Homemade vs. Commercial Poultry Feed: Is It Worth It?
Is producing your own poultry feed still worth it? We break down real costs, nutrition, breed needs, and flock size to help you decide.
Feeding & Nutrition
Tag: backyard chickens
47 articles
Can You Hatch Cornish Cross Eggs? What to Expect
Can you hatch Cornish Cross eggs? Yes, but with major caveats. Learn about fertility rates, hatch outcomes, F2 genetics, and whether it's worth the effort.
Egg Production
How to Raise Chickens for Eggs and Meat: Full Guide
Learn how to raise chickens for eggs and meat with expert advice on breeds, coop setup, feeding, and seasonal care for backyard and small-farm flocks.
Egg Production
Cinnamon Queen Chicken Breed: Eggs, Care & Facts
Everything about the Cinnamon Queen chicken breed: egg production, temperament, coop setup, feeding, and health care for this top-laying sex-link hybrid.
Breeds
How to Keep Chickens Cool in 100 Degree Weather
Learn how to keep chickens cool in 100 degree weather with expert tips on ventilation, frozen treats, water, coop setup, and the best heat-tolerant breeds.
Raising Chicks
How to Keep Chickens Off Your Deck: 8 Proven Methods
Learn how to keep chickens off your deck with fencing, deterrents, feed placement, and behavioral tricks. Practical tips that actually work for backyard flocks.
Raising Chicks
Egg Laying Chickens Cost: Complete Buyer's Guide
Discover how much egg laying chickens cost by breed, age, and source — plus setup, feeding, and health expenses every backyard keeper needs to budget for.
Egg Production
How to Keep Chickens from Jumping Fence: Full Guide
Learn how to keep chickens from jumping fence with breed selection, fence height tips, wing clipping, and run design strategies that actually work.
Raising Chicks
ISA Brown Chicken Breed: Eggs, Care & Temperament
Everything you need to know about ISA Brown chicken breeds — egg production, temperament, housing, feeding, and health care for backyard flocks.
Breeds
How to Keep Chickens Entertained: 15 Proven Ideas
Learn how to keep chickens entertained with food puzzles, perches, dust baths & seasonal tips. Reduce feather pecking and boost egg production naturally.
Raising Chicks
How Many Hens Can Your Coop Setup Actually Hold?
Find out exactly how many hens your coop and run can hold. Use our breed-by-breed space calculator and avoid the #1 overcrowding mistake most beginners make.
Coop & Housing
Chicken Coop Costco: What to Know Before You Buy
Thinking about buying a chicken coop at Costco? Learn what to expect, how many birds it fits, and whether it's worth the price for backyard flocks.
Coop & Housing
Best Chickens for Eggs in Washington State
Discover the best chickens for eggs in Washington State — top breeds for wet western WA winters, cold eastern WA, and year-round production tips.
Egg Production
Will Chickens Eat Fly Predators? What Keepers Must Know
Yes, chickens will eat fly predators. Learn how to protect beneficial parasitic wasps from your flock and make IPM work in your backyard coop.
Raising Chicks
Do Leghorns Go Broody? What Every Keeper Should Know
Leghorns are one of the least broody chicken breeds alive. Learn why they rarely go broody, what that means for egg production, and how to hatch chicks without them.
Breeds
Do I Have a Rooster? How to Tell for Sure
Wondering if you have a rooster? Learn the key physical and behavioral signs that distinguish roosters from hens, plus what to do once you know.
Coop & Housing
Best Chicken Breeds for Egg Laying: Top 10 Ranked
Discover the best chicken breeds for egg laying, from prolific Leghorns to friendly Isa Browns. Compare egg output, temperament, and care needs to find your perfect flock.
Breeds
How to Raise Chickens at Home for Eggs: Full Guide
Learn how to raise chickens at home for eggs — best breeds, coop setup, feeding, health care, and how many eggs to expect. A complete beginner's guide.
Egg Production
Easter Egger Chicken Breed Guide: Eggs, Care & Facts
Everything you need to know about Easter Egger chicken breeds — colorful egg production, temperament, coop setup, feeding, and health care tips for backyard flocks.
Breeds
Can You Eat Egg Laying Hens? What You Need to Know
Yes, you can eat egg laying hens. Learn how spent hens taste, which breeds are best for the table, and how to cook tough stewing fowl to perfection.
Egg Production
How to Keep Chickens Healthy: The Complete Guide
Learn how to keep chickens healthy with expert tips on coop setup, nutrition, disease prevention, breed selection, and seasonal care for a thriving backyard flock.
Health & Care
What Is My Chicken Doing? Behaviors Explained
Wondering what your chicken is doing? Decode common chicken behaviors, from dust bathing to broodiness, with this complete guide for backyard flock keepers.
Raising Chicks
How to Handle an Aggressive Rooster Safely
Learn how to handle an aggressive rooster with proven techniques covering body language, training, housing, breed selection, and when to rehome.
