One thing we’ve found when working with other backyard chicken farmers—those who raise chicks into hens and even maintain flocks of backyard chickens—are that they are a talkative bunch when it comes to their flocks. Equipped with bounties of knowledge about everything from including grains and chicken feeds in their food selection to feeding protein-rich …
We’re back with more questions about what you can and cannot feed chickens from your garden, table, pantry, and fridge – including chicks just starting out on chicken feed. Most of these questions have come in the form of a text message from a fellow backyard chicken farmer, but I pulled in a couple more …
I’m not going to lie; talking about bugs is not my favorite thing to do. But, in the world of backyard chicken farming, it’s going to come up at some point, so we might as well jump in and get started. Store-bought chicken food is the best way to ensure your chickens get all the …
And we’re back with another harvest post for your chickens’ diet. Today, we’re going to focus on herbs. You may be tempted to grab a handful of an overgrown herb and toss it in the coup, but before you do, check the list below to see if it is safe. Your hens will react to …
A chicken, naturally inclined to roam around in the field, freely pecking at seeds, is a common rural sight that also serves as an intricate part of the plant and wildlife ecosystem. The hen could be gobbling up a mix of nuts, sunflower seeds, and perhaps even a pellet or two, which often contain a …
Can chickens eat meat? I get asked this question a lot–especially by new backyard chicken farmers who look at their dinner scraps and wonder, “Can I feed this to my chickens?” Yes, chickens can eat meat. Chickens are omnivores, and they can consume a variety of meats as part of their diet. Feeding Meat to …
As I stand at the kitchen sink, peeling onions and potato skins, which are all part of our household’s contribution to sustainable agriculture, I find myself with a view of the backyard and the chicken coop. Surrounded by scraps, including a forlorn tomato belonging to the nightshade family, and ready to throw out a bowl …
As a proud owner of backyard chickens, I will not lie to you–feeding kitchen scraps and leftovers to my birds makes me feel good. Not only do I revel in giving them fresh cucumber rinds, insects chickens enjoy, or the tops of carrots, but I also appreciate the fact that they’re omnivores and can handle …
