Take a stroll down the egg aisle at your supermarket. Without a doubt, you will see countless types of eggs with all kinds of monikers. Some claim to be free-ranged, some are cage-free, and others are organic. But what about vegetarian? And what does it mean if a label reads, “USDA verified 100% vegetarian-fed chicken?”… [read more]

The days may be getting longer, but we still have a lot of days ahead of us that will prove to be both chilly and cold. As it happens, you may have already noticed a subtle change in both your flocks routine and personalities. These changes in your flock are those of being not so… [read more]

A rare modern breed of chicken, the Ayam Cemani is native to Indonesia. This chicken isn’t a great egg or meat producer – so why are people so obsessed with it? And more importantly, is this luxury chicken breed even worth raising? The short answer is…well, it depends. Here’s everything you need to know about… [read more]

You don’t need to enter the chicken coop in fear anymore. Whether your meanest rooster is a diminutive bantam or a hulking Jersey Giant, there’s nothing laughable about a boss rooster who thinks he rules the roost. I’m not afraid of roosters by any means, but I’ve suffered my fair share of injuries – from… [read more]

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]