If you’ve been paying attention to homesteading magazines and farming websites lately, you may have noticed the term “chicken tractor” a time or two – or twelve! But what exactly is a chicken tractor – and why do you need one? If you raise chickens, using a chicken tractor is one of the best things …
Chickens are wonderful. They provide us with plenty of eggs, useful fertilizer and, of course, we eat them for food. But plenty of other creatures also love to eat chickens, with hawks being one of the biggest threats to backyard and barnyard chickens alike. If you’ve got a flock of chickens, you’ll want to do …
10 Surefire Ways to Protect Your Chickens from Hawks Read More »
When I was very little, we had chickens and, of course, chicken coops. While I may not remember much about that part of my childhood, I do remember going to the coop to gather eggs. Unfortunately, and this is common for all farmers, we also had flies on the property. Now, flies can be either …
22 Ways to Get Rid of Flies in your Chicken Coop Read More »
Originating in America in 1910, professor ‘Red’ Richardson with input from local farmers and the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station began the process of creating the New Hampshire hen. This was in response to poultry breeders desire for hens that are fast feathering and chickens that grew and matured quicker than the Rhode Island Red …
The chicken tractor is a wooden or PVC enclosure that is meant to serve as a mobile chicken coop. It is the ultimate solution to providing your flock with the fresh air, exercise, and quality pasture they need. Despite the benefits, however, they do have limitations – particularly in regards to how many birds they …
I’ve said this before but it’s something that bears repeating homesteaders really appreciate their animals. Whether it’s their dogs and cats, or livestock animals, they understand and appreciate the value of having healthy stock. This is especially true when it comes to chickens and other birds which have a much more…stringent diet. The health of …
Last year, I had a superb harvest of cantaloupe melons from my garden. I absolutely love cantaloupe melons but they don’t store well for the long-term, so I gave many away to my friends and family. With lots remaining, I turned to my friends for suggestions on how to use the rest. I hated to …
When I was a kid, we had a small farm with various animals – including chickens. Now, because I was just a few years old at the time, I only have vague memories of collecting eggs from the chicken coops, walking over dust, and watching as the chickens rolled around in said dust. Chickens are …
8 Things To Add to a Chicken Dust Bath (and 3 Things Not To) Read More »
One thing any homesteader can appreciate is just how valuable their animals are. We do the best that we can to keep them safe and healthy. Of course, we can’t prevent everything from happening and sometimes they do get hurt or sick. Chickens, and birds in general, are fragile and can be injured very easily …
When you’re living off the grid, it’s important to make sure that you can use all resources at your disposal. You must keep your animals healthy if you intend to use them for meat, dairy, and, in the case of chickens, eggs. With all that said, all animals enjoy a good treat from time to …
