by Donna McGlasson from Gardens & Chickens & Worms, Oh My!  Knowing chickens have sensitive respiratory systems, I conducted some research back in July on the effects of wildfire smoke on chickens.  I was prompted by a wildfire that broke out due to lightning near where I live. The wildfire in July was about 25 […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest If you are like us, sometimes you have so many eggs that you don’t quite know what to do with them. After sharing them with family, friends and neighbors and making a quiche or two I also like to hard boil a dozen for later use. One of those uses is creating one […]

by Jennifer Sartell of Iron Oak Farm Sometimes when I’m writing these posts I forget that many of our readers are new to chickens. Or maybe want chickens, or are simply interested in chickens and are still in the learning phase of their venture. I’ve had chickens for more than half my life which makes […]

by Meredith Chilson It takes a long time to write a good story.  Sometimes years. Besides the basics of plot, character and setting, a proper story should have intrigue, romance, adventurous nail biting moments, a bit of tragedy…and a happy ending. I have just such a story for you.  Well, minus the romance, but including […]

by Liz Hessen of For the Love of Chicken Poop When it comes to adding to your flock every situation is different. Some attempts work right away, some attempts work after a very long time, some, you feel, will NEVER work..no mater how much you love very last one of them! ADOPTING CLAUDINE – We […]

by Jennifer Sartell of Iron Oak Farm One of my readers from the Iron Oak Farm blog recently e-mailed me with a question. She was wondering if chickens should be locked up during rain storms because she heard that they can drown simply by looking up into falling rain. The issue of rain and farming […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest Soon enough, pumpkins will be hitting the market places and local picking patches near you. Did you know that feeding pumpkins and their seeds to your flock is not just a wonderful way to entertain them? It also has added health benefits as well. Pumpkins are a yummy snack […]

  by Heidi Carlson A few weeks ago, we lost one of our hens. A cute little girl, a Sicilian Buttercup, we think. One night, she just wasn’t there in the coop with the others at “tuck-in” time. It was my husband’s turn to lock them up and he came up short in the head […]

by Jennifer Burcke Here at 1840 Farm, we produce as much of our own food as possible.  From winter’s maple syrup to summer’s garden harvest, we’re always trying to produce something farm fresh for our family table. During the summer, the garden dictates what direction our dinner plans take.  When it is finally heirloom tomato season, […]

by Meredith Chilson  “The Shenandoah Valley stretches 200 miles across the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. It’s been nicknamed “The Big Valley” and immortalized in song, dance, film and television.” (Shenandoah Valley-Virginia is for Lovers) In a rural pocket of that Big Valley, a 12 year old named Josiah is raising quail, for fun AND profit. When I […]