Coop Spring Cleaning

Spring never seemed to arrive this April throughout the Midwest Waves of snowstorms and cold swept across vast areas of the American heartland, but finally toward the end of the month warmer weather eased in
Warm spring weather means it’s time to do a thorough coop cleaning The tasks are messy and completing them makes the coop a comfortable home for the flock as warm weather arrives and a pleasant place for folks to visit So, don your old clothes, put on work shoes, and slip on gloves and get that coop spruced up

Neighbors, Neighbors, Neighbors

A century ago most Americans lived on farms or in small towns That’s changed
Today’s people either live in suburban neighborhoods or big cities and are far removed from cattle, hogs, and chickens that produce their animal based food
That can be a problem for a family wishing to raise chickens in a small backyard As suburbs grew following the Second World War, many city councils believed that chickens were noisy, smelly, dirty animals that only belong on the farm and not in town They passed ordinances banning them Fortunately, the trend is reversing Ordinances are being

Treats Help Manage A Flock

Anyone who has tried to herd an escaped flock back into the coop quickly discovers that chickens have a mind of their own Some run this way, while others go that way Few un where their owner intends The result is exercise for both humans and chickens and little else
Fortunately, chickens are easy to trick Herding doesn’t work well but tasty lures do Chickens can’t resist a delicious snack No matter where the flock is, as soon as one bird spots treats being served, she’ll cluck and summon her fellow flockmates to the feast
Here’s

Giving Your Chickens A Good Night’s Sleep

Both people and chickens appreciate a good night’s sleep As warm months approach odds are better that humans will be more comfortable after dark than their chickens After all, people live in well-ventilated houses with screened windows to exclude pesky bugs When it really gets hot, they only need to click on the air conditioner
Chickens aren’t so lucky Often, they are forced to try sleeping while swarms of gnats and mosquitos attack them in hot humid air Air conditioning a coop is silly and not needed but simple preparation by owners will help hens enjoy hours

Ducks: The Fun and Productive

In the past few years, families across America have begun tending small flocks of backyard chickens for good reasons They are fun, produce delicious eggs, and are a wonderful way for children to learn where food really comes from Ducks offer the benefits of chickens yet far fewer people keep them
Chickens and ducks have similarities and some major differences Both species were domesticated from wild ancestors thousands of years ago Chickens originated from wild jungle fowl while most domestic ducks trace their ancestry to mallards, a common wild bird across most of the northern hemisphere Over

Chickens and Their Personalities

Most chick catalogs and websites reveal general characteristics of chicken breeds  For example, Leghorns and most other white egg breeds are described as being flighty and noisy  In contrast most heavy breeds, like Australorps and Wyandottes, are claimed to be quiet, gentle, or tame    Some catalogs even go further claiming that certain breeds, often Orpingtons, are friendly

While biologists caution about affixing human personality traits to animals, catalog generalizations of chicken temperament are mostly accurate  Light colored, white egg laying breeds are usually nervous, strong flyers that are somewhat difficult

3 Ways to Make Your Lawn More Sustainable with Chickens

Most families that keep a flock of backyard chickens have a front or side lawn, but few use it to advantage Even a small lawn can help chickens There are many ways you can reuse your lawn clippings when you have chickens, making the passes with the mower that much more valuable!
Some lucky families let their hens roam around the yard to forage for tasty insects and plants Often communities that allow backyard flocks prohibit free ranging birds The birds must be confined in a coop or enclosed run Even if there is no law

Pheasants and Turkeys in the Backyard

Perhaps the most intriguing of all birds are ring neck pheasants and wild turkeys Although mostly wild birds and popular quarries for hunters, many people raise their domesticated counterparts for beauty and delicious food
RINGNECKED PHEASANT
Like chickens, pheasants trace their origin to wild birds in Asia and are sometimes called Chinese pheasants These colorful long-tailed birds caught the eye of Judge Owen Denny, who was serving as a council in Shanghai In 1881,1882 and 1884 he had wild birds captured and shipped to the Pacific Northwest Some were released on his family farm in

Second Coops Are Handy

Newcomers to chicken care pridefully buy or make their first coop Some are simple But, people who love design and carpentry often create coops that are downright elaborate, unique, and complement the architecture of their own house Their hens live in classy digs
No matter how comfortable and attractive a coop is, having a second backup one ready for instant use is handy It won’t be used all the time, doesn’t need to be big, expensive or elaborate, and can be so simple that it is easy to set up quickly and easily when the need

Learning From Chickens Part 2

With coronavirus closing schools, millions of parents have unexpectedly become home school teachers They are learning how valuable trained professional teachers are as they attempt to help their kids expand their math, reading, and problem-solving abilities
It’s a great time to buy a few baby chicks Start them soon and by late summer they’ll be laying delicious eggs in the backyard Having the ability to produce food is comforting in this age of anxiety A flock of six hens will give a family over two dozen eggs a week
Hoover’s Hatchery reports record chick orders, probably