Chickens are arguably one of the best and easiest animals to keep on the homestead. They provide you with a steady stream of eggs, can be harvested as meat, eat tons of insects on your property, and produce great fertilizer. But to have a successful chicken experience, you … [Read more...]
8 Best Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds
The best egg-laying chicken breeds will earn their keep in their first year. When you keep hens just for the eggs they produce and not for the meat, both the quantity and quality of eggs are critically important. And the fact is, some breeds are just better layers than … [Read more...]
Chickens Acting Strange? Here’s What It Means
Unlike humans, chickens can't tell you that they’re feeling off. Instead, we have to learn to identify when our chickens act strangely. These behaviors can indicate that something is wrong with our chickens. Taking care of chickens on your homestead is a reasonably easy task, … [Read more...]
Medicinal Herbs for Chickens? Yes!
Medicinal herbs offer hundreds of benefits for humans, and believe it or not, medicinal herbs are good for chickens, too. Herbs can help improve immunity, reduce parasites, reduce stress, and keep your chickens happy and healthy. Herbs grow in most climates, adapt to most … [Read more...]
10 Most Common Chicken Predators (And How to Stop Them)
Having chickens on the homestead is one of the best ways to make sure that your household has a steady supply of food. Whether you gather the eggs for fresh omelets, or raise meat chickens for future dinners, caring for chickens is a worthwhile experience. Many country … [Read more...]
Best Homestead Animals (Pros & Cons of Each)
Are you thinking about raising animals on your homestead? The idea is an exciting one and can be a great next step in becoming more self-sufficient. It can also be a daunting task, especially if you are new to animal husbandry. Which animal should you start with? How do you … [Read more...]
How To Clip Chicken Wings
Chickens are a very strange type of bird. They have wings, and yet they can't fly. Well, that's not quite accurate. Chickens can fly, just not very far. Most chicken breeds can only fly a few feet off the ground, but some of the lighter breeds can fly as high as 10 feet and as … [Read more...]
Should You Raise Different Types Of Birds Together?
Chickens are the gateway pet to an entire farm full of animals, especially other types of fowl. Once you get a hold of a couple of chickens for your backyard, you might not want to stop. I personally found ducks and quail to be an easy addition after raising a flock of chickens … [Read more...]
How to Cut Your Chicken Feed Bill by 25%
I've known people who got backyard chickens just to save money. They wanted to be able to eat eggs every day without buying several dozen eggs a week, but they soon realized they were just spending that money on chicken feed and other supplies instead. That's why saving money … [Read more...]
7 Essential Items You Need For Raising Chickens
When you get your first little clutch of chickens, you want to be able to enjoy them to the fullest, so having everything ready before your new peepers arrive is essential. Your chickens will do a very good job taking care of themselves, as long as you lay the foundation for … [Read more...]
17 Ways To Protect Your Chickens From Predators
I didn’t think it could ever happen to me, but it did. I lost half of my flock of chickens in a vicious predator attack. It was swift, it was silent, and it happened just fifteen minutes after my family left the yard to go inside for dinner. We were devastated by the loss of our … [Read more...]
Easy DIY Nesting Boxes For Chickens
There are countless designs for chicken nesting boxes, but these are probably the easiest ones to make, and chickens love them! If you're a chicken owner but not great at building things or don't have a lot of time to spare, I highly recommend trying this out. Basically, you … [Read more...]
DIY Chicken Coop for Less Than $15
If you've ever thought about getting chickens so you can have fresh eggs every day (thus saving any money that you spend on eggs), then you probably already know that you will need a chicken coop. The problem is, most prebuilt coops cost several hundred dollars, thus erasing … [Read more...]
Chickens Not Laying Eggs? Here’s What To Do
Have your chickens been laying fewer eggs than they used to or stopped altogether? Some people think there's nothing they can do about this and that they'll just have to wait for their chickens to start producing more eggs again. Fortunately, that's not true at all. There are … [Read more...]
Top 5 Birds To Raise On Your Homestead
Poultry birds are essential to the sustainability of a homestead. It is simply the most economical way to provide protein for the kitchen table in both good times and bad. While a chicken surely cannot provide the same amount of meat as a cow or even a goat, they are far … [Read more...]
10 Ways To Keep Your Chickens Happy And Healthy This Winter
Raising chickens in the winter can seem challenging, especially for new chicken owners. Cold mornings and less daylight make the wintertime unenjoyable for most people. You walk outside to tend to your chickens and feel frozen immediately. Just because you are cold and don’t … [Read more...]
4 Things to Feed to Your Chickens So They Lay Eggs Year Round
Contrary to popular belief, chickens can lay eggs year-round. Some people say the heat of the summer, the short days of winter, or old age will stop chickens from producing eggs. Those things do have an effect, but even so, chickens will keep producing eggs all year and for years … [Read more...]
