experience

Keep Happy Hens

Keeping your hens happy is easy once you know what motivates their behavior. Nearly all of a chicken’s activities are motivated by three basic needs: to get enough to eat, to avoid being eaten, and to make more chickens.

Read More
Poultry Farming Terminology – What’s in a Name?
April 11, 2020 · · Poultry 101

Whether you are new to poultry farming or you already have years of experience under your belt, you have probably at some point come across a poultry farming term that’s unfamiliar.

Read More
How Do Chickens Lay Eggs?

“I can’t buy your eggs anymore,” was the astonishing announcement made by a college student who had been one of my best customers. I had to know what was going on.

Read More
The Dorking Chicken and Other Classic Breeds

Most of the 200 breeds and varieties of chickens that were once common on farms are now considered rare. Including a breed that is part of our history in your poultry operation gives your flock a role in historic preservation and genetic diversity.

Read More
The Economics of Egg Farming

When I started egg farming, I kept track of my costs. The numbers surprised me. Turning a profit leaves a lot of factors to consider.

Read More
8 Interesting Features of the Silkie Chicken Breed
January 6, 2020 · · Chickens 101

Silkies are distinctly different from any other chicken breed. They share a unique combination of genetic and behavioral features. In 2003, a group of Japanese researchers mapped the mitochondrial DNA of a Silkie to determine the breed’s genetic position in relation to other birds in the genus Gallus.

Read More
Automating a Chicken Coop Door Using Arduino
August 16, 2019 · · Coops

Add to Favorites When we designed our chicken coop, automating our chicken coop door was a necessity. There was already so much to consider, from the design and quantity of nesting …

Read More
Two Chicken Coop Sheds We Love

Add to Favorites Chicken Coop Shed #1 By Stephanie Thomas – In 2005 both of my parents were diagnosed with cancer. Life definitely changed, and not really for the best. …

Read More
Raising an Indoor Pet Chicken

Add to Favorites By Wendy E.N. Thomas – We never had any intentions of raising an indoor pet chicken, but it’s funny how life goes sometimes. Our indoor pet chicken experience …

Read More
Ask the Expert — April/May 2019
April 21, 2019 · · Ask The Expert

Add to Favorites Tough Winter We’ve had a tough winter here in Central New Hampshire. Lots of snow and ice. The door to my chicken run becomes frozen often and …

Read More