I remember spending time out in the coop one day. Well, this is most days for me. I love to sit and watch my girls scratch around and see who can find the best snacks. They are silly little birds, and there’s never a dull moment. It also gives me a good opportunity to check them all over to ensure they’re healthy and happy. As I was sitting back, thinking how wonderful it was to have these chickens... I saw it. One of my Barred Rocks had what almost looked like a blind eye. I

It started out like any other morning. After I got my husband and kids out the door for work and school, I went out to check on my flock and collect any eggs that may be out there. I was on my daily egg hunt (not all of my girls have taken a liking to nesting boxes). I walked through the coop with a train of chickens behind me waiting for their morning treat. And there, next to a few other regular-sized eggs, was this cute little, tiny egg. I had read about “fairy” eggs. Othe

Roxanne taking a dust bath I love to see people’s reactions when they ask how I bathe my chickens. When I tell them that chickens love to take baths in the dirt, they give me a puzzled look and usually ask a few more questions. I remember the first time I saw a chicken dust bathing...I thought for sure she was flopping around to her death. Little did I know, she was probably having the time of her life! When I learned that chickens get dirty to get clean (strange I know!), it

I remember the very first time we got baby chicks. The excitement was off the charts! We were going to have this perfect little flock. Then reality set in. We had one little Barred Rock who just wouldn’t quit bullying the other chicks. At this point, I was not only mortified by her eye pecks, I was wondering if I was doing something wrong to have her exhibit this behavior. After some research, and now a lot of experience, this is what I’ve found. Identify Environmental Trigge

As many of you know, I have 40 chickens (and counting)! This wasn’t the plan—I was supposed to stop at six chickens, but here we are! And yes, I’m adding to the flock again this spring from Hoover’s Hatchery! Raising baby chicks is one of my favorite parts of chicken keeping, and each spring brings new excitement as I welcome these little ones into the coop. In the past, I’ve ordered chicks online, bought them from our local farm supply store and even hatched my own eggs. No

Would you believe that my first love in the world of feathered friends was actually ducklings? Most people know me for my love of chickens, but it all started with ducks! I’ll never forget the day my kids and I were at the local farm supply store. We always loved looking at the cute baby chicks, but the ones I just couldn’t resist were the ducklings! We brought them home that day, and our love for ducks grew. That same year, someone gifted our son a gosling for his 10th birth

Hello February! We’re excited around here in the Wing household because we finally decided which new baby chicks to add to our flock this spring! Our little chicks are scheduled to arrive in a month, so we’re busy discussing what we’d like to see happen around the coop. Stay tuned to see which breeds we’re adding! With all the excitement, I’d like to discuss with you a few common mistakes made by backyard chicken keepers. Most of them have been made by myself or others I know

Most people get into backyard chickens for the fresh eggs, with many looking specifically for the best egg laying chickens to ensure a...

The girls and I have very exciting news to share with our faithful friends and followers and we wanted you to hear it here first! No, I didn’t get new chicks to add to my flock. YET! (winks) You all know the girls and I love Strong Animals Chicken Essentials products and I use them religiously to keep my flock healthy, happy and thriving. What you might not know is that we have an incredible team of people behind the scenes listening to feedback about the products, the packag

Strong Animals announced today their collaboration with Hoover’s Hatchery™ and NatureServe® feeds to encourage everyone raising chickens at home to use the same essential oils and natural approaches employed by Hoover’s Hatchery. Strong Animals: Pioneers in Essential Oils for Animal Health For decades, Strong Animals has used essential oils and other plant-based products to naturally promote the overall health of animals. Strong Animals knows that backyard flock owners desire

I was born and raised here and now we’re raising our family here. I love every season. But, there are certain things we have to do to prepare for winter, and preparing our coop and chickens for this extreme weather is at the top of our to-do list every year! Do You Need to Heat the Coop in Winter? One of the most common questions I get from new backyard chicken keepers is, “Do I need to heat the coop when it gets really cold?” The answer might surprise you: we don’t use a hea

If you’ve been eating or using eggs for any length of time (hello almost everyone!), you probably have had a blood spot in your egg once or twice. While this isn’t appealing to the eye, you need to know that they are perfectly fine to consume or use! What Are Blood Spots in Eggs? Contrary to popular belief, a blood spot does not mean that the egg is fertilized. It simply means that a blood vessel ruptured while the hen was laying the egg. What Causes Blood Spots in Eggs? Seve

Happy isn’t sure about the snow! Yikes! It’s only the end of October and already our ground is covered in snow and the temperatures make it feel more like December. We went from 60 degrees and beautiful fall foliage to 20 degrees and snow in 2 days. That’s life in Minnesota for you! Next week, we’re supposed to be back up towards the 60's. These weather shifts are intense for us humans, so how do you think it affects our flocks? Chickens are made to regulate their own body te

Living in Minnesota, we get to experience all four seasons, and I absolutely love it! Each one has its own unique charm, but without a doubt, fall is my favorite. The crisp air, the vibrant leaves, and, of course, pumpkin spice everything make this season extra special! This year, I decided to bring some of that fall fun to my chickens. They’re molting right now and could use a little pick-me-up. The best part? These activities didn’t cost a thing, and my flock had a blast! F

While there are a plethora of diseases that chickens can get, I was determined to never have to deal with any of that! Hahaha but guess what? That’s not real life, and when you’re raising chickens it’s better to be educated and prepared than taken by surprise. Regular Health Checks Are Key I frequently check my girls over from head to toe. I like to do that on a regular basis to make sure they are happy and healthy. Much to my dismay, I noticed that Reba had a case of bumblef

The first time that I raised backyard chickens, we started with a mature flock to begin with. If I could do it all over, I would raise them from chicks and not purchase already grown hens and roos. It went okay, but we didn’t have that bond that we do with our current flock. In fact, our first flock ended with a showdown between our 2-year-old son and our not so loving rooster, and me chasing everyone with a garden hose! It was quite a sight and the neighbors definitely had s

If you're raising chickens, you’ve likely noticed they’re always eager to peck at whatever scraps they can find. While they might seem to know what's good for them, not all foods are safe for chickens. In fact, some common kitchen leftovers can cause serious harm. To help keep your flock healthy, here’s a list of 10 foods you should never feed your chickens and the reasons why they’re dangerous. Foods & Plants that are Toxic to Chickens 1. Candy and Chocolate While we love i

Raising backyard chickens has been one of my very best decisions. It’s way more than just yummy eggs whenever we want. Our flock has become family, and we have all learned so much along the way. I’ve talked to many people who would love to get into backyard chickens but are a little apprehensive because they don’t really know the day to day needs and responsibilities of them. I always encourage these people that chickens are super sustainable for most schedules and lifestyles

It’s officially spring, and if you’re thinking about starting a flock of your own, there are some important things to consider before you bring home those cute little chicks. I remember the first time I brought home chicks and a couple of ducklings. I was so excited but totally unprepared! Luckily, my husband stepped in and saved the day. From that experience, I learned the importance of research, communication and being prepared. Do You Live in an Area That Allows Chickens?

If you've seen our social media posts lately, you know that we've proudly added four new baby chicks to our flock this month. To say I was excited was an understatement! Rosemary, Big Betsy, Scarlet O’Henna, and Opal are growing rapidly and adjusting well. It’s only February here in Minnesota, so it’s a bit early for “chick days.” I may have jumped the gun a little, but it all worked out great! Ordering Baby Chicks: Our Experience I ordered my chicks via the mail. My sister a