Daylight hours decrease and cooler weather approaches as autumn settles in all around us.  As you can see in this picture, some of the trees are bare, and so are the nesting boxes.  Fall is a common time for molting chickens and fewer (or no) eggs.  Even other chicken owners that usually sell eggs have covered […]

by Lori Leigh   We are so excited!  Some baby chicks have arrived at LL Farm!  Because we don’t have a rooster (or a broody hen to put fertile eggs under), we are raising baby chicks in a brooder again.  Isn’t it amazing how things have changed over the last century or so?  There are […]

Story and photos by Lori Leigh Although chickens can be very entertaining, they can also be complex, and dare I say…frustrating.  For example, why, oh why do chickens break open eggs and eat them?  Mmm hmm…complex to understand and frustrating to stop.  Fresh eggs are one of the main reasons many people decide to raise […]

Lori Leigh Story and photos Reasons For Blowing-Out Eggs -Crafts and Easter egg coloring are great reasons to blow out an egg. -Filled with mustard (to hopefully stop an egg eater) is popular among many chicken keepers. -Farm fresh eggs make beautiful arrangements.  Blowing out the eggs will ensure that the eggs last. Tools and […]

Story and photos by Lori Leigh Why wait to plant seeds outside?  You can start sunflower seeds in eggshells today, right inside your home. Tall, beautiful sunflowers are a welcome sight around my chicken coop and run. The sunflowers add a burst of color to our landscape and some needed shade for my ladies. Although […]

by Lori Leigh Story and photos Some things never change.  People have been keeping chickens for years. Some things do change, such as the way people keep chickens. Let’s compare some similarities and changes, shall we… BREEDS Back in the day, many farmers had cold-hardy breeds, such as Buff Orpingtons, Wyandottes, and Rhode Island Reds. […]

I am so excited to attend the Mother Earth News Fair (MENF) in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania this upcoming weekend.  Mother Earth News Fair is a fun-filled, hands-on sustainable lifestyle event.  The fair is offered throughout the year at different locations in the US.  This will be my first time attending! As a contributor to Community Chickens, […]

Did you know that growing your own herbs is fairly easy to do and can be an added health benefit to both you and your flock of chickens?  Herbs grow well in both containers and directly in the ground.  Most herbs don’t require a lot of water, so if you forget to water them a […]

I was cracking eggs the other day into a bowl to whisk up something yummy and there it was…a blood spot. If you have been raising chickens for a while, you’ve probably seen it.  If you are new to raising chickens, maybe you haven’t seen it…yet.  Fact is, blood spots in eggs most likely will […]

Are you worried about your flock for the cold weather that is upon us?  Don’t fret!  By doing a few things, your chickens will be fine.  Remember…chickens are birds, not mammals. Some things to ponder: Chickens have survived winter weather for many many years (before electricity – heated coops and water heaters were not heard […]