Learn More About Chickens

With the daylight increasing every day, egg production from our girls should start to increase, too.  Today, we are going to talk about a common eggshell defect, why it may happen, and how to prevent it, if we can. Eggshell Cracks and Checks Backyard poultry owners are familiar with broken eggshells.  However, there are two distinct types of breaks in eggshells.  A “crack” is the most common terminology, but a “check” is a more common occurrence!  A check is when there is a break in the shell, but the shell membrane remains intact, and the contents of the egg remain...

Ahhh, spring!  Spring is usually a welcome sight for most of us.  It brings greener pastures, new birth, and awakened hormones!  Today, we are going to talk about some behavioral changes that may happen in your flock as spring arrives and your birds’ focus switches from the winter lull to peak mating season.   Hormonal Changes Related to Light Egg production is a reproductive function.  We all know that natural sex hormones play a vital part in any animal’s reproduction – even our chickens!  Light is one of the major factors that triggers this cascade of natural hormone production and is...

Let’s talk about what lies beneath your chickens–literally! Did you know the secret to healthier, happier chickens might just be under their feet? Beneath those clucking, pecking beauties is a critical component of their daily lives: their bedding. Choosing the right bedding for your coop isn’t just a matter of housekeeping; it profoundly affects everything from air quality to feather cleanliness, much like selecting the right chicken feed can boost their overall well-being. This guide breaks down the options and gives you the scoop on how to create a comfy, cozy home for your flock. Why is Choosing the Right Chicken Bedding...

There are three primary growth phases that most backyard chickens are going to go through – the starter phase, the grower phase, and the layer phase. In this article, we are going to concentrate on the starter and grower phases. We will learn what physiological functions take place in the starter and grower phases, how to feed chicks during these two phases, and what management practices to implement during each phase. The Starter Phase The first weeks of a chick’s life are referred to as their Starter Phase. Depending on chicken breed, the starter phase is between hatch and 3-5...

You have committed! You’re going to become a first-time chicken keeper or expand your current flock. You set up your brooder and you’re ready to pick up your baby chicks. You read our “How to Feed Baby Chicks” article and now you just need to pick up a bag of chick feed. What should you choose? Should I Choose Medicated or Non-Medicated Chick Feed? Both medicated and non-medicated feeds are great options. Whether or not you choose a medicated or non-medicated feed is often personal preference. Some chicken owners really abide by “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, while other consumers...