336-3711. Black & 314-2282. Red Freedom Ranger chickens and gray Kosher King Chickens, Ban- Welsummer chicks. broiler chicks. Non-GMO option. tams, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys, Guineas, and More!. Hatching all breeds weekly. NPIP Certified. Hatching/ Game Birds Shipping weekly. Fertilized Eggs Colorado Day Old Chicks Arkansas Waltz’s Ark Ranch http://www.naturalark.com/poultry. LINEBARGER FARMS, Eddie Linebarger, PO html. Rare and heritage poultry, NPIP & AI clean. Started Pullets Box 35, Scotland, AR 72141. 501-592-3317. Several Sussex varieties, Black & Blue Quail: Tennessee Copper Marans, Swedish Flower Hen, Svart Red, Valley, Mountain, Gambel, and Blue Scale. Hona, Sultan, Buttercup, Augsberger, Isbar, Breda 717-357-4521 Hatching eggs available in season. Fowl, Ixworth, & more for 2020. All raised non-GMO/ Organic. DeerRunFarmMD.com Indiana WOODSIDE AVIARY, James Kotterman, Peru, In- Florida diana. 765-985-2805. PHEASANT ENTHUSIASTS GREENFIRE FARMS, www.greenfirefarms.com. check this out! Displaying full color the Golden Ultra-rare imported breeds: Ayam Cemani, Missouri Pheasant, Ghigi Golden, Peach Golden, Lady Am- Cream Legbar, Swedish Flower Hens, Biele- CACKLE HATCHERY®, PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO herst, Silvers, Swinhoe, Elliots and Blue Eared. NO felder, Marans, Isbar, Barbezieux, Bresse, 65536. 417-532-4581. 84 years about the birds! Barnevelder, Merlerault, Niederrheiner, Marsh of hatching and shipping baby chicks. Over 200 Daisy, Altsteirer, East Frisian Gull, Lyonaisse, varieties. 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Backyard Poultry Breeders Directory

3 Chicks, Heritage chicken breeds, Ducks, Guinea and shipping. Free catalog now, 800-424-7755. metzerfarms.com> Ducklings: Pekin, Rouen, Khaki ciled Runners, White, Grey, Snowy, Black, Penciled, Campbell, Golden 300 Egg Layer, White Layer, Blue Blue Bibbed & Pastel Call ducklings. Free brochure. Wisconsin Swedish, Buff, Cayuga, Mallard, Welsh Harlequin, SUNNYSIDE HATCHERY, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. White Crested & Runners (Black, Chocolate, Blue, Wisconsin 920-887-2122. Shipping to North Central U.S. only. Fawn & White) Saxony: Silver, Appleyard, Goslings: BASIL’S DUCKS, Todd Prutz, 4751 Coolidge Ave., Jumbo broilers, Leghorns, Blacks, Browns, Reds, Embden, White Chinese, Brown Chinese, Toulouse, Plover, WI 54467. 715-295-4048. Wood Duck, Mandarin, Rhode Island Reds, Turkeys & Ducklings. Buff, Sebastopol, Pilgrim, Roman Tufted. Ringneck Green Wing Teal, Blue Wing Teal, Falcated Teal, pheasants, French Pearl guineas. Cinnamon Teal, Baikal Teal, Garganey Teal, Pintail, RedHead, White Redhead, Silver Redhead, Gold- Minnesota eneyes, Hooded Merganser, Ring Teal, Mallards, Waterfowl JOHNSON’S WATERFOWL, 36882 160th Ave. NE, Smews, Tufted, Greater Scaup, Ring Neck, Ruddy, Middle River, MN 56737. 218-222-3556. Buff or White African geese. Geese, Emperor Geese. METZER FARMS, 26000K Old Stage Rd., Gonza- Rouen, Silver Appleyard, Pekin, White or Black les, CA 93926. Year-round hatching. Nationwide Crested, Saxony, Black or Blue Magpies, Penciled,

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Volume 15, Number 1 Backyard February/March 2020 Poultry America's Favorite Poultry Magazine America’s

ALL ABOUT HATCHING Breeders & Classifieds Advertising: EGGS Favorite 5 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE June/July 2020 Deadline: GETTING GEESE THE Poultry PSYCHOLOGY April 13, 2020 OF IMPRINTING Plus: Magazine BRESSE- GAULOISE Mail: BYP Breeders/Classifieds, BREED PROFILE P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451 E-mail: [email protected] backyardpoultry. Call: 715-748-1389 iamcountryside.com

April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 95 just for fun

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96 Backyard Poultry just for fun

Show us your art skills by coloring these chicks. 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.

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

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1. By Jackie Price, age 65, North Carolina | 2. By Lily Angst, age 9, Missouri 3. By Brooke Hamilton, age 10 | 4. By Cindy Hipke, age 61, Nevada 5. By Di Di Bailey, age 8 | 6. By Rose Burcusa, age 7 7. By Sabrinnah Dube, Maine | 8. By Bonnie Dreos, age 77, Michigan 9. By Ryan Tait, age 6, Alabama

98 Backyard Poultry April/May 2020 backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com 99 100 Backyard Poultry