Loving Our Chickens to Death: The Obesity Problem No One Talks About! Obesity in Backyard Chickens, Why it Isn't Always Visible In our previous blog, we discussed why chickens don't need to free-range to live healthy, fulfilling lives. For many backyard chicken keepers, however, knowing that their chickens can't roam freely can sometimes lead to another concern: "If they can't free-range, should I be giving them more treats and different foods to make up for it?" It's an unde

A Follow-Up to Last Week's Blog Last week, I published “Chicken Medications: The Product Matters,” where I discussed the importance of understanding medication being given to your chickens, including the importance of egg withdrawal periods. After writing that blog, I realized that not everyone may know exactly what an egg withdrawal period means or why it matters. This week's blog is a continuation of that topic, taking a closer look at why egg withdrawal matters and what th

Understanding the difference between a poultry-labelled product, an active ingredient, and extra-label use When you're caring for a backyard flock, you may come across recommendations for different medications to treat parasites, respiratory problems and other health concerns. You may hear about a medication that has been successfully used in poultry, or learn about a product that contains an active ingredient commonly used to treat chickens. But before using any medication,

Fenbendazole has become one of the biggest names in the backyard chicken community when people talk about deworming. But how much do we actually know about this product? Spend enough time in chicken groups and you will eventually see comments such as: "Use fenbendazole. It is broad spectrum." "Fenbendazole treats all the common chicken worms." "You should use fenbendazole instead of piperazine because it covers so much more." Because of its popularity, I have seriously consid

Fowl pox is a viral disease that can be alarming to see in a backyard flock, particularly when the first signs appear as dark, crusty or wart-like lesions on a chicken's comb or face. The good news is that most cases of dry fowl pox are self-limiting, meaning affected chickens can recover without specific antiviral treatment. However, fowl pox can become more serious when lesions develop inside the mouth or throat, and an outbreak can spread through a flock. Understanding wha

When you hear a chicken sneeze, wheeze, cough, or breathe with its beak open, it's natural to worry. Respiratory problems are among the most common health concerns seen in backyard flocks, but they're also some of the most misunderstood. Many chicken keepers immediately assume they need antibiotics. Others blame cold weather, damp weather, or even keeping a waterer inside the coop. The truth is, respiratory disease is much more complex than that. Understanding a few key facts

If you've spent any time in backyard chicken groups on social media, you've probably seen ivermectin recommended as a quick fix for mites, lice, or worms. Comments like "I've used it for years with no problems" or "Just throw away the eggs for two weeks and you'll be fine" are common. Unfortunately, these statements are often repeated without scientific evidence to support them. So, is ivermectin an effective parasite treatment? In many cases, yes. But is it the best choice f

What First Saturday Lime Is Actually Designed For First Saturday Lime is a form of calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime). In commercial poultry and livestock industries, it is used primarily for: Odor control Moisture absorption pH manipulation Managing decomposing organic matter, including dead animals In large commercial barns, it is not uncommon for chickens to die and remain on the floor until routine removal. These environments involve: Extremely high stocking densities Larg

If you've noticed your chicken has a swollen crop that feels soft or squishy, or you've detected a foul smell coming from her beak, she may be experiencing sour crop. Sour crop is a condition that occurs when food and liquid remain in the crop for too long, allowing yeast and other microorganisms to multiply and cause fermentation. It is not a disease itself but rather a sign that the crop is not emptying normally. Early recognition and appropriate care can make a significant

If you've ever picked up one of your chickens first thing in the morning and noticed her crop still feels large, hard, or full, she may be dealing with an impacted crop. An impacted crop is a common condition in backyard flocks, but it is often misunderstood. While many cases can be managed if caught early, delaying treatment can lead to serious complications, including starvation, dehydration, or secondary infections. What Is the Crop? The crop is a pouch located at the base

The Mite Myth: Why Chickens Are Really Losing Their Feathers Introduction Scroll through social media and you’ll quickly find countless posts of bald or patchy chickens, often paired with confident advice pointing to mites—especially “depluming mites”—as the cause. This explanation gets repeated so often that it’s become the default assumption. But in most cases, that simply isn’t what’s going on. With ongoing conversations I have daily about poultry health and nutrition, one

Spring is when chickens naturally become more active with breeding behaviors. As daylight hours increase, roosters begin mating more frequently, and this is often when hens start showing signs of feather wear across their backs and wings. If you keep roosters with your hens, you may notice some of your girls looking a little ruffled. Missing feathers, irritated skin or even small wounds are common signs that your hens are being over-mated. The good news? There's an easy way t

Understanding One of a Chicken’s Most Natural Behaviors Few sights are more entertaining to a chicken keeper than watching a hen suddenly collapse into a shallow hole in the dirt, flap wildly, toss soil over herself, and lie there looking completely content. To someone unfamiliar with chickens, it can look alarming. But in reality, you are witnessing one of the most instinctive and important behaviors in a chicken’s life: dust bathing. Dust bathing is often misunderstood onli

When people think about free ranging chickens, the first image that often comes to mind is hens happily scratching through grass, hunting for bugs, and supplementing their diet naturally. While that does happen, it’s not the main reason people often discuss the advantages of free ranging chickens. While many assume nutrition is the main advantage, the biggest benefit is actually exercise and movement, not food. Advantages of Free Ranging Chickens: More Than Just Foraging Chic

Internal parasites, especially roundworms, can silently affect the health and productivity of backyard flocks. In Canada, deworming backyard chickens, options for egg-safe, over-the-counter dewormers are limited, so it’s critical to use them strategically and responsibly. For most small backyard flocks, Piperazine, available here at the Ranch, is a safe and effective option. This guide will help you understand when, why, and how to deworm, with practical tips, dosing guidance

Dirty vent feathers are one of the most frequent questions in backyard poultry groups. Soiled feathers around the vent often signal that something in the flock’s diet or management needs adjusting. In most cases, the issue stems from excess treats, low-digestibility grains, or digestive upset. Parasites or cloacitis (vent gleet in backyard chickens) may contribute in some situations, but they are far less common than simple nutrition-related causes. Before jumping to medicati

Not all parasite treatments work the same way — and not all are safe for laying hens producing eggs for people. Understanding the differences is key to keeping your flock healthy and your eggs safe. Safe parasite control in laying hens requires understanding not just what works, but what is appropriate for food-producing birds and the eggs they produce. When you keep laying hens, you are managing food-producing animals. That makes treatment decisions different from pet birds

If you've ever noticed one of your hens walking with a swollen abdomen or appearing uncomfortable, you may have come across what many backyard chicken keepers refer to as "water belly." The proper term for this condition is ascites, and while it can look alarming, it's important to understand that this is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying issue. What is Water belly? Water belly in laying hens is characterized by the buildup of fluid in the abdomin

When buying chicks, you’ll often see “vaccinated for Marek’s” or “MG-clean / MG-vaccinated” listed as major selling points. While vaccinations absolutely have value, they are often misunderstood. Vaccines are tools for risk reduction, not magic shields—and they do not replace good management, biosecurity, or genetics. This article explains what Marek’s disease and MG actually are, how the vaccines work, why vaccination alone is not the end-all, be-all solution, and our approa

Raising backyard chickens is incredibly rewarding, but few things are more alarming than looking into the coop and discovering that part of a hen's reproductive tissue is protruding from her vent. A prolapsed vent can look frightening, especially if you have never seen one before. It can also become a serious emergency because exposed tissue is vulnerable to drying, swelling, injury, bleeding, infection, and pecking from other hens. The good news is that understanding what a