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About the Author

Marissa Ames

Editor of Goat Journal and Backyard Poultry magazines, Marissa Ames runs a small homestead in Fallon, Nevada, where she focuses on saving and propagating rare breeds of goats and garden vegetables. She and her husband, Russ, travel to Africa where they serve as agricultural advisors for the nonprofit I Am Zambia. She spends her free time eating lunch.

Modern Tips for Hatching Eggs for Kids in Classrooms

February 27, 2024 · Marissa Ames · Eggs & Meat, Kids' Corner

The rules have changed.
When I was a kid, hatching eggs for kids in schools was as simple as bringing in eggs and an incubator.

Raising Meat Chickens: 4 Lessons Learned

August 23, 2023 · Marissa Ames · Eggs & Meat

Learn 4 lessons for raising meat chickens from an experienced farmer including keeping your chickens humanely and organically.

Incubating Duck Eggs with Chicken Eggs

January 12, 2023 · Marissa Ames · Eggs & Meat

If you have already tried incubating chicken eggs, you know how addicting it can be. Have you tried incubating duck eggs?

Building a Solar Chicken Coop Heater

December 7, 2022 · Marissa Ames · Coops

Do chickens need heat in winter? Is it worth the fire risk? A solar chicken coop heater could solve both problems to keep birds safe when temperatures plummet.

Simple Turkey Brine Techniques

November 2, 2022 · Marissa Ames · Eggs & Meat

We love our turkey dinners, especially toward the end of the year, but we’ve all suffered from dry, tasteless white meat that must be smothered in gravy to be palatable.

Egg Facts and Egg Dishes Around the World

October 26, 2022 · Marissa Ames · Eggs & Meat, Recipes

Try egg dishes around the world for healthy, delicious, full of protein, economical, and easy-to-prepare food while learning a few egg facts.

Raising Baby Chicks: A Beginner’s Guide

August 29, 2022 · Marissa Ames · Chickens 101, Kids' Corner

Here’s what you need to know about raising baby chicks before you bring them home.

How Long Do Chicks Need a Heat Lamp?

August 26, 2022 · Marissa Ames · Chickens 101, Feed & Health

Do chickens need heat in winter? Only the babies, and only for a short time. But how long do chicks need a heat lamp?

Corn for Chickens and Other Chicken Myths

August 15, 2022 · Marissa Ames · Feed & Health

Even experienced chicken owners still believe a few old wives’ tales. While some chicken myths are harmless, others can be dangerous.

Heritage Poultry

August 14, 2022 · Marissa Ames · Poultry 101

Some of us raise poultry for fun. Others want eggs or meat. But some take activism further and save heritage poultry breeds from extinction.

Make the Most of Your Flock with Backyard Poultry!

Your best source for information on all things chicken, quail, turkey, guinea, duck, and beyond. Whether you raise a backyard flock for eggs, meat, show, or just for fun. Backyard Poultry is an essential guide for a diverse community of poultry lovers, accessible to those who live on a farm, in a suburban neighborhood, or are raising poultry in an urban environment. You will find research-based stories and actionable guidance, helping newbies and experts alike avoid costly and tragic mistakes.

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