Two neighbors talking across backyard fence

How to Talk to Your Neighbors About Raising Backyard Chickens

When you decide to raise backyard chickens, you’re not the only one who is impacted by that decision. Your neighbors will also be impacted. This is especially the case if you live in a city or suburb where you live right next to each other. So, before you start building your coop and gathering supplies,… Read more »

What is a Broody Hen and How Do You Handle It?

What is a Broody Hen and How Do You Handle It?

If your hen doesn’t leave her nesting box and she hisses at you as you get near, then this is a sign of a broody hen. If you’re wanting your flock to reproduce, this may be a good sign, but if you’re trying to collect unfertilized eggs, it can cause trouble. But how do you… Read more »

young kid feeding chickens

The Top 3 Chicken Breeds for Kids

Here at Chickens for Backyards, we believe every child should have the chance to handle and raise backyard chickens. Not only are chickens adorable companions, but they can also be a great learning opportunity. Raising backyard chickens can help kids learn about responsibility and about where our food comes from. However, while there are many… Read more »

yellow dandelion flowers

6 Perennial Weeds You Can Feed to Your Chickens

Feeding chickens can get expensive. But what if we told you there was a simple and easy way to cut down on costs? By planting perennial weeds around your backyard, you can do just that. These weeds are safe for your chickens to eat and will regrow every spring, thus reducing how much feed you… Read more »

goose

Using Geese to Protect Your Chickens

No matter if you live in the city, the suburbs, or the countryside, there are many predators that can go after your chickens. To protect their flocks, many chicken owners deploy the services of certain animals. Some may use roosters, others have livestock guard dogs, and others may use geese. Having a goose to protect… Read more »

man and woman selling eggs and produce at a farmers market

How to Sell Your Backyard Chicken Eggs

There are many rewards to raising backyard chickens. One of those rewards is getting a fresh supply of eggs each day. However, depending on how many chickens you have, you may have too many eggs than you know what to do with. While you have many options in front of you for unloading your extra… Read more »

Two girls holding chickens

Friendliest Chicken Breeds

Chickens make great companions and can be wonderful helpers in teaching responsibility and care to kids. Of course, with any animal, some breeds are known to be more friendly with humans. Especially if it’s your first time caring for chickens, it’s never a bad idea to get some that you know have the reputation of… Read more »

Keeping Your Chickens Cool on Hot Summer Days

Keeping Your Chickens Cool on Hot Summer Days

When it gets hot in the summertime, you can retreat inside your air conditioned home or gulp down a bunch of ice-cold water to beat the heat. But unfortunately, your chickens aren’t able to do the same. They have to stay outside where it’s hot, and if you’re not careful they can overheat due to… Read more »

Bottles of rosemary essential oil on table

Can Essential Oils Help Your Chickens?

Recently, some poultry farmers have been integrating essential oils into their flocks’ diets. While there isn’t much research yet as to the effectiveness of essential oils, many farmers and backyard flock owners swear by them. Here, we examine some of the most commonly used essential oils for chickens. What are essential oils? Essential oils are… Read more »

Chicken Nesting Boxes 101

Chicken Nesting Boxes 101

Chickens can be as finicky as Goldilocks when it comes to their nesting boxes. They can’t be too big or too small, too hard or too soft; they need to be just right for your chickens to use them. Finding this perfect middle ground can be difficult, but it’s not impossible.   Here we’ve put… Read more »