As vulnerable prey animals, chickens have developed numerous defense strategies for evading predators. Depending on the proximity of a predator, the chicken’s defense strategies may be categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary Defense Strategies Primary defenses are always ready... The post A Chicken’s Defense Strategies appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
Chickens, like many other birds, have two kinds of bone. One contains pockets to enhance air circulation. The other stores calcium for egg production. Here’s a closer look at the two kinds of bone making up a chicken’s skeletal system... The post Chickens Have Two Kinds of Bone appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
A neighbor once gave me a couple of huge cabbages from her garden. When I told her I wasn’t sure what to do with all that cabbage, she gave me her recipe for freezer coleslaw. I’m pretty fussy when it... The post Easy Freezer Coleslaw for Year-Around Enjoyment appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
A while back I was researching topics related to home canning. At some point I found myself on a forum frequented by European home canning enthusiasts. According to one of them, the obsession of American home canners with botulism must... The post Botulism in Home Canning — How Common Is It? appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
A chicken's food call is readily recognizable, but is it really a signal to come and eat, or does it convey something more?| Gail Damerow's Blog
The mood of a clucking hen is midway between the extremes of contentment and alarm. How do you suppose we know that?| Gail Damerow's Blog
Last year I had the opportunity to raise French guinea fowl for the first time. I’ve had African guineas for decades, so I was curious to find out how different they might be from one another. My observations are by... The post African and French Guinea Fowl appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
Luffa is a versatile vine that produces long gourds, which can be turned into durable sponges. Growing luffa requires 90 to 120 days and a sturdy trellis for support. The vines feature beautiful yellow flowers that attract pollinators. After harvesting, the gourds must be dried thoroughly to create sponges. The post Grow Your Own Luffa Sponges appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
Bielefelder chicks, like those of other autosex breeds, may be sexed at the time of hatch based on the color and markings of the chicks’ down. As is true for sex link chickens, the autosexing phenomenon takes advantage of genes... The post Bielefelders and Other Autosex Chickens appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
When cold weather keeps us indoors, I have more time for homemade snacks. One of our favorites is warm microwave potato chips. This recipe is easy and fast — no more than 15 minutes — and makes a nice little... The post Microwave Potato Chips appeared first on Gail Damerow's Blog.| Gail Damerow's Blog
Being afraid of chickens is an irrational condition that can range from mild anxiety to a full blown panic attack.| Gail Damerow's Blog