Learn about the Cotton Patch goose, a landrace breed developed in the U.S. deep South, medium breed that flies to escape predators. Domesticated geese first arrived in America with European settlers. Over the course of many years, several breeds were developed including the Pilgrim, the American Buff, and what is perhaps the oldest American breed, […]

Bruce and Elaine Ingram share their tips and tricks for understanding and managing roosters. Over the years, my wife, Elaine, and I have typically possessed two or three roosters holding forth in a pair of pens that adjoin each other. Some cocks have tolerated each other, others have not, and some have forged their own […]

 Livestock get the stamp spotlight with new U.S. stamps featuring heritage breeds. Heritage livestock breeds were the province of a small group of dedicated farmers a few years ago. Now, everyone can appreciate them on postage stamps. The U.S. Postal Service is selling stamps that feature 10species. “Rare farm animals represent an irreplaceable piece of […]

What to build your own coop and chicken yard? Frank Hyman shares information about getting to know and using your hand tools. Photos by author. You can read some of Frank’s other tool- and fencing-focused articles: Get the Most from Your Posts Great Gates for the Girls Power tools get all the attention. But it’s […]

Gardening with chickens is an adventure for you and for them. Elizabeth Mack shares tips to keep your birds (and plants) healthy and safe. When I moved onto my small hobby farm a few years ago, I had two requirements: chickens and gardens. I soon brought home my first small flock of hens and let […]

As part of our breed series, Jeannette Beranger clues us into which chicken breeds are North American. Photos courtesy of the Livestock Conservancy. Chickens come in all kinds of sizes, shapes, and general appearances, making them one of our most diverse domestic species. To help make some sense out of organizing them, the American Poultry […]

Excited about new chicks, but nervous about introducing them to your existing flock? Elizabeth Mack walks you through bird dynamics to keep everyone safe. Bringing new chicks home can be a stressful time, but it’s especially nerve-wracking when you have an existing flock. The old girls are set in their ways, know their place, and […]

Nest boxes, hidey-holes, dust baths, learn how to make quail “furniture” with Kelly Bohling. Photos by author. In my years of keeping Japanese quail, I discovered that these birds always enjoy two pieces of “quail furniture”: a shelter to hide in, and a good dust bath! I also learned that whatever quail spend a lot of […]

Please fence me in! Great advice from carpenter Frank Hyman about how to set posts. Photos by author. There’s a little bit of an art to setting posts for a pen. Okay, it’s very little art. Nonetheless, I’m particular about setting posts. I live in fear of my work looking like some fence lines I’ve […]

Maat van Uitert shares five great ways to teach your kids confidence around your flocks. Ever watch those videos of roosters chasing kids and laugh? Did you know that confidence around our feathered friends can be taught? And that confidence can influence the rest of your kids’ lives? We’ve all heard that involving children in […]