Most chickens lay their eggs in the first few hours of daylight. But it makes you wonder… Could they lay eggs at any time of the day? Exactly what time of day do most chickens lay eggs? Does the weather…
Why do chickens stop laying eggs? The reasons range from the natural, like shorter days and molting, to challenges like dietary gaps and stress. But don’t fret! By mimicking longer days with artificial light, pampering your molting birds with protein-rich…
Few things are better than having a consistent supply of fresh eggs from your backyard flock of hens. But if your hens produce more eggs than your family can eat daily, you will quickly accumulate excess eggs. At that point,…
Many backyard chicken owners start out buying point-of-lay hens from a local supplier. It would be easy to assume that point-of-lay means they will lay eggs any day now, but this isn’t always true! So when do chickens start laying…
One sad fact most homesteaders realize is that commercially reared chickens don’t have a particularly long lifespan. But how long do chickens live if cared for properly in a backyard flock? And how many years will a hen lay eggs…
I have to admit it – I’m somewhat of a chicken hoarder! In recent months, I’ve realized that I can’t resist when someone mentions they have a hen or two looking for a new home. But how many chickens do…
There’s nothing like a delicious hard-boiled farm-fresh egg! But when boiling fresh eggs, things can get tricky. Farm-fresh eggs, unlike grocery store eggs – are notoriously difficult to peel. But they are also prized for their fresh taste and excellent nutritional…
What came first? The chicken or the egg? – That’s the age-old question. But there’s one question more vital for homesteaders who love eating fresh eggs daily. The question is – are farm-fresh eggs better than store-bought eggs? We are…
If you’re new to rearing chickens, you’ll most likely wonder how many eggs a chicken lays in a day. Do all hens lay one egg daily, or can they sometimes lay two? Or will your hens produce far less than…
One of the coolest parts of raising chickens and being a backyard chicken keeper is collecting multi-colored eggs every week! Blue eggs, green eggs, pink eggs, even orange eggs! But maybe there’s a higher demand for white chicken eggs in…
Need chicken nesting box ideas? Start here! Chickens are amazing. They provide so much and generally ask for very little. They are often a staple of any homestead, farm, ranch, or household. With a tiny space and a little effort…
If you’re new to keeping hens or want to expand your little flock, then the nesting boxes are vital. Here’s why. Hens are fussy (and fickle) creatures. And if they don’t like their nesting boxes or there aren’t enough, they…
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…
Backyard hens will produce just as many eggs without a rooster as they will with a rooster, but there are more advantages to having one around than just the possibility of getting a baby chick from time to time. Of…
We all know that keeping chickens free-range provides them with the best living conditions – they can roam freely, pick the best natural food, and display all their natural behaviors. Free-range chickens have other benefits, too. Eggs from free-range operations are potentially…