The CDC announced this week that they are investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Reading infections linked to raw turkey products. There are 90 confirmed human cases of illness, and 40 of those have been hospitalized. People are sick in 26 states. Confirmed outbreak Illnesses started on dates from November 20, 2017, to June 29, […]

Salmonella is to chickens as E. coli is to beef and Vibrio is to seafood. They are bacteria that are typically partnered with a particular animal or group of animals. But did you know chickens have another bacterium that is actually more common than Salmonella? It’s Campylobacter. In fact, Campylobacter is the most common foodborne illness […]

I originally bought this small manufactured cool to be our Silkie pen. But after seeing how handy it is with our teenage chickens I may decide to buy another one for next year’s teens. Grow-out Pens A holding place for chickens after they’ve left the brooder but before they’re old enough to enter the adult […]

The Man: Meet Bruce. Bruce is a 4-year-old Lab/Pug mix. Bruce has a lot of energy, he’s super sweet, loves to play, is always down to cuddle, but doesn’t listen and has killed chickens before. Bruce uses his super speed to patrol all backyard activities. While he spares the neighborhood rabbits, his territory remains an […]

Help Combat the Summer Heat Chickens, like so many other animals, have a hard time dealing with drastic climates. Whether they’re dealing with extreme cold or heat, there are a few things you can do to help them be a little less miserable. Try adding a few of these DIY projects into your flock management. […]

Over the years, in my experience keeping chickens, we’ve done both free-ranging and keeping them in a confined coop. My preferred method is to let them free-range, but right now I have our flock separated in pens by breed for breeding purposes. What Is Free-Ranging? Free-ranging can have a lot of definitions. Some commercial egg […]

I raised Blue Laced Red Wyandottes for about 10 years and they are still one of my favorite chickens. I would still have them, but precious coop space being what it is…I’m trying to concentrate on APA recognized breeds, and unfortunately, the Blue Laced Red color is not APA recognized. I was prompted to write […]

Whether you have 2 birds or 200, it’s important to know what to do if an illness arises in your flock! Backyard chicken keeping is a lot of fun! But, sooner or later, chicken keepers will be faced with an illness that affects one or more birds in their flock. By acting quickly and being […]

Want to make tote bags from your feed bags? It can be any feed bags you have available, chicken, dog, sheep, rabbit, goat, horse, or even cat. Directions 1. I wanted my finished bag 13″ tall. So, I measured 13” + 2″ for top hem + 4″ for a total of 19”. Why add 4” […]

When it comes to raising chickens, bacteria are always a concern. Bacteria can sicken entire flocks, as well as the people who are tenderly caring for them. The problem with bacteria is that they are everywhere – from the soil in the ground to the intestines of birds. And no matter what we do, there […]