When I started back up with raising my current flock (I took a couple years off), I was pretty set on only having 6 chickens. Now, fast forward almost 3 years and my flock is up to 40! Hahaha! If you know what chicken math is, that’s why! Why Adding Adult Chickens Can Be Risky I am part of a number of backyard chicken groups on social media and it seems there are always people selling or giving away chickens or looking to add adult birds into their flock. As tempting as some

While I hope that you haven’t had to deal with too many traumatic issues in your coop, chicken injuries and illness are bound to happen no matter how great of a chicken keeper you are. So, I’d rather be proactive than reactive when something goes wrong in the coop. Since using Strong Animal Chicken Essential products, I have not lost one chicken. They have been happy, healthy hens and continue to thrive in the coop. I’ve had to treat some of our chickens for minor injuries su

Welcome to June, everyone! Summer is here and we couldn’t be more excited! I’ve said this before that one of the best things about living in Minnesota is being able to experience all four seasons. I get asked fairly often if it ever gets warm in Minnesota. The answer is yes! In fact, the temperature forecast for this week is the 80’s and 90’s! And, due to the fact that we’re the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, it’s often very humid. However, if you’ve lived through a Minnesota winter

Featuring Dr. Jessica Fox We are going to tackle a topic today that I haven’t had firsthand experience in but I feel it’s very important to address. I know what you’re thinking...how can I write about something I’m not experienced in? Well, I bring in professionals who are experienced so we can all learn at the same time! How many of you have had to deal with a chicken wound, illness, or something else where you wished an avian veterinarian lived nearby? My friend, Dr. Jessic

Most of the time, I look forward to writing these blogs because we get to talk about the wonderful ways backyard chickens can add to our lives, fun recipes with our eggs and helpful ways to care for our flocks. However, there are times when we have to talk about the other side of raising backyard chickens, and today is one of those times... Today, we're going to learn all about fowl pox. I will start by saying that my flock has never experienced this and I’m very grateful! So

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

Today, we’re diving into one of the more unpleasant aspects of raising backyard chickens—flystrike in chickens. Fun, right? (Insert sarcasm.) When I first started learning about the various illnesses, diseases, and injuries chickens can face, flystrike was one condition I prayed I’d never have to deal with! It’s not only dangerous but also downright gross. Fortunately, I haven’t encountered it myself, but my sister, Tamar, recently had to treat one of her favorite chickens, R

Salmonella poisoning is a scary thought for anyone raising backyard chickens, and trust me, I’ve been there — and Rosemary and I are wrinkling our noses at the thought! We’ve all heard horror stories about salmonella outbreaks, and believe it or not, chickens can sometimes be a contributor to this bacteria. But don’t worry—with the right hygiene and egg handling practices, you can easily reduce the risk. I’m no expert, but as a backyard chicken keeper with access to some grea

Raising backyard chickens is a true joy in my life. Before we reentered raising our feathered friends, I’d scroll through social media...

I’m really excited about this week’s blog for two reasons. First of all, we get to talk about feeding our chicks as naturally as...

People frequently ask me how I’ve kept my flock so healthy this time around. Let me tell you it wasn’t always this easy! In last week’s blog, I mentioned how I've tried raising chickens in the past and disease and poor health ravaged my flock both times. But this time around, it's like POOF, healthy chickens! The only thing I did different with this flock was I started using oregano essential oil products. Dr. Bob Stock My Q& A with Dr. Bob Stock I've been determined to find

Can I be perfectly honest with you? I was a little hesitant when we started back up with chickens a year and a half ago. I remember our first flocks. We’d get chickens, they’d get sick with something and then they’d die here and there. Or, they'd get eaten by a predator. I really had to sit down and think about it before we jumped back in. Since I didn't know a lot about chicken health then, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to experience all of that again. But please, if you’re on t

Do you take a daily multivitamin to stay healthy? Most of us do, because even with the best intentions (and cooking skills!), it’s tough to get all the nutrients we need from food alone. That’s why my family and I rely on a high-quality multivitamin to help fill in the gaps and keep us feeling our best. But here’s something you might not have thought about: just like us, chickens need their own vitamins to thrive too! And just as not all human vitamins are created equal, the