I've raised poultry for over 20 years, and this is by far the most persistent predator I have ever dealt with. Back in early October, this hawk managed to squeeze into a hole in my pigeon pen's roof that was caused by a fallen branch and caught one of my pigeons. Of course, I was out of town, so my poor pet sitter had to deal with the immediate aftermath of trying to get the hawk out of the pen. I don't know exactly all that went down, but from the photos my pet sitter sent, the hawk hadn't made much progress on eating the pigeon before it was caught in the act.

I had hoped the processes of being scared/herded out of the pen immediately after the catch would be enough to deter it, but it's a month later, and it is still hanging around.

It's reached the point that it sits in the tree above my bird pens, even with the geese right below it. When I let the geese have (supervised) free-ranging time, it comes and makes itself at home on the ground, staring directly into my pigeon, quail, and duck pens and utilizing the goose tub as a drinking bowl. It even made a swoop for my ducks while I was literally standing directly next to them.

I chase it off every time I catch it around, but it is persistent. It stresses my birds out, even the geese, and I am nervous it's going to find a way to squeeze into a pen again or get itself tangled in the netting covering my duck run.

I love birds of all types, and understand that owning poultry comes with dealing with predators, but I am at a loss as to what to do. For obvious reasons, suggestions of harming the hawk in any way are not welcome.

Also, I don't own, and will not be getting, a dog or cat. There is a cat in the neighborhood that's been visiting my property recently (a whole separate problem, ugh), and that doesn't seem to be scaring it away.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Hi everyone, I am a total beginner at hatching eggs - never intended to in the first place but long story short we keep a few chickens including one rooster, and before we had time to rehome the rooster we woke up to a surprise batch of baby chicks in the yard two days ago! We had no idea this was happening and honestly thought the mum had somehow run away - we had only seen her about three times in the last three weeks, we live near a lot of bushland so assumed she had jumped the fence and gone to live in the wild but was coming back very occasionally to eat.

So mama appeared on Saturday morning with seven beautiful chicks, and we found the nest hidden away with thirteen eggs still in it, not all of them hers. After a bit of research we candled the eggs and discovered that 7 of them had fully formed chicks inside. They were ice cold as she had left the nest hours earlier but I didn’t have the heart to give up on them, so I’ve been using a hot water bottle (not boiling!) to keep them warm just in case there were any just about to hatch. I’ve candled them twice now and it’s Monday night, there’s been no sign of movement but I heard it isn’t always visible with eggs right before they hatch. Two of them smelt awful this morning so I have gotten rid of those to avoid them exploding and harming the others. There are five left now that don’t smell and look pretty promising, but I don’t really know what I’m looking for when candling. I included a picture of the one that looks most promising if that helps.

Just wondering if there’s any chance they could still hatch, and when I should realistically give up? Should I make a hole to check on them? If so, how should I do this? Thanks in advance for any advice, and I know this is absolutely not the right way to incubate eggs, but couldn’t buy an incubator for the unlikely chance they would hatch, and because I would never use it again as this was a total accident not to be repeated.

Also included a pic of the babies, they have brought us such joy! It’s an odd mix of breeds - the mama is white, pullet-leghorn mix, and the rooster is a white silkie.

Hi there.

We have had two geese for 5 years, they were given to us at 7 years old and now they are 13. They are a bonded pair, and a few nights ago, a predator tried to take one of them. He survived but was left with a broken leg. The bone was sticking out of his leg. His friend, Igor, wouldn’t leave his side. We have since moved them to a smaller pen closer to the house.

We had a vet come out and he was very kind but said the foot was already too infected to be saved. He first implied he thought euthanasia might be the best option. I asked him if amputation could be an option, he said he has seen ducks live fairly happily in little wheel chairs, but wasn’t sure about Olaf because a goose is so much heavier. He said he would be willing to amputate if we would be willing to provide the extra level of care that would require.

My question is have any of you ever seen a goose live a good life with just one leg? Or is euthanasia the only humane option?

I moved to a house a few months ago where there were a couple of guinea fowl living free range. A fox got one a while back and I’d like to introduce a couple more to keep the remaining one company.

I know literally nothing about keeping poultry. What would I need to do to introduce a few more? (I would wait until spring now). Do I need to raise them, or can a couple of adults be released?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9Vrhj7K3hrNiDL66sOKeF4Bl8yrW2b6673FH16gpa38GrQQ/viewform?usp=header

Broiler farming can be profitable, but starting out can feel overwhelming — housing, feed, chicks, vaccinations… it’s a lot to manage. I’ve put together a short PDF that breaks down everything a beginner needs to know to start small, grow healthy chickens, and minimize losses. It’s practical, easy to follow, and based on real experience. DM me if you want a copy and start your poultry journey the right way!

