by Rebecca Nickols Photos by author A few common concerns of first time chicken owners (who have a dog as a pet) are: “How will the dog react to the chickens?” “Should I keep the chickens and dog(s) separated?” “What breed of dogs is best to keep around chickens?” I had the same questions with my […]

from Jennifer Sartell Photos by author While this post isn’t about sparkling fizzies, sugar rimmed glasses or spiked eggnog, it is about using alcohol in the coop. But before you head to the backyard with martini glasses and tiny umbrellas to celebrate with the girls, you might want to keep reading. As far as the […]

by Meredith ChilsonCourtney collects chickens.  Well, maybe it’s more accurate to say that Courtney attracts chickens.  It all started at a yard sale almost six years ago. At this particular sale, a mother hen and five baby chicks were in a pen in the yard with a “free to a good home” sign.  Now, really.  […]

by Jennifer Burcke Photos by author Thanksgiving is in full swing here at 1840 Farm.  Three generations of my family will gather around our farmhouse table today to enjoy a delicious collection of family favorites. There will be a wonderful selection of traditional dishes like mashed potatoes and our favorite artichoke and sage dressing.  I […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author Finally.  There are beginning to be a few more eggs in the nest boxes.  The older hens are finishing up their molt—the new feathers are looking lovely, all strong and shiny.  I’ve been adding a bit of protein to their diets in the form of mealworms, and I think […]

Salmonella is most often contracted from un-cooked or under-cooked eggs and raw chicken.  Most often contracted by chickens who come in contact with feces from infected rodents, the bacteria can then be transmitted to humans who eat improperly cooked meat or eggs or who put their hands in their mouth after touching chickens or eggs. […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author Do you remember those days in late spring when the daylight stretched so long into evening?  Those days when your chicken girls were greeting warm weather with egg after egg after egg?  The days when omelets and custards and frittatas were the norm—when you tried to come up with […]

by Jennifer Burcke Photos by author Fall has arrived at 1840 Farm.  The temperatures are becoming cooler each evening.  The daylight hours decrease each day.  Dusk is settling in earlier with every day that passes on the calendar.  I find it more difficult to embrace fall and the resulting winter season each year.  I understand […]

by Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick   In the past decade, the popularity of backyard chicken-keeping has elevated the status of chickens from expendable, barnyard livestock to valued family pets. Unfortunately, many of the earlier poultry-keeping articles and books were written with livestock in mind; frequently in those writings, culling is the proposed solution for certain injuries, behaviors and […]

by Jennifer Sartell Photos by author Well, the deed is done. Just as hard as I expected … just as hard as the year before. If you read my post from last week Thankful for Turkeys, you’ll know we were processing some of our turkeys and chickens this past weekend. The day started out cold […]