Living on a farm was Diana’s dream, and chickens became a part of that reality. She soon discovered that nesting box herbs helped her birds to relax and settle. “It had been a dream of mine and my husband’s to buy a home with property so we could have farm animals,” explains Diana. “My grandparents had a farm, so I guess you could say it’s in my blood. Once we did that, we anxiously waited for chick season and bought a handful of chicks and ducks, with the intention of egg production. I was so excited when they were old enough to lay eggs and we ended up incubating some for hatching. It was then that my daughter decided to show ornamental chickens in poultry shows around the state”.
The family’s chickens won awards in a range of categories at the Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show’s Poultry and Rabbit Show 2018. Her Cockerel Klaus brought home Best of Breed, Best Variety and Best of All Other Standard Breeds, while her hens, Kate and Pablo, won Best of Breed and Best Variety awards.
Healthy hens
Back at the farm, Diana likes to use natural methods to keep her flock healthy. She has a range of nesting box herbs, which she says, have many beneficial properties - they can repel pests, boost immunity, reduce stress, and improve overall health.
Denne historien er fra January - February 2020-utgaven av Practical Poultry.
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Denne historien er fra January - February 2020-utgaven av Practical Poultry.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Growing food for Chickens
Mary Larham explores some crops to grow on your holding…
Poultry in the garden – the truth!
Jo-Jane Buxton shares her experiences
The British Waterfowl Association
Which came first, the goose or the egg?
WHY FIT A FAN IN AN INCUBATOR?
Brinsea Products, the Incubation Specialists explain the difference between still air and forced draught
Incubating turkey eggs
Janice Houghton-Wallace looks at broody turkeys and artificial incubation
Chicken nesting box herbs
Diana Clauss owns The Blue Feather Farm, in St Cloud, Florida, home to chickens, ducks, goats, and Anatolian Shepherd dogs.
Incubate in January?
Jessica Wombwell says plan the breeding
Andy's DIARY
Andy emphases the importance of keeping out damp and wet but allowing ventilation even in cold weather
Feeding for Breeding
It may be winter, but as Joanna Palmer, nutritionist for Smallholder Range explains, now’s the time to get your flock in tiptop shape and plan ahead for a successful breeding season next spring.
A chick named Cuckoo raised by a duck!
Chris Hammacott and her husband live on a small croft in the Outer Hebrides, they keep a ‘no kill’ flock or rare and rescue sheep which they use to spin and weave rugs. They also share the 8 acres with hens, ducks, cats and 9 rescue pugs.
