About the Author

Jeremy Chartier

At 12 years old, Jeremy Chartier became involved with his local 4-H group, later joined the local FFA chapter, and showed livestock until his college years. After graduating from the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture at UConn, he joined the University of Maine’s Poultry Service Provider training program. Today Jeremy sells started pullets to local backyard farmers, is still involved with 4-H as a poultry showmanship judge, and writes about his passion for farming.
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Articles by Jeremy Chartier

How To Pasteurize Eggs At Home
July 1, 2020 · · Eggs & Meat

If you’ve ever wondered how to pasteurize eggs at home, look no further! And, there’s a kitchen tool that’ll make is super simple.

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Keeping Show Chickens Healthy
June 16, 2020 · · Feed & Health

Show chickens are hugely entertaining. Fun, as they may be, keeping and exhibiting show chicken breeds can be more involved than keeping run-of-the-mill egg layers.

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Mitigating Ammonia: Your Options in Poultry Litter Treatment
June 13, 2020 · · Coops

Some of us keep our beloved birds in precarious situations. I don’t mean we necessarily put them in direct danger, but the very idea of us keeping backyard chickens in an otherwise urban environment can be a precarious peace-keeping mission.

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Raising Turkeys with Chickens – Is it a Good Idea?
May 14, 2020 · · Kids' Corner, Poultry 101

Raising turkeys with chickens has been discouraged for years, but despite that, many homesteaders are going back to a mixed flock approach. There are some excellent benefits to keeping a mixed flock, but there are some serious bird health hazards associated with it as well.

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How To Tell If Eggs Are Bad
April 24, 2020 · · Eggs & Meat

Ever wondered how to tell if eggs are bad or not? Today I hope to clarify a few things, including the shortcomings of the classic egg float test.

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Show Chickens For Kids
April 24, 2020 · · Chickens 101

Show Chickens are a great way to get your kids interested in agriculture, started in 4-H and give them a positive experience in poultry showmanship.

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Managing Chicken Coop Smell
April 24, 2020 · · Coops

Does your chicken coop smell inordinately bad? Does your neighbor complain about the chicken coop smell wafting across the fenceline? If so, I’ve got a few tips and tricks you can employ to fix your coop, or at least understand the issue at hand.

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How to Tell if Eggs are Bad
April 22, 2020 · · Flock Files

Eggshells are a porous, which allows air, moisture, and some contaminants to pass through. Spoilage bacteria are the most common culprits of eggs turning rotten. When laid, the hen deposits a protective bloom, but this cuticle is not completely impenetrable, so whether or not you wash the egg, bacteria will eventually traverse that porous shell.

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The Right Stuff!
March 28, 2020 · · Coops

Poultry equipment comes in many different sizes and styles, but what do you really need for your flock? Since backyard chickens became popular again, all sorts of products have surfaced in feed stores.

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What to Feed Baby Chicks to Make Them Thrive
February 20, 2020 · · Feed & Health, Kids' Corner

Knowing what to feed baby chicks is a critical first step to giving them a fighting chance. Precocial as they may be, chicks are still vulnerable to their environment, which is why we as good stewards must give them the tools to survive and thrive.

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