Chickens

If you know anybody who owns chickens, and particularly a mixed flock consisting of hens and roosters, you’ve probably heard them talk about the pairings that happen in the warmer season with mixed tones of amusement and dread. Of course, chickens mate to reproduce just like every other animal, but depending on who you ask … Read more

One of my favorite things about raising chickens is just how versatile they are. That, and how cheap and easy they are to care for generally. But anyway, when it comes to production chickens can give you meat and eggs, and some breeds are known for being great at both purposes. A properly chosen flock … Read more

Every chicken owner knows, and if they don’t know they find out quickly enough, that their birds need bedding in the coop. It’s good for sanitation, it provides a little bit of insulation and also something soft for chickens to walk on, protecting their feet. But invariably, chickens will ruin their bedding in time, and … Read more

Whether you want to let your chickens free-range or you prefer to keep them in a smaller, fenced run or other enclosure, you’ve got to have a good fence. “Good fences make for happy flocks,” that’s the old saying! Actually, I might have that wrong – but it’s still the truth! The trick is picking … Read more

There are a lot of conflicting opinions out there when it comes to chickens and rain. Some folks say that it is 100% fine for a chicken to be out on a rainy day, whereas other owners swear they put their birds up the moment the skies start to darken. I mean, sure, chickens aren’t … Read more

I don’t know about you, but for me, one of the best times around the homestead is when I have a batch of precious, sweet little chicks in the brooder box. I just love the little things. But if you are new to keeping chickens and going through the same thing you probably noticed that … Read more

Chickens are some of the most adaptable animals around, and probably the single most adaptable livestock species. If they’ve got a warm coop, food, water, and a little bit of time to roam every day, they are good. But intense cold will put any animal to the test when it comes to endurance. And especially … Read more

For most of us that own chickens, the primary reason is to get those wonderful fresh eggs day in and day out. But laying season can be a difficult and hectic time: unhappy or stressed chickens might get broody, lay fewer eggs or even lay eggs of lesser quality. That’s no good, and trying to … Read more

Chicken keepers know that taking care of your flock is truly a full-time job. Even when you allow your chickens to free-range, you’ve got to make sure they have water, stay disease-free, and don’t get into anything that might be harmful for them. All this on top of ensuring that they get all of the … Read more

Most people already know that chickens have a highly varied diet. Chickens eat all sorts of things, including plant matter and meat, but did you know they can even have some really sweet stuff like molasses? It’s true, and it isn’t just a sweet treat for chickens. They love it, don’t get me wrong, but … Read more

If you own chickens, it goes without saying that you probably have a serious interest in keeping them as healthy as possible. For the well-being of the birds themselves, of course, but also so they can stay productive for your purposes, whether you want eggs or meat. Accordingly, anything you can do to increase their … Read more

While chickens are raised for different purposes – meat, eggs, show, and pets – I think we can all agree that it’s devastating to lose any members of your flock… Hawks have keen eyesight to hunt from high in the sky, and sharp powerful talons to catch and carry chickens away. When a hawk sweeps … Read more

Jasmine is one shrub that is greatly loved for its highly aromatic flowers. Delicate, clustering and often climbing, there is hardly anything more beautiful found in nature. Jasmine can be found all over the world and is commonly cultivated as a decorative plant. Like many other decorative plants, chickens might occasionally want to sample it! … Read more

Queen Anne’s lace is a pretty, delicate flowering weed, one with a fairly ostentatious name considering it is just a wild carrot! If you have chickens, you might be wondering if they can dine on these wild Roots and other parts of the plant considering there are many other sorts of vegetables that they like. … Read more

Anyone who owns chickens, or anyone who owns any bird for that matter, knows that chickens periodically lose feathers. You’ll always see one or two blowing on the breeze around the run or coop, and sometimes you’ll find a handful after a scuffle or some other altercation. It’s far from uncommon, and just a part … Read more

Many animals are a study in contrasts. For every incredible ability that an animal has, it usually has one or more weaknesses to offset it. Looking at animals that are predator, prey or sometimes both the determining factor for where it falls into the food chain might be whether or not it is simply in … Read more