Valerie Taylor

Owning chickens opens you up to a whole new world of questions. Like, for example, what comes first, the chicken or the egg? How do chickens mate? And do roosters have penises? Today, you are going to learn all about the naughty bits of your roosters, including whether they have a penis and how evolution … Read more

Few things are more exciting than spotting a uniquely colored egg in the nesting box. If you frequent social media, you may have seen pictures of eggs that look faintly purple or plum or even pink. Now, you are wondering how you can liven up the egg basket with some of those beautiful looking eggs. … Read more

When choosing chickens for your backyard or small farm, you may opt for the ones that lay hundreds of eggs per year. In that case, you are probably interested in hybrid chickens like the Golden Sex Link. This is one breed that is ideal for beginner chicken keepers, children, and small yards, because they are … Read more

Roosters, the often brightly colored male counterpart of the hen. Although roosters do not lay eggs like hens and tend to make loud crowing noises, these male chickens are actually very important additions to a healthy flock. What do roosters do and why are they necessary? It happens to be more than just fertilizing eggs … Read more

Chickens are incredible additions to the backyard for a couple of reasons. No one can deny that having fresh eggs throughout the week is a joy, but did you know that chickens can also reduce the number of insects? Although chickens are not going to be enough to rid your home entirely of insects like … Read more

As a backyard chicken owner, you probably have a couple of hens or a rooster you wouldn’t mind picking up and hugging. Knowing how to properly hold and handle your feather friends is important, because there are a lot of things you can do when your chickens are comfortable in your grip. That is why … Read more

Some chicken breeds are just made to stand apart from the rest of the flock. One of the best examples of this would be the Japanese Shamo chicken, a regal and unique chicken that looks every bit the fighter it was born to be. Also known as one of the tallest breeds of chicken in … Read more

Ever wonder what that fleshy looking thing atop a chicken’s head is called and what it is used for? That red, black, and purple thing is known as a comb, and it is not just an accessory. Both roosters and hens have combs, as they are an essential part of anatomy. Interestingly, there are nine … Read more

One of the great things about having chickens is that they can consume a variety of kitchen scraps that you generally don’t use when cooking. As such, you may be wondering if all those pumpkin guts you just scooped out of your jack-o-lantern are also OK for your chickens to consume. Can you give your … Read more

Keeping a backyard flock is truly fun. You get loads of eggs and some comedic relief once in a while. Plus, you can use your chickens to get rid of some of those table scraps that you wouldn’t use to cook. That said, you may wish to bring home some companions for your chickens, or … Read more

Do chickens need calcium? They sure do! Calcium is necessary for the formation of eggs, as well as keeping your hens happy and healthy. The good news is that you do not have to do too much extra to ensure your chickens do not become deficient in calcium. Here is everything you need to know … Read more

When you own chickens, you become accustomed to the wide variety of clucking, buk-buking, and squawking that goes on throughout the day. Yet, did you ever wonder if those sounds meant anything? Chickens can communicate to others using these sounds. So, learning what sounds a chicken makes and what those sounds mean can be beneficial … Read more

When you are raising chickens, you may sit back and wonder what they are. Chickens tend to have a lot in common with other animals. For example, you can see a bit of reptilian characteristics when they lock onto you with a single eye or in the scales of their legs. But then chickens have … Read more

Dealing with internal parasites in your chickens is going to be a recurring problem, unless you are proactively fighting against worms and other pests. Deworming and other preventative measures make it easier to keep your chickens healthy, but how do you know which one to use? A popular brand known as Safeguard (or Safe-Guard) is … Read more

Here’s a question for you: What happens when you have fertilized eggs, but your hen isn’t broody and you don’t have an incubator? One affordable option that can be done by anyone is known as the Warm Water Trick for hatching eggs, which involves heating water and warming the egg until the chick breaks through. … Read more

Anyone who has chickens knows that these feathered friends love eating all kinds of fruits, vegetables, insects, and other foods. Chickens, being omnivores, will make a meal out of anything edible, even if it is not safe. That is why, as their keeper, it is vital for you to know which foods are the safest … Read more

One of the main concerns with keeping chickens is that they are going to get their beaks on something poisonous. Chickens are omnivorous, and they also look to peck at whatever looks edible. As such, it is important to know which fruits and vegetables are good for them and which ones may be toxic. That … Read more

When it comes to fascinating histories, chicken breeds have some surprising stories to tell. Some chickens are bred with eggs or meat in mind. Others like the Asil, also known as the Aseel, were created for another purpose: cockfighting. Despite the dark history of the Asil chicken, they are making a comeback as ornamental or … Read more

Feeding your chickens right is important. Without a proper diet, your chickens are not going to produce any eggs or get big enough to sustain your family. Selecting high quality feed is necessary, but with all the options out there, you may be wondering, “Is cracked corn good for chickens? Or should I use something … Read more

Have you ever seen a chicken perched on a tree branch or a rooftop and wondered how they had gotten there? They have wings, but can chickens fly? The answer is yes. Chickens can indeed flap and fly, albeit they are not going to get very far. In the past, chickens may have been able … Read more

There is no denying that the sound of a fart is humorous. The smell? Not so much. While farting is a natural biological process that happens to almost any creature with a digestive system, it can also point to some health or dietary concerns. But do chickens fart? They certainly do, and just as often … Read more

Chickens are energetic creatures that are always pecking, scratching, and running around. While they can be lazy on occasion, chickens usually do not seem unenthusiastic. If you notice that your chicken is not as lively as before, it could mean they are lethargic. Knowing how to spot lethargic chickens and treat them is crucial to … Read more