by Meredith Chilson Photos by author Without looking at the calendar, it’s hard to tell what month it is. Our weather station is telling us to prepare for widespread frost tonight. The sun is shining, but the air is cold. Two days ago, we had snow showers. Two weeks ago, it was balmy and 80 […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author It’s a blustery day here in Western New York, one of the first for this year, really. It’s just the sort of day that I like to dig out my very old Betty Crocker’s Cook Book and whip up some magic in my kitchen. My chicken girls are finally […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author I’m frustrated, irritated, discouraged, and a bit concerned. I have 18 laying hens. No, I have 18 hens. ONE of them is laying. The others, the Buff Orpingtons and Rhodies – the ones that have faithfully given me enough eggs for my family, and the neighbors, and the neighbors’ […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author Most of the girls in my flock were 3 years old in May. The Buff Orpingtons and the Rhode Island Reds started laying eggs in September 2008. In 2010, I added three more birds … a Silkie and a couple of mixed breed ladies. They are healthy birds, good […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author It seems to me that this time of year has an urgency to it. Maybe it’s from all the children trying to pack a final few days of summer in before they head off to another year of school. Or, maybe it’s from the migratory birds and the hibernating […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author A reader has asked for advice on what to do about his 1-year-old flock of two Rhode Island Reds and three Wyandottes. They have begun eating eggs as fast as they are laid, and he wonders if he will have to butcher his entire flock. I’ve done a bit […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author My mailbox is filling up with invitations to reunions and weddings and picnics. Retirement parties! Graduation celebrations! Memory making days, every one … and I think, “deviled eggs!!” You see, out here where I live, most of these occasions are “bring a dish to pass” affairs. I have lots […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author I’ve been in the chicken business for three years now. This is not my first experience with raising chickens, though. When I was young, my mother had a flock of 500 White Leghorns, and when my children were young, we had an assortment of fowl. My mother’s chickens went […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author It has seemed like spring would never arrive. The winter dragged on with snow and ice and zero temperatures. March came in like a lion with blowing snow and went right on out with blowing rain; in fact, April weather was a lot like that in March. Those welcome […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author Q: From Keith: “I am temporarily keeping chicks in the house until they get old enough to go outside. What should the temp be under the heat lamp?” And, from Sarah: “Is the heat lamp left on constantly? Can it be turned off for the night? This is for […]