'plants & poultry'
The origins and early evolution of the domestic chicken Ever since I first got involved with chickens I’ve been fascinated by them, not just the chicken we see today, but also how we got to the chicken we see today. I knew from my own relatively short history on planet earth that chicken breeds and the concept of ‘chicken’ to the …
Continue reading "Before the Backyard – a concise history of the chicken part 1"
An interesting read from the Smithsonian via Chicken bones may be the legacy of our time
DEFRA Press Release 25/7/18 Cases of Newcastle Disease reported in smallholder flocks and commercial poultry sites in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg Poultry keepers across the United Kingdom have been urged to be vigilant of Newcastle Disease following reported cases in flocks across Europe. Recent cases in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg have led to Animal and Plant Health …
Continue reading "Poultry keepers urged to be vigilant of Newcastle Disease"
Curiosity killed the cat according to the saying, however curiosity is but an appetite for knowledge, and this led me to purchase a trail camera..... at least that's my excuse. I know that foxes visit the chicken pens, in fact if you follow this blog you will have read about various trials and tribulations I've …
Continue reading "Vixen drops by to check I’ve locked up – Trail Camera"
Like most livestock or pure breeds of animal, they are frequent sold according to a level of criteria they meet, and in this respect chickens are no different. Show Quality Stock By definition, an example of a breed that is deemed as being of show or exhibition quality is a bird that exhibits all …
“‘Now that the growing season has started are there any ornamental plants I can grow that my chickens can benefit from?” There are a number of garden ornamentals that make great grain and seed providers for your flock come the autumn, but put on a stunning display during the main of the growing season. Sunflowers …
Following a recent exchange on Twitter this still seems very current, with the ignorance (and in some respects, arrogance) of so-called experienced poultry keepers not quite getting the concept of livestock, and what you put in, will invariably come out.
Smack your chick up?
I’m quite vocal at times about the contrast between commercial poultry rearing and small scale or backyard keeping. I can be quite damning about some the legislation because I’m a great believer that in a large majority of cases one size doesn’t fit all. In fact the concept of one size fitting all seems to stem from the issue that pragmatism and scalability get side-lined. This is either because they are too expensive or are only relevant to ‘the little people’ who, by definition, are irrelevant in the grand scheme of the poultry world!
It follows on then that given my documented opinions I am sometimes challenged by people as to whether my attitude stems from a belief that small scale poultry keepers know better than the big boys and the authorities, or whether I’m just an outspoken idiot. I guess when I put these commentaries…
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