DIY Composter

In addition to gifting a family with fresh eggs, a backyard chicken flock yields another benefit Their poop

 

“Soil needs animal manure to maintain health, and few additions to garden soil help produce abundant vegetables as chicken poop compost,” said Drew Erickson, Farm Manager at Rodale Institute’s Midwest Research Center north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

Our garden produce is a side gift from our hens, and we use their manure in two ways   We sprinkle a thin layer directly on the garden soil and gently work it in Chicken manure is nitrogen rich Adding too much can over fertilize plants, so

How Long Will Hens Stay Broody

Some chicken traits are both admirable and frustrating Patience is an example

 

People often lack patience They grit their teeth waiting at a red light, and zoom off the second it turns green Instant gratification is expected Fortunately, in this fast-paced world, a broody hen teaches us the merits of calmness and patience

 

At one time, the only way to get new chicks was to let a broody hen warm egg for a 21-day incubation period Nature programmed hens to develop a maternal urge, usually in the spring, and raise babies  After filling her nest with fertile eggs she’ll fluff up

Keeping Chickens Productive in Summer’s Heat

In the summer of 1896, a heat wave gripped New York City at a time when people lived crammed together in tenements Lacking air conditioning and running water, the heat killed about 1500 people in ten sweltering days

 

In an era when governments did little to help people, then relatively unknown Theodore Roosevelt took action that saved lives and launched his political career

As police commissioner he ordered the fire department to spray down the exterior of buildings, sidewalks and streets with water and worked to have ice delivered to suffering people The water dropped building temperatures a few degrees and

Sizing an Outdoor Run

Chickens love being outside Give them a run, and they’ll lounge in the shade, scratch for tasty bugs and seeds, gobble delicious sprouts, hunker in the dust and even snatch wayward flies from the air

 

How big should a run be?  There’s no absolute answer  A tiny run is appreciated but the bigger it is relative to flock size the more the birds will enjoy it and the more natural food it will produce

 

Chickens are constant foragers and scratchers  If many birds are crammed into a small run, they’ll soon devour every scrap of green vegetation  Expect a dusty run

Chickens Love a Bath

People mowing their lawn, tilling the garden, or doing almost any home or yard chore usually finish tired, hungry, and dirty Nothing’s quite as luxurious after a hard day’s work as a warm bath or sudsy shower to remove grime and relax taxed muscles

 

Chickens aren’t as lucky Like humans they work hard scratching the dirt for delicious bugs and seeds and giving their human owner a nearly daily nest gem……an egg  Unfortunately, they can’t end the day’s labor with a bath or shower the way people can   Yet, chickens are fastidious about body care and appreciate the opportunity to

Can Chickens be Pets?

When we visited Hoover’s Hatchery before the pandemic, we noticed a sticker saying, “Yep, I talk to my CHICKENS” Those words started us thinking Do chickens make good pets?

Chickens are amazing and unique animals With the possible exception of ducks and rabbits, they are the only farm animals that mesh well with suburban lives Most American homes are built on quarter acre lots With neighbors close and yards small families can’t keep sheep, cattle, or hogs

Chickens are different Needing little space, they shine as suburban food producers happy to recycle kitchen scraps as they gift a family with delicious

Chicken’s Vision and Memory Helps Find Snacks

Anyone who consistently shares tasty kitchen scraps with their chickens knows how eager the flock is to dine on pizza crusts, wilted lettuce, or even scraps of rice recovered from the sink strainer Chickens enthusiastically greet a person approaching with treats But how do they know they are about to enjoy a snack?

 

Chickens aren’t dumb bunnies They’re smart All they need to do is see a person carrying a bowl or small bucket with treats once or twice and every time they see it again, they’ll know the dinner bell’s ringing With great enthusiasm they’ll rush out to greet