Poultry & Rabbits
Composting and Using Backyard Poultry Waste in the Home Garden
For the backyard agriculturist, proper composting of chicken manure has no downsides. This publication provides basic information on how to properly process backyard-poultry waste and use it in a...
4-H Poultry Showmanship Questions
Lists questions a 4-H member could be asked by the judge during a 4-H poultry showmanship competition. Questions are organized by level of difficulty (junior, intermediate, and senior) and are...
Break-even Analysis of Small-Scale Production of Pastured Organic Poultry
Data from five years of trials at Washington State University were used to compare costs and returns for pastured organic broilers using two strains of Cornish Cross meat birds, the industry...
The Veterinary Feed Directive: The Why, What, and How Guide for Livestock Producers
Since 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken regulatory action via the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) to ensure that drugs used to treat bacterial diseases in all food-producing...
Getting the Most Feed Nutrient for the Dollar
This publication describes a process livestock producers should use to determine the value of a feed that will provide energy or protein to balance a forage-based ration. Authors: Glenn Shewmaker,...
Biofilters in Animal Agriculture
Biofilters can reduce odor emissions from concentrated livestock facilities. This publication discusses what they are and how they work, describes different types, and discusses important factors...
Country of Origin Labeling and Livestock Producers
Provides background information on the new Country of Origin Labeling Law, how it might affect sales of U.S. meat, and how producers can track and provide documentation regarding the country of...
This publication helps small-flock chicken producers select the correct feeds and manage watering to meet the nutritional needs of their laying hens at specific stages of the birds' development.
Raising Ratites: Ostriches, Emu, and Rheas
Ratites are mostly large, flightless birds that exist in the wild in Australia, Africa, or South America. But US growers have been raising them as alternative and likely healthier meat sources for...
Avoiding Residues in Small Poultry and Game Bird Flocks
Don't let any chemical residues show up in meat or eggs from your flock. Discusses where residues can originate and how to avoid them in poultry and eggs. Author: J.C. Hermes 2 pages
Why Did My Chickens Stop Laying?
Hens stop laying eggs for a variety of reasons, but hormonal fluctuation is the main one. This publication briefly discusses what triggers that effect, including decreasing day length, molting,...
Guidelines for feeding small flocks of meat-type chickens. Including a discussion of standard versus organic feeds, mixing feeds at home, and alternatives to traditional ingredients. This...