How-To Library

Fall is here and it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your barn.

High temperatures and humidity cause heat stress in chickens, reduce broiler production & increase mortality rates. Here are the signs of an over-heated chicken and tips for managing heat stress in your poultry flock.

If you have chickens on your farm or even in your backyard, you know how messy they can be! Regular cleaning and maintenance of your chickens can include cleaning droppings, replacing nesting materials, and removing dirt and discarded feathers, but it is also important to deep clean your chicken coops and runs periodically to keep your flock healthy and happy.

It's an exciting time when your hens have reached maturity and are ready to lay eggs. Most hens start to lay eggs around the age of 4 to 6 months although the time can actually vary depending on the breed and the time of year. As a first-time chicken owner, what can you expect with your first eggs? Southern States has the answers to your questions here.

Backyard flocks can teach children about responsibility and where food comes from, but children must understand that there is a potential health risk associated with handling chickens.

It can be a bit unsettling when you notice one or more of your chickens are missing feathers. There can be many reasons for it. We have some helpful tips for understanding why your chickens may be losing feathers and solutions you can try to remedy the problem.

Whether you’re in an urban environment or surrounded by acres of land, other critters may want to cash in on the hard work you’re putting into raising chickens. Here are some tips for coop construction and care that will help keep predators at bay.

Building a chicken coop is the first step towards healthier living and saving you dollars at the grocery store. Find what you need to get started at Southern States, from building your coop to selecting quality chicken feed, supplies & more.

Whether you are a first-time chicken owner or have had chickens for a while, knowing how to care for them while they molt is important to their overall health. All chickens molt annually. This occurs when the days start to get shorter and fall approaches. Some chickens will molt twice in one year and this second molt is called a soft molt. To the untrained eye, you will not be able to tell this is happening because your chickens will only lose some feathers to thin out their coat. During a hard molt, the chicken will become almost bald. This process can take anywhere from eight to sixteen weeks; however, each bird is different, and the length of its molting process can vary. Caring for your birds while they molt is of the utmost importance as they are more susceptible to illness.

Planning for summer chicken care will ensure that your flock has sufficient water on very hot days. The poultry experts at Southern States have some helpful tips for keeping your chickens cool and hydrated during the heat of summer.

Rotational grazing allows you to provide fresh pasture to your livestock at all times. Large pastures are sectioned off into smaller parcels using either permanent or temporary fencing. These new smaller pastures are grazed intensively for a short period of time. Animals are then moved to the next pasture that is ready for grazing and the pasture they were moved from is given time off to allow grass to regrow.

Nationwide® members file claims for animal “breakouts” on their farms and ranches that total close to $8 million a year. Consider these best practices to help you keep people and animals safe on your farm or ranch.