VIDEO: How To Beat the Heat and Using Hens In Your Farm

Too Many Eggs? Dealing with a Surplus

Bringing fresh eggs from coop to kitchen is a backyard flock owner’s delight Trouble is, sometimes there’s too much of a good thing

Hens lay on their own schedule Adding light during winter’s short days tricks birds into thinking it’s spring so they lay more eggs during the dark months But lighting a coop isn’t a perfect solution

All hens seem to lay more as daily natural sunlight expands and days warm Families who don’t use artificial winter light see egg production strongly rev up come spring Those that do use lights often see a smaller increase Fancy breeds, not known

VIDEO: Essential Tools and Devices to Have When Housing Chickens

Keeping Chicks Warm When the Power Goes Off

When an unexpected storm shuts down the power grid people are lucky  We can put a comfy fleece jacket over long johns and snuggle under a toasty quilt Baby chicks can’t   In the old days their broody mom would welcome them into her fluffed up feathers, where they’d be warmed and comforted by her  Today, most chicks rely on brooder heat that usually comes from electricity If they get too cold, they’ll perish So, how do you keep them warm when the power fails?   Fortunately, there are several ways to do it

Move the Brooder to the Warmest Place:  On