One of the top questions I am asked is when can chicks go outside. The need for warmth is key to a growing chick. The growing period is important and making adjustments at the right time is crucial to their future health and well being. The answer really depends on you providing the need for warmth, safety, food and water, where ever you house the brooder. The first weeks of life you are dealing with rather fragile beings. They require a very warm environment. Even if you have a shed, garage … [Read more...]
How to Choose Chicks for Your Flock
Is it time for you to choose chicks to add to your flock? Maybe you are going to choose chicks based on egg laying, or breed characteristics. Perhaps you are looking to increase one particular breed in your flock. When you get to the feed store, how do you make a decision on which chicks from the bin, should go home with you. What breeds will serve your purpose? And, what if you choose a rooster. There are some important considerations when choosing chicks from the bin. Before heading out, … [Read more...]
10 Wild Herbs for Chicken Health
Do you forage for wild herbs for chicken health for your flock? When we keep chickens in coops and runs, we have to provide the majority of the nutrition. Present day chicken keeping varies and the picture may be totally different than in days gone by. A few generations back, our grandparents kept chickens free ranging in the barnyard. Some chickens were kept in small backyards, roaming freely, eating all the bugs and wild herbs they could find. Those wild herbs for chicken health were a free … [Read more...]
Luxury Chicken Coop Upgrade
Our coop is a converted garden shed. It contains the basics of chicken life but no chicken coop upgrade. Slowly, we have added some upgrades and replacement parts, repaired windows, holes, and secured the flooring. No real luxury for the chicken coop, just a nice sturdy structure. I guess the chickens have been reading some lifestyle magazines because Whynnie's latest diary entry is a list of what the flock thinks is "necessary". Read what Whynnie feels are important features … [Read more...]
9 Foods that are not on the Chicken’s Christmas List
A chicken's Christmas List? The note was stuck to the door of the coop when I opened up. The chickens were sleepy. Apparently they had stayed up a bit too late scratching out a letter to Santa Claus. I noticed that there were a significant number of things missing from the chicken's Christmas list. Items that we, humans, indulge in during the holiday season. We often read how it is so great to have chickens because they can eat all of our compost and garbage but … [Read more...]
