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Raising backyard chickens is easy, but be warned, they are a gateway animal. You'll start with just a couple of chickens and before you know it you've got a flock large enough to produce eggs for the whole neighborhood. That leads to the acquisition of ducks. Then it's goats.
Chickens really are a great starter animal, though. They are low-maintenance and fairly low-cost. Learn how to raise backyard chickens with these articles. Remember, healthy and happy chickens lay the most delicious eggs.
Sand is the answer to an obsessive person’s dreams. Close your eyes and imagine: Beautifully manicured chicken feet, zen garden furrows in the ground, everything staying in it’s place instead of blowing around whenever a wing is flapped. Imagine walking in and smelling… nothing. Sand, my dear readers, is the answer.
Today you are getting Zoologist Jessica instead of Homesteader Jessica. For those of you that don’t know, I went to school for zoology, but decided that I didn’t want to live in a city, which is what led me to farming. One important aspect of animal care they taught me about in college was animal enrichment and how important it is to an animals health and overall well-being.
Animal enrichment is activities that create a more stimulating environment for the animals and elicit some of their natural behaviors such as exploration, foraging, locomotion, social interaction, manipulating objects, or simply playing.
There are plenty of lists of toxic and unsafe plants for chickens, but it is very hard to find plant options that can be used in your chicken area. I have compiled a list of plants that are deemed chicken-safe. The following plants are appropriate and worry-free for the areas chickens roam. The list tells you the zone said plant grows in as well as if the plant is an annual or perennial.
Sprouting fodder is something farmers have been done for generations. Fodder is defined as “food, especially dried hay or feed, for cattle and other livestock.” Sprouting fodder growing the fodder and allowing the livestock to eat it at a young stage. This feeding technique can offer a varied diet for livestock at a fraction of the price of traditional feeds. Although you can sprout a variety of grains, today I’m going to chat about sprouted barley because it’s a great all-around grain for livestock.
With Christmas right around the corner, chicken hobbyists and those dreaming of acquiring chickens in the spring are making their lists and checking them twice. Of course, on the top of every chicken lover’s list is poultry themed pajamas and the newest egg sorter. However, many chicken keepers reserve their Christmas wish list for that big-ticket item. A new chicken coop.
I am in love with mason jar feeders and waterers. They work for all ages and sizes in the flock and if you’re like me and have hundreds of jars laying around, it’s a dirt cheap way to go. The only flaw to them is they can be very challenging to hang. When left on the ground, they quickly fill with bedding and droppings. With a little crochet knowledge and some yarn or even twine, you can make a hanger in a matter of minutes.
![In case no one ever told you, let me impart some wisdom upon you. Angora rabbits and CareFresh bedding absolutely emphatically do not mix. Find out what option works better in your bunny's litter box: https://104homestead.com/litter-box-angora [you can also click the link in my profile to get there easier] #angorarabbit #housebunny](https://104homestead.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)