Chickens might be relatively low maintenance pets, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make a mess. A clean and dry coop is one of the best ways of keeping a flock healthy.

Freshly hatched chicks of assorted breeds filled the incubator. I couldn’t wait to see them. I got more than I bargained for.

As farmers and homesteaders, we know that no matter how much we love our chickens, the bottom line is they are a food source. They lay wonderfully nutritious eggs, and if we are raising them for meat purposes, they will feed our family for a couple of days.

In a universe where dogs, goats, or even alpacas can be seen surfing, the thought of animals enjoying the oceans isn’t a novel idea. The line is typically drawn at chickens, however, because they are known to not enjoy water or swimming.

“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it,” George Orwell said. As a FFA advisor and agriculture teacher, I do see kids these days disconnected with nature and agriculture.