Although goats all have the same basic needs, details vary due to age, sex, breed and individual requirements. Nutritional, activity and comfort needs are among them writes Tamsin Cooper. Pop quiz: Do goats have top teeth? Pick the right answer. Yes, they have top teeth in front and back No, goats only have lower teeth, the incisors Both, goats have bottom and top … [Read more...]
Search Results for: backyard
Nubian goats, America’s favorite dairy breed (includes video)
Small ruminants are gaining in popularity with commercial producers and hobbyists. Goats are favorites for 4-H projects, as well. Nubian goat milk is especially suited to cheese production. Nubians are also considered a good meat goat. Tamsin Cooper shares the history and profiles today’s Nubian dual-purpose goats. Source: Backyard Goats, April 4, 2020. Link. Most Nubians … [Read more...]
Rabies vaccinations essential! Lyme, Lepto, FELV situational.
Michael J. Watts, DVM speaks to vaccinations and their essential status during the pandemic. His comments about rabies vaccines are spot on. Backyard pets frequently encounter wildlife, so leptospirosis, Lyme and feline leukemia vaccines may be essential for some pets. Kennel cough vaccines are important to keep current for pets being boarded. Source: Culpeper Star-Exponent, … [Read more...]
Electric fencing benefits goat keeping
Along with baby chicks and rabbits, some farm stores offer goats during Easter. Traditional fencing has its challenges. Electric netting fencing is a good option for keeping goats in and predators out. Source: Backyard Goats, August 23, 2019. Link. Potential owners often ask about goat fencing. Goats can be impressive escape artists. Give a goat a mountain and it will most … [Read more...]
Ferrets, cats, some dogs susceptible to COVID-19 infections
Scott Weese, DVM, shares important information about ferrets and SARS-CoV-2 from a recent study. They can get sick and become fomites. He also summarizes a new study that looked at susceptibility of a wider range of animals including dogs, cats, ferrets as well as pigs, chickens and ducks. Ferrets and cats remain our main focus, both in terms of keeping infected people away … [Read more...]
Breeders: the good, bad and ugly
Halli Selert breaks down dog breeders into four categories and discusses how to choose one. The explanation of each breeder category may help a prospective pet owner with choices. Source: Lowcounty Dog Magazine, February 2020, page 16. Link. Breeders can be broken down into four different categories: Hobby breeders Preservation, heritage and show breeders Backyard … [Read more...]
CDC to retail industry: dust off preparedness plans NOW
Whether it is COVID-19 or something else, proactive preparedness is important for businesses and communities. CDC recently highlighted four key preparedness areas for businesses and employers to consider during a conference call convened by the National Retail Federation: Continuity Protecting the workforce Customers Community Source: National Retail … [Read more...]
Tiny tapeworm mimics symptoms of liver cancer
Echinococcus multilocularis is well established in wild canids in southern Ontario. Researchers indicate the tapeworm is migrating, could enter the northern U.S. and is considered a zoonotic public health risk. Adult E. multilocularis infect wild carnivores, including foxes, wolves and coyotes, but may also affect dogs and cats. Rodents such as lemmings, voles, and deer mice … [Read more...]
The Easter bunny has company
Farm stores are preparing for the classic Easter chicks and rabbits. Now, some sell miniature goats. Angela von Weber-Hahnsberg discusses goat farming with pygmy goats and other miniature goat breeds. The small size and unique traits of miniature goats attract children, newcomers to the world of goats, and veteran goat breeders alike. Miniature goats of all kinds are … [Read more...]
The emotional gauntlet of raising meat chickens and other livestock
One person’s chicken is another person’s dinner. It is an age-old challenge for animal owners who work hard at having healthy food animals. Consumers avoid visualizing a living, breathing animal as the source of the neat, plastic-wrapped package sliding over a scanner at the grocery. Marissa Ames provides thought-filled perspectives on raising animals for meat protein. She … [Read more...]
Chickens in a minute (video)
Sponsored content from Nutrena With Easter around the corner and farm stores getting ready for new chicks, basic chicken care questions are eminent. Consider this video for social media posts, websites and newsletters. Source: Backyard Poultry, March 2019. Link. Chickens are hardy creatures that are lower maintenance than many house pets, but they do need some basic care … [Read more...]
Fire ants getting busy, especially after heavy rains
Sponsored by Neudorff USA Already fired up by warmer weather, red imported fire ants will become even more active and dangerous after recent heavy rains in southern states. Livestock, poultry and pet owners are advised to watch for the telltale mounds the pests build. Newborn calves and foals are especially at risk in … [Read more...]
Hatching calculator determines incubation period
As more poultry moves back into neighborhood backyards, some hobbyists are interested in using incubators to hatch eggs. This handy calculator determines the incubation period for chicken, duck, goose, turkey, quail, peafowl, guinea fowl, pheasant and emu eggs. Source: Backyard Poultry, February 3, 2020. Link. The article also has links to several how-to … [Read more...]
Egg in an egg, a double egg phenomena (video)
Animals do the darndest things. While rare, it is well-known that a hen will occasionally lay an egg inside of an egg. Called a counter-peristalsis contraction, a double egg occurs while the hen is in the process of forming an egg in her oviduct. Source: Backyard Poultry, January 7, 2020. Link. A tiny, fully formed egg was found inside of a regular-sized egg in Britain. This … [Read more...]
