Our Animals

How to identify birds and encourage birdlife in your backyard.

We all want to feed our birds the very best, but do they need extra calcium? Or grit? Or is it all the same thing? Poultry expert Sue Clarke explains.

If you have chickens, you have flies. Here are five good options to quiet their buzz.

A Rotorua falconer takes flight, spreading his love for Aotearoa’s native birds of prey.

When it comes to looking stylish, it turns out Valais sheep use the same conditioner as other supermodels.

Look after your chooks in the summer heat and avoid pesky red mite with these handy tips.

If you like the benefits of keeping chickens, you’re going to love having ducks.

If you own poultry, at some point one of the flock may die, seemingly for no reason.

Location is critical for bees, and your neighbours.

Bees might appear to be lovely insects, busy making honey, but life can be short and brutal.

It’s important to look for a cause of a disability so you can avoid it in the future.

They moved to the country to live off the land. But it took a few odd years to find the right animal for their block.

Old poultry require special attention, and good decisions about their care.

A chicken doesn’t appear to be a complicated bird, but the social structure of a flock is complex.

A DIY guide to creating a green chicken coop.

Drench resistance is a big problem on NZ farms, and you risk bringing it onto your block every time you buy livestock.

Here's how to keep your farm animals happy as the seasons change.

This paper kiwi is an easy origami project for beginners and kids. Make one to celebrate the Bird of the Year competition.

Keep an eye on these common factors for your best chance at a successful hatch.

Kelly Wilson spent two years camping on mountain ranges, deserts and plains across the globe observing the behaviour of wild horses for her new book, Wild Horses of the World.

John Bissell is sharing his strategies on how we can be predator-free by 2050.

Dog trainer Christine Nielsen shares her tips for helping your dog to see your chickens as friends, not dinner.

Knowing the cause of a chick abnormality can help you prevent it in your next hatch.

If your cow has the right temperament, she can turn grass into milk, steak, and money.

Feather loss is normally quite natural in poultry, but it can also be a sign of a serious health issue.

It's all too easy to get charmed by a sweet-faced alpaca. But it pays to do some research before taking the plunge.

A long-time pug owner opens up her home — and heart — to give rescue dogs a happier, heathier life.

A free-range diet of whole grains and grass is usually not enough to keep your poultry in good health.

The grass in this orchard is kept neat and trim by the cutest, littlest lawn mowers.

Keep an eye on the pasture and young livestock as the weather starts to warm up.

There are four factors that must be in place if a hen is to live her best life.

Hoverflies could be our new favourite buzzy buddies.

A heritage hen's productivity is most likely linked to the breeder.

Break-feeding is a good strategy for rationing pasture over winter.