When you have a flock of chickens and plenty of eggs, it’s natural to think about selling them. But how much should you charge for your farm-fresh eggs? Is $4 a dozen a fair price? Some people might argue that store-bought eggs are cheaper, but that’s not always the case. In this article, we’ll discuss […]
I understand how distressing it can be to find little bugs crawling on your skin. In my experience, these bugs are usually mites or chicken lice, and they can be quite common in chicken coops. In this article, I’ll share my experience with mites on my chickens, and some of the ways I’ve found to […]
Turkeys are fascinating birds that have been domesticated for thousands of years. They are a common sight in many parts of the world, especially North America. In addition to their meat, turkeys also produce eggs which are used in various dishes. However, not many people know much about turkey egg-laying habits. Domestic turkeys are bred […]
If you’re a chicken owner or plan to be one, it’s essential to understand how chickens poop. Why? For starters, it’s an indication of a chicken’s health. If your chickens are healthy, their poop should look and smell relatively uniform. If there are any irregularities in the color or consistency of their poop, it can […]
Chickens are known for their love of delicacies, and as a chicken owner, it’s important to know what treats your flock can safely indulge in. One such treat that is becoming increasingly popular is butternut squash. This seasonal vegetable has a lot to offer when it comes to nutrition and taste, making it an ideal […]
As someone who has raised chicks before, I can relate to the frustration of constantly finding pine shavings in their waterer. It seems like no matter what I did, those little fluff balls always found a way to make a mess. After trying a few different methods, I found some effective solutions to keep my […]
One of the things that you might be wondering is whether or not feeding your chickens scraps is a good idea. Some people believe that feeding chickens scraps can make their eggs taste funny, while others think it’s a great way to save money on chicken feed. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and […]
Red chicken breeds have been an important part of the poultry industry for over a century. The history of these chickens dates back to the early 1800s when farmers began selectively breeding chickens with red feathers for better meat quality and egg production. The first red chicken breed was the Rhode Island Red, which gained […]
It is concerning to see your beloved bird gasping for air. Not only is it a worrying sight, but it can also indicate an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. In this article, I will be discussing the possible reasons why your chicken may be gasping for air and […]
As a chicken owner, one of the main concerns is to keep the birds happy and busy in their run. Chickens that are bored and have nothing to do can easily become agitated and start pecking at each other, which can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, it’s important to provide a stimulating environment for […]
Bantam chickens, also known as miniature chickens, are small versions of standard chicken breeds. They’ve become incredibly popular among backyard chicken keepers due to their compact size, friendly personalities, and ability to thrive in smaller spaces. Unlike their larger counterparts, bantam chickens can lay eggs that come in a rainbow of colors. Egg-ceptional Variety When […]
Raising chickens is a rewarding experience. You get fresh eggs, meat, and fertilizer while enjoying the company of these fascinating creatures. However, one question that many beginners ask is whether different types of chickens can coexist in the same environment. Specifically, can standard chickens, bantams, and seramas be free-ranged and housed together? In this article, […]
If you own chickens, you know that they require a safe and secure place to roost at night. A weatherproof chicken coop is essential to ensure their safety, health, and well-being. Chickens are incredibly resilient birds, but they cannot withstand extreme temperatures, high humidity, and other harsh weather conditions. By weatherproofing your coop, you can […]
Are you considering adding chickens to your backyard? If so, you’re not alone. More and more people are discovering the joys and benefits of raising their own chickens, from having a fresh supply of eggs to enjoying the company of these fascinating birds. In Phoenix, small chicken hatcheries are making it easier than ever for […]
The Brahma originally named Brahmaputra (Brahmapootra) after a river in India, is an American Chicken Breed, developed from birds that had been imported from the Chinese port of Shanghai. In the chickens giant hall of fame, the Brahma chickens sit up there, together with other giant breeds like the Jersy Giant, with Brahma cockerels weighing […]
I have lost chicks to cats. Not my cats but stray cats that come into my backyard looking for food. My 2 cats live side by side with chickens. I got them used to be around chickens since they were kittens. Can cats and chickens live together? It is very possible for cats and chickens […]
