If you’re already raising other birds on your homestead or farm, such as chickens or ducks, you may have considered adding guinea fowl to your flock. Their lean, tender dark meat is in high demand, and you feel it would help round out your poultry offerings. Additionally, they are more alert to predators and can […]
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When it comes to raising chickens, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to use a chicken tractor or a chicken coop. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The final decision will depend on your specific requirements and situation. Understanding the Debate Chicken keepers are divided on whether a chicken tractor or […]
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Have you ever wondered what a chicken’s life is like? From small-scale hobby farms to large, commercial farms, there is a wide variety of ways to raise chickens. One way that many families and farmers have found to be beneficial is raising chickens on the pasture. In this article, we will discover why some […]
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Are you a chicken keeper or breeder? If so, then you’ve probably heard of pasty butt in chicks. This condition can cause great distress to young birds and even lead to death if not treated quickly. Pasty butt is simply the name given to a combination of stress, humidity, and poor hygiene in baby chicks. […]
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Farms are famous for their myriad of animals, but one staple that most farms have is chickens. They are a fantastic source of protein, both from their meat and eggs. Unfortunately, when the weather gets colder, they often stop laying eggs. So, how do you keep your chickens laying in the winter months? There are […]
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Raising chickens is a rewarding, profitable, and exciting experience. While there are many positive attributes to having chickens in your backyard or farm, it doesn’t come without its share of issues. One of the most critical issues chicken farmers want to address is how to keep their flock healthy and prevent diseases. Coryza in chickens […]
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Warning: Post contains graphic images Many families are looking into growing and raising their own food to lower the costs associated with food shopping in today’s world or because they want to be able to create tasty, nutrient dense food that and know where it came from. For some, that comes with a curiosity about […]
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A large part of sustainable chicken farming is profitability. Profits and growth can be more consistent, predictable, and in line with your personal or business goals if your methods can sustain production. But what does it take to develop a sustainability plan for poultry farming? How can sustainably raised chickens help you reach your financial […]
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With the price of everything from gas to food on the rise, feeding your family is costly. Whether you buy meat birds from the grocery store or take your family out to eat, you’re likely spending more money than in years past and getting less food. So, what’s the solution? Homeowners or niche free-range farmers […]
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Maybe you’ve been raising chickens successfully and are ready for a new challenge. Or perhaps you want to add to your business by having fresh, free-ranging, or pastured turkeys for sale for Thanksgiving. No matter why you decide you want to try raising turkeys, you need to know the proper care techniques, general information, feed […]
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If you own chickens—whether in your backyard or on a farm—you want to provide the best possible care for them. They have a safe place to roam freely, fresh water daily, and a clean chicken coop and run. All in all, you’re doing a great job at caring for your flock. But one way to […]
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If you own a commercial poultry operation or have backyard flocks of chickens, then you are likely concerned about the recent bird flu news. There is an avian flu outbreak in the United States and other countries, affecting domestic poultry and wild birds. This highly contagious disease can quickly kill an entire flock of chickens, […]
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The egg has been a staple of the human diet since ancient times. It’s popular even today and is especially important in high-protein diets. While most people likely think of chicken eggs when we talk about eating eggs, duck eggs are an exceptionally nutritious option. They have a richer, creamier taste than chicken eggs, and […]
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One afternoon, you are out with your chickens enjoying the sunlight together when you notice one of your chickens appears to be napping in the coop. This behavior is unusual, as this particular chicken is usually very lively with the rest of the flock. When you check on her, you notice she isn’t breathing. There […]
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You want to create a comfortable environment for your chickens for maximum egg production—but you also wish to have a coop and egg boxes that are easy to clean and stay fresh for as long as possible. Is straw for your chicken coop the answer? Or is the best chicken coop bedding another material, like […]
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Whether you’re raising a few chickens in your backyard as pets or for their eggs, or you have a large flock of chickens for your egg-laying or broiler farm, you need to ensure you have enough square feet per chicken available. Not only does having enough space prevent bullying and diseases, but having too much […]
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Of all the challenges you imagined you’d face as a backyard chicken keeper, aggressive roosters may not be one of them. You probably pictured an idyllic scene where your chickens happily roam around your yard, you go and collect the eggs and feed them, and everything is hunky-dory. So, when facing a rooster who is […]
