Benefits of Tea Tree & Lavender Essential Oils

This week we’re going to talk about the benefits of tea tree and lavender essential oils for your chickens We use both lavender and tea tree essential oils in our home as well as our coop I think one of the biggest reasons that some backyard chicken keepers are leery of using essential oils is because they aren’t sure which ones are safe for their flock as well as how much to use and where

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All About the Barnevelder Breed

I remember when I first started out with chickens I really didn’t pay much attention to breeds; I just wanted the eggs for our family As time went on, I realized that there are so many wonderful chicken breeds out there I started dreaming about adding to my flock and which breeds I wanted the most This is the reason my flock is up to 47 now! Hahaha!

How to Identify a Dehydrated Chicken

We are in a heat wave here…along with most of the country It’s mid July and there’s no break in sight As you know, a chicken’s feathers act like a winter coat I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine wearing a winter coat in this heat! Along with their feathers, chickens don’t have sweat glands This combination can provide the perfect storm for your chickens

Egg Bound Hens…What to Do?

If you brought chicks home this spring, and if they haven’t started laying, they will soon! There’s nothing much better than collecting your first eggs! Maintaining a proper diet and keeping hens comfortable will allow them to produce incredible eggs and do it well When they lack proper nutrition, they can get into trouble Today we’re going to discuss what causes an egg bound hen, what to look for, and how to treat them So, let’s get started!
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DIY Mason Jar Lanterns

One of the things we love most about summertime is all the outdoor entertaining we get to do We live on an acreage, in a valley, with a river running through the backyard It’s absolutely gorgeous and we make the most of our time outside in the summer

I’m not a huge “do-it-yourself” person, but here and there I surprise

Chicken Chore Chart for Kids

One of the perks of raising backyard chickens is teaching our kids responsibility There’s nothing more cute, fluffy and fun than baby chicks! The excitement is usually through the roof around here when we know baby chicks are coming With that excitement though comes the realization that chicks take a great amount of care in the first weeks and months of life

To handle the day-to-day chores, why not use a chicken chore chart!

Benefits of Chicken Compost For My Garden

Garden season is in full swing and we are so excited! Gardening has always been a big part of our family and raising backyard chickens has propelled our plants into powerhouse producers There is something so exciting about growing your own food and feeding our family nutritious meals Composting our chicken poop has been an incredible asset to our gardens
 

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Egg Sandwich

Egg sandwiches are a staple around our house I make them on a very regular basis and while we gravitate towards the simple egg and cheese sandwich, there are times when we like to shake things up a bit! Depending on what we have on hand and how much time we have determines how creative I am in the kitchen How about you? Do you like to create new and exciting things in your menu or are you more like me and cook because we need food

Benefits of Marigolds for Chickens

It’s finally spring! We have been busy out in our yard and gardens Do you like to garden? We have our go-to petunias already in their pots, our flower beds planted with all sorts of beautiful blooms and our food garden prepped and ready to be planted

The girls have been scratching around and getting the

Memorial Day Hot Dog Bar

We are cruising through the last week of school around here and we’re getting the itch to do all the things outside! Historically, Memorial weekend is either cool and raining or scorching hot in Southwest Minnesota However, this weekend is shaping up to be one of the nicest ones we’ve had in a while We are going to take full advantage of this wonderful weather and probably do most of our cooking outside I know a lot of people getting ready to host some big parties for graduation