Training Your Chickens to Return to the Coop

Training Your Chickens to Return to the Coop

If you’re a chicken owner, you’ve likely had to spend at least a few nights tracking down each of your chickens before you go to bed. This is hardly how you want to spend your evening, which is why many chicken owners opt for training their chickens to return to the coop on their own…. Read more »

Herbicides, Pesticides, and Your Chickens

Herbicides, Pesticides, and Your Chickens

When raising backyard chickens, you obviously want to keep them safe and healthy. You also want to keep your lawn looking its best. For many homeowners, herbicides and pesticides are used to keep unwanted pests and plants away, but what do you do if you have backyard chickens? Are those same herbicides and pesticides safe… Read more »

Tips for Raising Chickens and Ducks Together

Tips for Raising Chickens and Ducks Together

There’s no rule that when you start raising backyard chickens that you can only raise backyard chickens. In fact, there are plenty of other species that you can raise alongside your chickens including guinea fowl, turkeys, and, of course, ducks. Ducks are a great species to raise together with chickens, but there are some things… Read more »

How to Wash Freshly Laid Eggs

How to Wash Freshly Laid Eggs

One of the best things about raising backyard chickens is having a supply of freshly laid eggs in your kitchen at all times. However, if you want to take advantage of that supply, you must take care of your chickens’ eggs properly. This includes washing them and storing them for when you finally need them…. Read more »

Understanding Chicken Combs

Understanding Chicken Combs

Chicken combs are one of the most identifiable parts of a chicken. Nearly all chickens have them, but similar to their feathers or eyes, each is a little bit different. Some chicken combs, for example, are bright-red, while others are black; some stick straight up, while others run along the skull. But what, exactly, do… Read more »

Why Are My Chickens Losing Feathers?

Why Are My Chickens Losing Feathers?

You step out into your backyard and you notice feathers all across your lawn. Your immediate reaction is panic. Did a predator come into the coop? Did your chickens have a fight? While the situation may seem scary, it’s not always a reason to panic. There are many reasons why your chickens might be losing… Read more »

What Not to Do with Your Chickens in Winter

What Not to Do with Your Chickens in Winter

If you’re new to raising backyard chickens, you’re bound to make some mistakes. However, as the temperature turns colder, those mistakes can become dangerous for your flock. We’ve talked about what you should do when caring for your chickens in the wintertime, but there are also some things that you shouldn’t do in order to… Read more »

What You Need to Know About Colored Chicken Eggs

What You Need to Know About Colored Chicken Eggs

If you walk into your local grocery store, you’ll notice that most eggs have white-colored shells. However, did you know that there are multiple variations of egg colors? In fact, colored eggs are commonly found in backyard coops. Before you start your collection, there is some vital information to understand: The Science Behind the Color… Read more »

Cage-Free vs. Free-Range Eggs: What's the Difference?

Cage-Free vs. Free-Range Eggs: What’s the Difference?

You’re in the grocery store and you grab a carton of eggs. You look at the label and see the word “cage-free.” Then you look at another carton of eggs and see “free-range.” Both terms appear to mean the same thing, but in fact they’re quite different. They’re also quite misleading, as these terms create… Read more »

Chicken Tufts: What They Are and What You Need to Know

Chicken Tufts: What They Are and What You Need to Know

Believe it or not, not all chickens are the same. Some are hardy, others not; some are best for egg production, others for meat. There are even some chickens that have a genetic abnormality that other species do not. Known as chicken tufts, these are found only in the Araucana breed and their descendants. What… Read more »