A Chick’s First Month

A chick’s first month is tumultuous! Hatched in a Hoover’s Hatchery incubator, as soon as that baby girl chick’s fluff dries off, she’s gently placed into a shipping box The combined body heat of many babies keeps them warm as the box bounces along in a truck heading for the airport Soon she’s zooming through the sky to some place she’s never been to or even heard of It could be New Jersey, Miami, California, or even Canada Then she’s trucked again to a farm store and put into a big brooder awaiting customers A family buys her and

Chick Journey Part 1

CHICK JOURNEY

PART ONE

WEEKS 0-2

 

With the promise of Spring, comes the exciting prospect of new chicks on the farm!

I like to restock my flock with new birds at least once every two years I am able to find buyers for some of my “old” girls quite quickly Everyone is always looking for laying hens, and I’m happy to make a little extra feed money with the cash

This year, I sold all but 5 of my best hens and one Turken rooster, named Chimp

After making room, the fun part begins!

Usually, my daughter and I spend hours looking over the catalog, picking

Preparing for Baby Chicks

Preparing for Baby Chicks

Spring is almost here!

If you’re like me, you’re excited to add some chicks to your flock! (Personally, I am hoping to add some Welsummers and Cochins!) Whether adding new breeds, or re-stocking on your old favorites, preparation is key!

 

Go ahead and have all your set-up complete and ready before your chicks arrive That way, you won’t be scrambling last minute to go buy something they need Instead, you’ll have everything in order and you can just enjoy spending time with your new babies

1 Brooder

Whether an old stock

James Bond Movie Title Fits Chickens

Back in 1983 swashbuckling and suave actor Sean Connery thrilled movie goers in the  James Bond spy movie, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN   There might not seem to be a connection between the movie and chickens, but there is

Chickens are individuals No two are exactly alike  Each has a distinct personality

Sometimes they do downright goofy things that defy human logic Chickens don’t read catalogs or books or watch YouTube videos about their supposed behavior but one thing is certain  Rigid words don’t work to describe chicken traits  Exceptions abound    When preparing a chick order it’s important to remember that the

How to Hold a Chicken

Holding chickens is one of my favorite hobbies! There’s nothing like going out to the coop and getting in some good chicken snuggles While this is a highlight of raising backyard chickens, it’s also very important to know how to hold them correctly Why? First of all, knowing how to hold a chicken is important so you don’t cause injury Secondly, holding your chickens is important to give them a good health inspection Looking over their combs, waddles, eyes, beak, legs, body and

VIDEO: Part 3- Dalia Taking Care of your Chickens Kids Raising Chickens

Kids Raising Chickens: Dalia’s Simple Chicken Care Tips

Taming Chickens

Have you ever stood in your yard and called your chickens? Have they ever come running like a herd of wildebeest across the plain? Have you ever possessed the sense you may be the most powerful human being on planet Earth, that this may be the peak of your life?

Well, if so, you have experienced tame chickens When someone sees my flock of almost 30 chickens flying and running behind me, they may see someone crazy, but I feel like some sort of Snow White/ Queen of the Beasts

 

Regardless of breed,

How to Add Ducks or Geese to Your Flock

Raising a Mixed Flock of Chickens, Ducks and Geese

 

Would you believe that my first love in the feathered

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