Birds are probably the very first things any new homesteader thinks about raising… and for good reason: they’re small and so easy to care for!
Chickens are of course, an all-time favorite, since they lay eggs almost all year round, and they’re a good source of meat, but guineas, ducks, geese and quail are also very good options.
Which ones are right for you? Read our articles to find out, not to mention everything about raising them, incubating eggs, butchering and more.
If you’ve owned chickens for any length of time, you already know that these plucky birds are eating machines. Food, truly, seems to be the only thing that motivates them. But feeding them is a lot easier in warm weather. With cold weather comes challenges… For example, chickens won’t be able to peck and scratch … Read more
I’ve been moving away from over-the-counter chemical-laden cleaners in my home for years, and increasingly I’m doing the same for products to help my animals. And I’ll level with you: the safe, organic alternatives are just too expensive! Luckily, some time back, I stumbled across the Fresh Eggs Daily blog and found this simple, natural … Read more
If you’re just getting started with keeping chickens, choosing the right breed is very important. Your birds must be able to meet your goals, yes, but they should also have an amenable temperament, be in good health, and just as importantly, make you proud to own them! If you have your heart set on a … Read more
Whether you are raising chickens for meat or eggs, you’ve got to feed them daily. They don’t eat that much, so it’s easy enough to do if you have a small flock, but if you’ve got a big one or plenty of other chores to do on your homestead besides, it will take time. Time … Read more
One of the best things you can do for your chickens is simply to let them free-range. Letting them wander around your yard or property getting some exercise, fresh air, and of course, delicious, choice bits of food in the form of grass, seeds, bugs and more will do wonders for their health and well-being. … Read more
There is no shortage of predators out to make a meal of our precious chickens. Turns out that people aren’t the only living things that think chickens are delicious! When it comes to predators, most folks are already familiar with mice and rats and larger critters like coyotes and the occasional roaming dog or cat. … Read more
Eggs are the very best part of owning a flock of chickens. They’re the freshest, best-tasting eggs you will ever have, bar none, and bringing in a basket full of those perfect little jewels every morning is one of life’s great pleasures. And compared to the eggs you get in the grocery store, your flock … Read more
Chickens are rightly known as hardy and generally healthy birds, but even they can fall victim to dangerous weather conditions, particularly extremely high temperatures. Depending on where you live, summer can mean dangerous days for your birds, as the mix of high temperatures, high humidity, and blazing direct sunlight results in dramatic heat stress and, … Read more
Once you get into keeping chickens, and I mean really into it, you’ll discover that half the fun is learning all about the different domestic breeds out there. Just like dogs and cats, different chicken breeds have their own unique attributes, quirks, and personalities… Suffice it to say that there is a chicken out there … Read more
There’s an old saying that says there is someone out there for everybody, and I don’t know if that’s true or not but I can definitely tell you with certainty that there is a breed of chicken out there for everyone. No matter what your desires or preferences, there’s bound to be a breed of … Read more
Chickens are awesome. Well, they are awesome if you love keeping them or if you have Stockholmed yourself into believing that you do… I’m only half kidding: no matter the benefits, no matter how much you enjoy having your birds around, they are always going to cause problems. The best setup, the best care, the … Read more
It has to be the ultimate question asked when it comes to raising chickens. No, not which one came first. I’m being serious. The question is, of course, whether or not a keeper should add a rooster to their flock. This is a surprisingly nuanced topic, and if you ask 10 chicken keepers, you’ll probably … Read more
Chicken swings are all the rage right now. Hanging in the coop, in the run, or elsewhere on your property, it’s just too funny to watch your birds perch on them and rock back and forth in the breeze. You can buy complete and, frankly, overpriced kits online, but I think this is the very … Read more
When most folks think of raising livestock, they imagine big acreages, rolling pastures, and wide-open spaces. The simple necessity of adequate land for raising cows, horses, and other animals is a huge expense and what keeps most homesteaders from doing so. Happily, that isn’t a problem with chickens: it doesn’t get any more space-efficient than … Read more
When most people think of housing chickens, they immediately think of a chicken coop. And that’s with good reason, but the chicken coop is only part of the equation unless you are letting your birds free range. If you want to give your flock maximum protection from predators while still letting them get sunshine and … Read more
Chickens are, without question, the most well-known birds on Earth. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows what a chicken is and what it looks like. No surprise then that chickens also happen to be the most popular poultry species out there, a title they’ve held for a long time. Despite this, there are plenty of … Read more