Purchasing ducks is a big commitment, even if you are only buying a handful of these adorable little creatures. Taking on the responsibility of caring for another life should never be entered into lightly. Before opening your wallet, you must KNOW that you have the time, space, and the money to properly care for the […]
How to Deal with a Loud Rooster If you’re lucky enough to live in an area where you can have roosters, you probably won’t think twice about the rampant crowing. You wouldn’t be wrong, either! Most areas that are very rural or zoned agricultural are pretty rooster-friendly, so it would never be an issue that […]
Chickens today are spoiled beyond belief when compared to Grandmas’ hens. Hens of the past (1900s) had no regular access to basic commodities such as water and feed- this severely limited their egg laying rate and also the size which they grew. The chicken really wasn’t considered a necessary ‘livestock’ animal on the farm. The […]
Your hen is squawking whenever you approach her and she won’t leave her nesting box, what’s wrong, is she ill? Far from it and chances are she is just broody and wants chicks. If you aren’t planning on having chicks this can be problematic because the hen in question will stop laying eggs. Whatever the case, […]
Sounds simple doesn’t it? When I first started out with chickens and had a handful of ladies it was simple. They all knew and trusted me – so I could easily scoop them up and do whatever was needed. When I was done, I would plop them down and give them a treat so they […]
We have all heard of it, but what exactly is it? The egg float test is a simple test which checks for the egg’s freshness. But is it just an old wives’ tale or does this test actually work? Today’s topic is just that, we’re going to explain the egg float test, how to do […]
Calling all flock keepers and backyard chicken enthusiasts, prepare for your next DIY adventure… Building a Chicken Coop! Once you have decided you want to raise chickens, you will have many questions: How can I build a chicken coop? Where do I purchase/find hens? How do I feed and raise my hens? A chicken coop […]
So, just how do you determine the sex of those just-hatched fluff balls in your incubator? And how do you tell the adults apart too? Sexing a chick can be easy (sex link chicks), or it can be a mysterious art form that takes years to perfect (vent sexing). In this article we are going […]
The Australorp is a fairly recent arrival on the chicken scene, but in it’s relatively short history it has made a huge impression on chicken keepers and the poultry industry the world over. The name is a contraction of Australian black Orpington. The breed was called by several different names before Australorp was settled upon. […]
As springtime rolls around again, we will all doubtless see articles on how to break a broody hen, but why should you need to? A hen is the ultimate top choice in incubation and rearing of chicks, so why do many people choose to not have broody hens around? The motherhood instinct is triggered by […]