• Last updated 3/19/12 by support

  General Information The red fox is a quick, skillful hunter, feeding on a wide variety of foods. Mice are often eaten, especially during the winter months and cottontail rabbits are also an important part of their diet. They remain active throughout the year but are primarily nocturnal, only occasionally coming out during the daylight hours. Red foxes seem to prefer somewhat open habitats and are not creatures of dense forests. They are found mostly in areas with interspersed croplands, old fields, and woodlots, especially along the edges formed by these... read more

• Last updated 4/30/12 by BYC Project Manager

  Fisher (Martes pennanti)   GENERAL INFORMATION The fisher, also known as the "pekan cat", "fisher cat", or "black cat", is a large, dark, long-haired member of the weasel family. Fishers usually use two types of shelters. Fisher dens used for giving birth to their young typically are found in large trees, high off the ground. They make use of natural cavities frequently found in older trees. They also use cavities in rocky areas. Dens for general cover and protection consist of hollow logs, turned over stumps, brush piles, or ground... read more

• Last updated 4/30/12 by BYC Project Manager

  Owl   General Information & Description The owl is a carnivorous bird. While most are nocturnal, there are also owls that prefer to hunt during dusk and dawn. Unlike vultures and crows that can prey in flocks, owls are solitary birds that prefer to hunt alone. They hunt insects, mice, rats, rabbits and chicks with amazing accuracy in low light.   Owls have acute visual and hearing senses. The owl can swivel its head over 270 degrees without twisting its body. Owls are also farsighted. Their eyes have a large retina that can create a spatial image even in... read more

• Last updated 4/30/12 by BYC Project Manager

General Information Skunks may kill and eat domestic poultry and their eggs. They pose only a little threat to adult birds, but prize eggs as a tasty treat and will often break up a nest when the opportunity avails itself. They are very shy, with very poor eyesight. Primarily a nocturnal creature, skunks will usually respect a farm with geese, a good dog or farm cat. Let your nose tell you if a skunk has been in the hen house. Both striped and spotted skunks can raid chicken houses. The worst offender is usually the spotted skunk because it can climb easily to gain... read more

• Last updated 4/26/12 by BYC Project Manager

    Mites One of the most common problems encountered when raising and keeping poultry is mites. There are several kinds of mites that will infest your birds.   Where do they come from? They can be brought in via wild birds, such as starlings, sparrows, crows, swallows, etc. They can be picked up at poultry shows, sales, auctions, anywhere there is contact with other avian life. They can be carried in with rodents who enter the coops in search of food. Early intervention is necessary to prevent illness and debilitation in your flock.   How do you know... read more

• Last updated 3/19/12 by support

Chicken Breed Info: Breed Purpose: Comb: Broodiness: Climate Tolerance:   General Egg Info: Egg Productivity: Egg Size: Egg Color:   Breed... read more

• Last updated 3/26/13 by BYC Project Manager

    Raising Chickens 101   Why Raise Chickens?   Local Laws & Ordinances (Forum)   Interesting Facts About Chicken Eggs Choosing A Chicken Breed   So You Want a Colorful Egg Basket!   Pickin' the Right Frickin'... read more

• Last updated 4/30/12 by BYC Project Manager

  Bobcat General Information & Description The bobcat is a member of the Felidae cat family. Bobcats have brown spots on a grey coat with black tufted ears, black bars on the forelegs and a stubby, black-tipped tail. Bobcats have been heavily hunted for their furs over the centuries. They breed between winter and spring with 2-4 litters that grow into adults in less than 24 months. With a 12-year life expectancy, bobcats are typically twice as large as the largest alley cat. They are often found in forests, swamps, and semi-arid terrains.   Range Find... read more

• Last updated 3/19/12 by support

  Marek's Disease (written by Message Board member chickchair)   When we all order a shipment of chicks from a hatchery, most offer optional vaccination for Marek's disease for a nominal charge. If you are like me, you may have known nothing about the disease and are wondering what the risks versus the benefits of having your chicks vaccinated are.. I am posting links to information on Marek's to help you make a more informed decision.   I, myself, have lost a chick to Marek's, and a close friend has just lost one as well. It is heart wrenching to watch the... read more

• Last updated 4/23/13 by BYC Project Manager

  How To Incubate & Hatch Eggs   How To Raise Baby Chicks Homemade Incubators   Homemade Brooders The "Dry Incubation" Method   Candling Pics Hatching Eggs 101   How to Make a Homemade Egg... read more