by Meredith Chilson Photos by author It’s a long story.  Several weeks ago, when we moved the teenagers into the main coop, our Buff Orpington hen, Mrs. Feathers, was so intrigued with the new birds that, apparently, she decided she wanted babies of her own.  She retreated to a nesting box, fluffed up her feathers, […]

By Sara Morrissette In every flock there seems to be the innate understanding of a pecking order. Once the order is set you can begin to catch glimpses of a society. If you watch even closer, you can learn the quirks, moods and habits of each individual chicken. I’m convinced that within the basic pecking […]

by Rebecca Nickols While my heart goes out to those that were in the direct path of hurricane Isaac, the storm has brought some much needed rain to the drought-stricken Midwest. So far we’ve had two days of constant rain fluctuating from a drizzle to a downpour. Usually one associates rainy days with sadness, depression, […]

by Jennifer Burcke Photos by author Chickens have been decorating the landscape at 1840 Farm since our first chicks arrived in 2010.  I always believed that chickens were beautiful.  Becoming a chicken keeper has only served to deepen that feeling. I now find myself surrounded by chickens.  My friends and family all know how proud […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author …when’s she gonna lay an egg? Not so very long ago I was waiting for the mailman to bring my box of baby chicks.  Now, I’m waiting again—for the very first egg from those same chicks.  They’re no longer considered chicks, though—they are “pullets”—the proper word for female chickens […]

by Rebecca Nickols Photos by author Ever since I received a gift of Nikon SLR several years ago, I’ve enjoyed photographing the outdoors: plants, insects, wildlife, etc. I’ve found that with a good camera and a lot of patience capturing a great shot isn’t as difficult as it would appear. Outdoor photography has one huge […]

by Jennifer Burcke Photos by author As a person who proudly defines herself as a chicken keeper, I find myself answering a lot of questions regarding our flock.  The first question is usually in regard to how many chickens we keep.  The second question almost always involves what breeds of chickens live at 1840 Farm. […]

by Jennifer Sartell Photos by author When I received the photos of Dickie Bird Farm, it was the rural ambiance that attracted me to this entry. The rich monotone browns of the barn wood and the sunlight through the chinks in the boards gives it an almost candlelit glow. Our barn is like this, and […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author Dusk.  I think it may be my favorite time of day, especially this summer.  The intense heat has eased a bit, the crickets and tree frogs are tuning up in the hedgerows, and as I head out to close in the chickens for the night, I often stop at the […]

by Kathy Shea Mormino When I was preparing to welcome my first dozen baby chicks home, I spent nearly a year reading books and researching online to absorb all I could about caring for chickens. The internet is a powerful tool, but it is also the birthplace of many a cyber-legend and I came across […]