Male and female turkeys are sold straight run, meaning the males and females are all together in the “as hatched” ratio. As they grow, turkeys have the same markings in both sexes, unlike other poultry where the older males seem to have a more bold color pattern. Since turkeys look very similar, no matter the…
If noisy birds are an issue where you live, but you still want to have backyard poultry, choosing birds that are more likely to be on the quieter side of things is a wise move. You’ve looked around and decided to consider chickens and turkeys. Which bird makes more noise, turkeys or chickens? Generally speaking,…
Duck is becoming more popular as a meat and as a bird to raise in backyards everywhere. Since ducks are starting to become more common, it makes you wonder, why is duck meat expensive? Duck meat costs more (per pound) because the inputs required to raise the duck cost more (per duck) than they do…
For an electric fence to work well, it has to have plenty of power. A well powered fence will make sure your animals stay in and predators stay out. One of the main challenges of electric fence is that the grass your animals are eating is also the grass that can potentially cause problems with…
When you want a goat for milk and you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and really start looking, you have to wonder about the breed of doe you really need. All goats produce milk after giving birth, why get a specific breed of goat? Is the fuss over “dairy goat breeds” really something that…
Considering getting a few geese? What will they need from you and are they hard to raise? Geese are hardy and easy to raise. Goslings require care until they are fully feathered. Once mature, geese only need grass, water and shelter. We have a flock of geese that roam about the farm. They come and…
Healthy ducklings are going to be fast growers! Giving them the right amount of feed will have a huge impact on how they are able to grow and thrive. How much feed do ducklings need to grow their best? Ducklings need .5 pounds of feed per week per duckling when they are one week old….
You’ve probably heard about using a creep feeder for your sheep, specifically your lambs. What is a creep feeder and why would you want to use one? A creep feeder is a lambs only area with free choice, high energy feed, usually a grain mix and a very palatable hay, that are fed to help…
Ducklings seem to guzzle water, they are water using experts! How much of that water do they need in order to digest their food and grow their best? Ducklings need .5 gallons of water per week per duckling when they are 1 week old. Water needs increase as the ducklings grow, going up to 2.75…
We want our ducks to be happy and get plenty of exercise, all year. It’s easy to feel confident about letting your ducks zoom around your yard in the summer. What about when the weather isn’t so great? Can ducks be outside in the winter, too? Adult ducks are fine in the cold, as long…