How to get National Poultry Improvement Plan certified
NPIP certification is the next logical step for serious show bird breeders and small egg-producing flocks alike. Beyond consumer confidence in eggs they purchase, there are other benefits to poultry producers. NPIP certification provides some interstate transfer benefits, requires good biosecurity records and annual testing. Source: Backyard Poultry, December 10, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Winter goat care
Temperature can be the least of challenges when determining how to keep goats warm in cold weather, writes Karen Kopf. She discusses the components of cold climate herdsmanship. Source: Backyard Goats, December 18, 2019. Link. Acclimation, nutrition, and habitation along with breed selection are all part of preparing to keep goats warm in cold weather. Also see: Search … [Read more...]
Chickens don’t like snow, but sweaters aren’t needed
Chickens hate snow, says Marissa Ames. However, they possess an amazing tolerance for cold. She shares winter preparation considerations to help chickens fare well without much squawking. Draft-free coop Good air circulation Warm bedding Fresh water Dry food and grains Something to do Source: Backyard Poultry, November 19, 2019. Link. People have kept … [Read more...]
WARNING! Choose rodent poisons wisely
Rodents flock to buildings this time of year. Laura Haggarty shares her experiences with rodents, bait and pets. She shares a warning about Bromethalin, second generation rodenticides, that have NO ANTIDOTE. We added information from the EPA to support her article. Second generation anticoagulants tend to remain in animal tissues longer than do first-generation ones. These … [Read more...]
Opinion – Contributing factors to indoor air quality
Confining animals to a barn, limited area or coop creates air-quality challenges for the animals and the people who care for them. The discussion of occupational exposures limits for humans versus animals is valid and applicable to most of these settings. This review summarizes the impact of air quality on swine production and discusses the main factors related to air … [Read more...]
Opinion – Feral chicken populations growing
Domestic animals reproducing in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication, defines “feral.” When horses, pigs, cats, parrots and now chickens go wild, problems are not far behind. People in California, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Hawaii and some island countries are developing a love/hate relationship with the free-ranging birds. As bird … [Read more...]
Know the risks of mixing chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats
Animals have been kept in mixed flocks for centuries. Being aware of inherent risks or problems in mixed-animal operations is the best way to avoid problems before they occur. It is also the best way to fix problems if they happen. Source: Backyard Poultry, September 16, 2019. Link. Parasites and bacteria are easily transferred between barnyard species. Contaminated … [Read more...]
Goats can’t safely eat everything
You may think goats can eat nearly everything. Katherine Drovdahl, MA, CA, CR, CEIT, DipHlr, QTP, tells us differently. Knowing what to feed goats involves education. Even good plants can develop into a dangerous toxic condition called enterotoxemia if goats overeat on any plant they are not used to. She shares a few common toxic plants and suggests consulting a local … [Read more...]
Opinion – Fair Oaks issues affect all animal health pros
Dairies, kennels, catteries, swine operations, racetracks, feedyards, even backyard poultry coops, no matter how well-run, took an animal welfare hit when video footage of abuse at Fair Oaks Farms became public. Purdue University’s Candace Croney, PhD, is correct when she said, “. . . events like this can happen anywhere. What is most important is the response to them.” She … [Read more...]
Animal hoarding caused by multiple issues
Kirk Miller, DVM, helps us understand the issues around hoarding beyond those of the long-established crazy cat lady. He says what classifies a person as a hoarder isn’t a particular number of animals, rather it’s whether or not those animals are provided with sufficient care. Miller explains three types of hoarders and potential intervention approaches. The overwhelmed … [Read more...]
Opinion – virulent Newcastle disease in CA; lessons in contagious containment
An estimated 100,000 backyard chicken locations are at risk as Newcastle disease spreads in California. Efforts to educate owners have mostly failed. This has created the need to euthanize all chickens in entire neighborhoods to stop the spread of the disease. All of L.A. County and parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties have been under quarantine for months . . . To … [Read more...]
Understanding those chatty chickens
Chickens are extremely chatty. Most chicken owners will be able to identify certain calls, however the motivations behind some chicken noises is less clear. Tamsin Cooper helps decipher intention and emotion in chicken language. Source: Backyard Poultry, June 3, 2019. Link. Chickens are highly social beings. They rely on body language and vocal calls to communicate … [Read more...]
Trim chicken beaks, claws and spurs
Chickens’ spurs, toenails and beaks are made of keratin continually grow says Gail Damerow. Like dogs, chickens naturally wear down toenails and beaks unless their environment reduces the scratching and surface contact needed. Then its time to trim. The diagrams provided will be familiar to animal health pros, they simply feature chickens instead of dogs or cats. Source: … [Read more...]
Research reveals complex chicken intelligence and emotion
Tamsin Cooper’s article on poultry cognition reveals evidence about smart chickens. Neurologist Lori Marino is aware of how complex and intelligent chickens are. She collated evidence of their mental and emotional capacities to raise awareness of their need for good welfare as individual sentient beings. People who are not familiar with chickens are often amazed at how smart … [Read more...]
Understanding sexlink hybrid chickens
Don Schrider delves into chicken breeds, crossbreeding and explains how sexlink chickens produce dependable gender offspring for retail locations to sell. He includes a good history of breeds and crossbreds to expand your chicken knowledge if you are unfamiliar with commercial or backyard chicken production. His information is useful for veterinary teams and retailers … [Read more...]
Coyotes going metro
The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of nature’s most adaptable wild animals. More and more cities are being invaded by these daring and crafty canids. As omnivores, coyotes enjoy a veritable smorgasbord in suburban areas. A study by the Urban Coyote Research Program analyzed over 1,400 scat samples from urban coyotes and discovered the most common food items were small … [Read more...]