by Meredith Chilson My first flock of chickens was one day old when I picked up my order at a local all-purpose hardware store.  I’d ordered “straight run” –thinking I would have some hens for eggs, some young roosters for meat and one fine rooster to perpetuate the flock. The plan worked out fairly well. […]

by Meredith Chilson I was talking about eggs with a friend the other day.  Eggs from the ladies that live in the coop in our side yard, to be specific. This friend said to me, “Now, that you have a rooster in with your girls—the eggs are all fertile, right?” To which another friend said, […]

Story and photos by Jennifer Sartell of Iron Oak Farm I am very pleased with the collection of roosters we have at the farm. They’re pleasant birds that get along nicely with one another. They’re gentle with our hens and I don’t have to worry about visitors approaching our roos. This hasn’t always been the […]

by Meredith Chilson Photos by author Dusk.  I think it may be my favorite time of day, especially this summer.  The intense heat has eased a bit, the crickets and tree frogs are tuning up in the hedgerows, and as I head out to close in the chickens for the night, I often stop at the […]

by Margaret E. Kellogg Photos by author Hens will lay eggs without having a rooster, so how does one end up with 30 roosters? Well, we started out with one rooster, a Rhode Island Red named George. Then, when we obtained some Light Brahma chicks from the feed store, I got a rooster. They always […]

by Cortney Cogswell Photos by author Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed personalities develop in the flock. We all know that there will be one alpha male and female, as well as one or two that will be “henpecked.” But nothing much is said about the other personalities that may show up in a […]