Chickens

  • 20 Small Chicken Breeds [Your Epic Guide With Pros and Cons!]

    Raising small chickens is one of our favorite homesteading activities. We love having fresh eggs every day. Besides the eggs, the best part about raising small chickens is that we can manage effectively with a smaller amount of space.  Another…

  • Can Chickens Eat Maggots? (Don’t Mind if They Do!)

    Very few natural phenomena cause as much disgust in humans as a clump of tiny, wiggly maggots.  However, your chickens have a completely different perspective. To an average chicken, maggots are equivalent to French fries. They don’t care if they’re…

  • How to Break a Broody Hen Nicely [5 Humane Ways]

    Anyone who keeps chickens will know that they can be very individual characters. What works for one of your girls won’t necessarily work for another. Trying to break a broody hen is one of those occasions when their quirks and…

  • Can You Overfeed Chickens? Yep. Here’s Why!

    When I first considered raising hens on my backyard hobby farm, one benefit rose quickly to the forefront – no more wasting food! Two of my three kids are champion food wasters. Well, the chickens will eat it, soon became a…

  • How Many Hens Can One Rooster Live With Safely?

    A few years ago, after many failed attempts, one of our hens finally managed to hatch a clutch of six chicks. Soon afterward, my delight turned to despair – four of the six were roosters! As our cute fluffy chicks matured into…

  • Do Chickens Need Light at Night to Lay Eggs? [and Do Chicks?]

    Many new chicken owners take on a small flock of hens, thinking that chicken-keeping is a doddle. But then realize that their newly-introduced poultry is much pickier than they thought! That’s because chickens need a few home comforts to keep…

  • Is Cracked Corn Good for Chickens and Egg Production?

    For many years, I only fed my chickens whole or cracked corn. I hoped they were getting all the nutrients needed from the bugs, seeds, fruit, and the surrounding pasture. After a while, however, I noticed my chickens were hardly…

  • Can You Eat a Rooster? Are Male Chickens Edible?

    Chicken meat is a healthy and classic family (and farm) staple! But rooster meat has a reputation for being inedible, chewy, bland, and not worth eating. Is that true? Can you eat a rooster? Or not? The confusion between chicken…

  • My Favorite Chicken Coops from Tractor Supply

    Along with the fruits and vegetables you raise in your garden, you also raise livestock that depends upon you for a safe environment. If you love chickens, in particular, you will need to find the best protective shelter for them…