I have used all three. Not for a weekend, not for a “let me test this for a blog post” week — I mean seasons of Western New York mud, humidity, and deep-freeze winters with a full flock tracking it all around the coop. And if you have been standing in the feed aisle or …
If your chickens are sleeping in the nest boxes, piling up in a corner, then you probably need a better roosting bar setup. It’s an easy fix and something worth considering before you even start building a chicken coop. Roosting bars are where your flock perches overnight, off the ground and safe from drafts and …
If you’ve ever ordered a batch of day-old chicks, you already know the drill: they arrive fluffy, peeping, and in desperate need of a warm, safe place to call home for the first few weeks of their lives. Before your chicks ship, you need a brooder ready and waiting. And if you’re like most of …
When I first started raising chickens, I pictured mornings with a warm cup of coffee, collecting a basket full of fresh eggs while the sun rose over the barn. And for a while, it was exactly that.The hens scratched around pecking the roosters’ beaks, the kids helped gather eggs, and it all felt like the …
If you’ve got a small flock of backyard chickens, you already know how quickly feed can add up — and how messy it can get when your girls kick, scratch, and spill it all over the coop floor. The right chicken feeder isn’t just about keeping the feed tidy; it saves money, keeps pests away, …
Four eggs again—I couldn’t believe this. I knew some of our hens were slowing down as they approached five years old and were not laying as consistently, but FOUR eggs out of 15 chickens didn’t seem right. I do have eight young hens now mixed in with my older hens because I really didn’t want …
We’ve raised meat birds on our homestead for six years. Last year, our kids raised meat birds for the first time in their local 4-H program. We were not correctly set up to handle the amount of birds and had to make due. This year, we wanted to keep costs low and use what we …
Gardening and chicken keeping are two joyful pursuits that, when harmoniously integrated, can create a self-sustaining cycle of productivity and beauty in your backyard. This post will inspire you to consider different options of chicken gardens in and around your chicken coop. Designing Your Chicken Coop Garden When planning a garden around your chicken coop, …
Oh boy, grab your fans and ice packs, folks, because we’re discussing the hot topic of keeping your chickens cool when the mercury rises. Yes, you guessed it—we’re talking about chickens in the scorching summer heat. Is that even a thing here in Western NY?! Before we get into it, here is a quick word …
It doesn’t take long for your chickens to start digging holes to find themselves the perfect place for a spa day. All chickens need and love a good dust bath. If you aren’t pasture-raising your chickens and have a confined space, you may want to create the perfect chicken dust bath. The Importance of Dust …
If you’ve ever watched your chickens lose their minds over a handful of fresh greens, you already know—garden snacks are a big deal around the coop. Between rising feed prices and chickens that act like they’ve never eaten before in their lives, growing a small garden just for your flock makes a whole lot of …
Whether you are a beginner backyard chicken owner or an experienced one, looking for a variety of eggs is fun and important for your long-term goals. I love having a variety of colored eggs chilling on our counter. If you are a baker, having the right size egg is important, and today, I want to …
A Frame chicken coops are a great idea for the backyard homesteader who doesn’t have a ton of land to work with. After free-ranging our chickens for the last eight years, I’m almost ready to keep them in a coop, and an A-frame chicken coop would work well. However, choosing the right type of mobile …
As much as I don’t want to get ready for winter, I don’t want to try to clean out my chicken coop when temps are below freezing, and my hands are killing me from the cold. Winterizing your chicken coop in the fall is the best time. It doesn’t take much time, and you and …
One of the benefits of living out in the country is being able to use what you have. Even though I’m over the long winters, I appreciate the changing seasons and the different things each brings. Well, really, what does winter bring? It brings much more work and stress to a homesteader’s life- that’s what …
Fall is a beautiful season, but it’s also when our flocks go through one of the most challenging phases in their feathered life: molting. If you’re raising backyard chickens, you might have noticed that your hens have pin feathers and are hiding in the coop more than usual. Molting is a natural process that all …
Are you wondering how to keep your chickens entertained? Do they need to be stimulated? Maybe it’s winter and you’re wondering if your chickens are bored. Remember when the Wi-Fi went out, and you found yourself staring at the ceiling, contemplating your life choices? Yeah, chickens get bored, too, believe it or not. It’s worse …
Raising Ducks or chickens? Which is better for you? I recently had a friend bring home ducklings. It was their first experience with any livestock as a pet. I wish I could have told them a few things that I’m going to tell you if you are wondering if you should start with ducks or …
I’m seeing it all over my social media feeds; the price of eggs is insane, so you’re thinking of raising chickens. I get it, it’s the perfect push to get started with your own chickens. You want to be able to walk out to the backyard, collect some fresh eggs, and have fresh omelets every …
Did your cute little chicken hen from Tractor Supply turn out to be a Rooster? I know the disappointing feeling. You try to tell yourself, “Some hens can crow right?” This time I tried to believe my kids were playing a trick on me and it was their tablets making the Rooster sound. Nope, BOTH …
Do you need to keep your chicken coop smelling better than it is now? When the warmer, humid months hit, there is no denying you own some chickens. Or maybe you want to get your chicken coop ready for winter and need a little refresh to the coop. We’ve had three different coops for our …
The practice of using a small chicken coop rather than a larger one is becoming more popular. There are several reasons why these coops are gaining in popularity. Busy One reason is because hectic, busy lifestyles are better suited for these kinds of coops. The reason cited most often for having smaller coops is because …
Portable chicken coops boast many advantages for new or aspiring chicken farmers. The advantages include free fertilizer, pest control, and, best of all, fresh eggs. Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a large farm or several acres to devote to your chickens. Many designs can fit easily into your backyard, even if you live …
Have you thought about building a chicken coop, but held off because you didn’t know what kind of material to use, how to put the material together to make the coop, or because you thought it might cost more than you wanted to spend? There are free chicken coop instructions, and they’re available to you …
