Protein is needed for a chicken to survive. It is required for nearly all the body functions to work properly. Balancing protein in a flock’s diet is important because many factors play a role in the protein needs of individual chickens. The standard protein content in commercial chicken feeds may...

Grain-free apple pie is a traditional pioneer pie that tastes delicious and is easy to make! Apple pie is a heritage recipe and making an apple pie is a must have life skill for any modern pioneer! With this easy apple pie recipe, you can make an apple pie that...

Food is the fuel source for your flock. What they eat will determine their health and productivity. When it comes to feeding your homestead flock, learning how to feed chickens naturally is essential for ensuring they get the nutrition they need on a daily basis. Surprisingly, there are several different...

Supposably the annual fall molt should go smoothly and without issue, but if you have raised chickens for any length of time, you will know that they love to keep life interesting! Knowing when to step in and administer emergency care to molting chickens is essential for when your flock...

Of all the fruits, I think peaches are probably one of my favorite fruits to bake with! I love their sweet flavor and their crisp texture. These gluten free peach bars bring out the delicious, sweet flavor of the peaches and combine it with the buttery flavor of crumble topping!...

What does raising a homestead flock entail? Find out what skills and knowledge you need to have in order to succesfully raise homestead chickens! Welcome to the chicken keeper’s survival list! The Chicken Keeper’s Survival List is a compilation of tasks that you will need to know how to do...

If you are a mac’n’cheese lover, then this dairy-free mac’n’cheese pie is a must try modern pioneer recipe for you! Even if you aren’t a huge fan of mac’n’cheese, I bet you’ll find this pie deliciously delightful! It is a hearty pie that works great for a filling lunch or...

Learning how to harvest your own herbs, both for you and your homestead flock, is an essential modern pioneer life skill. It is a simple skill that you can easily learn no matter where you are at in your modern pioneer journey! For natural chicken keepers, harvesting, drying, and storing...

I often get caught up in the what, whys, and how’s of raising homestead chickens, but then I remind myself, don’t let raising a homestead flock become overwhelming, confusing, or daunting. When you stick to the basics, learning how to raise homestead chickens becomes fun, enjoyable, and rewarding! There are...

These grain-free spaghetti and meatballs put a perfect heritage twist on a classic meal! I went the longest time without ever having a traditional plate of spaghetti and meatballs, topped with some pasta sauce and cheese. When I did give spaghetti and meatballs a try, I was hooked! It is...

Protein is an important part of a chicken’s diet because it provides the building blocks for skin, muscles, and bones plus it helps the body fight off diseases. As homestead chicken raisers, we should be aware of the different protein sources we have available to offer our flocks. Each source...

Gluten-free Baked Oatmealgluten-free | dairy-free option | tree nut free | refined sugar freeby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | August 12, 2021This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Baked oats sweetened with maple syrup and topped with more maple syrup… I know that...

Homesteaders have been using old school chicken coop doors for years and years. However, there is now a new option on the market for modern pioneers and homesteaders: the automatic chicken door. After investing in an automatic chicken coop door for my first chicken coop, I knew when I built...

I’m not a huge chicken fan (meaning chicken is not my meat of choice), unless… it is 1) grilled, 2) paired with melty cheese, 3) served in bar-b-que form, or 4) made into a sandwich. These grain-free chicken quesadillas do all of that and more! The cheesy goodness of these...

Cleaning the chicken coop is emphasized a lot for raising a happy, healthy flock of backyard chickens, but cleaning the chicken coop enclosure is just as important. No matter how big or small your chicken coop enclosure is, giving it a brief touch up every once in a while can...

Gluten-free cherry pie is the perfect combination of sweet cherries and crumble topping! Originally I wasn’t a huge fan of cherry pie, but after making this allergy-friendly version, I was hooked! The sweet, slightly firm, juice texture of the cherries is complimented nicely by the sweet, oaty crumble topping that...

Whether you’ve hatched out your own chicks using a broody hen or an incubator, or bought straight-run chicks, or even ordered ‘pullets’ from a hatchery, at some point in your chicken raising experience you may find you have one too many roosters than you were planning on keeping. Of course,...

Chickens are very sensitive to high temperatures, much more so than cooler temperatures. While winter chicken keeping does pose its challenges, summer chicken keeping also presents a whole new set of issues. Chickens have a normal body temperature around 105-107 degrees F, so keeping them cool in hot weather is...

This dairy-free oreo crunch ice cream cake has the perfect combination of cool, smooth ice cream combined with a sweet, crispy crunch and topped with the most delicious allergy-friendly sandwich cookies! Honestly, this ice cream cake couldn’t get much better as far as I am concerned! Made with dairy-free ice...

Whether you are starting off with your first homestead flock or you have been raising chickens on the homestead for years, we all find ourselves asking, what is my chicken doing? Chickens are entertaining to watch, but knowing what their different behaviors, sounds, and body language means makes watching them...