Wild populations of quail have been shrinking in the U.S. for decades, to the concern of bird conservationists. However, in recent years, several different species of quail have become popular birds with homesteaders and backyard bird enthusiasts. They are small, easy to maintain, and in most states they aren’t considered livestock. This means that you […]

Making the most of your farm or homestead doesn’t always mean growing more plants or raising more animals.  Here are some ideas about adding value to your place through agritourism.  Enjoy this excerpt from Farms with a Future: Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business by Rebecca Thistlethwaite. Permission from Chelsea Green publishers. It’s not easy […]

Join us for our first #photocontest of the year! You can log onto the Community Chickens Facebook page and post photos.  Every month we’ll be picking a theme and asking you to share your flock with us. Winners will be selected at the end of each month and the top three will be featured on the […]

Coop Cleaning 101: The most important role in chicken keeping is to protect yourself while also protecting your flock. Coop cleaning safely is a must! Poultry, such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys can carry Salmonella among other harmful bacteria. You can easily protect yourself and your home with a pair gloves and rubber boots that […]

This is a companion piece to Liz Fulghum’s article Low-Maintenance Backyard Chickens. Here Liz provides detailed equipment lists and instructions for building a low-maintenance food and water system for your backyard chickens. This DIY food and water system is ideal for a backyard flock of 3 to 6 chickens and for busy urban homesteaders with […]

Dave Holderread has raised and studies ducks for 50 years.  He taught applied poultry science in Puerto Rico before he and his wife Millie established one of the largest genetic stocks of domestic waterfowl in the world on their farm in Oregon. This excerpt about the need to preserve rare breeds is from Storey’s Guide […]

My husband and friends had carefully packed the tiny Toyota Echo to the roof with all the things they needed for a medieval reenactment weekend 12 hours away in Montreal.  Picture a clown car with three burly guys, swords, cloths, and camping gear.  But they had forgotten the decaf coffee that my husband drinks.  Just […]

They are extra Roosters. Time to give them a chance.  Everyone has an opinion on them. Some love the classic image of a handsomely plumed boy strutting around the barnyard while others will get out the stew pot as soon as they hear the first strangled crows from the most recent batch of chicks. The […]

Chickens provide free compost, fresh eggs, and are extremely helpful garden assistants by turning up soil, eating insects, and keeping weeds at bay. They’re part of the perfect garden trifecta: fruit and vegetables, chickens, and bees. They’re also wonderful on their own, without bees or dedicated vegetable gardens. So if you have some extra space in […]

Black Chickens Having all types of chicken breeds accessible and ready for purchase was not always the case for backyard chicken owners. Now with relatively efficient ways to purchase and start raising any type of chicken breed you prefer, people have been more deeply exploring breeds that are exotic and hard to acquire, and those […]