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Hello JR Nash, Yes I have a favorite incubator; two favorites in fact: 1) small - the Chinese Silky, best incubator and momma of them all and 2) large: the Polish, also a great incubator and momma too. These do not need plugging in to a wall receptacle, fine tuning and you dare not mist them...

Hi Folks, That broad breasted bird of Red Nugget, no matter what it really is, is definitely no Leghorn. I'm with Ralphie on this one; most likely a Cornish Cross monster of some sort. I don't understand why we are prone to so much speculation when a few more weeks, maybe 6 or so, will prove...

Hello Linda, I'm so glad that the therapy sessions are done. I agonized from time to time just imagining your plight. To be sure your's was much more agonizing than that brought on by my imaginings. And according to your recitations I got away with murder with respect to my knee surgery...

Hi All, You might keep in mind that the Cornish Cross is bred for induction in Camp Freezer and it is the rare one that tastes longevity anyhow. So go ahead with the abattoir as you are saving the chicks from a slow depleting end. Your way is quicker and more humane than Mother Nature's way...

Hello Turkeytruff, Jessica Thistle is so right. A bird's, any bird's, problem is dispersing its body heat. Look how comfortable is the Antarctic penguin. Long before I became a bird curator I noted that my manager was breeding shell parakeets in those thin walled nest boxes, in the dead of...

Ralphie, Now you know full well that if you get a few silkie and cochin pullets (small and large incubators respectively) your troubles will be over. Nothing more to say on the subject. Sincerely, Neal

Hi Holm, and You All, (Hey! I am a Virginian, after all, you all!) Note: "You All" is singular! So what is the plural? "All You All"…) There is a condition called, Failure to Thrive. And this to me is one of those catch all phrases into which bucket goes many conditions of which we have no...

Okay good fellow chicken nuts, I have learned having worked on the farm and later as a Curator of Birds, that birds uniformly have developed a survival trait that at first glance seems odd. It is less pronounced in raptors but otherwise all birds are very prone to it. What you are saying...

Hi Guys, Where did you get the idea that there is an argument about the fermented feed concept? As one educated in Animal Science, Zoology and Animal and Poultry Nutrition and even though retired from professing, I'm still available for educational purposes when a situation warrants it. In...

I'd have to see your set up to answer your question in full. As to the increase in protein percentage that is no mystery at all. Let's look at children's blocks as an example. Imagine a set of 9. 3 green, 3 blue and 3 red. Each set amounts to 33.33% of the total. Right? Now let's destroy...

Mr. Cool, Let's simply use logic and science to analyze the fermented feed situation as proposed by you. First know that I have spent my life as a chicken hobbyist as well as having served as a practicing curator of birds at the National Zoological Park, Smithsonian and as a general curator...

Hello Chad Cool, Frankly, I am at a loss to see any advantage in feeding fermented food to livestock of any species, unless of course some distillery is donating spent mash just to get rid of the stuff. To purposefully ferment perfectly good foodstuffs (largely carbohydrates) bought with funds...

Hi Mountain Mom, I must be loosing my bearings. No body knows for sure how many eggs are in the wild turkey hen's box as all stay away from counting or handling the eggs lest the hen be spooked away killing the project. One thing you can bet is that there is no great likelihood that there are...

Hi Mountain Mom, I know of a way to incorporate wild turkeys into a flock without ever touching a feather and whats more the turkeys do it for their own purposes and you are straight with the law In fact, I saw an example of it just last weekend. What you do is the live out in the country on...

Hello Mountain Mom! Turkeys generally do NOT nest in trees but in a secluded hidden nest on the ground. At least this old former zoo bird curator never heard of an exception. Even so I refrain from saying never about the behavior of any animule. They will double cross you every time! Also...

Hello Jessica Thistle, If we get fantastically lucky and you know of a fellow chicken nut traveling from Oregon (your territory) to the Sacramento - Stockton area (my region) the three broodies you are trying to unload have a home! Will pay the connector $25.00 for the transit. You did not...

Hello Holm, (Is it Stella?) Would you be willing to define precisely what is mean't by a tractor? I gather that it is some sort of a coop for barnyard birds but what are its ingredients and when is it no longer a tractor? Thank you. Sincerely, Neal, the Zooman

Hello Mountain Mom, May I ask that you tell how the egg rehab job fares? I assume you intend to hatch ye olde rehab. Sincerely, Neal, the Zooman

Hello Lazy Gardener, Finally a point wherein I might be a tiny bit of help. I think Ralphie might be referring to the fact that it is very difficult to make a bird with dark feathers into a clean carcass without the dreaded pin feathers. Of course the situation is the same in white feathered...

Duluth Ralphie, Your prose is a riot of funny stuff. Did you ever do any publishing of your humor? Can't wait for the next installment! Your chicken observations are very interesting too. Stay well, we need your take on things, Neal, the Zooman