I have a confession to make, I used to be afraid of chickens. I am fine getting on a 1000-pound animal and riding through hill and dale, but chickens used to seriously freak me out. Where this irrational fear came from, I’m not sure, I do know how I got over it. I was boarding […]

We are all familiar with the concept of Victory Gardens, but did you realize that backyard chickens were also important in the “fight on the home front” during WWI and WWII? In fact, suburban chicken-keeping was highly encouraged!  A Brief History of Backyard Chickens: During WWI and WWII, those on the home front joined the […]

As the snow begins to melt and the crocus start to push up through the earth, there’s no denying that Spring has finally come! It can be a very busy time of year as we rush to plant gardens, care for newly born animals and enjoy some extra outdoors time! But, spring is also an […]

Chicken combs come in many different shapes and sizes from rose combs to buttercup combs. Kaylee Vaughn writes here about eight distinctive comb types. A chicken’s comb is the fleshy red appendage on the top of its head. Combs come in all shapes and sizes and vary greatly depending upon the breed. While combs certainly […]

Treat your chickens to a festive veggie garland with this easy to make idea from Kaylee Vaughn. If you are looking for a fun way to add some holiday cheer to your chicken coop, try making an edible chicken treat “garland” for your feathered friends! Not only does it deliver a healthy snack, but it […]

Learn Meredith Leigh’s method of butchering a chicken carcass into 8 pieces. Chicken Butchery Chicken is a great place to hone your cutting skills. We’ll cover the standard, eight-piece cut, and offer a slight variation, which will come in handy when you’re frying chicken. Wings Begin by removing the wings. Stretch the wing as far […]

Matthew Wilkinson shares the early lessons he learned about raising and processing chickens. That Initial Excitement As soon as my daughter had blown out her fifth year birthday candles, I saw my opportunity. I approached my wife, knowing she was in a weakened state from this joyous celebration. I did not hesitate however, blurting out […]

It’s spring time when lots of folks are getting their first chickens, or are adding more birds to their flocks.  Blogger Claire Woods shares tips for coop building materials. While dreaming up your ideal chicken coop, you know you want it to be safe, functional, and probably pleasing to look at. Chicken lovers are coming […]

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 […]