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If you notice that your chickens are acting differently or have stopped laying eggs, you should begin sick chicken treatment until you determine and treat the underlying issue. We know how scary and worrisome it can be when your chickens are sick. After all, Freedom Ranger Hatchery—a family of hatcheries—started in a back yard over […]
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If you’re taking a crack at operating an egg-laying business, you are probably eagerly waiting for the first time your young hens lay an egg. So, when do chickens lay eggs? It depends on their age and breed, but there are also physical and behavioral signs that your pullet—or young hen—will start to lay eggs […]
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Caring for chickens is such a fun and rewarding experience. It’s no wonder that more people are raising chickens for their enjoyment. Whether your goal is to have a steady supply of eggs, raise meat birds, or have pet chickens, if you’re ready to order chickens online, you’ve come to the right place! At Freedom […]
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Few things are as frightening to chicken keepers as a snake in the chicken coop. These slithering pests will go after both baby chicks and adult chickens, which can stress even the healthiest of flocks. Even though only a small percentage of snakes are venomous, they can still deliver a nasty bite that’ll require treatment. […]
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We may be biased, but at Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we believe owning chickens is one of the most rewarding pastimes you can have. Whether you have a few backyard chickens as pets or rely on your chicken egg production as a means of income, these birds always seem to have a way of making a […]
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We’ve talked about this on our blog in the past, but starting your own chicken or egg production business can be daunting. Whether you’re looking to do something small out of your backyard or you’re thinking about expanding to a large facility, there are a lot of factors to consider. Like the age-old question of […]
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At Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we’re advocates of free-range chickens and letting birds do what comes naturally to them. That sometimes means going the extra mile to ensure your birds stay happy and healthy all-year-long—especially when cold weather starts kicking in! Whether you have two chickens or 200, there are many tips for keeping your birds […]
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Raising backyard chickens has become a trendy hobby in recent years, but what about backyard geese? Keeping and breeding a variety of goose breeds has a long tradition in the United States. We know that George Washington had geese on his farm at Mount Vernon, and records indicate that he was given three Chinese geese […]
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In a previous post, we talked about the common bacteria known as Salmonella, and more specifically, how it could affect your chicken flock. We discussed how you can identify it in your flock and what you can do to prevent it. And while the details of that post haven’t changed, there is some new information […]
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If you are an experienced poultry producer, you likely already know that a debate has been heating up in the past few years over the growth rate of chickens raised for meat. And if you’re newer to growing broilers, or are considering jumping into the business soon, you may also be familiar. Of course, you […]
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The age-old question, “Which came first—the chicken or the egg?” may forever go unanswered, but when you’re looking for the best brown egg-layers, we suggest starting with the chicken. And in this instance, it’s the Novogen Brown! In today’s post, we’re highlighting one of our favorite (and best) egg-layers that we have in stock here […]
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When you’re first starting out raising chickens, you may not think you’ll get to the level where you’d be turning a profit. Most farms start with only a few chickens, and then slowly turn into a broiler farm over time, or at least start to entertain the idea. If you’re reading this, you may be […]
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It’s all in the name—our Freedom Ranger Chickens are the reason our hatchery has the name it does. These birds are the crème de la crème, the cream of the crop—or should we say, the “cream of the flock”—when it comes to high-quality broiler chickens. There’s a reason our Freedom Ranger Chickens are one of […]
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When you’re looking to get started with broiler chickens, you may not know what exact breed of broiler chickens will be best for you. And that’s okay! Here at Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we’ve been in the chicken business for over 15 years, so we’re here to do some of that decision-making for you. While you […]
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In our recent blog post about what to consider when starting an egg-laying business, we talked a bit about determining the market you want to target with your products. As a new business owner, you’ll more than likely sell your eggs at a roadside stand on or near your property instead of across the seas […]
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There’s something inherently rewarding about having your very own farm-fresh eggs every day. When you raise your chickens from the egg to chick to egg-laying hens themselves, there’s a sense of pride and accomplishment in what you’ve helped cultivate. And as your egg production increases, you may be wondering if you should start an egg […]
