It’s chick season! I have to say that the feed stores are really stepping up their game when it comes to breed varieties. I have to believe that this is in response to the growing interest in chicken keeping.   If you already have an existing flock but are interested in adding a few more […]

I just came in from our coops with a basket of eggs. These eggs will not be eaten. Instead, they will be going into my incubator. I mark the breed and the date with a pencil and set them in a labeled egg carton until I have enough to fill the incubator. This is one […]

So you’ve decided on a breed that you just can’t live without and you’ve found a breeder. Sometimes poultry breeds can be so rare that you may only have one choice when it comes to buying stock, so depending on how badly you want that breed, you may have to just accept the buyer’s terms. […]

If I’ve learned anything in chicken keeping over the years, it’s been that it can be difficult to find a specific breed/breeder that you’re looking for. Each spring becomes this treasure hunt of internet searches, e-mails to breeders and poultry club administrators to find a breed I’ve been dreaming about for years.   While chicken […]

We just set up an additional chicken coop for our breeding hens this spring. It’s been a while since I set up a new coop and I was impressed with how easy it is to meet a chicken’s needs with these inexpensive screw-together coops. It’s like IKEA for chickens!   I’m happy with this coop […]

I have big plans for breeding chickens this spring. I finally have my show-quality, heritage breed Buff Orpingtons. We drove from Mid-Michigan to eastern Ohio last year to pick up two beautiful pairs of Buffs at the Ohio National Poultry show. I can’t wait to fill my incubator with eggs from these gorgeous birds!   […]

Chickens are pretty versatile animals and will adapt to a variety of climates and living situations. Once you know why you want to keep chickens, it can be fun to learn about the different breeds and what they are known for.   Below is a loose outline as to what is available for each chicken […]

In this incubation guide, I will take you through the common terms, temperatures, times, and humidity levels for common, assorted backyard poultry.   Often times, when people new to hatching are researching how to carry out the process, seasoned breeders will throw out terms that perhaps not everyone is familiar with. Hopefully this will act […]

I remember the first time I saw a Buff Orpington chicken. It was at the State Fair and the bird was MASSIVE! It was in a large display cage and took up most of the space allotted. I fell in love immediately and vowed that one day I would raise these giant chickens.   Fast […]

At the minimum, a well balanced, age-appropriate chicken feed will provide a complete source of nutrition for your flock. I say “age appropriate” because chickens need different levels of protein at different ages. For example, chicks and young chickens need higher protein levels as they grow than adult birds. Meat birds also need additional protein […]