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
Hoover’s Hatchery recently produced a Facebook Live event at Etzel’s Sugar Grove Farm showing how Carl and Gavin Rosier use modern smart chicken coop technology to make managing their flock easier One viewer responded with a great point: if they skip a day at the coop, eggs pile up in the nest, some break, and most get dirty The Rosiers agreed completely Their devices were never meant to eliminate the daily visit Technology simply makes it easier to monitor the flock from a distance, and that distinction matters more than most new keepers realize
Carl and Gavin Rosier have found solutions to problems shared by many backyard flock owners They are researching how to use chickens to reduce weeds and insect pests in corn and soybean fields Sponsored by the Rodale Institute, their test area is on Etzel’s Sugar Grove Farm about ten miles north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The problem? They live a half hour drive south of their chickens, so it’s not easy to just saunter out to the coop to check on the birds, deliver water or food, or shoo off predators The coop is way out in a farm field
Just like us, chickens enjoy sipping cool, clean water throughout the day What surprises many new flock owners is how much they drink, even in the dead of winter How to keep chicken water from freezing in winter is one of the most important parts of cold-weather flock care, because
Few backyard experiences are as rewarding as carrying a basketful of freshly laid eggs from the nest box into the kitchen, but learning how to care for backyard chickens well gives you far more than the makings of a good breakfast Hens provide hours of entertainment with their antics in the
Late each winter, both new and seasoned chicken keepers run into the same happy problem You flip through the Hoover’s Hatchery chick catalog or browse the website, and every single breed looks perfect Placing the order suddenly feels impossible It is tempting to grab one chick of every breed, but most coops only have