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When you hear the words “lice,” “fleas,” or “mites,” if you’re anything like us, you likely already start to feel itchy. Just the thought of those tiny eight- or six-legged pests crawling anywhere near you, your family, or pets probably has you on edge. But did you know that your chickens can also contract pests […]
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Anyone who has had chickens most likely already knows how difficult sexing chicks can be. When the birds are young, the ways to tell what gender your chicken is aren’t always 100 percent foolproof. Whether you’re a new hatchery owner or you just purchased a straight run of chicks from Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we want […]
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What to Know About Salmonella and the Impact on Different Flock Types According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations, and 450 deaths in the United States every year.” Those are staggering numbers, and most of those salmonella infections come from food. While you can […]
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It’s no secret that here at Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we’re all about happy, healthy birds. From chick vaccinations to chicken feed, we’ve covered a variety of topics to optimize your flock’s health. And while we always guarantee you the highest-quality birds, we also want to help make sure you recognize how to keep your flock […]
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When it comes to raising chickens, health is always a top priority. After all, healthy chickens are more productive and more profitable in the long run. Unfortunately, many diseases can wipe out a large percentage of your chickens or leave them more vulnerable to other infections, costing you time and money. The good news is […]
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For any chicken farmer, the health of your birds should be at the top of your priority list. Without a healthy flock, egg production lowers, sickness can spread, and in the end, you may lose chickens (and profit). There are certain diseases, like wry neck, that can be very alarming for first-time farmers. At Freedom […]
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No matter what you use your chickens for, keeping your birds happy and healthy is always a priority in raising them. Healthy chickens mean a better profit for your hatchery. To keep your birds healthy and free of poultry diseases, your biosecurity needs to be up to snuff. At Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we are dedicated […]
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Aspergillosis is a non-contagious respiratory disease caused by a fungal species known as Aspergillus. Commonly referred to as mycotic pneumonia, brooders pneumonia, or fungal pneumonia, Aspergillosis affects chickens, ducks, turkeys, waterfowl, game birds, and many other bird species. Young birds are the most susceptible to infection, though older birds under stress or with compromised immune […]
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A visit to the local feed store can be overwhelming, especially for new chicken owners. Each colorful bag of chicken feed contains a variety of terms from “mash” and “grower feed” to “medicated” or “un-medicated,” “fermented,” and more. So how do you make sense of all the jargon and choose the right food for your […]
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Whether you’re considering raising chickens in your own backyard or have an established farm suitable for free range chickens, you’re probably wondering how to choose between the vast numbers of chicken breeds available. Beyond choosing whether you will raise chickens for eggs or meat, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before settling […]
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Newcastle disease (ND), also known as pneumoencephalitis, is a contagious, viral infection that affects both domestic and wild birds, particularly chickens. The most highly contagious and deadly form of the Newcastle virus is known as viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease (VVND). VVND is also referred to as exotic Newcastle disease or Asiatic Newcastle disease. Newcastle disease […]
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MG (Mycoplasma gallisepticum) and MS (Mycoplasma synoviae) are both common bacterial infections that affect chickens, turkeys, and other avian species. Found most often in backyard flocks or multi-age commercial layer operations, MG and MS can result in severe economic losses due to slow growth rates in broilers or diminished egg production in layers. MG, also […]
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With the increased awareness the “integrity food movement” has raised about the nutritional benefits of chickens raised in more natural environments, chickens raised with more human techniques are more profitable than ever before. Now is a great time to invest in what many people refer to as “free-range flocks” to sell as backyard layer flocks […]
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Raising chickens isn’t always easy, especially when your chickens aren’t healthy when you receive them or develop diseases soon after. However, you can protect your investment in your flock and save yourself a lot of frustration by taking steps to get your chicks from the most reputable sources. One factor to consider is deciding whether […]
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Whether you are thinking about raising your own chickens for meat or eggs or have an established flock, learning to protect your chickens from a variety of diseases will help you raise the most productive and healthy chickens. One such disease is coccidiosis, the number one killer of brooder chicks, according to the Chicken Chick. […]
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Purchasing day-old chicks and raising them yourself can be an entertaining and rewarding endeavor. There’s a great deal of work and time commitment involved to raising day-old chicks; however, with the right information and tools, you’ll be enjoying the sight of growing chicks and fresh eggs/meat in no time. The basics and what you need […]
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