We just brought home our final batch of meat bird chicks for the year. Now we have more than 100 little peeping, fluffy chicks under a heat plate in our basement. I don’t like having chicks this late in the year (August), but with meat birds, it doesn’t matter quite as much. They are mature …
Have you ever looked at a hen, and wondered if she misses her eggs when they are gone? The answer is simple: for chickens, laying eggs is something they do out of instinct. You will see a clear difference between a chicken who is just laying an egg, and a broody hen trying to hatch …
My free-range flock was at it again. They left the cozy acreage of our farm, and went to visit the neighbors. I could see them digging around the neighbor’s yard, looking for bugs, and contemplating what good things might be lurking on their back porch. My neighbors are very nice and understanding, but I didn’t …
Although the changing of the leaves is a splendor to behold, we homesteaders see the process as something else altogether. A reminder that the cold temperatures of winter will be following very close behind. November itself can prove to be quite a chilly month in and of itself. With that said, it doesn’t compare to …
Ticks can cause some serious problems around the farm, so it’s only natural that you might be wondering, “do chickens eat ticks?” Chickens, along with other types of poultry, do eat ticks. Although they aren’t as fond of these pesky pests as other kinds of birds, like guinea hens, they’ll munch on their fair share …
Don’t you love the taste of fresh parsley on your morning scrambled eggs? Herbs like parsley have a ton of health benefits in addition to their culinary applications. You probably already know this. But what you might not know is that these herbs are also great for your chickens, too. There are several ways you …
When you’re building or buying a chicken coop, there are all kinds of features you’ll want to pay attention to. How many nest boxes does it have? What about the roosting bars? Is it big enough for all of your chickens? One feature that many people tend to overlook is how well the chicken coop …
Although raising chickens is one of the easiest ways to get started with livestock, the reality is that they aren’t totally without effort. You love chickens, right? Well, so do a large variety of predators. These opportunistic creatures are just waiting for the perfect moment to go after your birds – and they will take …
How to Secure Your Chicken Coop to Keep Your Flock Safe Read More »
Raising chickens can be quite the costly endeavor. Sure, you get rewarded with eggs, meat, and free fertilizer – but you have a lot of expense in raising your flock, don’t you? From one-time equipment expenses like feeders and waterers (and chicken coops!) to more regular, yet equally costly, expenses like food and medications, raising …
41 Cheap Chicken Feed Ideas That Will Save You Money Read More »
If you’re trying to figure out what to feed your flock of chickens, you might feel overwhelmed by the wealth of information out there. Don’t feed high-protein food. Feed high protein feed! Well, feed it in moderation. Only feed it during molting. The information is exhausting when you try to find the answer to the …
