Did you know that chickens have 4 types of feathers? These include webbed feathers, down feathers, bristles and filoplumes. Each type of feather has a different function.

Summer party treats (for chickens)! The recipe is on page 3…and the fun and instruction continues right through the very last page –well, actually AFTER the last page, because there’s a bonus pullout poster just inside the back cover. Looking for a wonderful way to share your love of chickens with your kids or grandchildren? […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest Gardens and chickens seem to go hand in hand. It is so much fun seeing gardens come to life when the chickens are let out and about to free-range. We enjoy watching them spending their time, exploring, tasting, and making a mess.  We often follow behind them with a […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest Do you garden? Why not plant some veggies that have a bigger bang for their buck this year, especially for the chickens? Chickens love fresh treats from the vegetable garden. Many times they happily eat leaves, stems and roots. They also don’t mind bug chewed leaves that normally would […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest For years in my medical career, I have been diagnosing patients with fatty liver diseases. It is estimated that approximately 20% of adults have fatty liver syndrome, with the percentage rising in children at an alarming rate. You can imagine my shock when I learned that chickens too could […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest I’m going to come right out and say it. I do not believe that chicken coops should be heated in the winter. There are a number of reasons why I believe this and there are alternative ways to keep the flock comfortable during the chilly days of winter. Today, […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest As the calendar turns another page and September rolls around, the smell of fall begins to fill the air here in New England. I love fall but soon enough winter will be upon us. It is often difficult to predict how harsh Old Man Winter will be each year […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest If you are like us, sometimes you have so many eggs that you don’t quite know what to do with them. After sharing them with family, friends and neighbors and making a quiche or two I also like to hard boil a dozen for later use. One of those uses is creating one […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest Soon enough, pumpkins will be hitting the market places and local picking patches near you. Did you know that feeding pumpkins and their seeds to your flock is not just a wonderful way to entertain them? It also has added health benefits as well. Pumpkins are a yummy snack […]

by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest So, tell me…do you name your flock?  Some people do and others don’t.  For those that do name their flock, there are some really clever names out there!  Some people are so creative.  I have seen many chicken names over the years.  Some people name their chickens after celebrities. […]