Being a new chicken owner is fun and exciting, and it is easy to become enamored with chickens and their adorable antics. Generally speaking, chickens are hearty little creatures that often take great care of themselves. But mistakes are made, and here are my top 10 mistakes made starting off raising chickens. Had I known what I know now, I may have been able to keep my first few flock members around for much longer.
It might seem strange to learn that even chickens can become infested with lice. They eat bugs, after all, but these external parasites are not the typical run-of-the-mill chicken treat-type bug. They spread fast and can cause severe problems for the entire flock. Identifying an infestation early, and treating the flock quickly, is extremely important to prevent a decline in health, and in some cases death. I want to mention not to panic if you… [Read More]
It’s only a matter of time before a chicken lover decides it’s time to add a duck, or five, to the flock. With their adorable good-looks, and humorous farm antics, ducks are extremely hard to resist and quickly becoming a homesteading staple alongside the chicken.
It has been said that ducks are the new chickens, and it isn’t hard to see why. Ducks lay beautiful, large eggs all year, and tend to be friendlier… [Read More]
Most chicken owners will encounter medical issues among their flock at some point. There are many signs and symptoms to watch for when it comes to a chicken’s health and wellness. An important part of a chicken’s anatomy, that often becomes an area to watch for illness, is the vent (a.k.a cloaca). It is common, and unpleasant to deal with conditions of the vent, but it is extremely important to take prompt action when… [Read More]
Having a new flock of chickens can be a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, especially for beginners. It takes years to learn the ins and outs of good chicken keeping. If I could go back and start over, there would be a handful of things I wish I would have known as a beginner. These ten tips will help prevent confusion and heartache for the new chicken owner.
1. Feeding and Watering New… [Read More]