Articles by thecatumbrella
Get out your torches and pitchforks, friends! It's time to talk about everyone's "favorite" prefab: The Omlet Eglu.
Every spring, I'll see several newcomers on BYC asking about Eglus. "Should I get one? How many chickens does it hold? Does it get hot in the summer?" And these are great...
What is a dig box?
A dig box is a form of "hentertainment", providing a place to dust bathe, forage, roost, warm your feet, and hang with friends. It also serves as a piece of poultry furniture. It's large enough to be an obstacle that lower ranked chickens can escape behind, and can be built...
In my collective 12 months as a chicken keeper, I've been witness to several behavioral clashes between flock members. Some of it is expected ("Don't touch my tasty treat or I'll peck you!"), and some of it seems a bit excessive ("Don't breathe the same air as me or I'll peck you!"). It can be...
Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less!
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Let's begin by discussing one of my favorite brooder accessories: the heat plate.
When would I use a heat plate over a heat lamp?
Heat lamps have their place in...
Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less!
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Today, we're looking at an odd problem with an even odder solution, which means we're traveling back to 2023. It’s Day 2 of having baby chicks in my house, and I’ve...
Welcome to our first special edition of Chick Quicks... Hot Wings! Hot Wings will cover subjective topics through my own personal opinion, meaning some (or many) readers may disagree with what's said. Will there be "hot takes", or will it be bland and flavorless?
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I'm already offended. How...
Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less!
***
It’s 6PM, and you’re about to sit down for dinner when the phone rings.
“Hello?” you answer.
“Hey,” a voice peeps over the line. “It’s the baby chicks you ordered 5...
Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less!
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2025 was a crash course in pasty butt mitigation. Of the 11 chicks I ordered, I'd say about half needed some sort of assistance "back there", with a few being repeat...
Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less!
***
Warning: I am not a medical professional. While the information presented is accurate to the best of my ability, please consult your veterinarian, or the BYC community...
Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less!
🐥 Click here for a list of all Chick Quicks episodes! 🏁
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Come on in! This page will be updated regularly as I publish new episodes, preview the topics ahead, and...
Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less!
***
This topic is pretty brief, even for Chick Quicks, so I’ve included a bit of backstory. If you’d prefer to skip ahead to the how-to, click here.
My Weak Chick
I lost...