Raising chickens is a great place to start when you’re ready to expand your skills in self-sufficiency because they are small in size, inexpensive compared to other livestock, and who doesn’t like delicious eggs?!
I believe in a pastured-approach so that the resulting eggs and meat are nutritionally-dense while allowing the chickens to live a full and happy life out foraging for bugs & fresh greens.
In this category, you will find information about treating bumblefoot, the best incubators, and even raising red ranger meat chickens.
People often ask me whether it’s safe to give certain foods to chickens. I’m glad to see chicken keepers being responsible! Thankfully, chickens have a pretty good sense of what they can and cannot eat, but there are some tempting plants (and human foods!) out there that should never be offered to your flock. I […]
Don’t Feed These Foods to Your Chickens! Read More »
If you have celery lying around that looks a little limp, you’re probably wondering “Can chickens eat celery?” You’re not alone! I get asked this question all the time. The short answer is YES, but it takes a bit of preparation unlike apples, grapes, or blackberries, which are soft enough for them to rapidly devour.
Can Chickens Eat Celery? Is Raw or Cooked Best? Read More »
If you want to get chickens and have neighbors nearby, you’re likely pondering this question – “Are chickens noisy?” You probably already know that roosters are noisy, but you’d be surprised by the squabble that hens can make, too! Therefore, you’ll want to be sure that you’re prepared for the potential noise before you commit to
Are Chickens Noisy? Read More »
You just ordered some baby chicks, but now what? What do they eat? How much heat do they require? How big of a brooder box will they need? You likely have a lot of questions (I did too when I first started out!), but, rest assured, my article will help answer all of them. Thankfully, baby
Raising Baby Chicks – A Beginner’s Guide Read More »
If you’ve been questioning the quality of grocery store chicken and want to increase your self-sufficiency, you’re in the right place! Raising your own meat chickens is one of the best ways to solve all of these concerns! Growing garden produce and raising chickens for eggs is an excellent start, however, once you can put meat
Why You Should Raise Ranger Meat Chickens Read More »
Whether you’re a backyard homesteader or have access to a local farm, you may be wondering how to store farm fresh eggs the RIGHT way. Should they be washed or remain unwashed? In the fridge or on the counter? How long do they last? What is a bloom coating? If you’re wondering these questions, you’re
How to Store Farm Fresh Eggs Read More »
You’ve heard of chickens eating bugs, but do chickens eat meat? This is a controversial topic in the world of chicken keeping, but it really is pretty straightforward once you get comfortable with the concept! Chickens are omnivores, through and through. When I see “vegetarian fed” proudly displayed on egg cartons at the grocery store
Do Chickens Eat Meat? Is It Safe? Read More »
Chicken coop winterizing is an essential step if you live in a cold climate like me. It can easily hit -35F here in Minnesota, so we’ve had to perfect our methods and I can’t wait to share my best tips (and mistakes!) with you. There’s a lot of information floating around out there and it
Chicken Coop Winterizing (6 ESSENTIAL Steps!) Read More »
If you have some extra apples (or leftover cores!) lying around, you’re probably wondering “Can chickens eat apples?” You’re not alone! I get asked this question all the time. The short answer is YES, but they can be high in sugar. So, how much is too much? What about the seeds? Don’t they have cyanide
Can Chickens Eat Apples? What About the Seeds? Read More »
If you’re looking for some natural pest control strategies, you may be wondering “do chickens eat ticks?” Ticks are certainly a worrisome pest to have lurking on your homestead, so it’s an important one to consider! Not only do ticks give most of us the heebie jeebies, but ticks can carry many diseases as well.
Do Chickens Eat Ticks? (…Do Ticks Eat Chickens?) Read More »