Are you grappling with the decision of which feeder material to choose for your beloved flock of chickens? We understand the importance of finding the perfect balance between functionality, durability, and cost-effectiveness when it comes to selecting the right chicken feeder. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the debate of metal feeders versus […]
We keep chicken for eggs and meat. One in a while, the egg supply drops. Chickens stop or reduce their rate of laying. We get worried about why we are not having enough eggs for breakfast. The kids keep asking for eggs. You tell them that there are no eggs. They respond by telling them […]
Vegetables and fruits not only make great treats for chickens but are also nutritious. While they are not to be a replacement for their daily balanced diet, vegetables and fruits will add some nutrients to your chickens. So the question here is not if chickens will eat vegetables and fruits, but where the vegetable and […]
Dogs have been said to be man’s best friend and chickens are the cheapest provider of proteins to humanity. Dogs will offer companionship, protect people and their properties. Chickens are not only great companions but also provide eggs and meat. Can you keep chickens with dogs? We have heard horrifying encounters between dogs and chickens. […]
Mortality in chickens can be heartbreaking for any chicken keeper. None of my backyard chickens died when I started keeping chickens. Until I decided to hatch my own eggs and scale up my flock. We had traveled for the day. When got back in the evening, I did not check on the chicks. The next […]
Chickens scratch everywhere they can when feeding. This will include the chicken feeder. If the feeder is not made in a way that prevents waster, the feed will be scattered all over the floor. This will lead to wasted feed. Chicken feed accounts for 70% of the cost of keeping chickens. It is this feed […]
One of the most understood chickens is the rooster. They are seen as a nuisance by some people while others view them as an integral part of any flock. A visiting friend once told me that I was doing zero work since I did not have a rooster. She went further and explained how I […]
I first started by placing chicken feed on the floor. Then I realized that in no time there would be no signs of feed on the ground. My chickens would still be hungry. They would scatter the feed all around. Turn around and look at me, expecting more feed. Then I started using flat containers […]
While the red color in chicken poop might be nothing to worry about, it is a good practice to determine if the reddish color is blood or not. Blood in the chicken droppings will most likely be a sign of coccidiosis. If it is not blood, then most likely it is shedding of intestinal linings.
Do chickens need to have food and water inside the coop? Is it sufficient to have food and water in the run? Do chickens eat and drink at night in the coop? A detailed look on to where to place the feed and water station.
What size of feeder do you need for your chickens? 4 chickens? 10 chickens? 100 chickens? We take a look on how to calculate the feeder size required for any number of chickens.
Getting the right size of a chicken feeder will not only cut on the time you need to refill but also keep your birds are well fed and they do not have to fight for space while feeding.
I have been raising chickens for a while now. One intriguing observation I have made is that they like laying at the same location. I have provided my chickens multiple laying boxes, but they seem to like one. Sometimes you will see chickens squeezing in one box while the others are vacant. Ducks on the […]
Can You Keep Ducks and Chickens Together? A closer look on how to keep chickens and ducks together, while making sure their unique needs are met
When I first started keeping chickens in my backyard, I always wondered if the neighbors would come complaining about the noise. One of the major concerns for any aspiring backyard chicken keeper is noise. Noise from chickens can be a nuisance in urban and suburban areas. In some localities, there are laws that keep urban […]
After you have been keeping chickens for a while, you may ask yourself if there is a need to add ducks to your poultry flock. This is an issue I am currently looking into. The kids want ducks. They think they are adorable. My wife says ducks are awesome and that I cannot finish one […]
Though it might sound absurd, a major concern of new poultry keepers is if their chickens will fly away. And never come back. They do not specifically worry if the chickens will fly to another city or country, but if they will get out of their enclosures. For backyard poultry keepers, the concern might be […]
Come rain or snow, it is good to get chickens ready so that they can survive and remain productive throughout the frost. Winter is coming. Temperatures drop. Snow falls. Hours of the natural light become less. There is less food for predators. Your chickens become a target. In this article, we cover some of the […]
