With chick season right around the corner, I figured it would be a good time to talk about common chick illnesses.  When it comes to chicks, the most important variable is timing. One moment they seem absolutely fine and the next they have perished.  So, let’s get right into the nitty-gritty.  Many illnesses are completely […]

Brrr!  It’s cold outside.  Not just cold, but freezing cold temperatures and brutal wind chills! I like to think that I am deliberate in tending to our flock of chickens this time of year, but it still happened!  Yep, one of our chickens got frostbite on her comb. See those black spots on the comb?  […]

Chickens are pretty versatile animals and will adapt to a variety of climates and living situations. Once you know why you want to keep chickens, it can be fun to learn about the different breeds and what they are known for. Below is a loose outline as to what is available for each chicken keeper’s […]

Here at Miller Micro Farm, we raise a multitude of chicken breeds.  We adore all of our chickens, but there have been a few standout breeds over the years.  These standouts deserve special recognition for a job well done.  So raise an egg and help congratulate our pick for top breeds. Cold Climates Breeds Australorp […]

At Vergenoegd Wine Estate in South Africa, there are 1,071 Indian Runner ducks known as the quack squad, and they mean business. They’re released every morning and are trained to march down to the vineyard in a long line. The ducks are used as organic pest control to stop pests and snails from ruining the […]

Dust baths are important for maintaining a healthy, happy flock. But what do you do when the ground is frozen or covered in snow? Make an all-weather dust bath for your chickens! We live in a part of the Western US that experiences cold winters but rarely gets a lot of snow. Last year, though, […]

Before we get to the recipe for homemade electrolytes for chickens, lets talk about what it is and when it should be given. What is an electrolyte drink For humans, it is a drink that re-hydrates and replaces sodium, potassium, and other minerals that the body loses.  These minerals are lost when we have sweated […]

My grandmother, born in October 1928, grew up on her grandparent’s farm in Craigsville, West Virginia.  Her childhood began alongside The Great Depression.  As one of the middle children, she had many responsibilities around the farm.  Some of her earliest memories are of the animals on the farm, especially the chickens. My grandmother has loved […]

Whether you harvest ducks from the wild or directly from your farm, this duck recipe will give you something to cheer about! The same duck combination can be used to create two tummy-warming meals. BASIC DUCK MIXTURE RECIPE 4 Duck Breasts (aka the breasts of 2 ducks) 1 Large Onion 2 Stalks Celery 1 Can […]

I remember the first time I saw a Buff Orpington chicken. It was at the State Fair and the bird was MASSIVE! It was in a large display cage and took up most of the space allotted. I fell in love immediately and vowed that one day I would raise these giant chickens. Fast forward […]