Chickens handle cold weather better then hot weather, but that doesn’t seem to make winter chicken keeping any easier. I still fret and worry over my feathered friends staying warm and providing them with their basic needs of food and water. However, I can help my flock winter smoothly by...
Raising chickens on the homestead means you have natural composters right at your finger tips! However, just because chickens act like they will eat anything doesn’t mean they can eat everything. There are good and bad table scraps for chickens that you should be aware of when giving your flock...
Like any good pet owner, I enjoy browsing the farm store isles looking for goodies for my chickens. Since I’ve been striving to become more sustainable and self-sufficient, I have started looking for ways to make my own chicken treats, but occasionally I still like to buy them a ‘store-bought’...
Raising chickens on the homestead means using what resources and materials you have available to keep your flock happy, healthy, and safe. These 9 diy projects for the chicken coop are functional items you can make for the coop. Not only do these projects help spruce up the coop, but...
The natural chicken keeper’s first aid kit will look different than the average poultry first aid kit. These natural chicken keeping first aid kit supplies can prove to be in-valuable to the modern homesteader. Instead of synthetic anti-biotics, chemical treatments, and processed supplements, there will be natural anti-biotics, plant-based remedies,...
Practically speaking, I raise chickens for enjoyment and for the sake of homesteading. Eggs are a complimentary bonus. Is it natural for hens to lay eggs? Absolutely! Is it natural for them to lay every day, 365 days out of the year? No. Over the years, I have come to...
Did you know that your chickens can actually help you eat healthier? Everything on the homestead is related, and that includes you and your chickens. What you feed your chickens can actually reflect upon your lifestyle. The treats you give your chickens depends on what your diet is, which should...
Homestead chicken keepers should strive to raise their flock as naturally as possible. Since homesteading is about sustainability, living off the land, and using what resources are available, it only makes sense that our chicken keeping routine should be the same! Simple natural chicken keeping on the homestead should be...
One of the most important decisions you will make when building your chicken coop is deciding what coop litter to use. Choosing the right coop litter can make all the difference for the health and well-being of your flock as well as make cleaning and maintaining the coop easier. There...
Preventing disease & death in the homestead flock is my number one priority every year! It seems like everything I do for my chickens revolves around what will keep them the healthiest and the happiest. I know this may sound depressing, but every year I review my flock’s mortality rate...
Roosters are not needed for hens to lay eggs, they are often thought of as being rough on the hens, and they can be mean. So, why are roosters needed on the homestead? Roosters actually have several very important roles in the homestead flock. If you are allowed to get...
Deciding to free-range your chickens or not is a personal decision that will be based off of many different factors. However, I would like to discuss the reasons why I chose to free-range my laying flock. These 8 reasons why chickens should free-range are positive aspects of free-ranging chickens. While...
Chickens are intelligent creatures. They can recognize up to 100 different individuals and have the ability to compare themselves to other flock members in relation to ability, experiences and gender. When I first had the idea to train one of my chickens, I didn’t realize how easy it was going...
A chicken’s social life is quite complex and ever changing. Chickens are smart and can remember many different individuals as well as distinguish other chickens’ feelings, personality, and social status. Learning how to read your flock’s social interactions will help you raise a healthy, peaceful flock. It all starts with...