Backyard Chickens

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.

Animal enrichment is activities that create a more stimulating environment for the animals and elicit some of their natural behaviors.

It can be very challenging to find plant options that can be used in your chicken area. I have compiled a list of plants that are deemed chicken-safe.

Sprouting fodder is something farmers have been done for generations. Let's chat about sprouted barley because it's a great all-around grain for livestock.

Whether you are designing your first chicken coop or you are upgrading because you fell victim to chicken math, details are what will make or break a design.

Mason jar feeders and waterers are great, but they can be hard to hang. Here is an easy crochet holder that will keep your feeder and waterer off the ground.

Like peas and carrots, chickens and gardens belong together (though not occupying the same space). Chickens want to work. Why not harness that natural instinct?

Depending on where you live, any number of these predators may pose a problem for your flock. However, there are a number of ways to protect your chickens from the creatures.

How to Find Out What Breed Your Chicken Is

Spraddle leg, also referred to as splay leg, is a condition where a chick's legs "splay" out to the sides. It can often be repaired with a drinking glass.

What my chickens consume, my family consumes. That's why I prefer to try herbals, essential oils, and natural remedies before bringing out the big guns.

Started pullets are teenage female chickens. Since chickens begin laying at around 6 months of age, you have a much shorter wait before you start getting eggs.

Covering everything from choosing an incubator or broody, what's going on in the egg, tricks to make things run smoothly, hatch day and then caring for your new fluffy friends.

The homesteader, the chicken, and the Jehovah's Witness. A funny homesteading story, because you can't make this stuff up.

I am often asked by readers and local chicken keepers if chickens get colds. That is a great question and one I found myself wondering when I first began keeping chickens.

Find out which method of hatching is best for you and your situation. Both the use of incubators as well as broody hens has pros and cons. Find out what they are.

Learn why you should never risk introducing new birds without quarantining. Learn how to properly quarantine so you can keep your flock safe and healthy.

The reality is that you have to be strong when you become a homesteader. You have to make the tough calls and you have to be prepared to deal with death.

With a small flock of free range chickens, it's easy to shovel a small area for the chickens to graze. With a larger flock, it's harder to supply adequate space.

Have your laying hens stopped laying eggs? It is most likely for one of these fairly common reasons: Molt, inadequate light, poor nutrition, stress, or parasites.

Roosters show aggression for a variety of reasons. They perceive you as a threat or they want to dominate you. Occasionally, your rooster will just be a jerk.

Its getting chilly with winter on the way and it's time to start thinking about winterizing the chicken house and barn. Here are great tips to get you started.

Discover the answers to farm fresh eggs frequently asked questions.Why farm yolks are so dark? Does a blood spot mean it's fertile? Does the color change the flavor?

To find happiness, you need to find joy in the little things. Today, I present to you, Chickens Doing Yoga.

How do you mix colors to get the egg color you want? As mentioned in The Anatomy of Egg Color, brown is merely a paint added to the shell towards the end off the laying cycle.

At their core, all eggs are either white or blue. Discover the science behind egg color and what makes eggs all the shades we see.

With people's desire to eat local and know where their food is coming from, farms are popping up all over. Kathy Mormino is making headlines in her battle to keep chickens.

Wing clipping can be scary, but it might be something you need to consider for your chicken's safety. Here are answers to some of the frequent questions that come along.

You might be wondering when is the right time to switch to the next stage of feed. Timelines for those using commercial feed. Plus, feeding roosters, drakes, toms.

Why a hen sings after laying an egg and what the Egg Song sounds like. It will be music to your ears when you get your first chickens.

Fermented chicken feed is great for saving money and it helps with the birds' digestion. Great when you need to shave off a few bucks from your poultry bills.

If you've got birds for egg laying purposes, you may need to consider getting nest boxes. You can buy a variety of nest boxes either online or at farm supply stores, but there are many cheap options.

Electrolytes are something you should have on hand. This water-soluble solution is perfect for heat stress, dehydration, illness, general stress and more.

A frizzle is a chicken whose feathers curl upward. This upward curling is created by a gene. A frizzle looks like no other chicken. Sizzles are the same, but soft.

Whether you are a backyard hobby homesteader or an avid homesteader on your journey to live off-grid, these are the homesteading articles you want to be reading.

It's the day you've been counting down to. But do chicks really hatch on day 21? Find out what to expect when hatch day arrives and what may have gone wrong when not all the chicks make it.

Today we'll talk about how to setup your chick brooder, what supplies you'll need and how to prepare for lockdown. This is part 3 of chicken egg hatching.

Learn what you need to candle, how to candle, when to candle and what you are looking for when you are candling chicken or duck eggs.

Why spend crazy amounts of money on incubators when you can easily make on with things around your home? Check out these great DIY incubators I found.

Between size differences, care differences and potential problems with diseases, is multi-flock housing safe? Quail, ducks, large fowl, bantams and more.

Blue Egg Chicken Breeds

Everyone has there own way of raising their flock. Some people feel their way is the only right way. But is there a right way? Let's talk about all chicken hot topics.

Sand is becoming a very common coop bedding and it's easy to see why. Sand has so many benefits and when used properly, I think it's a bedding that you wont regret using.

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