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.
Chickens are governed by a strict social hierarchy or pecking order that maintains peace in the flock. Introducing new chickens upsets the order and causes chickens to act out and squabble amongst each other to establish a new order. More…
There are lots of reasons as to why you may want to know if your chickens’ eggs are fertilized; it could be to see if your rooster is fertile or to estimate the number of chicks you could hatch or…
If you keep backyard chickens, it can be confusing when it comes to what you will need to provide to keep them happy and healthy. One of the questions that come up concerns the use of chicken grit and oyster…
Quick answer: chickens sleep about 8 to 12 hours a night, roosting at dusk and waking at dawn, so they sleep longer in winter than in summer. Adult hens need at least about 8 hours of darkness to rest properly,…
When you wake up one morning to find your rooster perched on top of the roof, the only reasonable explanation might be that he flew up there. As amusing as it might sound, the bird surely didn’t climb up there. …
Backyard chickens or free-range chickens are exposed to the elements more than chickens kept indoors. Eating various insects can expose chickens to parasites without you being aware, and before long, you can have an infestation. If you have chickens, you…
I always seem to end up with a ripe banana or two that has not been eaten and is starting to turn brown. My daughter will only each fresh bananas straight from the grocery store. Once the peel starts to…
The first time I heard one of my chickens sneeze I admit that I freaked out a little. After some research, I found that while it may seem very strange to us, it’s not uncommon for a chicken to sneeze.…
Quick answer: Yes, chickens can eat eggplant, but only the ripe fruit. The flesh, skin and seeds of a ripe eggplant are safe, while the leaves, stems, flowers, green cap (calyx) and unripe fruit contain solanine and should never be…
Spurs can be pretty scary to deal with for any rooster owner as they can be dangerous to the flock as well as the chicken owner and their family. Our rooster has attacked every member of our family, including the…
