The Classroom

The term “broody” refers to a hen that is fixated on hatching an egg. In general, you want to avoid having your layers go broody on you because their egg production drops down to 0. Basically, when a hen goes broody her body is going into egg incubator mode as opposed to egg producer mode.…

The little known fact among newbies is that you do not need a rooster in order for hens to lay eggs. It’s worth repeating… hens lay eggs just fine without having a rooster! We often get questions about roosters. The common fear for first-timers seems to be waking up to the lovely sound of a…

Professionals use a practice called vent sexing, which is one of the most accurate ways to differentiate male chicks from female chicks. Don’t underestimate the value of experience in this field though. Even the experts make mistakes, and you will more certainly gain accuracy with practice! The process of vent sexing includes the following steps:…

Feeding your hens a diet rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids is the only way to get eggs rich in Omega-3. There are omega-3 supplements specifically formulated for chickens. Organic flaxseed is a great way to supplement their diet with Omega-3. Also, supplementing with Canola Oil, fish meal or marine microalgae is important to balance the…

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…

One of the easiest ways to promote organic is to buy organic. Of course, organically produced and certified food (including organic chicken feed) is more expensive. Ironically, the process of getting certified and maintaining the certification is one of the largest drivers of cost (rather than the organic methods). Basically, we’re paying more so that…

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.

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…

Hens that are responsible for laying eggs require a specific diet to keep them healthy. Food for egg layers is different from chickens raised for meat, and their diet changes as they get older. Feed Type by Weeks of AgeIf you are raising hens to lay eggs, you will want to feed them: 0 to…

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…

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…

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…

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…

If you are interested in keeping birds to exhibit at shows or simply to add a little flare to your backyard, you probably want an ornamental breed. Keep in mind though, that ornamental birds produce few eggs and most are inefficient meat producers, so it really is all about their looks. Ornamental breeds are commonly…

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…

If you are not interested in learning how to kill a chicken, please consider visiting other areas of our website, this page focuses on humane techniques. In this section, we focus on humane techniques to end a chicken’s life quickly and in a manor that will facilitate the remainder of the butchering process. Your goals…

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 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…

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…

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…

Moniliasis is a fungal infection that can be contracted from moldy feed, mold in the water, and contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. At risk: Chickens of any age Moniliasis Symptoms: White curd-like substance in crop Increased appetite, but droopy physical appearance Crusty, white vent Egg-laying slows or stops Cause: Exposure to fungus Mold…

Avian Pox is a chicken disease the is preventable by quarantining birds that have come into contact with other flocks which may be infected. At risk: Chickens of all ages Avian Pox Symptoms: White spots found on the skin Sores on combs Mouth ulcers Slow down or stop in egg laying Cause: Contact with infected…

Before we can diagnose “abnormal” chicken droppings, we need to know what normal droppings are! Normal droppings are dark brown, mostly solid (not runny), and often covered in white “powder” which is uric acid from the urinary system (since chickens don’t urinate). Do not confuse normal droppings with ceca droppings. Ceca droppings are mustard to…