A major innovation is uncommon when it comes to pet and animal housing as the basics have stood the test of time, so it is a welcome surprise when something new and distinctive hits the market, and for poultry too! You can put down the chicken wire and tacks and get a look at the…
There’s never been a better time to take the plunge and keep your own hens! If you are looking for a satisfying and sustainable way of feeding your household, why not keep chickens? Backyard chickens are great fun and your TLC is always rewarded with a clutch of fresh and nutritious eggs. Looking after hens…
Many backyard chicken owners keep their chickens as pets with an added bonus… Eggs! With a flock of 6 hens, you will have enough eggs each morning for all the family. This will allow for the odd day where one or two birds do not lay. With the average household having two adults and two…
Keepers of backyard hens are very familiar with the well-worn routine of rising early to open the coop and hitting the backyard at twilight to ensure everybody’s in and the roost is properly secured. For the humble backyard chicken, predators abound so you must be confident that your roost security is up to the task…
A group of chickens is called a brood, and a group of baby chickens is called a clutch. Females are known as hens, and the male chicken is known as a rooster! Are Chickens Sociable in a brood? Chickens can indeed be sociable and friendly with each other. In fact, they will become quite lonely…
Transporting your backyard chickens is not a task that owners look forward to, but with the right approach and some helpful strategies you can be road-tripping with your feathered friends in total comfort. In this short article, we will run through how to transport backyard chickens safely with all the tips and tricks need to…
When you buy some backyard hens it is important to know exactly what you are getting into. Just like buying a cat, dog, or other pet, owning backyard chickens requires commitment especially as chickens can be remarkably long-lived. The life expectancy of backyard hens If you are wondering “how long do backyard chickens live?”, you…
Chickens versus ducks for your backyard – which way to go? An aspiring domestic poultry owner has literally hundreds of species of chicken, ducks, and other fowl to choose from. One of the early decisions to make if you are set on keeping a flock of your own is whether chickens or ducks will be…
If you know anything about chickens, you’ll know they love to peck around on the ground for tasty morsels. For them this could be a seed, to a bug, to a worm, but does this extend to ants, and should they be eating them if so? Within this article, we will answer the question of…
Populating your yard space with some backyard hens has never been easier, with so many options available for acquiring chickens to raise for meat or eggs. In this short article, we are going to look at buying straight-run chickens versus pullets. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and we hope our breakdown of this issue…
Looking to fill your coop with a new brood of chicks? Both newbie hen keepers and veterans getting back in the saddle will need to populate their backyard with a suitable number of fluffy friends. Your options for buying backyard chickens range from anything between a clutch of eggs and retired caged hens from a…
Just when you thought that you have finished securing the coop from snakes, badgers, bobcats, and other predators, the worry of overhead attacks becomes apparent. If you live in an area where eagles or other raptors make their home, your chickens could be at risk of being taken or ripped apart. Eagles are opportunistic predators…
If raising or keeping backyard hens is a dream you are now ready to realize, you’re definitely in for a great adventure. After doing all the research, selecting a coop, and feed for your bird, you are probably at the stage of acquiring a little flock of your own. As an aspiring owner of backyard…
Though they are not exactly sparring for a fight, adult chickens are known to take on snakes and win. Attacking and killing snakes is not unusual for chickens and other flightless birds that nest on the ground. Chickens and other birds protect their roost and eggs from snakes by pecking them to death. Chickens will…
Share festive cheer with owners of backyard hens with this selection of cheerful, charming, and totally chicken-related gifts! Owners of backyard hens are all about the flock they lovingly care for, so they will be excited and appreciative of gifts that show you understand their passion! What better way to thank them for all those…
You’ll be relieved to know that frozen peas are completely safe for chickens to eat. In fact, a serving of frozen peas will be a refreshing treat for your hens on a hot day. It can be hard to keep up with what chickens can and can’t eat. Read on for a quick and handy…
If you are wondering whether your chickens can eat the traditional fat ball treats that are fed to birds and poultry, the answer is yes, but as with all matters of a hens diet, moderation is key! What are fat balls? Fat balls like Feldy High Energy Chicken Pecker Balls are a high-energy treat for…
So, do chickens eat flies? Flies are generally fine for your backyard hens. Chickens love to tuck into crunchy protein-rich insects like flies. A backyard with fragrant hens and lots of poo in the summer is likely to attract a tasty winged snack or two, and your girls are probably eating all sorts of flies without…
Getting some chickens sounds like an amazing idea and can provide a real slice of the agrarian lifestyle in even the most urban of environments. However, before you take the plunge and get your muck boots and grain bucket, it is well worth pausing considering whether keeping backyard chickens are a good fit for your…
Chickens are generally quite well adapted to deal with varying temperatures and can cope with colder temperatures much easier than a human can. In fact, chickens are better suited to dealing with cold weather than they are warm temperatures, however, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t consider their wellbeing over the cold winter months. This then…
