Chickens are seasonal layers. Homegrown eggs therefore don’t arrive at the same rate year around. Sometimes you get too many. Sometimes not enough. Here are seven ways to store your farm fresh eggs, from countertop storage to dehydration. By extending their shelf-life, you can save them for when your hens take a vacation from laying. […]
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A chicken’s egg tooth is a tiny horn-like projection at the tip of the upper beak of a newly hatched chick. Its purpose is to help the chick break through the shell at hatching time. Soon after the chick hatches, the egg tooth falls off. Domestic poultry and other birds share this trait in common […]
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Waiting for a chicken to start laying eggs can seem like an eternity. The blessed event may take anywhere from four months to eight months, depending on the chicken’s breed. However, as a hen approaches laying age, she begins to show certain signs that will tell you eggs are on the way. Here’s a guide […]
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Most backyard chickens do not lay an egg every day of the year. The average mature, healthy hen takes 25 to 26 hours to produce one egg. So a hen that lays at 6:00 in the morning today will likely lay between 7:00 and 8:00 tomorrow morning. Since a hen normally doesn’t lay after dark, […]
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An amazing characteristic of Phoenix chickens is their exceptionally long and multiple tail feathers. Even the hens have more tail feathers than most other chickens. The Phoenix was developed from the Onagadori, a breed from Japan that has a non-molting gene. Despite its exceptionally long tail, the Phoenix lacks the non-molting gene and therefore molts […]
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The ermine Ameraucana is unique among chickens in its stunning white and black feather pattern. The unusual plumage is the result of a dominant white genetic mutation that partially suppresses the expression of black feathers. This pattern is currently being developed into a standard color variety of the breed. During the process, opinions vary as […]
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Chantecler chickens are a heritage dual-purpose breed suitable for the backyard production of both meat and eggs. They are also popular for exhibition. It is the only chicken breed originating in Canada. The breed is able to withstand bitter cold weather while continuing to lay well. What is a Chantecler chicken? A Chantecler chicken has […]
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I want to share some wins that my children have made in the Poultry Show circuit with their bantam Dominiques purchased from Cackle Hatchery® in 2025. Cuteness Factor At the 2025 Missouri State Fair, our 5-year-old son Everett showed his cockerel Dinosaur. It was his first ever Youth Exhibition Poultry Association Showmanship event. He didn’t […]
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Ameraucana chickens derive from blue-egg laying Chilean Araucanas. Chicken keepers enjoy this breed for their unusual blue-shell eggs. Ameraucanas are also popular for exhibition. With their small pea comb, tiny wattles, and fluffy feathers, they are especially winter hardy, and the hens lay well even in winter. What is an Ameraucana Chicken? Where Did Ameraucanas […]
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The American Bantam Association (ABA) is an organization of bantam chicken enthusiasts who enjoy breeding and showing bantams, as well as socializing with other people who share their interest. Here’s why you should join the American Bantam Association: ABA History The non-profit American Bantam Association was founded in 1914 to support the poultry fancy, and […]
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