by Rebecca Nickols When I first contemplated the idea of backyard chickens I originally intended that this venture was my little attempt at a more sustainable lifestyle…  My goal was: “grow your own” and not rely on purchasing aged, processed or chemically altered food. Well, I accomplished that goal in a sense. I haven’t purchased […]

by Rebecca Nickols By definition New Year’s resolutions are commitments that a person makes pertaining to personal goals, projects, or reforming habits. I originally intended to share my (chicken-related) goals for the upcoming year. For example: I plan on fencing in my remaining gardens or build a larger run for the chickens. I am also going to […]

by Rebecca Nickols Antique stores, flea markets and thrift shops seemed to have regained popularity in the last few years. I’ve always enjoyed browsing antique malls, swap meets and garage sales, but lately my teenage daughters also enjoy finding “treasures” from the past…  I think it’s amusing that a few years back a teenager wouldn’t dare tell a […]

by Rebecca Nickols This month’s featured “Cool Coop” caught my attention for two reasons… The first reason is obvious; the coop is fantastic. It’s not only well crafted and constructed, it’s also an attractive addition to the landscape. But when chicken keeper, Liz Nylen, sent me the story and photos of her coop, what really got me […]

by Rebecca Nickols Snakes and Chickens – probably not a good combination…  However, not every snake is venomous and most snakes are not even considered a threat to you or your flock. In my state (Missouri) there are 47 different species of snakes; only five of which are venomous: the copperhead, cottonmouth and 3 different species […]

by Rebecca Nickols Photos by author A few common concerns of first time chicken owners (who have a dog as a pet) are: “How will the dog react to the chickens?” “Should I keep the chickens and dog(s) separated?” “What breed of dogs is best to keep around chickens?” I had the same questions with my […]

by Rebecca Nickols It seems that this time of the year a lot of time is spent in the kitchen…  Whether it’s preparing Thanksgiving dinner or just spending time with family and friends–everyone always gravitates to the warmth and comfort of this room. I doubt that many of you ever think of a potential chicken […]

by Rebecca Nickols Photos by author Fall is definitely a time of falling–leaves and feathers! My older hens have been molting for the last month and they look a sight! The coop is full of feathers, but it’s void of what I treasure the most–eggs! In fact the molting hens’ egg production has fallen off […]

By Rebecca Nickols Photos by author. Spiders…  It’s just something about their creepy-crawly legs and huge venomous fangs that can elicit a panic attack in an otherwise rational person. This is especially evident when a normally sane individual walks into a spiderweb at nighttime. Everyone knows that the largest, most poisonous spiders are nocturnal and are patiently waiting to […]

by Rebecca Nickols Q: Are hedge-apples safe for my hens to eat? …Pat Floyd A: This reader’s question caught my attention because I have Osage Orange trees (also known as hedge-apple, bodark, bowwood and bois d’arc) on my property and, like Pat, I wondered myself if I could supplement the chickens’ diet with the huge amount of […]