The Classroom

After deciding to raise chickens, the first major decision you will need to make is which breed or breeds you will raise. There are over 100 chicken breeds that have been identified, which means you could spend days researching each breed and making your selection. Before getting too caught up in the details, we recommend…

Simply put, omega-3 eggs are eggs rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Let us emphasize “rich” in Omega-3. All eggs have Omega-3 of approximately 50mg. Many eggs offered in the store that boast “Omega-3” have about 100mg which is better. But, eggs rich in Omega-3 can have up to six times the amount of omega-3 than…

It may come as a shock to you, but chickens are not vegetarians. In fact, given the opportunity, a chicken will eat a very well balanced and varied diet of fruits, vegetables, greens, grains, insects, grubs and even meat. Since their natural tendency is to consume a variety of foods, it is important that you…

Perhaps it goes without saying that you will need to food for chicks, but what may not be immediately obvious is that you will not be able to use the same feeders or feed as you do for mature chickens. Just like human babies, baby chickens need specially formulated food and feeders designed for their…

Chickens can eat almost anything that you serve on your family’s table. By sharing your table scraps, you reduce the amount of waste headed for the landfill and you provide a more nutritious and varied diet for your flock. Feeding your flock table scraps also reduces the amount of store-bought feed they need, which is…

Hanging feeders are great when you have a chicken coop or run that has horizontal support beams. Perhaps it goes without saying, but you can’t easily have a hanging feeder unless you have something to hang it from! One of the primary benefits of having a hanging feeder is that they are easier to keep…

Oyster Shell or Limestone – Given to Layers as a calcium supplement which they need to form strong egg shells. However, DO NOT GIVE TO CHICKS. Too much calcium in chicks can cause bone development problems and even damage the kidneys.

Perhaps it goes without saying that you will need to food for chicks, but what may not be immediately obvious is that you will not be able to use the same feeders or feed as you do for mature chickens. Just like human babies, baby chickens need specially formulated food and feeders designed for their…

Cockerels and Pullets that are raised for butchering require specific food for meat birds to keep them healthy and ensure they grow quickly. Their diet is different from chickens raised for laying eggs, and their diet changes as they transition from a chick into a pullet or cockerel. Feeding Meat BirdsIf you are raising meat…

The best policy for keeping your flock hydrated is to make sure they never run out of water. This mantra is as true for freshly hatched chicks as it is for fully grown hens. So long as water is available, chickens will drink water whenever their body needs it. Each of your chickens will drink…

One of the most common type of ground feeders is a trough. We offer troughs of various sizes in both galvanized metal as well as plastic fabrication. The primary advantage of trough feeders is that they are easier to clean than a hanging feeder. This benefit makes a ground feeder the ideal vessel for wet…

Baby chicks, like human babies, need special feeders designed for their small bodies. It is important to use specially designed baby chick feeders to ensure proper nutrition and sanitation. DIY Chicken Coops offers several types of chick feeders, but all are designed to: Reduce contamination from fecal matter Allow easy cleaning and sanitation Limit spills…

Many people are interested in having fresh eggs in the morning, and are perfectly fine visiting their local grocery store or butcher when they need chicken for dinner. If you fall into this camp, then one or more of the egg layer breeds may be what you are looking for. If you are looking for…

For the more adventurous backyard chicken crew, raising chickens for their eggs simply isn’t enough. Why not have access to wonderfully fresh chicken meat birds? One visit to a commercial slaughterhouse is probably enough to convince even the most squeamish person that there are a significant number of benefits to knowing exactly how and where…

If you are not interested in having large eggs, and you are not interested in butchering for commercial meat, and you are primarily looking for a pet, a Bantam breed may be your best bet. Bantam breeds are miniature chickens, and they are a lot of fun to raise as pets. They typically don’t get…

After the chickens are cooled, you will want to take the proper steps in aging chicken meat properly before proceeding. Make sure to age your chickens before cooking them, before quartering them and before freezing them. The reason for aging, just like in beef, is to allow the muscle tissue to relax and tenderize before…

The process of butchering a chicken is often performed immediately after feathers are picked. Some people, however, prefer to cool the chicken before butchering. Either way, the process is the same. There are some basic tools you will want to collect before beginning the butchering process including: Sharp kitchen sheers Sharp knife Butchering is a…

For the more adventurous backyard chicken crew, raising chickens for their eggs simply isn’t enough. Why not have access to wonderfully fresh chicken meat birds? One visit to a commercial slaughterhouse is probably enough to convince even the most squeamish person that there are a significant number of benefits to knowing exactly how and where…

It’s called the knotty pine chicken coop and we’ve spent a good amount of time designing a chicken coop that holds just a few chickens and is an easy addition to your back yard. The knotty pine coop is made in the USA. It is a flat-pack design and will come to your door via…

If you are thinking about building your own coop, there are a few things you will need to buy. Obviously every coop project is different from the next, but there are some basics that you should think about as you do your planning and budgeting. Since this is a DIY venture, there are tools that…

A home brooder is the least expensive way to take care of a few chicks. To build a home brooder: Take a cardboard box and cut off the top so that it has four sides and a bottom Line the box with chick litter, or even paper towels Put a chick feeder inside the box…

Before we touch on helping sick chickens, it seems appropriate to cover the best ways for you prevent illness to keep your flock from getting sick in the first place. Backyard flocks are typically healthier and less prone to disease than commercial operations. To keep your flock as healthy as possible, follow these basic guidelines:…

Bronchitis is an airborne coronavirus caught from proximity or contact with other infected animals which can be contracted by chickens of any age. At risk: Chickens of any age Symptoms: Sneezing Coughing Watery discharge from nose Slow down or stop in laying Cause: Airborne virus caught from proximity or contact with other infected animals Treatment:…

Mycoplasmosis is caused by exposure to infected chickens or wild birds, also may be passed from mother to chick while in the egg. At risk: Chickens of all ages Symptoms: Weakness Egg-laying slows or stops Breathing difficulty, sneezing, and coughing Swollen joints Death Cause: Exposure to infected chickens or wild birds May be passed from…