If you keep chickens long enough, you eventually hear the words bird flu and feel a little knot form in your stomach. It pops up in the news, spreads through social media, and suddenly every chicken keeper starts wondering the same thing.
“Could this affect my flock?”
The truth is, avian...
Let me ask you something. Have you ever walked outside in the morning, coffee in hand, ready to greet your chickens… and felt that awful pit in your stomach before you even opened the coop?
If you keep chickens long enough, you know that feeling. Predators are smart. They are patient. And they...
Ducks are supposed to be the “easy” poultry, right? They do not need nesting boxes. They rarely fight. They handle rain like little feathered champions. And they look so calm and happy splashing in a tub of water that you start to think, “This is simple. I’ve got this.”
But here is the thing...
Let me say this right up front. I love chickens. They are dependable. They are productive. They have personality for days. But after observing friends who've raised ducks alongside chickens, I've noticed something interesting.
Ducks quietly outperform chickens in a few areas.
Not everything...
When most people think about backyard poultry, chickens steal the spotlight. Ducks tend to waddle quietly in the background. But if you have ever raised ducks, you know something important.
They are not just cute. They are surprisingly helpful.
At first glance, ducks look like messy little...
Let me guess how it started for you. You said, “I’ll just get three or four hens for fresh eggs.” That was the plan. Simple. Sensible. Responsible.
Fast forward a few months and somehow you are standing in the yard counting twelve birds, googling coop extensions, and telling your family, “Well…...
Walk into any farm store and it’s easy to feel like raising chickens requires a cart full of gadgets. Plastic boredom busters. Expensive supplements. Hanging toys. Fancy feeders. Special “chicken treats” in shiny bags.
But here’s the funny truth most experienced chicken keepers quietly learn...
🥚Hey, hatchers! Have you weighed in on our latest poll yet?🐣
What Capacity Incubator Fits You Best?
Whether you run a tiny test batch or hatch dozens at a time, we want to know what size works for you.
Cast your vote, share your setup, and see what other poultry keepers are using for their...
Let’s be honest for a second. The first time you brought chickens home, they did not trust you. Not even a little.
You walked into the yard and they scattered like you were a fox wearing boots. Wings flapping. Feathers flying. Full panic mode. You’d think you were chasing them with a frying...
Chickens feel like backyard pets.
Pheasants and partridge feel a little more… wild.
And that is exactly what makes them interesting.
They are fast. Quiet. Always alert. If a chicken is the friendly neighbor, a pheasant is the shy guest who slips out the back door when things get loud.
They do...
About 18 years ago a wonderful member of our community noticed that there were a TON of people "lurking" (browsing BYC as non-members) and asked: "How can there be 100+ people lurking on BYC right now?"
Well, a LOT has changed since then... Right now, there are 10,000+ people reading BYC...
If you have ever walked outside, coffee in hand, ready to enjoy a peaceful moment with your flock, only to freeze in panic, you are not alone. There they are. Chickens sprawled out on the ground. Wings stretched. One leg kicked out. Eyes half closed. Completely motionless. Your first thought is...
If you have ever cracked open a backyard egg for the first time, you probably stopped and stared for a second. The yolk looked deeper in color. The shell felt thicker. And maybe you even thought, wait, did I do something wrong or is this egg just… better?
You are not alone. This is one of those...