Chickens

We have had a few chicken coops over the years. My first coop was absolutely amazing…and elaborate. I wanted to do all the things when I got started with chickens. It was lovely though! Since then (and now that we have around 150 chickens), I have chosen to focus more on practicality and what's really needed, while still adding some cute touches.

Spring will soon be here and for many of us, you know what that means…it’s baby chick Season!!! Having baby chicks for the first time is SO MUCH FUN!!! Well, it’s always fun even if it’s not your first time. My girls and I still get excited over them every time a new baby is hatched or we pick up a box from the post office! Sigh…so sweet. Now, if you're reading this before getting chicks, great job!

As the days grow shorter and the weather cools, you may have noticed a decline in egg production. This is completely normal and happens each Fall and in to the Winter months.  You may be wondering if it is possible to keep your chickens laying through the Winter and the answer is yes, you can. All you need to do is add light to their coop for a few hours a day as the sun begins to set.  But just because it's possible, doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice. Let me tell you why.

First of all, let's talk about what fodder is. Fodder is basically just taking some sort of seed, such as hard wheat, whole oats, or barley and sprouting it so it becomes a grass for your animals. This can be done very simply, but the benefits are exponential.

What chickens eat largely depends on how old they are and whether you are raising them organically or not.  There is a lot of information out there on what to feed your chickens, but I'm just going to share what I feed my chickens and why I chose to do that.

If you're a seasoned chicken keeper, this isn't going to be news to you. But, if you are newer to it and haven't had chickens for more than a year, then this will be some good information for you.