When I was constructing my chicken coop, I didn’t make any provision for artificial Lighting. This is because I did not see the need at the time. Since it is time to install one, I am looking at the different discussions around the need for artificial lighting in the chicken coop. The concept of supplemental […]
With an automatic chicken door, you do not have to worry about your chickens getting out of the coop in the morning and getting locked in the evening. They will be securely locked in at night and automatically let out in the morning when the automatic chicken doors open according to the time you have […]
During my early days of keeping chickens, I noticed my chickens’ wings were droopy and they had their mouths open. There were panting. Initially, I thought they might be sick. I called a friend who informed me that that is the way chickens behave when it is too hot. When it is hot, human beings […]
One of the challenges I faced when I started keeping chickens was the odor. When I got my first chicks, I put up the brooder in the house. I did not know that the smell would be so awful. After 3 days, I had to relocate the brooder. We could not stand the nauseating odor. […]
Chicken coops can attract rats and mice because they offer shelter, food, water, and the perfect breeding ground. Whether the chickens and coop are yours or the neighbors, prevention measures should be taken from the beginning. This is because is usually easier to prevent rats and mice from getting into the chicken coop than getting […]
Salmonella is a type of bacteria related to food poisoning in form of a disease called salmonellosis. It affects the intestinal tract of humans, chickens, and other poultry and mammals in general. According to a July 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, humans can become infected with the Salmonella bacteria after eating […]
I started keeping chickens without a plan. My mum gave us 2 hens and a cockerel for processing as meat for the children. We decided to keep them in the dog kennel. We had just let go of Sparky, our old dog, who used to get sick now and then, due to diseases spread by […]
As I was growing up, I never saw chicken being scalded. Never witnessed chicken being plucked using mechanical pluckers. My grandmother, together with my mother would hold the chicken, and pluck it very fast before it lost its body heat. As long as the chicken was warm, the feathers would come out with little resistance. […]
I have been processing my own chickens for a while now. Along the way, I have learned that to make the process easy for you and your chickens, it is good to have the right chicken processing equipment. This will not only make the butchering process shorter but also leave you with some energy to […]
Cornish cross (Cornish X) is the darling of the commercial chicken meat industry. Cornish X is also known also as Cornish Rock If you have bought broiler chicken meat at the grocery store, high chances are that the meat came from cornish cross chickens. The cornish cross, also referred to as the cornish rock is […]
You got chickens in your backyard with the intention of getting fresh eggs for your family. You might be keeping chicken as a means of self-sufficiency, with eggs as the cheapest source of proteins available to man. When the eggs start coming, you have them for breakfast, every day. As you take good care of […]
The Australorp breed of a chicken has been around since the 1890s or thereabout. It is still here today, thanks to it being a great egg-layer as well as good meat yield. A dual-purpose breed, the Australorp is a good choice for anyone who wants to keep chicken in their backyard or homestead. Australorp background […]
Have you been thinking about raising chickens, but your backyard is small? Once you have decided, you need to choose a breed or breeds that suit the backyard. Below are some popular breeds that will help you figure out the best fit. Buff Orpingtons Orpington is a fairly recent breed. A coachman from England was […]
Many chicken owners find it so distressing when their chickens stop laying eggs. An experienced chicken owner knows how to tell that this is a part of the natural cycle of a hens’ life or other reasons that their chickens are not laying eggs. To be able to deal with the causes of chickens not […]
Culling is one of the practices that has been done for ages in livestock keeping. When it comes to chickens, culling is the process where you identify and remove the non-laying or low producing chickens from a laying flock. It is a continuous process from the time your chicks hatch to the peak of their […]
As much as we dislike the small disturbing insects, flies usually come along if you are keeping chicken. Those black pestering creatures are usually at every nook and cranny in the farm and multiply pretty quickly with one female fly getting sexually active just after 24hours of being in the adult stage. A female fly […]
All around the world, every animal keeper has to deal with the smell of animal droppings. Chicken being no exception, can generate a whole lot of awful smells that might even land you in trouble with your neighbors. You do not have to struggle to hold your breath every time you enter a stinky chicken […]
