Backyard chicken keeping is all the rage these days. If you’re thinking about raising a flock of chickens, you’ll need all the facts, and there are plenty of things no one tells you about raising chickens. When we decided to raise chickens we read every book on the market. We learned how to care for them, the specifics of their anatomy, the abundance of different breeds on the market, and exactly how to build the perfect coop. But, there are a lot of things the books just didn’t … [Read more...] about 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Raising Chickens
Raising Animals
How to Make a Chicken Dust Bath In Just Two Minutes
Chickens are simple creatures, but they still have basic needs, and a dust bath is one of them! Why do chickens need a dust bath? All chickens get clean by getting dirty. Chickens don’t take traditional baths with water, but instead roll and flap around in the dirt. This helps to exfoliate their skin, shed old and loose feathers, and most importantly, to smother insects and parasites that may be living on them. Chickens are prone to getting mites and lice, tiny parasites that … [Read more...] about How to Make a Chicken Dust Bath In Just Two Minutes
11 Things You Need To Know About Raising Backyard Ducks
If the idea of raising backyard ducks makes your heart instantly go pitter-patter at the thought of little webbed feet waddling determinedly through the yard, then keep reading, this article is just for you! Whether your intention is to keep them for meat, eggs or as helpers in the garden, know that ducks are a great addition to any backyard or urban farm. Ducks are easy-going, tolerant to cold and resistant to diseases, allowing them to become the perfect forager on any homestead. In … [Read more...] about 11 Things You Need To Know About Raising Backyard Ducks
8 Common Weeds Your Chickens Will Love (& 8 Poisonous Plants To Avoid!)
Did you know you no longer have to grumble and groan when you find weeds popping out of the lawn? You can feed those very pests to your chickens for a nutritious and delicious treat. It’s a win for the chickens and a win for you! Feed Your Chickens For Free The most obvious benefit to feeding weeds to chickens is to save precious cash on chicken feed. The more your chickens can fill up on the free plants growing on your property, the less they’re eating of that expensive feed. Plain … [Read more...] about 8 Common Weeds Your Chickens Will Love (& 8 Poisonous Plants To Avoid!)
Bantam Chickens: 5 Reasons To Raise “Mini Chickens” & How To Care For Them
Bantam chickens - or mini chickens - are all the rage, especially for urban and suburban chicken keepers. These tiny chickens are the ideal addition to any flock, and we’re here today to tell you exactly why that is. Pin This To Save For Later What Is a Bantam Chicken? Bantam chickens are miniature chickens. They are roughly half the size of a standard chicken, sometimes even as small as one third the size. These miniature chickens might be small in size, but they’re a … [Read more...] about Bantam Chickens: 5 Reasons To Raise “Mini Chickens” & How To Care For Them
5 Things That Work For Getting Rid Of Flies In The Chicken Coop (& 3 That Don’t!)
Waking up to find an infestation of flies in your chicken coop is not only enough to turn your stomach, it’s incredibly frustrating. We’ve been there, we’ve tried everything, and we’ve found what really works, and what doesn’t! Why do flies love chicken coops? Pests love chicken coops. The number one reason? An abundance of food! Flies in particular love chicken coops because of the abundance of manure, their favorite food. Those of you who already raise them know (and those of … [Read more...] about 5 Things That Work For Getting Rid Of Flies In The Chicken Coop (& 3 That Don’t!)