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    The Best Tips for Handling a Broody Hen
    Annie
    • 4 days ago
    • 3 min

    The Best Tips for Handling a Broody Hen

    As the heat turns up, so will the broodiness in some of your hens. The warm temperatures will sometimes encourage this behavior. If you...
    36
    5 Ways to Spice Up Your Egg Sandwich
    Annie
    • Jun 17
    • 2 min

    5 Ways to Spice Up Your Egg Sandwich

    Egg sandwiches are a staple around our house. I make them on a very regular basis and while we gravitate towards the simple egg and...
    41
    Chicken Chore Chart for Kids
    Annie
    • Jun 9
    • 2 min

    Chicken Chore Chart for Kids

    One of the perks of raising backyard chickens is teaching our kids responsibility. There’s nothing more cute, fluffy and fun than baby...
    27
    Benefits of Chicken Compost For My Garden
    Annie
    • Jun 2
    • 2 min

    Benefits of Chicken Compost For My Garden

    Garden season is in full swing and we are so excited! Gardening has always been a big part of our family and raising backyard chickens...
    27
    Memorial Day Hot Dog Bar
    Annie
    • May 25
    • 2 min

    Memorial Day Hot Dog Bar

    We are cruising through the last week of school around here and we’re getting the itch to do all the things outside! Historically,...
    51
    Benefits of Marigolds for Chickens
    Annie
    • May 18
    • 2 min

    Benefits of Marigolds for Chickens

    It’s finally spring! We have been busy out in our yard and gardens. Do you like to garden? We have our go-to petunias already in their...
    360
    Why Is My Chicken Limping?
    Annie
    • May 12
    • 3 min

    Why Is My Chicken Limping?

    I think we can all agree that our chickens are very valuable to us. Whether they are simply a way for you to get fresh eggs, or if...
    175
    Chicken Boo-Boos Be Gone!
    Annie
    • May 4
    • 2 min

    Chicken Boo-Boos Be Gone!

    As you know, keeping a first aid kit on hand for your coop is essential to raising backyard chickens. While boo-boos don’t happen all...
    77
    How to Use Eggshells For Your Garden
    Annie
    • Apr 28
    • 3 min

    How to Use Eggshells For Your Garden

    I had the pleasure of growing up in a family that understood the rich benefits of growing our own food. We didn’t have any farm animals,...
    101
    All You Need to Know About Dogs and Chickens
    Annie
    • Apr 21
    • 3 min

    All You Need to Know About Dogs and Chickens

    We have an interesting situation at our house. Our family raises backyard chickens and Labrador Retrievers. If you know anything about...
    88
    Protecting Your Small Flock from Avian Influenza
    Dr. Jessica Fox
    • Apr 18
    • 5 min

    Protecting Your Small Flock from Avian Influenza

    Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was unfortunately confirmed earlier this spring in the United States and has already devastated...
    390
    Gifting Baby Chicks for Easter
    Annie
    • Apr 14
    • 3 min

    Gifting Baby Chicks for Easter

    Easter is hands down, one of my favorite holidays. I love this time of year. Everything is fresh and new and has a feeling of new life....
    38
    How to Compost Chicken Litter
    Annie
    • Apr 13
    • 6 min

    How to Compost Chicken Litter

    One of the amazing benefits of raising backyard chickens is all the chicken litter! Chicken litter is a natural fertilizer for your...
    57
    All About the Easter Egger Breed
    Annie
    • Apr 7
    • 3 min

    All About the Easter Egger Breed

    Easter Eggers are defined by their poofy cheeks and beard. When we started our most recent flock, I started with all brown egg layers. I...
    98
    Decorating Egg Cartons for Easter
    Annie
    • Mar 29
    • 2 min

    Decorating Egg Cartons for Easter

    I have a fun idea for you! It’s Springtime and my girls are picking up steam in the egg department. We have a busy household and while...
    25
    What Raising Chickens Has Taught Our Kids
    Annie
    • Mar 24
    • 4 min

    What Raising Chickens Has Taught Our Kids

    I have been sitting here contemplating where to even start with this blog. We have been raising backyard chickens on and off for the last...
    50
    How to Clean Your Chicken Coop Only 2 Times a Year
    Annie
    • Mar 16
    • 4 min

    How to Clean Your Chicken Coop Only 2 Times a Year

    Spring is in the air! We are looking forward to longer days and warmer temperatures around here! The girls are starting to pick up in...
    302
    Gramma Lou's Famous Chicken Hotdish
    Annie
    • Mar 11
    • 2 min

