Molting chickens season is almost here…oh wait. I meant Fall. 😊 There’s feathers everywhere inside and outside the coop, your chickens are grumpy, and they’ve stopped laying eggs. The annual fall molt is a hard season for chickens. Molting is painful, taxing on a chicken’s body, and a bit messy. However, there’s a lot you […]

Silkie chickens have to be one of the gentlest, most kid-friendly and urban-friendly backyard breeds that you can get. Silkies are quiet, love to be held, they don’t range far from the coop, they’re beautiful to look at, and they make wonderful mothers. There’s so much to love about this bantam breed that I’ve often

Do any of your chickens ever lay teeny tiny eggs, called “fart eggs” or “fairy eggs?” These adorable little eggs are a delight to find in the nesting box. And if you’ve ever collected one, you’ve probably wondered what the heck is going on with your chicken. I have an entire bowl of these tiny

Now that the weather has warmed up, it’s time to figure out how to keep snakes out of the chicken coop. After all, how often have you walked into your coop to collect eggs only to find that someone, or some thing, has beaten you to it? Or, have you ever reached into a darkened

Every few weeks, I gather up some fresh and dried herbs to make my own nesting box herbs for chickens. Some of these herbs I buy in bulk, but most I grow right here on our homestead. Making a custom nesting box herbal blend can provide so many benefits to your flock. And, it’s really

A common question from backyard chicken keepers is, “How do I get my chickens to lay in nesting boxes?” You’d think, at first, that this wouldn’t be an issue, right? After all, you’ve created a nice, safe, comfortable coop for them, and filled it with nesting boxes that are just their size. Any reasonable hen

Chances are, you’ve heard of chicken pecking order. But what is it, really? And why do chickens need it? Chickens need leadership and order just like civilized human beings. And thus, the pecking order is born. Pecking order creates a calm, organized flock, and ensures the safety of the birds in it. Understanding pecking order

Marek’s disease, also called “MD” or “fowl paralysis,” is a highly contagious disease spread by the herpes virus. It’s one of the most common chicken illnesses, so it pays to know what this disease is, how it spreads, and how to treat it. This page contains affiliate links, which means I might get a commission

One of the best ways to raise baby chicks is to let a broody hen do all the work. And, it’s surprisingly easy to do! We have done this successfully on our homestead, and it’s a joy to watch. The Benefits of Raising Baby Chicks with a Surrogate Mother This post may contain affiliate links,