We’re often asked here at The Happy Chicken Coop: “how long will my hen lay eggs for”? Like so many ‘simple’ questions there is no straightforward answer, there are many variables – within each breed and each individual hen. A bit like people, no two hens are the same… However with that said, we have […]
How To Do A Chicken Health Check (Checklist Included)
Regular health checks for your birds can prevent minor problems from becoming major headaches. You probably already take mental notes of what’s going on with your flock on a daily basis. This article gives you a few pointers on what you are looking for and how to deal with some minor problems as they occur. […]
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How Long Do Hard Boiled Eggs Last: The Complete Guide
Keeping eggs fresh has always been a challenge. Less than 100 years ago refrigeration was a luxury for the rich, so keeping eggs fresh relied on ingenuity and the staples of the house. In this article we are going to be talking mainly about hard boiled eggs; how to, storage, nutrition. This is all you […]
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How Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs?
We get asked this question from time to time, so we thought that this would be an excellent time to talk about the chick and laying season imminent now. How Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs? The short answer is – it depends on the breed, the hen’s age, and the season. Some breeds lay furiously, […]
What Ducks Eat: Everything You Need To Know
A slightly different focus today – ducks! More specifically, what should ducks eat, how you should feed them, what treats can you give them, and much more. As a small child, I can remember going to the riverside with my Mum to feed the ducks. Those ducks used to make me laugh with their antics […]
Possums Eat Chickens? How To Keep Your Flock Safe
Possums, also known as opossums, are small animals found mainly in the eastern US states. It is one of the numerous predators that can attack your backyard chickens. And yes, opossums will eat chickens. In this article, we explain how to spot the signs of an opossum attack, and how to protect your flock against […]
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Grit and Oyster Shells: Do Your Chickens Need Them?
Unfortunately, a lot of people think that grit and oyster shells are the same things. They are not. Your hens require both oyster shell and grit. Without it, serious health issues can arise, such as Sour Crop and Brittle Bones. So now we know that our ladies need oyster shells and grit as additives to […]
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Hen Eating Their Own Eggs. How Do I Stop Them?
Hen eating their own eggs can be a huge problem once it takes hold. It’s a behavior that needs to be stopped quickly as other hens may decide to join in and that is a difficult thing to stop. This is one of the last problems you want as a chicken keeper because many of […]
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7 Chicken Breeds That Do Well in Cold Climates
The winter weather here in upstate New York during the winter can be brutal, and certain breeds of chicken don’t survive here. It’s crucial that when you’re considering which breed of chicken to get, you take into account your local climate in addition to the bird’s natural climate. A mismatch of the two can prove […]
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How Long Will My Hens Live For?
The oldest chicken ever to have lived was called Matilda, and she was sixteen years old when she finally died. Her life circumstances were not ‘average chicken’. She belonged to a pair of stage magicians who took great care of her. Also, she never laid any eggs! She had quite a luxurious life with minimal […]