    Gramma Lou's Famous Chicken Hotdish

    Handwritten recipes are my favorite! It’s March! We are getting so close to spring I can feel it. March is a fun month in our family...
    172
    Raising Backyard Chickens: What I Wished I Would Have Known
    Annie
    • Mar 3
    • 3 min

    Raising Backyard Chickens: What I Wished I Would Have Known

    I am so excited to write this blog! We have been raising backyard chickens on and off for the last 15 years. So, naturally, we’ve learned...
    141
    Is it Safe to Mail Order Chicks?
    Annie
    • Feb 23
    • 3 min

    Is it Safe to Mail Order Chicks?

    When I got back into chickens a few years ago, I started in the fall. Our local farm supply store didn’t carry chicks in the fall, so I...
    142
    All About Brahma Chickens
    Annie
    • Feb 18
    • 3 min

    All About Brahma Chickens

    Reba and Barbara Jean are 2 of my Buff Brahma Bantams Today we’re going to talk about one of my favorite breeds. Who am I kidding! I feel...
    256
    Valentine's Omelet Muffins
    Annie
    • Feb 8
    • 1 min

    Valentine's Omelet Muffins

    It’s February! This is going to annoy some of you I’m sure, but I love the month of February. I’m not sure if it’s because we know that...
    50
    Chicken Eggs vs. Duck Eggs
    Annie
    • Feb 2
    • 2 min

    Chicken Eggs vs. Duck Eggs

    Get ready for the ultimate matchup in the egg world! Are you team chicken or team duck? We’ve raised both on our acreage and I have a lot...
    336
    How to Make an Indoor Herb Garden
    Annie
    • Jan 27
    • 2 min

    How to Make an Indoor Herb Garden

    It’s the end of January in Minnesota. And, if you’ve never experienced a Minnesota winter before, you may be missing out! I’ve always...
    54
    All About Oregano Essential Oil for Chickens
    Annie
    • Jan 20
    • 3 min

    All About Oregano Essential Oil for Chickens

    I am so excited to share this week’s blog with you all! I feel there are so many questions in the backyard chicken world about essential...
    259
    All About Polish Chickens
    Annie
    • Jan 14
    • 2 min

    All About Polish Chickens

    I have raised a lot of chickens in the last 15 years. A lot. Most of you know that my favorite chicken in the whole world is Happy. She...
    94
    How to Get Hens to Lay in Nest Boxes
    Annie
    • Jan 5
    • 2 min

    How to Get Hens to Lay in Nest Boxes

    Happy New Year! I hope you all made it through the holidays with abundant joy and laughter. Since it’s the middle of the winter, our...
    149
    Go-To Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
    Annie
    • Dec 28, 2021
    • 1 min

    Go-To Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

    We made it through Christmas! I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday. We love the week between Christmas and the New Year....
    47
    Mom's Blueberry Bake
    Annie
    • Dec 22, 2021
    • 2 min

    Mom's Blueberry Bake

    It’s Christmas week! I hope you’re finished with all of your prep and are sipping hot chocolate while the snow gently falls outside. No?...
    86
    How to Make Edible Christmas Garland for Your Chickens
    Annie
    • Dec 16, 2021
    • 1 min

    How to Make Edible Christmas Garland for Your Chickens

    We are a week out from Christmas! Do you have all your shopping done? I am actually up to my eyeballs in all things Christmas. But...
    87
    How to Control Ammonia Odor in the Coop
    Annie
    • Dec 9, 2021
    • 2 min

    How to Control Ammonia Odor in the Coop

    It’s that time of year when the cold is setting in. We woke up to a blanket of snow on the ground this morning. And while it’s beautiful,...
    154
    Does Cracked Corn Keep Chickens Warm?
    Annie
    • Dec 2, 2021
    • 2 min

    Does Cracked Corn Keep Chickens Warm?

    We are having an unseasonably warm November and December is shaping up to be that way as well. However, we do live in Minnesota, so we...
    207
    How to Make Thanksgiving Leftover Waffles
    Annie
    • Nov 23, 2021
    • 2 min

    How to Make Thanksgiving Leftover Waffles

    Happy Thanksgiving! I pray you’re able to spend time with friends and family this year. After the last couple of years, I feel we’ve all...
    128
    How to Make Deacon’s Famous Omelets!
    Annie
    • Nov 19, 2021
    • 2 min

    How to Make Deacon’s Famous Omelets!

