One of the joys of raising backyard chickens is having a fresh supply of eggs each morning. But what do you do when that supply gets too big? While you can store eggs to use later, you will still be getting more and more of them as time goes on. If you don’t want your eggs to… Read more »
Automatic vs. Manual Chicken Coop Doors
You’re settling down into bed, ready to close your eyes for sleep. Then, a thought runs through your head: Did you close the chicken coop door? Panicked, you jump out of bed, run out into the darkness, do a headcount, and then quickly shut the coop door closed. You return to bed, relieved but exhausted…. Read more »
Using a Rain Barrel System for Your Backyard Chicken Coop
Perhaps one of the most burdensome chores as an owner of backyard chickens is carrying water to the coop. After all, lugging water around is never easy, and the coops are often a good distance away from any water source. A great solution to this problem, though, is a rain barrel system. This is where… Read more »
What to Do About a Loud Rooster
Roosters can bring many benefits to your backyard flock. They can protect your hens from predators while also allowing you to hatch your own eggs. However, there is one drawback: the noise. Roosters love to crow, but that crowing can get out of hand. So, what are you supposed to do? Here we provide some… Read more »
5 Ways to Raise Chickens Around Children
Raising backyard chickens is something that all people, of all ages, can enjoy. Children especially can get so much out of raising chickens, with hens often becoming close companions. However, as fun as it can be for children to interact and raise backyard chickens, there are risks involved. Chickens are animals, after all, and our… Read more »
How to Make Your Dogs and Chickens Get Along
Many people who want to get into raising backyard chickens often hesitate for one reason: their dogs. Dogs and chickens aren’t known to be compatible species, but if dogs and cats can live together, so too can dogs and chickens. With a little training and some care, you can get your dogs and chickens to… Read more »
How to Prepare for Your Baby Chicks
When you first start raising backyard chickens, you’ll likely begin with a small flock of baby chicks. As adorable as these baby chicks may be, they require a lot of care and maintenance in order to grow into full-fledged adults. To do this, you need to be well-prepared for your chicks in the weeks prior… Read more »
How Much Heat Do Baby Chicks Need?
In their first few weeks of life, baby chicks are unable to control their own body temperature. When they’re raised by hens, then their mothers will work to keep them warm. For backyard flocks, however, chicks are often kept in a brooder which needs to be properly heated by an infra-red heat lamp. The… Read more »
3 Ways to Make Raising Chickens Easier on Your Body
Raising chickens is not easy work. It requires a lot of heavy lifting—literally—that can take its toll on your body. It’s not uncommon for people to wake up with sore muscles or an aching back, but you certainly don’t want this to become a regular occurrence. After all, taking care of yourself is just as… Read more »
Transitioning Chicks from Brooder to Coop: How to Move Young Birds in with Adult Birds
There will come a day when your chicks are ready to leave the nest…or rather, the brooder. Moving your chicks from the brooder to the coop is a significant change, and it’s one that will come with some serious adjustments for you, your chicks, and the rest of your flock. It’s best to make this… Read more »