by Jennifer Kendall Chickens are omnivores with simple stomachs. They can and will eat both animal and vegetable products. In addition to foraged plants and insects, it is important to provide them with adequate protein in a form that is easily digested. Heritage Chickens need more protein than is in rations prepared for commercial chickens. […]

by Barbara Palermo I love dogs. I also love chickens. One of my dogs (a golden retriever), pays no attention to the hens – except for having an insatiable appetite for the pooh they leave behind. I am certain, however, that my other dog (a Blue Heeler/border collie mix) would chase down and destroy my […]

Elected officials sometimes resort to clever tactics to dodge the dreaded chicken issue. Many cities across the country already have chicken-keeping ordinances. Where they don’t, citizens are often lobbying for one – but some cities are more reluctant than others. Here in Oregon’s capital we have been fighting for the right to have three hens […]

My second baby hatched on Sat., Nov. 20. It’s a beautiful baby chick with a Lt Brahma daddy and a black Easter Egger momma. I know this because she is the only one that lays pink eggs. I have been using the Brinsea mini incubator just to see what would happen and last month I […]

Guest post by Stacia Equi When my parents moved to a more rural area about five years ago, I talked my mom into getting chickens. It wasn’t difficult; all I said was, “You should get chickens, you could have fresh eggs.” Because I proposed the idea, I was roped into building the coop. I lived 3,000 […]

Guest post by Stacia Equi I am a Chicken Newbie. This is my first flock of chickens, but I’ve always wanted chickens – ever since I discovered one of my neighbors in Los Angeles owned them. They also had a dyslexic rooster who would crow like wild at 3 p.m. and 3 a.m. The 3 […]

by Barbara Palermo Chickens: Are they pets or livestock? This is a question that municipalities struggle with and is often a major obstacle to legalizing backyard chickens. Throughout our long battle here in Salem, Ore., to join the Urban Chicken Movement, vigorous debates ensued more than once over the definition of livestock. Our city code, […]

by Barbara Palermo A few weeks ago was Mother’s Day, which of course had me thinking about my mom. She was born in 1921 to Italian immigrants who arrived on Ellis Island and settled in Massachusetts. Raised during the Great Depression, my mom had a childhood that was less than pleasant. My grandparents were very […]

by Jennifer Kendall Many people have heard of heirloom seeds, vegetables and fruits, but did you know there are heirloom breeds of livestock and poultry. Often referred to as “heritage,” these animals once roamed America’s pastoral landscape, but today they face the threat of extinction. Modern agriculture’s focus on increased yield and production has led […]

by Nancy Rundel Greetings poultry fans! I’ve been asked to share a few feathered experiences with you all via this blog. So, that’s what I’ll try to do with the help of my husband, Tom, who is a third generation chicken lover. Chickens have long been a part of my life, which gives me several […]