Myth busters- advice that keeps coming

[Bigbluefrog]

In three years I have had 2 fly away. I don't clip wings as I think it helps them to survive. I am sure one time they were escaping their dogs. You know a broody with an attitude in the wrong part of the yard.

Thanks! So not necessary... we live in the country.
I appreciate the feedback.... still new and wading through the advice given trying to decide ... is this a valuable information?
I heard of one farmer had 100 chickens and some roost in the trees not the coop. Too many birds

 

[AllenK RGV]

Well we have lost 2 and gained one not clipping those flight feathers. The chicken hormones decide if they stay welcome here on the property. as per the dogs.

Don't get me wrong the dogs will protect them, they just do not like getting attacked. 5 pound chickens attacking 55+ pound dogs just aren't that smart and get asked to leave. Regardless we do not control what the dogs decide. It is their turf.

 

[DobieLover]

Most of the myths have already been covered. But I haven't seen this one posted. It is from this site:

"Is it really true fertilized eggs contain penicillin?"

I was rather surprised at that one.

Here is a recent one that got my dander up:
"We only have a few hens so I wanted to make sure the inside coop space wasn't overly large so they could keep warm"
This particular nugget of wisdom is from someone who has 6 Orpingtons stuffed in a TSC prefab 'designed for 10-12 birds'.
Since when are chickens mammals that need each other for body heat?

And I know for a fact this is bull pucky:
"You need to clip just one wing to keep chickens from flying over gates. It throws them off balance"

 

[Chris-n-Kate]

"You can't let your chickens out in the winter"
"Pullets won't lay in the winter"
"Chickens and ducks don't get along"
"Roosters always grow up to be mean"
"Chickens can't fly over a fence"
Heard these all from people have haven't owned chickens

The chickens and ducks don’t get along might not be entirely false.
I raised mine freeranging together but separate coops. Recently pullets started getting killed by them so now the ducks are confined to their run and only the chickens are freeranged.

 

[blackandtan]

That's up there with if a woman doesn't sink when you throw her in the river, it's a sign she's a witch.

ROTFL

 

[blackandtan]

Turkeys drown in the rain cause they stare at the sky with their beaks open

You can tell how old a chicken is by the number of points (on the comb I assume)

Brown shell eggs taste better

Green shell eggs have spoiled

I have to add my own, it sounds like a myth but is actually true “farm eggs can ruin a cake”.....if you’re baking a nice WHITE cake, those yummy farm eggs with the brilliant yellow yolks will turn it yellow....use the insipid tasteless store eggs for that

 

[cmom]

"Chickens don't lay green or blue eggs! They only lay white eggs! You must be dying them to try and make them 'exotic' to sell them for more money, like they do with the brown eggs at the store!"

I work with some very stupid people....

The ones you work with may be stupid but most are just ignorant.

I had my first flock nearly 50 years ago. There were years when I was in the military that I didn't. About 20 years ago I got back into chickens. When we got some my hubby thought white birds must lay white eggs and colored birds must lay brown eggs. One of my breeds is Rhode Island Whites so they must lay white eggs. I also have Brown Leghorns so they must lay brown eggs. He was in for a surprise.

Apple cider vinegar and DE fix everything!

This is priceless... I wonder where their expertise came from?

I really can't think of anymore to add but am sure there are probably many more. Most of the people are backyard flock owners that have a few birds. Some of us have a whole lot more which does change the equation somewhat.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Here's one my dad always believed: "You Can't Raise Turkeys With Chickens, The Turkeys, & Chickens Will Kill Each Other."

We have chickens, & turkeys living together peacefully in a large coop which proves that false.

 

[oldhen2345]

You must clip their wings or they will all fly away and never come back.

I do clip my chickens wings (one wing each chicken) because they do fly over the 4 foot fence and I have had feral roosters fly over my 6 foot privacy fence. Clipping keeps them safe in the chicken yard and away from my chicken killing dog. I don't think they can fly away, but after watching the feral flock, they certainly do hop fences and range for blocks. Also, a relative had her chickens roosting in the trees (she had about 100) They would fly over the fence and poop and lay eggs on the neighbors patio- the neighbor killed them all)

 

[cmom]

I don't know why some birds will roam quite a distance from their property. My birds have large pens. When I open the gates they may come a little ways out into the grass but before I know it they're all back in their pens.