Once you get an egg incubator, I think you can officially be labeled a ‘chicken addict’! I always said I would never get an incubator – now I have two. The fun of hatching your own chicken eggs is like having Christmas every day. There are lots of different types of incubators out there, ranging […]
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There are over 130 different kinds of quail breeds throughout the world but, if you are thinking of raising your own, there’s a handful of top-notch quail breeds suitable for the homesteader. Out of the 130-some quail breeds, five are most commonly found in the backyards of bird lovers. Each breed offers something a little […]
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When Fall arrives, molting is not far behind. Broody hens have probably already molted. Those that have finished molting are now sporting bright, tight new feathers, red combs, and wattles, but no eggs. The number of eggs that chickens lay is hugely affected by the season and the number of daylight hours. In today’s article, […]
The White Rock chicken is an all-star chicken that will get the job done on the farm, and serve up dinner too. This American breed originated in Massachusetts and was named after Plymouth Rock. While the White Rock is often referred to as a breed on its own, it is actually a variety of the […]
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Note: This is the second of a two-part series on chicken parasites. This article will focus on internal parasites and the first part of the series focused on external parasites. In the first half of this series, we focused on discussing the harm that parasites can cause your chickens. We won’t repeat this information again; […]
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If you think your chickens are kind of a big deal, you may not know about the Bresse chicken. Okay yes, your chickens are a big deal, but if you’ve heard of the Brahma as the King of Chickens, then you should take the time to learn about the Queen. Before you get too excited […]
The Red Star Chicken is the superstar of the egg-production industry. This chicken is hands-down the rockstar, and it’s no wonder it has such a unique name to go along with its abilities. The Red Star is not an actual breed, but instead, she is a super-duper, well-thought-out hybrid. They are also known as Sex-Link, […]
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We often get asked how many roosters should be kept with a flock of hens. What’s the ratio of hens to roosters. Although this question is a moot point for folks who cannot keep roosters because of the city or byelaws, it is a valid question for those who want to keep a few roosters […]
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The Cream Legbar has become a firm favorite here in the US at least, in part for its’ blue eggs. It is a fascinating study in genetics as few breeds have had their origins so well mapped. As you may imagine, the breed was not created overnight, in fact, it took several decades of study, […]
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Most people know the approximate age of their birds when they first get them. But how do you know their age if you are given some birds or rescue some? Knowing the age of your chickens is crucial. Without it, it isn’t easy to know their egg-laying ability, what to feed them and what their […]
Read More… from The Simple Way to Tell How Old Your Chickens Are