Big Ideas for Small Flocks
*2024 Update: I have since researched that sprouts may provide more nutritional benefit to chickens than fodder. This is because the nutrients from the seed diminish as the sprout grows into a plant. The ideal harvest time seems to be early on–when the sprout is harvested at 3-5 days. If offering sprouts instead of fodder, […]
Growing Fodder Year-Round Read More »
When I first got chickens, I knew there was no way I’d be able to open their coop door every morning and close it every night. I can barely remember to close my garage door every night, and with a busy life in general—my chickens were pretty much in mortal danger. I searched for automatic
About the Revolutionary Chicken Automatic Door Opener Read More »
Chances are if you raise chickens, you also have a green thumb. Maybe it’s because people who grow fruits and vegetables consider chickens a natural extension to their food-producing repertoire, or maybe it’s because these same people aren’t afraid to get a little dirty. But one thing that very few chicken owner/gardeners realize is the
Composting with Chickens Read More »
If you want to skip reading about the run and just download the free plans, click here. About the Run When people consider getting chickens, the first thing they usually think about is the coop, myself included. But far more important than the coop, in my opinion, is the run. Chickens use their coop to
When you first get chickens, you have all the time in the world to devote to your adorable little feathered friends. You constantly run to the coop to give them leftovers, refresh their water, check for eggs. Then, inevitably, life sets in. Things get a little hectic, and going to the coop becomes more and
Raising Chickens Without Stress Read More »
My hens have a love/hate relationship with mice. Several years ago, I noticed little black “rice grains” mixed in with their feed. For about five seconds, I thought it was neat. Then I realized that it wasn’t exotic black grains that my chickens were ingesting, but rather plain old mouse poop. (Ew!) Come to think
Several years ago, I read that you shouldn’t give your chickens water that you wouldn’t feel comfortable drinking yourself. I was using a double-barreled metal waterer, and judging by the liquid cesspool of filth they were expected to drink, I knew I was falling way short in the water cleanliness department. But no matter how
About my 5-Gallon Cooler Waterer Read More »
Growing food is a passion of mine. I also love birds. As a child, I actually asked for bird food for Christmas. (Yeah, I’m that weird). So what better way to combine the two than backyard chickens? Unfortunately, my husband does not share the same passion for either one of those things, and when I
How I Started Raising Chickens Read More »
Have you ever closely watched your chickens eat? If you have, you know that they are messy eaters. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, but the cost of chicken feed definitely adds up. It bothered me that so much of the feed was being wasted. In addition, I didn’t like having
The Waste-Proof, Rain-proof, Mouse-proof Chicken Feeder Read More »
As much as I would want to answer this question with a resounding “Yes!,” I do realize that chickens are not for everyone. The following is a list of questions to help you determine whether you should or should not take the feathered plunge. If you answered yes, you should know that, unless you are
Should I get Chickens? Read More »
When we first decided to get chickens, my eight and twelve-year old sons were ecstatic at the prospect of building a coop. I thought the more cost and time-effective option would be to buy a used coop, but they were adamant that I would be robbing them of the best part of having chickens. Neither
Now if I lived on a farm or out in the country, I wouldn’t bat an eye at loud noises emanating from my coop. But since I have neighbors on all sides, it’s just plain embarrassing. The unwritten rule at my house is: whoever is closest to the coop has to go settle whichever hen
Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Chickens Read More »
…AND WHAT I DID ABOUT IT A full third of chicken owners stop raising chickens after the first two years. That’s a pretty discouraging statistic. It’s a lot of time and money down the drain. But I totally get it. Although I enjoyed raising chickens, after six years I was ready to throw in the
Why I Almost Stopped Raising Chickens Read More »
Is it better to supplement with oyster shells or ground egg shells? How much do your chickens actually eat?
Are Oyster Shells Really Necessary? Read More »