It’s the dilemma that every homesteader will face at some point in their chicken raising experience… how to tell if a chick is a pullet or a cockerel? Knowing how to sex chicks and chickens is a helpful skill to have on the homestead. Being able to tell male chicks...

I love showing and exhibiting my chickens! The spring show season is here and the summer show season is right around the corner! For 8 years I raised and showed chickens in my local county fair through 4-H. I have also made it a goal each year to attend at...

You may have a good start on knowing how to raise baby chicks, and you probably already have a plan for when those chicks are mature, but what about while they are growing? Learning how to manage growing chickens is important for the health and well being of your future...

Despite peanut butter and jelly sandwiches being one of my favorite sandwiches, I don’t get to have them very often. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to making peanut butter and jelly snacks! These gluten-free peanut butter and jelly bars were a spur-of-the-moment snack idea that turned out fantastic! I wanted...

One of the biggest challenges with homesteading is finding someone to care for your animals when you have to be gone for a few days (or a few weeks). Some homesteaders are perfectly content with not traveling a whole lot, however, other homesteaders have the traveling bug, or at least...

I have incubated hatching eggs using both an incubator and a broody hen. Starting off using an incubator to hatch eggs made me realized just how much easier it is to let a mother hen hatch eggs! Honestly, I thought caring for a broody hen while she is incubating eggs...

Before you even get chicks, you should be planning out your chicken coop! It gives your flock a safe, dry, and clean area to sleep, eat, and get away from inclement weather. A chicken coop needs to have a few key elements in order for it to be functional and...

Grain-free Soft Tacosgluten-free | grain-free | dairy-free option | tree nut freeby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | April 08, 2021This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Who doesn’t love a good taco on taco Tuesday!? These grain-free tacos make taco night even better...

Herbs have long been valued for their medicinal and culinary uses for people, but did you know that they are great for your chickens too? I love growing herbs for my chickens, and despite my green thumb not being the best, I still manage to maintain a little herb garden...

Brownie. Ice Cream. Pie. Can you imagine those three words combined into one delicious, dairy-free dessert!? It’s true, this dairy-free brownie ice cream pie is the perfect dessert for any occasion and is sure to satisfy your ice cream cravings. Not only is this beautiful, delicious pie dairy-free, but it...

Those cute little fluff balls are hard not to obsess over, but over the years I have come to realize that chicks are not as fragile as I first though they were. Proper breeding, care, management, and diet do play a role in how hardy chicks are, however, when all...

Gluten-free blueberry flax muffins are a hearty, delicious muffin, perfect for a breakfast, snack, or dessert! They are full of beneficial fiber and use all natural ingredients. I love that these muffins are low inflammation, gluten-free, and have an amazing moist texture! They are super easy to make, require simple...

Chickens are such adaptable creatures. However, caring for chickens can vary depending on your regional zone. Weather patterns, different seasons, and availability of resources can all have an effect on how you care for your homestead flock. Care practices that work for one flock may not be the best for...

Homemade Gluten-free Breakfast Sausagesgluten-free | grain-free | dairy-free option | tree nut free | egg freeby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | March 11, 2021This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Being the meat-lover that I am, I have always wanted to try making...

There’s nothing more exciting on the homestead than watching a mother animal do her thing and raise her babies! As much as we love to get our hands into the mix and do the raising ourselves, it’s always so much more fun, a whole lot less work, and so less...

Caring for a sick chicken is difficult and challenging, there’s no way around it. Chickens are prey animals, so they try to act tough under all circumstances to prevent showing their weaknesses. Being able to recognize a sick chicken as soon as possible and learning how to diagnose poultry ailments...

Peanut butter protein bars are the perfect, protein-packed snack bar! I love their crunchy, sweet, sticky texture! The delicious peanut flavor pairs perfectly with the chocolate topping. They are similar to a rice crispy treat, except without the grains, marshmallows, or processed sugars. These peanut butter protein bars are even...

Super simple, super quick, and super delicious. This grain-free chocolate chess pie is all those and more, because it is also allergy-friendly and perfect for modern pioneers who want something sweet but healthier! In my quest to make every kind of pie, chocolate chess pie was on the list even...

Ever wonder exactly what it takes to raise chickens? Or maybe you’re wondering what tools and supplies are available to help you raise a backyard flock? The Complete Guide to Supplies for Raising Chickens lists all of the materials you may need to begin and continue your backyard chicken raising...

Cold stress is often an overlooked aspect of winter chicken keeping due to the fact that chickens generally handle cold weather better than warm weather. However, cold stress is almost always present in the flock during the winter, it’s just a matter of determining when that stress becomes detrimental to...