The Internet was crawling with novices just like me whose aspirations in sustainability led them to a seemingly sudden chicken obsession. That's pretty special to me. It's easy to accuse me of being sentimental about my chickens.
It's easier to prepare for winter when it's always the same. That's a gardening win! The hens and the pullets have been taking turns turning it all morning. I'm hoping for some real winter weather soon—but not the dangerous kind or the muddy kind.
Most European counties do not. If you do not wash your eggs: Store them on the counter in an egg rack or in a pretty egg basket. Whatever you choose, here are some rules of thumb. We use warm eggs quickly, and they're fabulous for baking.
I let the hens sit where they landed for a few minutes to see if they'd move on their own or make a ruckus. Perhaps it felt comfortable to them, but the snow was so deep where they'd landed—their shanks and toes not long enough to touch the patio beneath...
Rachel Hurd Anger If you have a small flock, you know immediately when something's not quite normal. Even though pullets begin laying as they begin tomature, that doesn't mean full maturity has been reached—think of it as chicken puberty.
Read more of Chicken Quarters » Tags Chicken Quarters , chickens , Lists , molt , molting Until then, accept that the chickens will look shamelessly plucked. The chickens will love them.
Enjoy less waste and feed theft! Our chickens quickly figured out how to peck the trigger to make a small amount of food fall out at a time. Some sites recommend putting a piece of red tape on the trigger and/or making sure the trigger is at head height...
To be frank, keeping the brooder at 95 degrees F is a pain. (This is my own opinion as an adult human. Chicks should be led to food and water as soon as possible after hatching. The light is oppressive, even if you're using a red bulb.
Somehow, when the white egg became standard and cheap, the brown egg crept onto the scene as health food, but the only thing that makes some eggs nutritionally superior to others is the diet of the hens that laid them.
She's noticeably smaller than the others, who are ahead of her with one full day's worth of nutrition. Or, maybe she's a roo! If that's the case, I'm glad Peace won't be making a home here.
Emma asks, “Is feeding cooked chicken leftovers (bones, etc.) to chickens bad for them?” Some foods are absolutely not appropriate for chickens. Never feed raw or undercooked chicken to your flock if the chicken came from somewhere other than your...
The twists that join the wire keep the woven wire weak—pulling a tear can open the wire more, just enough so the predator can squeeze itself into the coop. Chicken Wire Isn't Pest-Proof Small rodents and birds can wander right into your coop through...
Excited, my city kid (and my biggest supporter) told me she'd love to help. The Discouraging Pessimist It's not often that I run into the ultimate critic, but I did recently run into the negative farmer-who-doesn't-want-anyone-else-to-farm on a farm field...
If you, too, want to give this recipe a try, talk to a chicken farmer that you trust to find out if he or she sells the livers separate from the chickens. Cognac (dry sherry can be substituted) 1 T.
Plants attract the organisms that feed on the plants, while scaly leg […] Isolated Feeding While your flock might be parasite-free today, a wild bird stumbling onto your chicken feed is the most likely to bring parasites to your flock.
Instead of explaining, for example, that Henrietta is younger than 1 year old and is new to laying eggs, we'd just call her a pullet. Rachel Hurd Anger “Is this a hen or a rooster?” It's an honest and frequently asked question that often accompanies...
Each time she goes broody, it lasts about three weeks. Calcium Deficiency Although each flock member is offered the same diet, I can't guarantee they're all eating similarly. Breeds renowned for their reliable laying will take a break to molt every year...
Training and licensing are required. This grant is like those given for the purchase of mobile poultry processing units through the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food program, a USDA effort to create new economic opportunities by foraging connections between...
Look for hiding places under bushes or for a nest inside tall grasses and weeds. When it comes to protecting eggs, hens can get crafty. Crumble and pellets assume your flock is confined, which doesn't require supplemental grit or calcium.
One of the last things we want is to find a nest box full of disappointment, so I know you're as frustrated as I am with the sudden decline in the number of eggs you're getting lately.
Combine all dry ingredients, including the spices and the apricots, in a large bowl. Photo by Judith Hausman Winter sweets don't have to be candy; this squash and apricot bread proves it.
Free-range eggs, brown, blue, green, cream & white, $3 per dozen Monthly (4dz) subscription $10 They are cooped at night for safety, but range our property (and our neighbors) from sunup to sunset.
I've even seen chicken coops decorated shabby chic, complete with a chandelier and human sitting space. Besides, chickens love change—nything you do to beautify their living quarters will boost flock morale.
Read more of Chicken Quarters » Tags Chicken Quarters Sookie decided to show up the adolescent birds she loathes . In her endless pursuit to show the pullets her importance and dominance in the flock (which the old hens fully dismiss), Sookie flew the...
Like all living things, our chickens need water to survive, thrive and produce healthy eggs. Water softeners installed where water enters the home can protect pipes, making the naturally hard water unavailable.
If you allow children to handle birds, supervise their hand-washing afterwards. Hatcheries are taking more responsibility for addressing recurring problems. My most willing to be assaulted with love also happens to be the most robust one of the group.
5 Daily Chicken Activities – Urban Farm Online 5 Daily Chicken Activities Your backyard chickens have a life of their own. Chickens spend as much as half the day scratching and pecking in search of tasty morsels.
