Clucky Corner

If you keep quails here in the UK, you might be wondering whether the new bird-registration rules apply to you. I’ve had so many people ask lately, “Do I need to register my quails with DEFRA?” — and the simple answer is yes. Even the tiniest flock now...

Yes — if you keep chickens (or any poultry or “captive birds”) in England or Wales, you do need to register. The rules changed recently and I’ll walk you through the process.

It’s something none of us ever want to think about, but as back-garden keepers and smallholders, we do sometimes find ourselves facing a heartbreaking decision: helping a suffering hen pass peacefully when a vet isn’t an option. Perhaps the bird is in...

This is the classic “where are the eggs gone?” question. It happens every winter and there can be several reasons. Let’s review the most likely ones and what you can do.

If you’ve got an automatic coop door, you’ll already know what a lifesaver they usually are. Mine have kept me sane on many a dark winter morning when the alarm goes off and I’m nowhere near ready to step outside. But every year, as soon as the frost...