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 […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
Whether to exhibit your chickens at a sanctioned or unsanctioned poultry show depends on a number of different factors. These factors include the quality of your birds, the amount of money you are willing to spend, and your goals in exhibiting your chickens. Sanctioned vs. Unsanctioned, What’s the Difference? A sanctioned show is one that […]
Continue Reading
Keeping chickens in your garden can be beneficial or it can be detrimental, depending on how you manage your flock. Here are 6 tips for managing chickens in your vegetable garden so you can enjoy both your chickens and your garden. Make sure the flock remains in the garden A fence around the entire garden […]
Continue Reading
The definition of a standard chicken depends on the context. The term may refer to a large chicken compared to a bantam chicken. Or it may refer to a breed that conforms to its ideal description established by a central organization. Here is a detailed answer to the question, “What are standard chickens?” What is […]
Continue Reading
Name the place where your chickens live. Is it a chicken coop? A hen house? Or do you have a more creative name for the place where your chickens live? Stationary Buildings A stationary building where chickens live is usually either a chicken coop or a hen house. The word coop comes from the Old […]
Continue Reading
The terms “sex link” and “autosex” both refer to chicks whose gender is obvious as soon as they hatch. But the two terms are not synonymous. Sex link chickens, or sex links, result from mating a hen and a rooster of two different breeds. Autosex chickens are the offspring of a hen and a rooster […]
Continue Reading
Testosterone is generally considered to be a male hormone. But hens also produce testosterone. In fact, without testosterone hens wouldn’t lay eggs. Here’s a short version of how testosterone works in chickens. Testosterone in Roosters The best known androgen steroid, testosterone is responsible for why a rooster crows but a hen doesn’t. Testosterone is also […]
Continue Reading
Molting is the periodic shedding and renewal of a chicken’s feathers. Mature chickens usually molt once a year, at the approach of colder weather and shorter days. During winter, old tattered feathers don’t provide the same good insulation as a fresh coat of plumage. So what are the signs that tell you your chickens are […]
Continue Reading
Are chickens really birds? Yes, chickens are birds. They share many features in common with other birds, including feathers, wings, and beaks. But in some ways they also differ from most other birds. Here are five features that differentiate chickens from most other bird species. Breeds and Varieties One of the things that make people […]
Continue Reading
