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 […]

  Beyond what might be obvious, chickens can be quite the addition to your lifestyle no matter where you live. Here are the top 5 reasons why I think raising chickens should be something everyone should try.   EGGS, EGGS, EGGS If there is one thing we all know about chickens it is this, they […]

In this past year of caring for chickens, ducks and turkeys my days have been filled with many first-time experiences.  Over the past 5-7 years I’ve dreamed of raising chickens and have romanticized about gathering eggs each morning. After a full year of living ‘the dream’ let me share with you a summary of the […]

Profit With Poultry Sponsored By Brinsea In this episode of MOTHER EARTH NEWS and Friends Kellsey Trimble sits down with Patricia Foreman and Victoria Miller to discuss making a profit with your poultry. Many of us joke that our hobby flocks don’t pay the bills. Let’s change that! Kellsey Trimble, managing editor of Grit, enjoys immersing herself […]

Our morning started early on the day of butcher.  After breakfast and some coffee we were eager to get started.  I think we were most interested in getting past the actual act of dispatching birds.  That would be no fun for anyone involved.  Another issue weighing heavily on my mind was letting go of one […]

As we prepare to butcher I am getting excited over the prospect of putting meat in our freezer. The flock is in desperate need of being thinned out after this spring’s incubator hatch. With 31 birds, three of them being young turkeys, space is soon to be at a premium in the coop. Quite frankly, […]

Download this episode (right click and save) In this episode Kellsey Trimble, Managing Editor of Grit Magazine, sits down with Alison Martin of the Livestock Conservancy, Bill Ahrens and Kevin Fletcher of New Country Organics, and Victoria Miller author of “Pure Poultry.” These experts share their tips on and stories to help us understand how to […]

After a winter break, the chickens are well rested and ready to earn their keep again. 😉  There are many ways you can put your chickens to work this Spring, and they are happy to do so… Egg Production With longer days and warmer weather upon us, the ladies become more consistent with their egg […]

It is that time of year when wood ash is easily accessible.  If you have access to wood ash from a fire place or wood burning stove, why not put it to work for your chickens. Dust Bathing Natural – All year round, dust bathing is a chicken’s natural way of keeping clean. Necessary – […]

Winter chicken keeping can be a little bit daunting for many people. You worry if your birds are getting enough to eat. Is their diet varied? What about frozen water? Predators are hungry and more determined for a meal. Plus, if you live in a snowy area like me, it is cold, cold, cold outside.