Urban homesteading on a regular lot in the suburbs of Atlanta. Six years of backyard chickens — started with seventeen, down to three, and there’s a story behind every one. A garden I’m trying to get better at, cheese made with the wrong acid, and more sourdough starters killed than I can count. The canner is still in the box. It’s never too late to learn. Not a tutorial, and not a farm.
Hawks are beautiful and majestic, but that doesn’t mean you want them around your chickens. I constantly worry about hawks getting my flock as I let my chickens free-range in my backyard during the day. Predators are a threat to…
I find that there is something oddly therapeutic in collecting your chicken’s eggs in the morning. The simple task gives you some much-needed quiet time before the day’s hustle begins. Finding the eggs missing or broken on the floor will…
Six backyard hens cost about $931 to start and $501 a year in 2026. See coop, chick and feed prices, cost per dozen eggs and ways to save, with charts and sources.
My daughter loves feeding our chickens mealworms. When we decided to raise new baby chicks, feeding them dried mealworms was one of the first things she wanted to do. I had always waited about 8 weeks to feed my baby…
There is some debate out there on whether chickens can eat citrus. There have been reports of poor egg production, feather plucking, and other issues. Feeding a chicken too much of any type of fruit can lead to problems. There…
Quick answer: chickens see more colors than we do, including ultraviolet light, and with eyes on the sides of their heads they take in about 300 degrees around them. They notice movement and flicker far better than people, but they…
Growing a vegetable garden can be a rewarding activity, but it can also be hard work. Some of this hard work does not come from you though, some of it comes from pollinators. Without pollinators, you will not have a…
Growing fresh vegetables in your own backyard is a great way to ensure fresh, healthy, toxin-free produce for you and your family. Most gardeners spend long hours deciding what to grow and how to provide the best growing conditions for…
Mulch is comprised of a layer of organic or inorganic material that is spread over the soil’s surface as a covering. Many gardeners utilize this mulch in their vegetable gardens for multiple reasons. Certain Mulches are used to acquire different…
If you grow plants from the squash family on the east coast, chances are you’ve run into problems with the small orange lady beetle and wondered how to get rid of it. This insect is known as a squash beetle…
