The scorching sun… The sticky humidity… The hot temperatures… Chickens natural way of keeping cool is to spread their feathers to let the heat escape.  They are also smart enough to seek shade, create dust bathing areas, and drink plenty of water. Although they do a pretty good job of keeping themselves cool, I (along […]

guest post by Andrea Martin Recent outbreaks of avian influenza (including the highly pathogenic strains) in the Midwest have sounded the alarm against this dangerous disease. While the outbreak was mostly confined to commercial farms, backyard poultry keepers need to be vigilant as well. Without any treatment options available for poultry, the influenza virus won’t be welcomed in our […]

I’m a couple weeks behind in my year of the chicken updates. For those of you who are just starting with the series, The Year of the Chicken is where I follow one of our chickens from egg to laying hen. To see the last post visit The Year of the Chicken: Collecting Hatching Eggs. […]

This month’s “Cool Coop” is a great example of a doable DIY project. With some basic carpentry skills and determination, I think a lot of our readers could tackle this construction and create an equally functional and attractive coop. Our featured chicken keeper, Vicky of Texas, built this “Rustic / Whimsical Coop” out of re-purposed, left-over, donated […]

Last week I shared with you a recipe that uses a lot of eggs at one time…something needed when all of our ladies started laying. Today I want to share another recipe that showcases the incredible egg.  As with most of my recipes, I like to keep it simple.  But this recipe…it has a kick […]

The white of winter gives way to the bright greens of new grass and the delightful yellow of the dandelions that sprout up and speckle the landscape. Our land is once again ready to grow and nurture so many things. Those cheerful dandelions are our very first crop at my house. Dandelions are such an underutilized […]

This month’s “Cool Coop” is a perfect reminder that spring is finally here and warm weather and sunshine will soon bring some much appreciated color to the landscape. You’ll love Dandi Gentry’s creative and artful touches she added to her beautiful set-up. Continue reading as Dandi describes the construction of her cheerful coop she refers […]

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 […]

Today is the first day of the Spring season. It is a time of renewal and rebirth. All around my home, life is returning from its dormant winter sleep. The birds are chirping. Nests are being built. The trees are starting to bud. There is promise in the air of all the things to come. […]