By May Woodworth First of a three part series on Wry Neck. See the other two parts here: Part 2 Final Part        Our friends and family know Uno’s story well. They know that his Rhode Island Red parents (Red & RooRoo) had a zany relationship. They know that Red lost interest in sitting […]

Jennifer Sartell Story and photos by author You can expand your flock by hatching eggs from a breeder. Chickens are some of the most varied animals ever domesticated by humans. The APA recognizes 65 breeds alone and there are many, many more hobby breeds, fancy breeds, and interesting egg layers beyond that. Have you ever […]

Hatching baby chicks in your own incubator is not only easy — it’s a blast! by Pascale Pearce This content is sponsored by Brinsea. I’ve heard from many backyard poultry enthusiasts who’d like to become more self-sufficient by hatching their own chicks, but who have concerns about the cost and difficulty of doing so. Well, there’s […]

This post is your guide to all things chicken! Everything from why you should raise chickens, different styles of rearing, choosing breeds that are right for you, designing a coop, keeping you flock healthy and raising chicks. It’s the perfect place to start if you’re just starting out with your first flock, or are interested […]

Have you heard of pasty butt? It also goes by the term “pasting up”. As you spend time with your chicks, you might happen to notice  that some of their bottoms have poo stuck to their backside (the vent). This can happen for a number of reasons including getting acclimated to eating food, poor quality […]

The Iron Oak Farm Year of the Chicken   It’s Spring! And for most, the chicken keeping year starts in the spring. Perhaps you’re bringing home your first chicks, or maybe last year’s pullets are beginning to lay. Maybe you’re collecting eggs for the incubator, or maybe you’re a seasoned chicken keeper who’s just thankful […]

Have you walked into your local farm store or hatchery lately?  The familiar peeping sound draws you in…it’s baby chick time!  Rather it’s your first go round or you’re a pro at raising baby chicks, there are a few things that all of us can learn.  This guide to getting started with chickens is a […]

It’s that time of year again! We visited our local feed store to buy goat grain the other night, and as soon as the sliding doors parted we could hear the familiar “peep, peep, peeping” of all the new 2016 baby chicks. When I was a teenager, I remember there was only one store in […]

As winter draws to a close, some folks are busy drooling over mail order chick catalogs trying to determine which breeds they would like to get this year.  Some are just starting out and others are trying to narrow down their must-have breeds. Chicken math is in full swing and if you are like me, […]

  Out here in western New York, Labor Day signals the return to school. School buses flash their lights through the foggy mornings; children are hustled out the door with new backpacks, uncreased paper and unused erasers. It has been many years since the school bus stopped at the end of our driveway, but in […]