Articles by BYC Support

Candling Eggs Found an old can light in the garage. I bought a flourescent bulb for it, since they don't make much heat. Cut a hole in cardboard so the eggs would set slightly in it. I made two of these, one for the smaller bantam eggs. Here it is with an egg on it. Here it is...

General Information & Description The possum is North America's only marsupial mammal. (The female has a marsupium in which she carries and nurses her young until they are 2-3 months old.) Mature possums are roughly the same size as a cat, has grey to black fur, black eyes, pink noses, feet...

General Information & Description Snakes are long, legless carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes. Fifteen families of snakes are currently recognized, comprising of more than 2,900 species. The largest living species are the reticulated pythons, which can reach 30 feet long, and the...

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...

General Information and Description Skunks (also known as polecats in the USA) are medium-sized mammals, probably best known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant odor. There are four species of skunks: the hooded skunk, the striped skunk, the spotted skunk, and the...

HomeMade Chicken Feeder When I first built my coop I threw together a heap of junk and made a super ugly but incredibly functional - space saving chicken feeder. You can see it (in all it's hideous glory) here: FrankenFeeder! The feeder functioned great for a few years, but it got to the...

Bear General Information and description Bears are omnivores in the Ursidae family. They are found mostly in North America, Europe and northern and central Asia. The most common are the American Black Bears, which roam in North America and enjoy a widespread population. Bears generally...

It's cold! Record lows in the area have brought our chickens to an indignant resolution to stay in their coops. In order to manage chickens in colder temperatures one needs to consider several things: Ventilation- there must be adequate ventilation to allow dissipation of the moisture from the...

General Information & Description Minks belong to the Mustela family, which also includes stoats and weasels. Minks come in different names like Ermine, Sable, Minque Nordique, and Sable Nordique. The mink has a hairy and large tail that complements its long body. Its build makes it easier for...

Are Chickens the new "dog"? Having a small backyard flock of chickens is a growing trend in countries around the world. And it is not just country folks who enjoy raising chickens, more and more cities are relaxing their laws and ordinances and allowing chickens, so city dwellers can enjoy this...

General Information Owls are a group of predatory birds that belong in the order Strigiformes. Most owls are solitary and mostly nocturnal, with some exceptions, such as the Northern Hawk Owl. Owls have acute visual and hearing senses. Their eyes have a large retina that can create a spatial...

Save A Chick Baby chicks can be a wonderful part of any family. Unfortunately every year thousands of the chicks don't receive the care they need. For this reason our forum community has come together to create the "Save A Chick Campaign". We need your help! Below are a few brochures and...

General information and Description Crows are scavenger birds of the genus Corvus in in the Cirvidea family, which also includes magpies, ravens and about 120 other bird species. Crows thrive in pairs, and are territorial. Their main mode of attack is vulture-like in nature. Unlike hawks that...

General Information Mice are mammals that belong to the order of rodents. They are small animals with pointed snouts, small rounded ears, short legs and a long naked, or almost naked, hairless tail. There are about 30 species scattered through various regions of the world. They are considered...

Cats General Information and Description Domestic cats (Felis Catus or Felus Silvestris Catus) are one of the most popular house pets in the world. Cats are carnivores belonging to the Felids or Felidae family, which also includes tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, and cheetahs. Cats are...

Squirrel General Information & Description Squirrels belong to the large rodent order called Sciuridae. They are generally small furry mammals that are smaller than rabbits. The largest variety, the Alpine marmot, measures 22-29 inches from nose to tail. Squirrels have large eyes, indicative...

This is an index of pages for information on raising and processing meat birds. Some of the links have graphic pics. Plucking a Hen by Waxing (warning, graphic pics) The Emotional Side of Chicken Processing How to Process a Chicken at Home (graphic pics) Comparison of...

Submitted by John Riddell. A chicken can open it herself by stepping on the platform. "When she stands on the platform the door opens. It means pests can't get to the food, so less wastage. She took about three weeks to learn to use it."

GENERAL INFORMATION Mountain lions (Felis concolor), are the second largest native North American cat (the jaguar is slightly larger). They are known by a number of different names - cougar, panther, painter, catamount, and puma. Mountain lions are mainly nocturnal, preferring to hunt at...

General Information and Description Widely considered a pest in homes and farms, rats are long-tailed rodents in the biological superfamily Muroidea. Their large size distinguishes them from mice. Rats like to live alongside humans, and take every opportunity to prey on their food and...