Many new chicken owners ask us, “When do chickens molt?” Well, the answer is more involved than you might expect. Chickens typically molt in response to changes in environmental factors, particularly light and temperature. Your chickens might also molt due to natural physiological processes or simply due to stress. The molting period generally occurs once […]
Molting Chickens Have you noticed the number of feathers around your coop and on the ground increasing? It might seem like feathers are everywhere, and it might also seem like this happened overnight. At the same time, your hens are losing their feathers and have also gone on an egg-laying strike. You are not, in […]
Chicken Egg Color “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” That quote from the famous movie and character of the same name, Forrest Gump, can describe a lot of things. Chocolates. Life. Chickens. Wait? We know that when we bring home those cute fluffy chicks, we ultimately […]
Chicken Breeds Variety is the spice of life. When selecting the ideal chicken breeds to raise in your backyard, there is more than enough variety to choose from. Do you want to raise birds that are known merely for their productivity? Do you want to raise friendly chicken breeds? Or do you want to raise […]
Hen House We may never know which came first, the chicken or the egg. However, we do know that a happy, healthy hen—not dealing with chicken heat stress—is more likely to be a more productive egg layer. And a more dynamic part of your family! Nobody enjoys the heat and humidity of the hottest days […]
Chicken Heat Stress Symptoms Chicken heat stress can have serious implications for their health, welfare and productivity—particularly during hot and humid conditions. Recognizing the signs of heat stress in chickens is crucial for implementing timely interventions to prevent heat-related illnesses and losses. Chicken Heat Stress Symptoms Some common chicken heat stress symptoms include: Panting & […]
Healthy Hens Whether you’re a seasoned poultry keeper or a novice enthusiast, the health of your flock is paramount. And, when it comes to their well-being, chickens are much like humans. They require the basic nutrients of life—water, sun, vitamins and minerals. They need a clean space, an area for exercise, a “bathing” area and […]
American novelist Paul Theroux once said, “Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.” If you are an avid backyard chicken collector, winter is also a great season to start preparing for baby chicks to arrive on chick days. Although it might seem a little early, depending on your geographic location, baby chicks will soon […]
Those little chicks you picked up from your local farm store this spring won’t stay little and fluffy for long. With proper health, nutrition and care, they should grow and develop into young, healthy, productive birds that will provide you with protein-packed eggs. Nutrition is vital to keeping your chicks growing up healthy and strong. […]
Home sweet home. You’ve purchased your backyard chickens. Now, they need a home of their own or a coop they can call their home. Coops provide shelter from the weather and its extreme elements and protection from predators. There are several considerations to securing a coop for your birds, and we’ll explore them here. Spacious […]