If you are a small flock owner who breeds their own chickens, how do you ensure genetic diversity,  but also maintain the integrity of your heritage breeds? Jennifer Sartell shares useful tips about “Clan mating.”   For the past few years I have been concentrating on raising high quality Buff Orpingtons. When I say “high quality”, […]

Jennifer Sartell, veteran chicken raiser, walks us through how to effectively use leg bands on your flock. When I first started out with chickens, we had a mixed flock of hatchery birds. Each one was a different breed, each one had a name and a different personality. I loved our little flock. I knew each […]

An impacted crop is a life-threatening condition that effects chickens. Find out how to recognize an impacted crop and how to help prevent it in your flock! Spring is a wonderful time of year! The grass turns green and new growth starts shooting up all around us. While these fresh greens can provide a healthy […]

Blogger Sandy Cryder shares her adventures with her very first flock of chickens. The four Buff Orpington hens in my first flock were beautiful! Large bodied; warm, golden, buff colored feathers; heavy, feathered breasts; full, downy Fluffs; Red wattles and single combs. They lay large, brown eggs starting between 5-7 months of age. Buffs are […]

Blogger Elle Pugsley from southern England shares with us how to introduce chickens and dogs. Chickens rescued from industrial farms probably haven’t met many animals of a different species.  If you have other animals, you will want to introduce them all slowly and safely. Three Dogs, Three New Chickens I have three large dogs who […]

Blogger Michele Cook writes a three-part series on caring for new chickens.  This is Part 3: Sick Chicks.  Look for Parts 1 & 2: “Housing Chicks” and “Chick Care Basics”. It is inevitable that one or two of your new chicks will get sick. Some issues, like pasty butt, are relatively minor, while others, such […]

Blogger Michele Cook writes a three-part series on caring for new chickens.  This is Part 2: Basics for New Chicks.  Look for Parts 1 & 3: “Housing Chicks” and “Sick Chicks”. Now that you have the brooder set up, let’s talk about the basic care for your new chicks. Your chicks will need food, water, […]

Blogger Michele Cook writes a three-part series on caring for new chickens.  This is Part 1: Housing Chicks. It’s that time of year again. The sun is shining, the daffodils are blooming, and there is a distinct peeping noise at every farm store across the country. It’s time for chicks. If you’ve been wooed by […]

Blogger Clair Woods tells us a bit about Brahma chickens. The Brahma is widely known as one of the most majestic breeds of chicken. It is a favorite among beginners and veteran chicken owners alike. There was lots of debate among U.S. chicken owners in the mid-nineteenth century about the origin of the Brahma chicken. […]

While you want to keep chickens, you might not want the rodents that sometimes are attracted to their feed. Read about Carrie Miller’s methods for dealing with rodent problems. Chickens have a dirty little secret that keepers would rather not talk about. Do you know what it is? They are notoriously messy eaters. Chickens tend […]