Domestic quail and their fascinating history, by Kelly Bohling. Since I started keeping Japanese quail several years ago, I’ve often wondered just how long people have kept them domestically. Exactly how new, or old, is this line of beautiful little birds, and has it changed much over the years? Are their wild relatives still around? […]

-Advertisement-  Broody hens make good mamas. A mama hen strutting about with her brood of chicks in tow is the quintessential farm image everyone knows and loves. Brooding is the process by which newly hatched chicks, or birds of any kind, grow up, learn to eat and drink, and are kept at the temperature necessary […]

Learn how to build functional and fun gates for your chicken yard…and more with Frank Hyman. Photos by author. Part of the reason we keep chickens is because poultry have personality. Our chickens’ pens and coops should have a little personality too. And as far as the pens go, the best place for incorporating personality […]

Christine Heinrichs outlines some of the many different poultry organizations available nationwide to help young folks learn more about poultry care and feeding. Kids are attracted to chickens from the first time they hear the story of the Little Red Hen.  Poultry organizations can help them build those attractions into solid life paths. Additionally, poultry […]

Newcastle disease is a highly contagious poultry virus. Learn signs, symptoms, prevention and control for the health and safety of your flock.   The number of backyard chicken enthusiasts has exploded in recent months. Hatcheries and feed stores across the country have seen sales for chicks to first-time customers skyrocket. But many poultry experts are […]

It’s about time to incubate spring chicks. Learn more about what dandling is and what you can expect to see. -Advertisement- Candling is the process of shining a concentrated beam of light through the shell of a developing egg to gather details about the embryo inside.   What is a “Candler” A variety of specialized […]

Rich and Marion Patterson of Winding Pathways LLC share their experiences with sharing their animals with their kids for the benefit of all. -Advertisement- Kids love animals.   Even infants are fascinated watching colorful wild birds visiting a feeder. Toads and butterflies capture their imagination, while puppies, kittens, bunnies and just about any other animal grabs […]

Interested in free-ranging your chickens? Make smart choices and keep your birds safe with these tips from Jonathon Engels. Many chicken owners, especially of the backyard ilk, would prefer to have their birds live free and enjoy a life that few hens ever do. But in reality, that’s not the way it goes. Like chickens, […]

Chickens needs baths too, but they prefer dust. Liz Fulghum shares her tips and tricks to help your birds exfoliate and dislodge insects. If you’re new to chickens, you may have noticed your flock digging a shallow ditch in a sunny spot and then rolling around, getting all down and dirty. They may puff themselves […]

Green Tea for Chickens Learn how to use green tea to help treat your chickens from several different diseases from Valerie Boese. Chicken keeping has become a widespread trend, rather you own chickens for a hobby, raise them for meat and eggs, or as a business for profit. Whatever the reason, every chicken owner strives […]