The more chickens you have, the more difficult it might be to come up with a name for each one. Some chicken names are simply traditional human names. Others are puns of various sorts. Most flock keepers prefer female names for hens and male names for roosters. Many, however, mix and match or choose gender-neutral […]
People enjoy keeping chickens for many different reasons. Some chicken keepers simply have a passion for poultry. Others focus on the benefits chickens provide. In no particular order, here are 30 reasons to love chickens: Chicks grow fast. Chicks grow quickly from chickhood to maturity. In less than a year your new flock will settle […]
Spooky looking Zombie chickens have pale plumage over dark legs, skin, beak, comb, wattles, and eyes. Because of this coloration, the chickens appear to be undead. However, they are very much alive. They are also prolific layers and fun to include in the backyard flock. What makes a Zombie chicken? The Zombie chicken is a hybrid cross […]
Chickens are endlessly entertaining. Many flock owners consider chicken watching to be therapeutic after a hectic day. But chicken bullying can spoil the fun for both you and your chickens. Here’s how to identify and prevent chicken bullying. What is chicken bullying? Chicken bullying occurs when one or a few chickens pick on, peck at, […]
Train your hens to use a nest box when they first start producing eggs and they are less likely to lay eggs on the coop floor. Once they start laying on the floor, getting them to stop can be difficult. Here’s how to train your hens to lay eggs in a nest, not on the […]
The best time to gather chicken eggs is when they are fresh. Collecting eggs when they are fresh has these purposes:• Minimize loss due to soiling or cracking. • Maintain the best flavor and texture. • Ensure safety for eating. • Maximize storage life. What time of day do chickens lay eggs? A hen’s laying […]
What’s the difference between a standard chicken versus a bantam chicken? To understand the difference, let’s look at what a standard chicken is and what a bantam is. Standard Chicken The word “standard” when applied to chickens can be confusing. In some contexts it means that the breed has been standardized by the American Poultry […]
The details of exactly when and how Silkie bantam chickens came into being have been lost in the mists of time. The breed was first mentioned by Marco Polo, who wrote about “chickens with fur-like feathers and black skin” in his 13th century report of his explorations in Asia. Most likely Silkie chickens existed long […]
The coronavirus pandemic has shut down businesses, closed schools, and disrupted supply chains. It has also led to a dramatic increase in chick sales. “We are totally swamped,” says Jeff Smith of Cackle Hatchery. “It’s a little overwhelming.” Indeed, at Cackle Hatchery alone, sales have doubled over the previous year as more and […]
As concerns about the ethical implications of factory farming operations have come to the forefront of society’s consciousness, more and more Americans are becoming interested in producing their own food in order to free themselves from reliance on store-bought alternatives. In an effort to educate suburbanites about the viability of backyard farming operations, Rutgers has […]