If the cost of raising chickens has got you down, maybe you want to take on a new challenge: how to feed your chickens for free. You might be surprised by all the things you can feed your chickens that won’t cost you any money. And while it is true that chickens need a balanced… [read more]

If you have ever thought about raising chickens, you likely have images of ruby-red birds prancing through grass-covered pastures running through your head. The unfortunate reality for many people ist hat for part of the year, those grass-covered pastures are covered with something else entirely – snow. Raising chickens for eggs or meat requires you… [read more]

When deciding to take on and maintain chickens, the first priority is to make sure that the flock is both happy and healthy. Keeping your birds happy is pretty simple—food, a secure coop, and room to roam are the essential requirements. On the other hand, keeping them healthy can at times seem daunting to the… [read more]

I used to think a chicken was just a chicken until I decided I needed to have a few for my very own. After calling around to several hatcheries and asking questions that only a novice chicken owner could dream up, I discovered there were many types and breeds of chicken to choose from. The… [read more]

When I finally made the decision to add chickens to the homestead, like most, I went into serious research mode. Admittedly, with all the research I performed, the one situation that I never considered was that, like most animals, chickens can and do get bored. It only makes sense, seeing that they split their daily… [read more]

If your normally sweet, docile little hen just turned into a fire-breathing dragon with feathers, you might have a broody hen. Perhaps you are wondering if she is sick, or injured, or ate something that didn’t agree with her crop? If your hen just underwent a major personality change, it’s likely she’s broody. You may… [read more]

Did you ever wonder if you should get silkie chickens for your backyard or homestead? I will never forget the day that I discovered these amazing tiny balls of fluff – baby silkie chickens- for sale at my local Tractor Supply during their infamous Chick Days. I was immediately smitten with the little darlings and… [read more]

Chicken fanciers love to spoil their feathered friends with delicious and nutritious treats. But what exactly should you feed your chickens when you want to give them a little treat? Sure, you could purchase expensive chicken treats online or at your local farm store. Your chickens will happily gobble them up! But if you want… [read more]

The next time you have eggshells to throw out after your morning scramble or Benedict, don’t just toss them in the trash. When you have backyard chickens, you are going to get eggs. When you have eggs, you are going to get eggshells. You may be wondering “What can I do with eggshells?” Sure, you can… [read more]

I lived in a small townhouse with a tiny backyard. I squeezed in a garden, but what I really wanted was a few chickens for eggs, manure, and fun. My next-door neighbors promised they didn’t mind, but the township I lived in had different ideas about what I could do with my own backyard. The… [read more]