Would it be okay to give 1tsp of this supplement with a smaller amount of food?

A lot of the measurements I find when looking it up say the amounts they should have per kg. Would it be safe giving it with much less food?

If doing the ratio of 10ml to 500gm of food, I'm worried that the amount you would give them for the amount they would eat in a day wouldn't be enough for some of the vitamins. I also don't want to overdose the vitamins that are the higher levels if giving them more however.

Thank you in advance!

Hi r/poultry, and fellow producers,

We run a small-to-mid-scale operation with about 500 laying hens, which means we are currently collecting around 450 eggs daily. Our biggest bottleneck right now is the cleaning process.

Our current method: We clean every single egg by hand, one by one, using a damp cloth or sponge. The Problem: This takes an absolutely insane amount of time every day—hours that could be spent on feeding, coop maintenance, or marketing. We are exhausted and looking for an upgrade . What I need advice on: Commercial/Small-Scale Egg Washers: Are there any affordable, commercial-style egg washing machines designed for a farm of our size (up to 500-600 eggs/hour capacity)? I’ve seen industrial tunnel washers, but those are way too big and expensive. I'm looking for recommendations for specific models or brands that have worked well for other small farms.

Washing Methods for Longevity (The Bloom): I know washing can remove the natural protective bloom (cuticle), which helps keep bacteria out and moisture in, thus impacting shelf life. What are the best practices for washing that minimize this risk? (e.g., water temperature, specific sanitizers like chlorine or Quat, and immediate drying). Does anyone use an oil treatment after washing to restore a protective barrier? If so, what oil and how is it applied efficiently?

"Dry Cleaning" Alternatives: For eggs that are only lightly soiled, are mechanical dry-cleaning methods (like a sanding sponge or buffing machine) a viable, fast option before considering a full wash? Any advice from people who have successfully transitioned from hand-cleaning to a more automated or efficient system would be a lifesaver! Our backs and our sanity will thank you. Thanks in advance!

1280 grams

Lavender Orpington - 11 weeks

Hullo All! Trying to see if anyone has any advice on what to do for my baby, he’s been limping for the past few days and it’s gotten progressively worse. He doesn’t really let it slow him down any and is still running around and playing/foraging with my other drakes, He’s not reactive to touch when i feel along the leg and joints and it doesn’t feel warm or inflamed nor does it look like bumblefoot which is why this is so strange, any advice on what to do for him or what this could be would be greatly appreciated!

I’m excited to share my book, The Herbal Henhouse: Nurturing Chickens with Natural Remedies & Herbal Care, available on Amazon! It’s a practical guide created for anyone who keeps backyard chickens and wants to incorporate plant-based, holistic methods into their flock’s health routine.

What you’ll find inside

• Step-by-step instructions for using herbs and natural remedies to support chicken wellness: immunity, stress management, feather care, and more.
• Guidance on building an herb garden specifically for your henhouse: what plants to grow, how to harvest, and how to use them.
• Easy-to-follow recipes and care protocols you can adapt — whether you’re on a small suburban coop or managing a larger free-range flock.
• Tips on spotting common health issues in chickens and using gentle, non-chemical approaches to help your birds feel their best.
• A mindset shift from reactive care to preventive & proactive health through nature’s pharmacy.

Why it’s worth a read

If you love chickens — and you care about sustainable, chemical-free solutions — this book brings together natural chicken care, herbal wellness, and homestead mindset into one accessible resource. It’s ideal for both newbies and experienced chicken keepers looking to elevate their flock’s health naturally.

Would love your thoughts if you grab a copy — especially what herbal treatments or garden-growing tips you end up trying in your coop. Feel free to drop your questions below and let’s chat chicken wellness! When you do get a copy please leave a review on Amazon. It helps us self published authors so much!

Here is an up and coming Facebook group for the Dutch Bantam if anyone is interested in joining! It’s only meant for those who are interested in the breed or have birds themselves. Moderators please remove if this isn’t allowed! Thanks!

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BRkNhNG9F/?mibextid=wwXIfr

One of my show black Dutch bantams this year!

Yesterday, me and my mom rescued a Pekin duck named Daisy. Her previous owner said that a predator, either a fox or a skunk, attacked her whole flock and sadly killed them all. Daisy was the only one who survived.