I love using the deep litter method for coop maintenance! Not only does it save you time but when properly implemented it gives you rich garden compost material, can help keep your flock healthy, and can even help keep them warm in winter. What is Deep Litter Method? Essentially, it is when you allow manure & …
Chickens
The winter chill has settled over New England. This is the season where I worry about my flock the most. In my head I know they are fine out there in their God given cozy feather down coats, but in my heart I want to give them some fuzzy blankets and scarves! Most standard size …
Tis the season to deck the halls! I LOVE Christmas and I love decorating so this is my favorite time of year. Check out this cute festive garland I made for my chickens. It is super easy and besides being cute it is a great thing to put out (not just for Christmas) to keep …
Lately I have been researching the benefits of fermented chicken feed- there is so much to know! Get the basics answered with The Hows & Whys of Fermented Chicken Feed What is fermented food and why should you add it to your chicken’s (or your) diet? Fermentation is the chemical breakdown of food by natural bacteria, …
Sooner or later everyone who raises chickens or is thinking about it needs to answer The Rooster Question. Will you add a rooster to your flock or will you have a girls only coop? Do you need to have a rooster? Some people are under the impression you need to have a rooster to get …
Every year, more and more people are opting to keep a small flock of hens in their backyard. Some do it to live a more sustainable life, some because they don’t want to support factory farms. Some want to be part of the local food movement. Regardless of the reason, there is an increasing desire to …
The days are getting shorter and there is a definite chill in the air. Before long the leaves will be dropping and winter coats will be coming out of storage. Your flock is preparing for their winter coats as well. It starts gradually – one day you notice extra feathers in the corners of the coop …
I LOVE checking out other people’s chicken set ups! It’s fun to see different solutions to problems we all face and seeing the creativity people have used in housing & caring for their flock. It’s always good to get new ideas for improving my coop too of course! We brought home our first chicks in …
Getting baby chicks can be such an exciting time! You want to believe your older girls will accept the babies and be good “mother hens”, but this is not the case. Your older flock is likely to not share your excitement about these new little pests eating their food and stealing their treats. You …
Incubating eggs & having newborn chicks around can be a lot of work. Hatching eggs with a broody hen allows nature and instinct to take over all the work for you. Letting the hen care for the eggs relieves you of the chore of tending an incubator, turning the eggs, monitoring the humidity & temperature …