Hoovers 1 - Flockjourney

Chicken Anatomy 101

When raising backyard chickens, it’s important to know some basics on their anatomy and the function for each part This way you can keep close tabs on your flocks’ health and notice any changes that might signal a problem

Chickens are gorgeous birds and were created so well When you sit and really think about the process a chicken goes through to lay their egg, it’s astounding!

Posted byHoovers 1August 28, 2022July 28, 2026Posted inAdvanced Topics, Chicken Care, Poultry HealthTags: anatomy of a chicken, chicken anatomy, chicken cloaca, chicken crop, chicken digestive system, chicken gizzard, chicken health, chicken oviduct, chicken reproductive anatomy, chicken skeletal systemLeave a comment on Chicken Anatomy 101

Benefits of Lemongrass & Eucalyptus Essential Oils in Chicken Coops

If you’ve been around here long enough, it’s no secret that Coop Recuperate is hands down my favorite product for our coop bedding Part of the reason I got back into backyard chickens was because of this product!

Before Coop Recuperate, I hated the smell of backyard chickens They poop a bunch, create a lot of dust and just don’t smell fantastic Coop Recuperate changes all

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

Posted byHoovers 1August 21, 2022July 28, 2026Posted inChicken Care, Essential Oils, Housing, Poultry HealthTags: benefits of essential oils for chickens, essential oil safety, essential oils for chickens, lavender essential oil for chickens, lavender essential oils, lavender oil for chickens, natural coop care, poultry-safe aromatherapy, tea tree oil for chicken coopLeave a comment on Benefits of Tea Tree & Lavender Essential Oils

All About the Barnevelder Chicken Breed

If you have ever scrolled through breed guides dreaming about your next backyard addition, the Barnevelder chicken probably stopped you in your tracks This Dutch beauty is famous for its rich, dark “chocolate” eggs and its calm, friendly personality Many keepers start out wanting chickens just for the eggs, then quickly fall down the rabbit hole of gorgeous breeds, which is exactly how a tidy little flock turns into a backyard full of feathers The Barnevelder is one of those breeds that earns a spot on almost everyone’s wish list, and for good reason

Hoovers 1August 1, 2022July 28, 2026Breeds, Brown Egg Layers, Egg Layersbarnevelder, barnevelder chicken, Barnevelder temperament, brown egg layer, Chicken Breeds, cold-hardy layer, dark brown egg layer, double-laced chicken, Dutch chicken breedLeave a comment

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!

Hoovers 1July 19, 2022July 28, 2026Advanced Topics, Chicken Care, Egg Layers, Poultry Healthcalcium deficiency in hens, chicken health, chicken lack of calcium, egg binding treatment, egg bound hen, egg-bound hen symptoms, flock fixer, preventing egg binding, reproductive emergency in chickens, treating an egg bound henLeave a comment

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