Summer Egg Production…kind of sounds like a play, doesn’t it?  Maybe I should say Summer Egg Production (or lack there of).  Or, how ’bout Summer Egg Production (yes, no, maybe). Remember back when it was Spring time?  The grass and trees were turning green.  The flowers were budding, some even flowering into their full beauty. […]

The scorching sun… The sticky humidity… The hot temperatures… Chickens natural way of keeping cool is to spread their feathers to let the heat escape.  They are also smart enough to seek shade, create dust bathing areas, and drink plenty of water. Although they do a pretty good job of keeping themselves cool, I (along […]

This month’s Cool Coop just might be the “Coolest” yet! Tom from Illinois used the architecture of his historic neighborhood as an inspiration for this unique coop. Continue reading as he describes the design and construction of his coop, “Tom’s Bird House”: Our goal for the coop was to incorporate it into the neighborhood. We live […]

Farm Fresh Eggs!  One of the joys of raising back yard chickens is the many ways I get to be creative in using the delicious eggs. A frittata is like a quiche, but without the crust.  I am one of those people who don’t always eat the crust, so a frittata is better suited for […]

Using eggshells in the garden can help provide calcium to plants and can also help fight off blossom end rot in some plants, such as tomatoes, squash, and peppers. Before using the egg shells, rinse them out first.  Doing so will help to keep unwanted animals away and will also assure that the shells don’t […]

guest post by Andrea Martin Recent outbreaks of avian influenza (including the highly pathogenic strains) in the Midwest have sounded the alarm against this dangerous disease. While the outbreak was mostly confined to commercial farms, backyard poultry keepers need to be vigilant as well. Without any treatment options available for poultry, the influenza virus won’t be welcomed in our […]

I’m a couple weeks behind in my year of the chicken updates. For those of you who are just starting with the series, The Year of the Chicken is where I follow one of our chickens from egg to laying hen. To see the last post visit The Year of the Chicken: Collecting Hatching Eggs. […]

Last week I shared with you a recipe that uses a lot of eggs at one time…something needed when all of our ladies started laying. Today I want to share another recipe that showcases the incredible egg.  As with most of my recipes, I like to keep it simple.  But this recipe…it has a kick […]

The white of winter gives way to the bright greens of new grass and the delightful yellow of the dandelions that sprout up and speckle the landscape. Our land is once again ready to grow and nurture so many things. Those cheerful dandelions are our very first crop at my house. Dandelions are such an underutilized […]

Our ladies are all laying eggs now!  As exciting as this is, I must admit…I quickly had a stash of eggs growing in the fridge…even after sharing some of the bounty. I had become somewhat complacent with not so many eggs… The flock was new(ish) and of course the winter usually slows down production.  I […]