Blue and Brown Eggs, Oh My!After losing all of our chickens last year, we hand raised 5 new girls last spring. They finally started laying eggs and by the time we realized it there was quite a collection hidden around the coop. After washing them up I had to take a moment to appreciate the wide range of colors and speckles on them. I saved many of these and plan to blow them out and save them.
Silkie Bantam - 7 WeeksWe had a beautiful sunny day this weekend and decided to let our new chicks out for the first time, to enjoy the grass and sunshine.
Black Sex Link - 6 WeeksThis is our Black Sex Link on her first adventure outside this past weekend! They are starting to get pretty stir crazy in their brooder box, but the weather isn't nice enough for them to move quite yet.
Easter Egger - 7 WeeksOur new girls had a wonderful first adventure outside this weekend! We have at least a few more weeks before they can be out for any length of time, since the weather is still usually quite chilly and rainy.
Using Vaseline for Chicks with Pasty ButtIt is not uncommon for chicks to end up with a case of pasty butt. The buildup of poop around their vent can completely block their ability to poop, which can be fatal.
Salmonella Concerns with Backyard ChickensMany people have started keeping chickens and other fowl at home. They are a great source of fresh eggs, don't take much special care, and can be quite funny and charming. However, you should be careful when you or your children are handling them. Most chickens naturally carry salmonella.
Weeds for ChickensIf you have chickens, when you get done pulling weeds, toss them in their chicken coop. Chickens are especially fond of dandelions.
Keeping Chickens Warm During WinterOur chickens absolutely love any special little treat we give them. So, on very cold days I'll cook up some oatmeal, enough for our flock of 16. But of course you don't want to add any sugar or butter : )
Apple Cider Vinegar For Chicken WaterApple cider vinegar is loaded with vitamins and minerals. So it's perfect for adding to your chicken's water in moderation. Plus, because of the acidity in it, it helps in preventing algae from growing in your water.
Sneaky Chicken EggsAfter our chicken's last broody episode, we thought that she had quit laying eggs. When my husband was moving things around in their coop, he made a funny discovery. She had been laying her eggs in a hidden place behind their hen house.
Egg Color Anomalies Due to Hot WeatherThe summer heat seems to affect everything, even our eggs! A while back it got over 103 degrees F and I had one chicken go into heat stroke because she had decided to start going broody that day. I got an emergency crash course in reviving and stabilizing a chicken in severe heat stroke.
Treating a Chicken With HeatstrokeFirst off, if your chicken is suffering from heat stroke, its comb and waddles will be scarlet red and they will start panting really hard. Often they will fall over or keep sitting down and panting. They will be staggering like they're drunk.
Keeping Chickens Safe in Hot WeatherThe summer heat is upon us, make sure to monitor your chicken coop's temperatures as they can often get as hot as a parked car. If you can, install fans and have windows to keep air circulating. Try to have the chicken's nests in the shade and keep an eye on them.
Put Chicks Under Broody HenA good thing a brooding hen can do for you is raise some new chicks. You can buy some hatchlings, and put them under her in the evening. She will take full responsibility for food, warmth, and safety.
Breaking a Broody ChickenAll pullets or female chickens go broody at one or more points in the year. Most broody hens will start acting a bit odd, seeming a bit lethargic or moody. Their personalities change pretty drastically. Nice birds can turn into vicious, grumpy, snarly, birds and grumpy birds get worse.
Plastic Containers for Storing EggsWith 7 chickens, I end up storing a lot of eggs. I bought clear plastic reusable egg containers to store the eggs from my chickens. They are more expensive than the cardboard ones, but you can wash and sterilize them between uses.
Natural Way to Keep Chickens Out of YardPlant marigolds and spray vingear around the area you don't want your chickens to play, or destroy, LOL.
Chicken Coop CurtainsDo chickens need curtains? Yes! I didn't believe it either until I tried it for myself. I have one floor in my chicken coop so the nest boxes are on ground level essentially. It is a pre-fab so it's how the coop was made.
Using a BriteTap Chicken WatererYou can purchase a BriteTap chicken waterer attachment online. It is made for attaching to an insulated drink cooler (i.e. Igloo) with spigot. You remove the spigot and attach the BriteTap in its place. It is a super easy solution for keeping their water clean.
Vittles Vaults for Storing Chicken FoodWe wanted to store our chicken food and treats outside for easier access. However, without proper storage you will likely attract pests and you run the risk of the food spoiling from moisture.
Winterizing Your Chicken CoopBuy burlap bags from local feed store (about $2 each). Staple them around the coop to cut down on snow and cold drafts coming into the coop.
Ceramic Heat Emitter for Chicken CoopInstead of using a heat lamp in our chicken coop, we use a ceramic heat emitter typically used for reptiles. It doesn't light up so it won't affect the chickens' sleep pattern.
Sports Bottle Chicken WatererSports bottles make great chicken waterers. They are very durable and their large opening makes them easy to clean and fill. The holder for your bicycle makes it easy to mount them in the coop or anywhere you want.
Using Porcelain Eggs in Nesting BoxesOur chickens kept laying their eggs on the bottom of their hen house. It isn't good for the eggs to be laid outside of the nesting box for multiple reasons. They are at risk of getting broken, which can lead to the chickens eating the eggs and they are more likely to get pooped on.
Using Real Eggs in Nesting BoxesIf your chickens are not laying their eggs in the nesting box you can give this trick a try. Take a few of their eggs, mark them with an "x", and place them in the nesting box. Give your chickens a week or two, to see if they will get the hint.
Branch Chicken PerchAfter building a large coop for our chickens, we realized that they needed a place to get off the ground. My husband found a large branch on our property and some scrap 2 x 4s that he used to make them a perch. He chose to remove the bark from the branch but that isn't necessary. They love it!
America's Classic Backyard ChickenThe Rhode Island Red is one of the most popular breeds among backyard hobbyists. Although they can also be raised and eaten for meat, these rust-feathered fowl have earned their popularity mostly due to their prolific egg laying ability, calm temperament, and their ability to adapt to nearly any environment.
Swim Noodles for PerchesI always decorate our rooster Phoenix's pen with swim noodles. Well, I had an extra one so I just laid that one in his pen by the opening to the crawl space where he goes at night.
Chicks Week-by-Week (Weeks 1-6)This was our first experience raising chickens from chickens. I honestly felt like a new mom...completely in awe of all the changes they went through in such a short amount of time.
Brooder Box PerchStarting around week 5 we noticed that our girls were trying to roost on anything and everything that was available.
Getting Ready to Raise ChicksRaising chicks is easier than you think and can be very rewarding. Besides being a fun family activity, your family will also benefit from healthier eggs than you will find at the grocery store.
