There’s nothing that hints of spring quite like newly hatched chicks. If you haven’t ordered yet, now is the time to do so, either through a nearby breeder, the local feed store or a mail order hatchery. You’ll also want ...
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How To Turn Your Backyard Chickens Into Homestead Money-Makers
So you’ve decided that backyard chickens would be a good addition to your self-sufficient lifestyle. Now comes the more difficult part. What exactly are you going to do with those chickens you see scratching and nesting in your mind’s eye? ...
Read More »Train Your Chickens So They’ll Come When You Use A Chicken Call
When you get a new puppy, you know you will have to train it to follow directions — and not to “use the bathroom” on the carpet. But what about your chicks? Do you train them, too? Owning trained chickens ...
Read More »No, You Don’t Have To Raise Chicks Under Heat Lamps (And It Might Be BETTER For Them)
The standard advice about raising chicks is to keep them under heat lamps, feed them chick starter, and give them coccidiostats. The first time my family bought hatchery chicks we followed this advice and ended up with healthy birds. But ...
Read More »How To Make A Super-Durable Chick Brooder That Will Last For Years
The ancient Egyptians and Chinese are credited with inventing the first egg incubators, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that the first commercial incubators were used. Thus began the earnest attempt by poultry breeders to reduce the hen’s ...
Read More »Homestead Chickens 101: What You Need To Know To Get Started
I don’t know many farmers who don’t have at least a few chickens. Even dairy farmers I personally know keep a half dozen or more of our feathered friends. The chicken is to a farm what denim jeans are to ...
Read More »Getting Started With Homemade Egg Incubators
Chances are if you have considered keeping a backyard flock that you also have thought about hatching your own chicks. Being able to maintain a controlled breeding program can mean a great deal to a homestead birding operation. Commercial incubators ...
Read More »Must-Have Supplies To Get Before You Bring Your Chickens Home
So you’ve decided you want to get chickens? You may be wondering what exactly you are getting yourself into and what you need to have before you bring them home. Never fear, for here is a list of things to ...
Read More »7 Secrets To Caring For Backyard Chickens In Winter
We love our little flock of backyard chickens like they were our own children. That’s why I get a little nervous when wintertime comes – I want to make sure they are healthy and happy, despite the colder temperatures outdoors. ...
Read More »How To Identify, Prevent, And Treat Illnesses In Chicks
Raising chicks into healthy, productive adult chickens can be both fun and rewarding. The process is mostly an easy one, but you should be aware of what can go wrong. If you know what problems can arise, you can prevent ...
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