Behavior & Training
Best Methods to Integrate Young & Old Chickens
Discover the best ways to integrate young and old birds safely. Step-by-step methods, timing tips, breed advice, and feeding strategies for a stress-free flock merge.
Coop & Housing
Chicken Coop Design in Jamaica: Tropical Build Guide
Learn how to design a chicken coop for Jamaica's tropical climate. Covers ventilation, hurricane-proofing, local breeds, and heat-stress management.
Coop & Housing
White Easter Eggers: Traits, Eggs & Care Guide
Curious about white Easter Eggers? Discover their egg colors, temperament, appearance, and full care guide — including coop setup, feeding, and health tips.
Egg Production
Best Predator Protection for a Chicken Coop
Discover the best predator protection for your chicken coop — from hardware cloth and automatic doors to dig guards and secure latches. Keep your flock safe.
Coop & Housing
Chicken Coop Plans and Cost: Complete Building Guide
Explore chicken coop plans and cost for every flock size. Get DIY vs prefab price breakdowns, size charts, breed-specific specs, and expert building tips.
Coop & Housing
Light Sussex at 20 Weeks: Pullet or Cockerel?
Struggling to sex your Light Sussex at about 20 weeks? Learn the key physical and behavioural signs to confidently tell pullets from cockerels.
Breeds
First 100% Successful Hatch! I'm Drowning in Silkies
Just pulled off a 100% successful Silkie hatch? Here's everything you need to know about caring for your fluffy new flock — housing, feeding, health, and more.
Breeds
Golden Laced Wyandotte: The Complete Breed Guide
Everything you need to know about the Golden Laced Wyandotte chicken breed — egg production, temperament, coop setup, feeding, and health care tips.
Breeds
How to Get Better Eggs from Your Backyard Chickens
Learn how to get better eggs with expert tips on breed selection, nutrition, coop setup, and seasonal care for deeper yolks and stronger shells.
Egg Production
How to Grow Chickens at Home: The Complete Guide
Learn how to grow chickens at home with our step-by-step guide covering breeds, coop setup, feeding, egg production, and health care for beginners.
Raising Chicks
Chicken Breeds: Jersey Giant — Complete Owner's Guide
Everything you need to know about Jersey Giant chicken breeds: size, egg production, coop setup, feeding, health care, and raising chicks. America's largest breed explained.
Breeds
How Much Does It Cost to Raise Chickens?
Find out exactly how much it costs to raise chickens — from coop setup and chick prices to annual feed, health care, and hidden expenses. Real numbers inside.
Raising Chicks
How to Keep Flies Out of Your Chicken Coop
Learn how to keep flies out of your coop with proven strategies: coop design, bedding choices, feed management, and natural fly control tips for backyard flocks.
Coop & Housing
How Do Y'all Grab & Handle Skittish Hens? Real Tips
Struggling with skittish hens? Learn how to grab, handle, and tame flighty chickens using proven techniques, treat training, and breed-specific advice.
Coop & Housing
What Is the Best Egg Layer Chicken? Top Breeds Compared
Discover the best egg layer chicken breeds for your backyard flock. Compare production rates, temperament, and care needs to find your perfect laying hen.
Egg Production
How to Protect Chickens from Predators: Complete Guide
Learn how to protect chickens from predators with proven strategies: predator-proof coops, hardware cloth, guardian animals, and breed selection tips.
Raising Chicks
How to Keep Chickens Disease Free: Complete Guide
Learn how to keep chickens disease free with expert tips on biosecurity, coop setup, nutrition, breed selection, and disease prevention for healthier flocks.
Health & Care
How to Raise Chickens in Stardew Valley (+ Real Life Tips)
Learn how to raise chickens in Stardew Valley step by step — plus real-world chicken keeping facts for players curious about backyard flocks.
Raising Chicks
How to Raise Cornish Cross Chickens: Complete Guide
Learn how to raise Cornish Cross chickens from day-old chicks to processing. Covers feeding, housing, health problems, and management tips for backyard flocks.
Raising Chicks
How Much Do Egg Laying Hens Cost? Full Price Guide
Wondering how much egg laying hens cost? From $3 chicks to $150 point-of-lay pullets, discover every price tier, breed comparison, and true total cost of ownership.
Egg Production
How to Keep Chickens Cool in Summer: Complete Guide
Learn how to keep chickens cool in summer with expert tips on coop ventilation, cooling treats, heat-tolerant breeds, and spotting dangerous heat stress signs.
Raising Chicks
How to Raise Chickens Book: Complete Beginner's Guide
Looking for a how to raise chickens book? This complete guide covers breeds, coop setup, feeding, egg production, and health — everything in one place.
Raising Chicks
How to Raise Jersey Giant Chickens: Complete Guide
Learn how to raise Jersey Giant chickens with expert tips on housing, feeding, egg production, and health care for America's largest chicken breed.
Raising Chicks
What Are the Best Chickens for Eggs? Top 10 Breeds
Wondering what are the best chickens for eggs? Compare the top 10 laying breeds by egg count, temperament, and ease of care to find your perfect flock.
Egg Production