Second in a three part series. Dr. Jacquie Jacob shares her research on how to effectively use heritage breeds for small-scale meat production operations.  As discussed in Part 1 of this three part series, we ran a study at the University of Kentucky poultry research farm comparing three heritage breeds (Black Australorp, Barred Plymouth Rock […]

Many people that would otherwise raise chickens are put off by the idea of a smelly, messy chicken coop.  Here are tips from Shelby DeVore on how to keep the coop clean and sanitary. Keeping a chicken coop clean and odor free is more manageable than you might think.  With a little bit of planning […]

While we often think of herbs in terms of cooking, they’re also an excellent tool for keeping your flock healthy. Amy Fewell shares tips and specific herb information to help you heal wounds and protect your chickens. Holistic Living We started our homesteading adventure in 2010 when our son was diagnosed with childhood asthma. Herbalism […]

Blogger Elle Pugsley works with rescued chickens, giving them a safe home and loving attention.  She shares a story about the sadness of losing a hen, and unexpectedly gaining another. Loss I’m sorry to say I lost one of my rescue hens. It’s never easy to lose an animal, even if you haven’t had them […]

Permaculture writer Jonathon Engels shares the Ins, Outs, and Whys of keeping chickens in your greenhouse. Why Put Chickens in the Greenhouse? In temperate climates, winter prevents us from growing fresh vegetables outside, but a greenhouse—even one that’s solely heated by solar power—allows us to foster some greens and cold-hardy treats to enjoy. Lettuce, spinach, […]

A crossed beak chicken? Sadly it happens! Last year I received a dozen or so Easter Egger peeps from a mail-order company, they all seemed perfect at first. As the peeps grew over the first few weeks I noticed we had one small chick that grew at a much slower rate. However, after a closer […]

Marissa Buchanan raises and breeds these rare, solid black chickens. She shares her experiences of owning a flock and the need to conserve this breed. Modern History of the Breed The rare and unique Ayam cemani is revered by poultry enthusiasts. With its black feathers, skin, and flesh, this breed is quite distinctive and certainly […]

Chickens are not always kind to each other. Learn how to keep your hens safe and solve some flock problems with this excerpt from The Chicken Keeper’s Problem Solver. PRIMITIVE BEHAVIOR Newcomers to the chicken-keeping hobby are frequently surprised—and often shocked—to discover just how vicious their feathery friends can be. Anything smaller than they are […]

College Farms are training grounds for students who want to learn about farm management, from small organic operations, to large industrial farms.  C.J. Walke is the manager of Peggy Rockefeller Farms, part of The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. He shares with us the history of the farm and specifics of its […]

The first six weeks of your chick’s lives need to be especially safe and warm. For our young chicken keeper’s, here are instructions for creating the perfect brooder for new chicks. After you determine which breeds you would like to raise and know when they will arrive at your home, it’s time to make a […]