Backyard Chickens & Roosters

To keep your flock healthy and productive, knowing the signs of common illnesses is crucial. Coryza is one such illness of which chicken keepers should be aware. Infectious coryza is a serious bacterial disease that is contagious and can spread among chickens. It affects the upper respiratory tract. This sickness can be dangerous for very old chickens, chicks, and chickens who aren’t as healthy overall. It isn’t the end of the world for most in … Read more

Good for meat, the Muscovy duck is also useful around a pond, cleaning up insects. Muscovy ducks are a popular domestic breed to raise in North America. They are usually kept as backyard or hobby animals, and sometimes as pets. They are friendly and not aggressive. They are highly adaptable and hardy. Muscovies are not considered to be productive layers. They lay between 40 – 80 white eggs each year. Hens will start laying around … Read more

If you have a bit of excess garden produce, tomatoes going bad from the grocery store, or some kitchen scraps, you may have an idea. You may wonder, Can Chickens Eat Tomatoes? Yes, chickens can eat tomatoes. But chickens should not eat green, unripe tomatoes because of the solanine. I love giving my chickens fruits and veggies. I grow tomatoes in my garden, and sometimes the birds or insects get to them before I do. … Read more

A versatile, all-American breed with a friendly personality and nice egg laying abilities, a Golden Laced Wyandotte is an excellent choice for a backyard or small homestead flock. When you add in the fact that their plumage practically glows in the morning sunlight, you may write Golden Wyandottes at the top of the list of new breeds to try when you are choosing your spring chicks at the feed store. These birds are eye-catching with … Read more

With eye-catching, unusual plumage, the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte is a lovely chicken who has more going for it than just the fancy color pattern. These large birds have much to offer to the backyard hen keeper or someone who raises hens to sell eggs at the farmer’s market.  They are cold hardy, making them ideal for a steady supply of eggs in the colder months. If you are looking for a friendly chicken that … Read more

The Lavender Orpington, also referred to as the Self-Blue Orpington, is a regal breed that’s a welcome addition to most homestead flocks. They have an easy-going temperament and lay approximately 200 eggs per year. Due to their extensive feathering, they are cold hardy. They do well free-range or confined. Its stunning plumage along with its many other outstanding characteristics makes Lavender Orpington chickens a popular choice for many homestead families. Keep reading to learn more about … Read more

If you’re on the market for ducks to raise, the Rouen duck is an excellent choice. They are a large breed, well domesticated, offer delicious meat, and require little maintenance. In addition, they are excellent foragers, making them ideal for pest control. Rouen ducks are not great egg layers. They are usually kept and bred for their meat. Rouen meat is considered one of the two best types of duck meat available, known for its … Read more

Black Copper Marans are a dual-purpose chicken breed. Their history, physical appearance, behaviors, meat production, and eggs contribute to their uniqueness and popularity. They are usually toward the middle of the pecking order so consider raising them with less aggressive breeds if raising them in a mixed flock. They are of French descent and are winter hardy. This breed is also called French Black Copper Marans. Hens will begin laying when they are 5 – … Read more

Originating from Malaysia, the Serama chicken is a lovable breed that has sparked the interest of many in the western world. Their lovable nature and tiny size make desirable for chicken lovers.   Though their appearance may pull at your heartstrings, these little beauties can be quite costly. It’s the smallest chicken in the world and a true bantam breed. It’s important not to raise them in a mixed flock. Let’s take a look at some … Read more

If you like to raise chickens that require minimal work, and you love fresh eggs, the Sapphire Gem chicken is for you. These medium-sized chickens have fun personalities and are great with kids. Sapphire Gem hens will lay nearly 300 large brown eggs a year. This makes them a good choice if you are wanting prolific layers. They are also fairly cold and heat tolerant. It’s a relatively new variety and can be difficult to … Read more

While rooster crowing might seem like nothing more than mindless noise to us, it plays a variety of important roles in mating, security, and more. Why do roosters crow? Let’s take a closer look, including how you can potentially limit any disturbance. If you keep roosters on your property, or live near someone who does, you’re likely quite familiar with the sound of their crowing. A rooster’s crow is often heard far and wide, and they … Read more

Indian runner ducks are known for their upright, slender bodies that resemble bowling pins. They resemble penguins more than any other duck breed, but they can run quickly. This domestic duck cannot fly. People usually raise them for their eggs rather than meat because they are lightweight ducks. Runner hens lay 300 or more eggs per year making them a great duck breed for eggs. They are active foragers making them ideal for insect extermination … Read more

In my experience, Coturnix quail are not just delicious to eat, but they are also easy to raise, and they produce plenty of eggs and meat for you and your family. Coturnix quails are a smaller type of game bird. They are smaller than chickens or other fowl which makes them ideal for backyard farms. They are an excellent alternative poultry source. Mature in just six weeks, this makes them efficient in terms of producing … Read more

The Pekin duck is among the most popular domestic duck breeds worldwide. I’ve been raising ducks for years. Here’s what you need to know for raising this white duck successfully for meat, eggs, as a pet, and other uses. Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs and are delicious to use in baking. Here’s what to know about Pekin ducks. Pekin Duck  Pekin ducks, an American breed also known as the White Pekin or American … Read more

Think of chicken nesting boxes as furniture for your chickens. To keep your chickens healthy and to enjoy fresh eggs, you want to have an inviting space for them to nest. Nesting boxes give your hens a comfortable, private place to lay eggs. They’ll learn to leave the nest and go outside to stretch, run, and forage. Providing chicken nesting boxes gives them privacy, so they’ll feel safe while laying eggs. Before you buy or … Read more

Are you thinking about raising a Golden Comet chicken? Golden Comets are fantastic egg-layers, which makes this the primary reason many people raise them. While you can eat their meat, flock owners generally don’t choose them as a meat breed because they are small.  Here’s everything you should know about this hybrid chicken breed before you get started.  Purpose for Raising Golden Comet Chicken Golden Comet chickens are egg-laying powerhouses, making them an excellent choice … Read more

Raising quail is becoming more popular. Domesticated quail are worth raising due to their delicious eggs, tender meat, and manageable size. They are dual-purpose birds. These small birds are easy to raise as backyard poultry. This means whether you’re a seasoned poultry pro or a homesteading novice, you’ll find quail easy to care for. We explain everything to know about how to raise a healthy flock of quail. Why Raise Quail? Quails are becoming a … Read more

Silver Laced Wyandottes have been around since the 1800s. They were bred in the US to lay consistently throughout the year. Today, they’re excellent chickens for both egg-laying and their desirable meat that bares yellowish skin. It’s a common breed that’s considered versatile thanks to their ability to live in cooler climates, while withstanding warmth too. They’re highly sought after by chicken farmers and backyard hobbyists. The Silver Laced Wyandottes are the origin of the … Read more

The Dominique chicken is said to be one of the oldest chicken breeds in America. They are excellent dual-purpose chickens, used for their brown eggs and also as a source of hearty meat. Dominiques are also known for their thick, soft feathers, as they were used for pillow stuffing in the past. These calm, friendly birds are also used as show birds and kept as pets around the farm. Here’s what to know about them … Read more

Cochin chickens aren’t very good egg layers but they will lay during cold seasons when other breeds stop. It’s easy to spot a cochin chicken in a coop. These are big and fluffy birds. The hens can grow to 9 – 10 pounds and the roosters to 12 pounds. There are also bantam varieties. A dual purpose breed, they have become favorites for farmers around the world for their adorable appearance and easy-going temperament. They … Read more