When I first started raising backyard chickens, I didn’t even consider egg color. I was more concerned about healthy, fresh eggs for my family and docile chickens who were fun to be around. It wasn’t too long into this adventure, though, that I dreamed of a colorful egg basket! I really had no idea all the different colors of eggs chickens can lay. The different breeds bring diversity to your backyard flock and your egg collection. Today, we will talk about the types of chickens that lay green eggs. And before you ask, it’s just the shell that is green. No worries about eating green ..read more

Let me kick off this blog with a quick disclaimer: I'm no pro at determining whether your cute little chick is a he or she, but let's dive into how the experts do it! If you’re part of any backyard chicken group on Facebook, you’ve probably seen folks asking weekly about their chicks’ gender. Trust me, I get the curiosity! I've ended up with a couple of surprise roosters myself from "straight run" breeds, which means they haven’t been sexed yet. Navigating the world of chick-raising can be tricky, especially when it comes to telling males from females. While most hatcheries can do this for y ..read more

It was a coop cleaning weekend around here and let me tell you, that is a chore that feels so good to have done!  While chickens are one of my favorite animals on the planet, they are messy. Chickens love to scratch around their bedding and this creates so much dust. Honestly? It’s a little crazy to me how much dust they can create. We use the deep litter method in our coop and so we only clean the girls’ home twice a year. This includes removing all the bedding, nesting bars, nest boxes, feeders, waterers and anything else in the coop. We use a blower to blow all the dust ..read more

We all want to ensure our backyard flocks are as healthy as possible. Many of us get into raising chickens primarily for fresh, nutritious eggs. But did you know that the diet of your chickens plays a crucial role in the quality of their eggs? Incorporating flaxseed into your chickens' diet is a fantastic way to boost their health, thanks to its high content of Omega-3 fatty acids. Let’s explore the benefits and best practices of feeding flaxseed to your chickens! Can Chickens Eat Flaxseed? Absolutely! Flaxseed is not only safe for chickens but also highly beneficial. It’s a superb source o ..read more

When people get into raising backyard chickens, most of them are excited to feed their flock healthy food and provide them with natural ways to combat sickness and disease. In turn, this makes the eggs we consume more nutritious as well! There are many thoughts, opinions, and good ideas on how to do this best. Take essential oils, for example. Several essential oils are beneficial for chickens' health and well-being. The same goes for apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has excellent properties for gut health and immunity. The problem arises when chicken keepers don’t research or sim ..read more

Chickens are actually very smart! The whole idea of “bird brains” doesn’t really apply to these wonderful birds. Chickens can recognize up to 150 faces, can learn their name, and have better eyesight than humans during daylight hours!   So, when it comes to knowing what they can and cannot eat, chickens are actually very smart too! Because of their incredible eyesight, chickens are drawn to bright colors. This makes fruit tantalizing for them. As you may know, there are a few foods that chickens need to stay away from. Here’s a full list of foods your chickens should avoid.   Chic ..read more

It’s springtime and that means one thing around our place….chicks! There is nothing better than bringing those cute little feather balls home and getting them all settled in their brooder. Don’t worry, if you’re like I was just starting out, you don’t even know what a brooder is! A brooder is the chicks’ first home for about the first six weeks of their life. It’s very important to get your brooder set up and ready with a reliable heat source, light, water and food before you bring your chicks home! The brooder needs to be set at 95 degrees for the first week and then you can dro ..read more

 Photo Courtesy of Hoover’s Hatchery   It’s time for another breed spotlight! I love doing these because I learn so much about the different breeds of chickens. Did you know that more than 1,600 different breeds of chickens are recognized worldwide?   I remember starting with chickens thinking there were probably just a few different varieties to choose from. I went completely basic with my chicken breeds until I got into it a little further. Now I have over 25 different breeds in my backyard!   Most recently, I got a Sapphire Gem in my newest flock of chicks, and I’m so ..read more

I put this little basket together for our granddaughter.   Happy Easter week everyone! Easter is one of my absolute favorite holidays. Being married to a pastor, Easter week is busy for us! So, I have to be on top of my “game” when it comes to Easter baskets, egg hunts and egg coloring. Growing up, my parents did a fantastic job with our baskets! They would be up early hiding our baskets, and we would have to find them. Every year they were a bit different, but exciting nonetheless. Cadbury Eggs, jelly beans, CDs, money, Whopper eggs and Peeps were usually among the colorful baskets. Whi ..read more

Today let’s talk about something less fantastic when raising backyard chickens: coccidiosis. While raising chickens has been my favorite hobby ever, there are times when it can be a bit more challenging. Multiple diseases can wreak havoc on a flock, but a little knowledge can go a long way in when it comes to coccidiosis.     What is Coccidiosis in Chickens? Coccidiosis is caused by different species of coccidia. This parasite attacks the chicken's digestive system and can spread quickly in a backyard flock. A few years back, I sat down with a poultry veterinarian and asked all ..read more