Raising chickens is more popular than ever, and more and more people are discovering the benefits of a portable chicken coop. Whether you have lavender orpington chickens in your backyard or have flocks of Rhode Island reds, leghorns or Plymouth Rock chickens, you are in good company. During the Covid-19 pandemic, sellers and manufacturers of products related to raising chickens reported record sales. There are several possible reasons for this, including fears of supply chain issues. In addition, at various times during the pandemic, there were shortages on various food and personal items. Naturally, some people tried to become more independent. Producing your own food takes you out of the commercial food system. That means you don’t have to worry when prices change or when there is a shortage. In addition, raising chickens gives you the benefit of having not only meat but also eggs. You can’t just buy some chicks and put them in your yard, however. You need to have … [Read more...] about Benefits Of A Portable Chicken Coop
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Chicken Enrichment Ideas for Happy, Healthy Chickens
Keep your chicken flock healthy, happy and occupied with these chicken enrichment ideas, toys, treats and activities. Happy chickens are healthy chickens. At least that’s the idea behind the trend of chicken enrichment. Your favorite chicken breeds could be Lavender Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, White Leghorn, Silkie, Easter Egger or something else. No matter your breed of choice, keeping your chickens productively busy will most likely keep them productively laying eggs. That is one of the main reasons you have chickens. Right? Then let’s learn about chicken enrichment. Benefits of Chicken Enrichment What exactly is chicken enrichment? Well, animal enrichment is a “principle that seeks to enhance the quality of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental stimuli necessary for optimal psychological and physiological well-being.” For backyard chickens, this means improving the quality of their lives beyond just the bare … [Read more...] about Chicken Enrichment Ideas for Happy, Healthy Chickens
Homestead Living Ideas
When it comes to homestead living ideas, it's all about a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. Use organic practices on the landscape and in the gardens. Make and use homemade compost in the family vegetable garden. Pay attention to energy efficiency in the design of buildings. And select appliances based on their efficient use of resources. The homestead and ranch life can also include raising chickens for a steady supply of fresh eggs. (This is true for large acreage properties and even in some suburban homes.) On larger ranch and homesteads, becoming more self-sufficient means drilling wells and installing backup water pumps. Here are some great products and homestead living ideas that make the ranch, homestead and self-sufficient lifestyle easier. For information about planting fruit trees on your homestead property, read Top Five Fruit Trees for some great advice. Also read How to Build an Instant Rusted Corrugated Metal Fence. Deep Well Hand Pump Keeps … [Read more...] about Homestead Living Ideas
Sebright Bantam Chickens
Sebright Bantam chickens are a great breed to add to your chicken flock. They are also a delightful breed to begin your chicken flock. Of course, there are hundreds of chicken breeds. From fuzzy silkies to giant brahmas, the choices are practically endless! If you are looking for something truly flashy and unique to add to your flock, look no further than the spunky Sebright bantam! The Sebright bantam chicken is an ornamental bantam breed. Unlike many other breeds, the Sebright is a “true” bantam, meaning it comes only in a small size. This diminutive breed comes in two beautiful colors (silver and gold). Both colors have a spunky character that adds a lot of fun to a backyard flock. Need a chicken coop or other chicken-keeping items? Check out the Chicken Supplies on Amazon. History of Seabright Bantam Chickens The Sebright Bantam chicken has been an established breed since 1874 when it was submitted to the American Poultry Association. This breed was … [Read more...] about Sebright Bantam Chickens
The Best Books on Keeping Backyard Chickens
The popularity of keeping backyard chickens keeps growing. But getting started with chickens can be a daunting process. There are so many choices to make and mistakes to avoid! Of course, there are hundreds of amazing online resources about keeping backyard chickens—ranging from YouTube channels to Facebook groups. But it’s hard to sift through so much information and so many opinions. (Not to mention all the social media drama). When it comes to starting the new hobby of getting, raising and keeping backyard chickens, you just can’t go wrong with a few carefully chosen guidebooks. So, here is our list of the best books on keeping backyard chickens (in no particular order). If you want to buy any of the books, just click on the book cover and the link will take you directly to the book on Amazon. (Home Garden and Homestead is an Amazon affiliate, and we receive a small commission. Thank you!) Keeping Backyard Chickens: Getting to Know Your Birds These two books give a … [Read more...] about The Best Books on Keeping Backyard Chickens