Chicken runs are a crucial item needed to ensure that your chickens have enough room to roam around and exercise but also so that they can do so safely. We appreciate not all backyard chicken owners have the option to let their chickens roam freely, this can either be the result of a lack of…
One of the most important factors that you need to consider when choosing a chicken run is how suitable the materials are. Ideally, a chicken run will be a solid structure that not only gives your chickens space to roam around freely without the possibility of them escaping but also one that stops anything else…
A roost is an essential living requirement for your chicken’s environment and providing a roost that gives your chickens enough space to feel safe and comfortable is a task that should not be overlooked. A chicken needs roost space off the ground so that they can feel safe from predators and also have a comfortable…
The size of a chicken roost greatly influences the health and well-being of your chickens. While it may seem like a simple choice to make, it’s important to know how the dowel size could end up affecting your chickens while roosting. A proper roost should provide the right amount of space for your chickens to…
All chickens need a place to perch during the day and especially at night while they are sleeping. It may seem like a small aspect of owning chickens, however, a proper roost is vital for their health and well being. If you’re confused about whether a round or square roost is best, you’re not the…
Raspberries can be commonly found in many home gardens, but is it okay for your chickens to eat them? In short, the answer is yes! If you like keeping your chickens on an all-natural diet, you’ll love all the nutritious benefits that raspberries have to offer your egg-laying friends. Raspberries contain many nutritious benefits and…
Bedding is an absolute priority for keeping your hens clean, fresh, and disease-free. It may be a no-brainer for some, but selecting the right bedding can make all the difference in quite literally keeping your chickens well. Overlook it and your backyard flock can run into serious problems very quickly! There are lots of options…
Chickens are charming, sometimes amusing birds that make great backyard pets. You may wonder, can you have an indoor pet chicken? No, is the short answer. You see, chickens harbor illnesses, like the bird flu, which people can contract. These can make you seriously ill. It would be virtually impossible to avoid contamination with a…
If you have chickens, you may wonder if having them out in the rain is a danger. For example, can chickens drown in the rain? Fortunately, chickens will not drown simply from standing out in the rain. They will not even drown in a downpour. The biggest risk that rain poses to chickens is that…
Can chickens swim? A better question may be, ‘should chickens swim?’ While chickens can technically swim, it poses a lot of danger. Chicken feathers only somewhat repel water and are not truly water-proof. This means that chickens dowsed in water will quickly become soaked, and catch a chill. Hypothermia is a strong possibility and can…
If you are looking for ways to help your flock of backyard hens happy, peck toys are an excellent go-to! Chicken Peck toys not only stimulate your chickens physically but also mentally. Keeping them happy and alert. A sad and unhealthy hen will not produce fresh, tasty eggs. Try introducing peck toys and you will…
If you are looking to ‘mix things up’ with your flock of backyard chickens, a perch or a swing could be a very popular addition to the setup of your coop. An empty coop, garnished only with a few isolated feeders and drinkers can get boring after a while, especially if your hens do not…
Chickens have many predators, and that can be a problem. One of them is the snake, which is a very unexpected and stealthy animal and can often be found in many backyards in certain parts of the world. But don’t worry; here I show you the steps you must take in order to protect your…
Growing and caring for backyard chickens is a great experience for pet owners, but one of the most common issues people face when caring for their chickens is their diet—That’s why I want to teach you what they can and cannot eat. Are chickens vegetarian? Chickens are not vegetarians; they are omnivorous animals, which means…
Animals farting is often humorous, interesting and actually quite a serious topic as most people want to know if it’s normal for their animal to fart, why they do this and in most cases how to limit or prevent it. Let’s be honest, farting is a natural, biological occurrence that happens in most animals during…
Winter can be a difficult time to care for outdoor animals. When looking after backyard chickens, these colder months can cause problems to arise that are much less likely to occur during more temperate times. Unfortunately, chickens can freeze to death. Although chickens are quite resilient to the cold, they can die if they aren’t…
You’ve likely noticed that chickens are notaries for eating just about anything you give them, or more commonly, anything they happen to find for themselves and tomatoes are something that many wonder whether or not chickens can eat due to the fact that they are part of the ‘nightshade’ family. As omnivores and foragers, chickens…
Chickens pecking holes in their eggs might at first seem like an innocent action by a curious creature, they are natural foragers and will, therefore, peck at a range of items out of curiosity and also in the search for food. If you notice any small holes in the egg then this is a serious…
When we think of who should be eating cheese, chickens are mostly not on that list. Cheese is a typical delicacy among other animals, particularly mice. Nevertheless, can chickens eat cheese? Giving your chicken a variety in their treats is an excellent way to keep them happy and keep the produce coming. If you’re looking…
Giving your chicken treats is an excellent way to diversify their diet. If you’re planning to feed your chicken grapes as their treat for the day but aren’t sure if they are safe, this article is for you. Chicken are not picky eaters; their food preferences are quite varied. When given in moderation, grapes are…
