Annie
All About the Cream Legbar Breed
It’s December and you know what that means, right? Some people are Christmas shopping, some people are busy planning their gardens and...
Annie
- Nov 30
- 1 min
4 Ways to Decorate Your Coop for Christmas
We are counting down the days to Christmas here! We’ve had our first big snowfall and while my chickens don’t love the snow, it sure is...
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Annie
- Nov 22
- 2 min
What Thanksgiving Leftovers Are Safe to Feed My Chickens?
Do you know what the 10 most popular Thanksgiving dishes are? I had my suspicions and after a quick internet search, I am happy to say I...
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Annie
- Nov 16
- 2 min
All About the Olive Egger Breed
When I first started raising backyard chickens, I didn’t really think about egg colors. I just pictured going out to the coop and...
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Annie
- Nov 9
- 2 min
Prebiotics & Probiotics for Chickens
Raising backyard chickens doesn’t take a lot of extra work, and when it comes to nutrition, they pretty much eat anything you give them....
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Annie
- Nov 2
- 2 min
A Taste of Fall
Fall is a cozy time of year full of baked treats, pumpkin spice lattes and rich foods. While we love all these things at our house,...
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Annie
- Oct 27
- 2 min
Feeding Your Chickens Pumpkins for a Fall Treat
Have you seen the latest craze? People everywhere are feeding their chickens pumpkins! It’s a challenge to see if your flock can carve a...
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Annie
- Oct 13
- 3 min
6 Ideas for Decorating Pumpkins
Don’t you just love having lots of pumpkins around in the fall. They are a great way to decorate an indoor or outdoor space to get you in...
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Strong Animals Team
- Oct 6
- 3 min
Molting Chickens? Here’s How to Help
You walk into your backyard and it looks like your chickens went on an intense weight loss journey. Feathers are everywhere and your hens...
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Annie
- Oct 4
- 3 min
Common Essential Oil Blends for Humans
It’s October! And around here, that usually means the start of cold and flu season. Most people run right for the DayQuil, and we do too...
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Annie
- Sep 29
- 2 min
The Best Chicken Breeds for Kids
You should know by now that chickens are a huge part of our family’s life! Mainly by my choice (haha!), but my family goes along with my...
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Annie
- Sep 21
- 2 min
All About the Barred Plymouth Rock Breed
I am so excited to write this blog! The Barred Plymouth Rock breed is among my favorite breeds of chickens. They are so great! It also...
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Annie
- Sep 15
- 2 min
Decorating Your Coop For Fall
Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year. Our wedding anniversary and my birthday are in the fall. And it’s Happy’s birthday too! We...
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Annie
- Sep 8
- 2 min
Back to School Bento Box Lunches
The day is finally here. We’ve been working towards this day from the time he started preschool. Our oldest is off to his senior year of...
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Annie
- Aug 31
- 2 min
Infused Water for Labor Day
I cannot believe it’s the end of summer. Where in the world did it go? I always believed people who told me that the time with our kids...
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Annie
- Aug 24
- 4 min
Chicken Anatomy 101
When raising backyard chickens, it’s important to know some basics on their anatomy and the function for each part. This way you can keep...
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Annie
- Aug 19
- 3 min
Benefits of Tea Tree & Lavender Essential Oils
This week we’re going to talk about the benefits of tea tree and lavender essential oils for your chickens. We use both lavender and tea...
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Annie
- Aug 11
- 3 min
Benefits of Lemongrass & Eucalyptus Essential Oils in Chicken Coops
If you’ve been around here long enough, it’s no secret that Coop Recuperate is hands down my favorite product for our coop bedding. Part...
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Annie
- Aug 4
- 3 min
Too Many Tomatoes? 5 Recipes to Use Them Up
The cicadas are singing, the nights and mornings are getting cooler and the feeling of fall is almost upon us. If you've been around here...
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Annie
- Jul 28
- 2 min
All About the Barnevelder Breed
I remember when I first started out with chickens. I really didn’t pay much attention to breeds; I just wanted the eggs for our family....
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Annie
- Jul 20
- 2 min
How to Identify a Dehydrated Chicken
We are in a heat wave here…along with most of the country. It’s mid July and there’s no break in sight. As you know, a chicken’s feathers...
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Annie
- Jul 14
- 3 min
Egg Bound Hens…What to Do?
If you brought chicks home this spring, and if they haven’t started laying, they will soon! There’s nothing much better than collecting...
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Annie
- Jul 8
- 2 min
DIY Mason Jar Laterns
One of the things we love most about summertime is all the outdoor entertaining we get to do. We live on an acreage, in a valley, with a...
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Annie
- Jun 29
- 2 min
Gramma’s Famous Potato Salad
I have awesome memories of the 4th of July. We love to celebrate our country’s freedom and all that goes along with it. Summertime food...
143
Annie
- Jun 23
- 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...
202
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...
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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...
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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...
138
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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
102
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,...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
194
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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