How to Care for Chickens During Wildfires If you currently live in the Western United States, you are most likely dealing with the effects of wildfires. I am lucky to live in an area that is not directly threatened by the fires, but we are experiencing very smoky conditions! According to the EPA (Environmental Protection […]

As they say, there’s a first time for everything!  Over the past month I had been hoping a couple of my birds might become broody.  Specifically, I was hoping for a broody chicken but instead a duck made my wish come true. Diller (aka Phyllis Diller) is a small crested duck with a floppy foot. […]

Common Flock Problems – Sponsored by Premier 1 Supplies GRIT Managing Editor, Kellsey Trimble, sat down with Patricia Foreman and Joe Putnam to discuss the best ways of preventing and treating common flock problems. From pests and predators to illnesses, dietary considerations, and the effectiveness of electric fences, listen as these three converse about the […]

After a long snowy winter, spring is the season for getting your lawn back in order. Some wouldn’t give it a second thought as they dutifully apply fertilizer or weed killer. Their only desire is to make their lawn a lush, blemish-free, carpet of green. However, those of us who have free ranging chickens must […]

I am a huge fan of Essential Oils to help ease common ailments without having to submit to using man made pharmaceuticals or antibiotics. Oils can pack a big punch in a very small package. Best of all? They are natural! But, can you use them with your feathered flock?   In short, yes.  A […]

Old man winter will be knocking on our doors soon, so I thought this would be a good time to review some winter strategies for keeping chickens safe and healthy during cold weather.  A winter check list for your chickens… Your chickens have probably finished molting by now, or should be soon.  Their new feathers […]

It’s inevitable.  Sometimes you need to go away and sometimes you just want to go away.  When you have chickens (or other animals), a little planning is needed before you pack those bags. Certain animals can be boarded.  We have done that in the past…when we had one dog.  But now?  We have 2 dogs, […]

guest post by Andrea Martin Recent outbreaks of avian influenza (including the highly pathogenic strains) in the Midwest have sounded the alarm against this dangerous disease. While the outbreak was mostly confined to commercial farms, backyard poultry keepers need to be vigilant as well. Without any treatment options available for poultry, the influenza virus won’t be welcomed in our […]

How to keep eggs from freezing in the coop is a concern for many of us this time of year. During the colder months each egg that you collect is like a prized possession.  They can be few and far between.  Having to trash them because they are frozen and/or cracked can be heart breaking. […]

If you have backyard chickens – or are considering a flock – then you’ve probably heard or read of the negative aspects of having a few birds in your backyard. – They’re nosiy, they carry germs, they stink, they’re hard to take care of… To a few folks – all of those concerns or complaints […]