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.
Keeping backyard chickens as part of a homestead has increased in popularity over recent years. There are many factors to consider when keeping chickens, from what they eat to where they sleep. An important aspect is chicken roosts, but what…
About 41.3% of American households grew food at home in 2021, according to the National Gardening Association, and a significant portion start those plants from seed indoors. While comprehensive data specifically on seedling starting practices remains limited, growing plants from…
Many people are shocked when they find out chickens have ears, and even more so when they discover chickens have earlobes too! As a backyard chicken keeper, understanding what their earlobes can indicate is useful. Here is everything you need…
Soon the warm days of summer will become fresh and crisp. Your chickens will have enjoyed every moment of summer with all its green bounty and outside freedom. But soon, it will be winter, and in some areas, that can…
Do chicken feet get cold during the winter? This is a question I have often asked myself when temperatures plunge and water begins to freeze outside. I don’t like the thought of my flock feeling discomfort because of the cold…
If you have leftover pumpkins after Halloween or from a fall festival pumpkin patch there is something you can do with them. You can feed them to your backyard chickens! Can chickens can eat pumpkin guts and seeds? Yes, chickens…
Cayenne peppers are a very popular pepper that is easy to grow in your backyard vegetable garden. The question is what to do with the cayenne peppers after picking them? Cayenne chili peppers have a variety of uses including seasonings,…
The first thing that should ease your mind is that chickens are diurnal birds; they sleep at night and are active during the day. So you don’t have to worry that one of your chickens woke up for a midnight…
Just the other day my rooster was going crazy making a ton of noise. I ran outside thinking that perhaps a hawk or other predator was nearby. To my surprise, my rooster was squawking due to one of my hens…
Chickens have one of the most effective digestive tracts in the animal world. They do not have any teeth to bite, tear or chew the food they consume, so how do they break down food? Having chickens, you will know…