    Growing up, my dad traveled a lot. He was a traveling salesman who worked so hard to provide for his family, as well as grow the family...
    82
    My Favorite Toys for Chickens
    Annie
    • Nov 12, 2021
    • 3 min

    My Favorite Toys for Chickens

    I’m sitting here giggling as I write this blog because I have a confession. Are you ready? I have always loved toys. Obviously as a young...
    150
    Try the Chicken E-lixir Challenge!
    Annie
    • Nov 4, 2021
    • 2 min

    Try the Chicken E-lixir Challenge!

    Opal and Myrtle are challenging you to a water taste test! If you know me at all, you know that I’m always up for a good challenge! I...
    98
    How to Make Deviled Egg Pumpkins
    Annie
    • Oct 26, 2021
    • 1 min

    How to Make Deviled Egg Pumpkins

    Need a quick deviled egg recipe for your fall gatherings? Don’t worry, I didn’t actually put pumpkin in these cute little snacks. But,...
    58
    How to Hold a Chicken
    Annie
    • Oct 21, 2021
    • 2 min

    How to Hold a Chicken

    Holding chickens is one of my favorite hobbies! There’s nothing like going out to the coop and getting in some good chicken snuggles....
    159
    The Wing Lady's Sliders
    Annie
    • Oct 14, 2021
    • 2 min

    The Wing Lady's Sliders

    Hello October! It’s pretty gorgeous here in Southwest Minnesota. We love autumn and all that goes with it! That includes football season....
    154
    Support the Health + Vitality of Your Chickens With Snacks!
    Annie
    • Oct 7, 2021
    • 2 min

    Support the Health + Vitality of Your Chickens With Snacks!

    Let’s be real, when we are out with our chickens, the best feeling in the world is when they want to be your BFF. Am I right or am I...
    82
    New Egg Muffin Hack
    Annie
    • Sep 27, 2021
    • 1 min

    New Egg Muffin Hack

    This week, I thought it’d be fun to see how fast I could make breakfast. It’s school time and all kinds of activities around here and we...
    98
    5 Common Myths About Roosters
    Annie
    • Sep 23, 2021
    • 2 min

    5 Common Myths About Roosters

    When we started raising chickens 14 years ago, we had a couple of roosters who would tootle around the yard with the girls. I really knew...
    109
    Why Feed Oyster Shells?
    Annie
    • Sep 15, 2021
    • 2 min

    Why Feed Oyster Shells?

    WHY IS FEEDING OYSTER SHELLS SO IMPORTANT? For an adult hen who is laying eggs, calcium is pulled from the hen’s body to create the egg....
    80
    Is Changing Feed Harmful to Chickens?
    Annie
    • Sep 9, 2021
    • 3 min

    Is Changing Feed Harmful to Chickens?

    If you’re just starting to raise chickens, a common question that gets asked is, “What is the best feed to give them?” Often, people will...
    101
    New Summer Garden Salad Recipe for Your Labor Day Picnic!
    Annie
    • Sep 2, 2021
    • 1 min

    New Summer Garden Salad Recipe for Your Labor Day Picnic!

    The summer is coming to a close and we’re getting geared back up for schedules, school, football and all things pumpkin spice around...
    40
    How to Sell Your Backyard Chicken Eggs
    Annie
    • Aug 25, 2021
    • 3 min

    How to Sell Your Backyard Chicken Eggs

    Most backyard chicken keepers keep just enough chickens to supply eggs for their families. However, there are a good number of us who...
    261
    Biosecurity Tips for Backyard Chickens
    Annie
    • Aug 19, 2021
    • 3 min

    Biosecurity Tips for Backyard Chickens

    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...
    102
    How to Make a First Aid Kit for Your Coop
    Annie
    • Aug 12, 2021
    • 3 min

    How to Make a First Aid Kit for Your Coop

    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...
    194
    All About Silkie Chickens
    Annie
    • Aug 5, 2021
    • 4 min

    All About Silkie Chickens

    “Sweetie” was my second Silkie to hatch and is still as sweet as ever. Silkies! Just the name in itself makes them fun little birds to...
    148
    Annie's Easy and Delicious Hollandaise Sauce
    Annie
    • Jul 29, 2021
    • 1 min

    Annie's Easy and Delicious Hollandaise Sauce

    I love going to restaurants and being so excited to see any dish that includes hollandaise! I remember thinking that it has to be such an...
    78

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