Make a Chicken Coop from a Garden Shed! The day I brought home the first two chicks, I went against all the advice I give to people thinking about getting chickens. We had a farm but had no chicken coop or really any plan to build one. But two chicks followed me home from work at a feed store and the future was changed forever. Not long after, twelve more chicks arrived to keep the first two chicks company. We now had fourteen baby chicks growing up in our house but they could not stay … [Read more...]
Chicken Wire and Hardware Cloth for Coops
Deciding between chicken wire and hardware cloth is only one of the initial decisions to be made by a new chicken keeper, when building a chicken coop and enclosure. There are certain topics that veteran chicken owners are all too familiar with. But, what about those who are new to raising poultry? I often will cover a topic that may seem mundane and too basic but I believe there are a substantial number of people who are looking for the very basic information to help them get started … [Read more...]
How to Fix a Muddy Chicken Run
Rainy seasons are necessary but what do we do with the resulting muddy chicken run? Are you tired of muddy eggs, messy coop floors and slippery chicken run? I'm not going to sugar coat it. If you have an extremely muddy chicken run, it will take some labor to return the run to a better state. You will have to correct the grading and the drainage. The good news is, once you do it correctly, it's much easier to avoid a muddy chicken run. What causes the Mud When rain sits on top of … [Read more...]
6 Easy Brooder Ideas to Start Chicks
How difficult is it to set up a brooder? Here are my favorite easy brooder ideas for you to use for your own chicks. Easily cleaned and commonly found items can make a good home for the chicks to begin their lives. Your new flock of chicks will need a special home for the first few weeks. This home is called a brooder. It takes the place of what would naturally be provided by a broody hen. Chicks require a much higher level of warmth than full grown chickens. They are not able to maintain … [Read more...]
Live Animals for Easter?
Its that special time of year. Spring has sprung, flowers are blooming, grass is beginning to turn green and we long to spend more time outside. When we visit the local farm and garden center, everything is bustling! The seeds are in stock, bulbs, seed potatoes, and cool weather veggie plants are available. But what is that peeping noise coming from the center of the store? Baby Chicks are for sale! Look at how adorable they are, small and soft and downy. They chirp and peep … [Read more...]
