outside
Raising Backyard Turkeys for Meat
Of all homestead poultry projects, raising backyard turkeys seems to appeal to the least number of people. Turkeys are amazingly stupid — from the newly hatched poults who can starve to death while trampling in their feed because they haven’t learned where to find it, to the hens who lay their eggs standing up.
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Six Winter Keeping Tips for Backyard Chickens
Many people ask: Do chickens need heat in winter? The answer is backyard chickens are far more cold-hardy than you may imagine. Courtesy of fall molting, chickens should have a full set of new fluffy feathers for winter that will keep them perfectly comfortable in temperatures down to 40 degrees and just fine well below freezing, assuming they are in good health.
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Chicken Tractor Designs to Inspire Your Creativity
Chicken tractor designs are becoming more popular as more and more homesteaders and folks who keep backyard chickens are looking for flexibility and the ability to move their flock around the backyard or the homestead. Here are three great chicken tractor designs that you can build at home for your flock.
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How Long Do Chicks Need a Heat Lamp?
Do chickens need heat in winter? Only the babies, and only for a short time. But how long do chicks need a heat lamp?
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The Phantom Chicken of London: Tastes Like Spooky!
What has feathers, a British accent and goes cluck in the night?
When we booked a trip to England this past summer, I wasn’t thinking, “Hey, let’s check out some ghost poultry while we’re gallivanting in jolly ol’!”
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A Guide to Duck Shelters for Winter
With their double coat of waterproof feathers over thick, warm fluffy down and a layer of body fat, ducks (regardless of duck breeds) are exceedingly cold-hardy. They love being outdoors year-round in most climates, perfectly happy playing in the rain and even the snow.
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3 Tips to Help Molting Chickens
Add to Favorites It’s autumn. Time for comfy sweaters, pumpkin-flavored everything and … vacation? For backyard chickens across the country, shorter days often signal time for a break. Molting chickens …
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Time to Start Winterizing Chicken Coops
Is it time to start winterizing chicken coops? Snowflakes softly fall to the ground, and an icy breeze cuts through the early morning hours.
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All About Araucana Chickens
The Araucana chicken has some bizarre features; they are rumpless and have ear tufts. Oh yes, and they lay blue eggs. These rumpless birds are missing more than just tail feathers; they are missing the entire coccyx.
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Can Chickens and Ducks Live Together?
“Can chickens and ducks live together?” is one of the most common questions I get from readers. Since I’ve been raising my chickens and ducks in the same coop and run for years, my answer is always yes, but I do have a few cautions if you’re considering a mixed flock.
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