My Chirpy Chicken Coop

       Chickens In The Suburban Backyard June 25, 2021 (A shot of Eliza sneaking through the patio!) Backyard chickens have sort of become a "thing" inside the last decade or so in lots of backyards across the country. They have always been a thing on farms, of course, and now are even invading many suburban and urban communities. But simply how realistic is it to raise chickens within the suburban backyard? Well, as it turns out, it's very sensible. In light of new events, being as self-enough as viable is even more essential than ever. And having the ability to acquire fresh eggs from your flock of backyard chickens is about as self-enough as it gets! Eggs are a complete protein, and are versatile enough that they can be made into so many extraordinary meals. They pair well with all styles of meats, cheeses, veggies and herbs. They store nicely, and can be pickled, frozen or salt cured to last even longer. however a fresh egg, left unwashed, will last for several w...

      What Makes Egg Yolks Orange? June 18, 2021 (A pic of one of Angelica's orange egg yolks!) There is nothing more stunning on a breakfast plate than a vibrant orange egg yolk, shimmering like a miniature sun. but does a shiny orange yolk suggest that the egg is greater nutritious or tastier? Not always. A vivid orange yolk would not suggest the egg is clean, it doesn't suggest that the bird who laid it become handled or fed properly, and it does not even imply that the egg came from a free-range hen. A common false impression is that the greater orange the yolk, the extra nutritious the egg or that it had to come from a free-ranging hen. The eggs from the free range chickens are in all likelihood more nutritious due to their natural, various diet, however a commercially raised hen can be fed feed that has components inclusive of corn and marigolds in it that will boost the yolk coloration as well. Even as it is genuine that chickens who free-range normally do lay eggs...

      5 Ways To Encourage A Hen To Go Broody June 11, 2021 (A shot of the never-broody Hamilton!) Letting a hen sit on a nest of eggs to hatch them is far easier than using an incubator. The broody hen IS the incubator, turning the eggs and keeping them warm and at the correct humidity level. After the eggs hatch, she acts as the brooder box as well, needing no electricity to keep the chicks warm and safe. No more messy, dusty brooder in your laundry room or garage, no worries about heat lamps. The mother hen also shows the chicks how to find bugs and which weeds are safe to eat, and she will introduce them to the rest of the flock when she feels it's time. But for this you need  broody hen. So how do you know when a hen is broody and how do you 'make' a hen go broody? The short answer is- you can't "force" a chicken to sit on eggs. Sadly, the broodiness gene has been bred out of most modern breeds.  Since the advent of incubators and shipped chicks, broody he...

      Copycat Free Range Technique July 4, 2021 (Score! Dandelion greens!) Studies have shown that the eggs of free ranging chickens contain more nutrition and are lower in cholesterol. Our chickens are just as healthy and happy and our eggs are just as beautiful with vibrant orange yolks as the eggs from any free ranging flock, without the risk of losing any of our chickens to predators. Grasses, weeds, herbs and flowers not only provide wonderful nutrients and health benefits, they can be fed in unlimited amounts unlike other 'treats', since they are considered 'green' and mimic what a chicken would eat in a free range environment. In addition to their nutritional content, they also can help cut down on your feed bill if your chickens fill up on them instead of eating a diet comprised only of commercial feed. Depending on the season, different weeds and flowers are plentiful, so you can feed your chickens and ducks a varied, seasonal mix of whatever you can find. Thei...