Frank Hyman shares plans and instructions for a practical (and cute) poultry nesting box. Nest Box Necessities A lot of thought went into the design and construction of our coop’s nest box. It’s such an important feature that my wife, Chris – the livestock manager – asked me – the facilities manager – to install […]

Lots of folks are perfectly happy to incubate their chicken eggs to produce healthy chicks. But some homesteaders really want to work with their broody hens to hatch eggs. Author Amy Fewell shares her experiences and lots of suggestions for efficient hatching with a broody hen. Rocky Beginnings I can still remember thinking that all […]

Joel Salatin (aka Chicken Man) is a familiar name among chicken keepers, small poultry business owners, and homestead rebels. We asked Joel to share with our readers how he got started with broiler chickens and what keeps him going. Beginnings On Sept. 24, 1982, I was a married 25-year-old with a 1-year-old son, doing the town […]

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 […]

If you are interested in feeding your chickens for free, Jonathan Engels has 9 innovative ways for you to try in this poultry permaculture-focused Feature Article. About 50 million years ago, long before there were sacks of cracked corn or even farmers to distribute the grains, chickens were wild birds that inhabited the jungles of […]

If you are a small flock owner who breeds their own chickens, how do you ensure genetic diversity,  but also maintain the integrity of your heritage breeds? Jennifer Sartell shares useful tips about “Clan mating.”   For the past few years I have been concentrating on raising high quality Buff Orpingtons. When I say “high quality”, […]

A little video for you to enjoy. More new chicks in the office. Mom was a Wellsummer, dad was a Barred Rock. The babies are cute.  

Jennifer Sartell, veteran chicken raiser, walks us through how to effectively use leg bands on your flock. When I first started out with chickens, we had a mixed flock of hatchery birds. Each one was a different breed, each one had a name and a different personality. I loved our little flock. I knew each […]

An impacted crop is a life-threatening condition that effects chickens. Find out how to recognize an impacted crop and how to help prevent it in your flock! Spring is a wonderful time of year! The grass turns green and new growth starts shooting up all around us. While these fresh greens can provide a healthy […]

Blogger Sandy Cryder shares her adventures with her very first flock of chickens. The four Buff Orpington hens in my first flock were beautiful! Large bodied; warm, golden, buff colored feathers; heavy, feathered breasts; full, downy Fluffs; Red wattles and single combs. They lay large, brown eggs starting between 5-7 months of age. Buffs are […]