New articles
I thought it might be useful to write up what’s changed and what’s stayed the same since I wrote the article on wholesome homemade feed for last year’s article writing competition...
So we had the urge for chickens but I was to cheap to buy a plan. This is the different stages of our build without plans!
1. Made the base and frame functional BUT lite enough to be able to carry it outside after the chicks grew enough.
2. After we got washed construction sand and the...
Credit for my idea goes to Muddy Hill Farms and their cooler adapter for insulated Coolers. When I purchased them, they were $26 for 4 of them. They lasted two summers but this third summer. I decided I wanted something that would overcome the design flaws with this particular setup.
• Must...
Thought this might help others. I’ve recently treated and successfully healed prolapsed cloaca in 3 week old Partridge Cochin chick, never had to treat prolapsed cloaca in a chick before, typically only older hens due to egg binding or others conditions. However, I used similar treatments...
My coop is a converted shed. I've had chickens for over 10 years.
I started with a mix of heritage breeds ... they are so pretty!
RIP: Russian Orloff (Phoenix), Silver Laced Wyandotte (Lacy), Golden Laced Wyandotte (Nugget), Black Cochin (Fancy-Pants 2), Splash Cochin (Fancy-Pants 1), Black...
This is a 'brain dump' of all my thoughts and actions of our first incubating and hatching journey - from receiving the eggs to popping the chicks into the brooder. It's purpose is for me to be able to look back on it for future hatches, and for others to be encouraged and hopefully learn...
This article is incomplete! I mistakenly thought it would save in draft form rather than publishing it right away. I'll try to finish it up in the next few days. I need a bit more time to get the photos and other media I want to add.
As I write this, I know it's a controversial topic. This...
Bullying can be a serious problem. Whether its minor or major, it affects the health of your flock. In this article I will go over what bullying can look like, when it is important to intervene, and how to take the right actions to stop it.
What Does Bullying Look Like?
Just like in school...
Chickens are wonderful and intelligent birds. With their silly antics and strange appearance, they are a delightful addition to any backyard.
If you are looking for a perfect indoors pet chicken, look no further than this article!
Best pet chickens:
Silkies: With their small size and calm...
Have you ever noticed one of your chickens shake its tail feathers? How about wipe its beak on you? Here are some main reasons for behaviors like these!
Chickens, no matter how funny they look, are intelligent and conscious creatures. They have many ways of expressing themselves, but sometimes...
Here where I live the mosquitos are viscous in the spring! The baby mosquitoes are the absolute worst though. They are so tiny and fly so fast it is almost impossible to catch them! After scouring the internet and trying all the tricks we found one that actually, truly works.
Like chicken...
Chickens, ducks and turkeys are wonderful, resilient and sweet creatures, but on a 36°C (100°F) day sometimes I worry a little bit since I know that the heat is harder on them than the cold 🥶.
But when I give them an ice 🧊 popsicle block filled with greens, fruits, crushed eggshells, peas...
Yes, Teflon, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), can be dangerous to birds. When heated to 530° F (280° Celsius) or higher, PTFE-coated non-stick cookware and other products release a clear, odorless gas that is toxic to birds. Birds are more susceptible to PTFE poisoning because they have a...
Setting up a perfect DIY brooder temperature control system on a budget.
#1. Most common is using distance between the brooder and the light.
#2. Is using a dimmer to control the brooders temperature.
#3. Is using a temperature controller.
#1 & #2 are the most common. I started with #1 in...
Chicken Health Monitoring -- Case Study
Hello everyone.
Recently I wrote an article about reproductive health in chickens.
I thought I would detail a recent experience of mine with my flock as a case study. This case study will refer to information available in the article that can help...
In the summer of 2023 we tore down the old shed that we converted part of into our coop, and then we built a new shed/coop combo from the ground up.
The old coop worked, but the shed was here when we bought the house and it was beginning to show wear. It needed new siding, trim and doors, which...
(This article is still in progress)
It all began with adopting a Silkie Rooster, hatching 11 chicks and raising 7 ducks..... now we have a Large Coop, 2 turkeys, ducks and 16 chickens (all broody 🤣).
This coop was a abandoned horse shelter within an old horse pen. Eventually it was turned into...
Hello, hatching enthusiasts and learners!
Spring time is right around the corner, and for my fellow hatching addicts, our time to shine is almost here!
So I thought it would be good to do a little refresher, and hopefully help out some of the beginners to hatching eggs, as well as encouraging...
We've all known the problem... Here is my experience and observations after treating half my flock, many of them more than once, for bumblefoot.
I had a flock of 19 chickens - 15 Hyline Browns (AKA Red Sex-Links), and 4 Barred Rocks.
Soon after we moved to the Eastern Shore (of Maryland), I...