If you’re a first-time chicken owner, deciding what bedding to use for your chickens can be a daunting task. For even the experienced ones, switching chicken coop bedding is one of the toughest choices in flock care. After all, the litter you offer to your chickens in their coop is not a luxury. It’s a…
Unlike most pets, chickens are not picky about what they eat. In fact, it’s entirely the other way round in most cases. While layer feed and water make a good old staple diet, it doesn’t mean they can’t have fun and get the odd treat or two. We love to spoil our backyard chickens with…
Chickens are opportunistic eaters and more importantly, they are also omnivores which means they’ll eat almost anything that you give to them (or that they find). This might seem like an ideal scenario as you can now feed them anything and they’ll happily eat it, however, the reverse is actually true and you now need…
Raising chickens differs from raising cats and dogs. Many will find the thought of keeping backyard chickens absurd, but only those who do it know that it is an incredibly rewarding experience. While it’s quite an easy feat, there are often opposing views about what’s right or wrong. Whether it’s the extent of lighting or…
Does differentiating your chickens from your hens leave you scratching your head or have you given up and use the two terms interchangeably? In this article, we share the essentials on chickens vs hens equipping you with all you need to know about the world’s most common bird! If you’re considering keeping backyard chickens then…
Scientists have successfully decoded the mystery of ‘Which came first – the chicken or the egg?” riddle. The answer is an egg! But there’s an equally puzzling question that has intrigued and frustrated poultry farmers and ‘chicken enthusiasts’ for a long time. And that is: Do chickens eat their own eggs? Isn’t that just cannibalism?…
Oyster shell grit is a staple part of the diet of domestic poultry. But to the newcomer to backyard hens, feeding oyster shell grit to chickens may seem strange. After all crushed shells and stones have no nutritional benefit for your birds or do they? In this article, we will take a look at what…
Whether chickens eat peppers or not all depends on the type of pepper you are talking about. There are so many different types of pepper available to eat. At least 25 can be found in your local store or farm shop. Not all of them are tasty and sweet. Many are hot and not suitable…
Are you wondering how much to feed chickens per day? While much will depend on the breed of chicken and its age, there are a few basic estimates and guidelines that you can follow to get an idea of how much chickens eat. The amount of food will be determined by a number of things…
If you are a backyard chicken owner, you are probably wondering about how to protect your chickens from predators? Depending on where you live and the number of chickens you have, there are several different things that you can do to protect them. In this article we’ll look at some simple and effective ways to…
Poor health is stressful for both you and your hens and any issues that crop up need to be tackled early. Parasitic worms are a common problem that you may encounter while keeping hens at home. These internal parasites are not only contagious but recurrent and can rapidly overtake your flock, so it is important…
So, if you’re living next door to chickens, what do you need to know? A lot of this will depend on how many chickens your neighbor has and where you live. Chickens are not the worst pets or animals you could live next door to be any means but there are some things to consider.…
If you want to know what a male chicken is called, you actually have a menu of names to choose from. Not ‘Jeff’ or ‘Bill’ but rooster, cock or cockerel! Poultry comes with its own vocab and a range of terms that can help owners describe their feathered friends with pinpoint precision. If you are…
Whether boiled or fried, you surely will be looking for a dense and delicious yolk (or two), one of the best parts of eating fresh eggs from your own hens. But what exactly is an egg yolk, and how does it get its vivid hue? Read on to learn more and how you can keep…
Feeding backyard chickens properly is essential to keeping chickens at home successfully. If adequate feeding of your fluffy friends is neglected in any way, it shows up quickly in your bounty of eggs and the hens themselves. A sound understanding of poultry diet will help you when keeping chickens as pets as you can really…
If you are getting into the swing of things when it comes to keeping backyard chickens, you may be considering whether or not your supply of eggs is fertile. The fertility of eggs is a topic that is often shrouded in myths, rumor, and speculation. Let’s blow off the cobwebs and get some daylight on…
If you are keeping pet hens, you will be well aware that feed is one of the biggest costs you will encounter. Great nutrition produces great eggs and with chicken, there are no corners that can be cut when it comes to providing your birds with a wholesome and balanced diet. Many hen owners are…
Chickens and eggs go together but can a hen lay eggs without a rooster? Thankfully this riddle has a very simple answer. Yes, a chicken will produce eggs without a rooster on the scene. If you want to know how this is possible, read on for our explanation of how your daily ration of eggs…
Keep your chickens moving with a fantastic chicken run! If you are new to keeping chickens or setting up new accommodations for your hens, it’s vital to ensure that your housing or coop offers adequate room to meet their care needs. Your chickens need space to roam, forage, and exercise innate behaviors like scratching and…
The thought of having freshly laid eggs for breakfast from chickens kept at home is one that fills my thoughts with country gardens and huge lawned backyards. However, you don’t need a big backyard or garden to keep chickens at home. Keeping chickens at home is fast becoming one of the most popular and trending…
Chickens are foraging animals (and pets) and need some space to roam around outdoors. You might be an owner that is not too concerned about the condition of your backyard however, the vast majority of chicken owners will likely have pristine grass or a vegetable patch that they want to maintain. Chickens, if left to…