If you’ve been raising backyard chickens for a while, chances are you’ve noticed one of the hens acting a little differently. Maybe she’s been spending all day on her nest, puffing out when you come near, or clucking protectively. This likely means she’s gone broody. If you’ve ever thought about hatching your own chicks, this… Read more »
Raising backyard chickens means you’ll often end up with a lot of eggs. That means you’ll also ends up with a lot of eggshells. Instead of tossing them in the trash, you can get creative and resourceful. There are plenty of ways to reuse eggshells around the house, the garden, and even for fun projects…. Read more »
One of the many perks of raising backyard chickens is collecting fresh eggs straight from the coop. During peak laying season, you may even end up with more eggs than you know what to do with. When that happens, you may even lose track of how long you’ve had certain eggs. It’s important to know… Read more »
One of the best perks about raising backyard chickens is gathering fresh eggs each day. Not only do they taste better, they also offer some real health advantages over the store-bought variety. If you’ve been thinking about keeping chickens, here are some reasons why fresh backyard eggs are worth the effort: Higher Nutritional Value Backyard… Read more »
Easter is a time of celebration and renewal. So, what better way to enhance the festive spirit than with your own backyard chickens. Having chickens during this joyful season adds a unique and personal touch to traditional activities. Here are some ways that these feathered friends can make your Easter even more special: Endless Supply… Read more »
With egg prices soaring in recent months and showing no signs of going down, backyard chicken owners have a distinct advantage. You get to enjoy fresh daily eggs and have the opportunity to maximize their use and value. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your eggs in 2025, ensuring nothing… Read more »
Easter is a wonderful time of year for families, especially those who keep backyard chickens. This holiday offers a perfect opportunity to incorporate home-laid eggs into traditional Easter egg hunts, adding a unique twist that only backyard chicken owners can enjoy. Here are some creative ideas that will make your Easter egg hunt extra special… Read more »
With the recent news about egg prices skyrocketing, you may have considered bringing home backyard chickens just for the consistent, fresh eggs they lay. If you’ve been seriously weighing that option, you should know these birds offer so much more than a steady supply of eggs. Backyard chickens can enrich your life and your garden… Read more »
So, you’re exploring the idea of diversifying your backyard poultry. You’re likely curious about the differences and similarities between guinea fowl eggs and chicken eggs. Both types are nutritious and can be used in similar culinary applications, but they also have distinct characteristics that might influence your decision to raise one bird over the other…. Read more »
If you’re like most people, you’ve likely noticed that the cost of eggs remains unusually high. Several factors have contributed to this sustained increase in prices, which has affected everyone from casual shoppers to professional bakers. Understanding these factors can help you navigate the situation. Here’s what you should know: Supply Chain Disruptions The egg… Read more »
Have you ever cracked open an egg while getting ready to make breakfast and been surprised by the color of the yolk? If you keep backyard chickens, this has likely happened to you at some point. By now, you’ve realized that the yolks can vary significantly in color. This variation is not just a curiosity… Read more »
If you’re new to duck keeping, you’re in for a treat in so many ways. For example, their eggs are a delightful and versatile addition to any kitchen or craft table. They’re richer and larger than chicken eggs, so they offer a unique opportunity to enhance you’re cooking and creative projects. If you find yourself… Read more »
One of the best reasons to keep backyard chickens is the plentiful supply of fresh eggs they’ll provide you with. Sometimes, however, you might get more than you bargained for and end up with more eggs than you know what to do with. Instead of wasting these delicious eggs, here are some creative and practical… Read more »
If you’ve ever considered raising backyard ducks, you’ve likely considered what it would be like to have fresh eggs available all the time. Duck eggs, a culinary treasure often overshadowed by chicken eggs, offer a range of benefits that might make them the perfect choice for your dietary and lifestyle needs. Whether you’re a baking… Read more »
Easter marks a season of joy, renewal, and for those of us who keep backyard chickens, an opportunity to showcase the bountiful produce our hens gift us. Beyond just collecting these eggs, Easter gives us a chance to creatively use them in various aspects of our celebration, from cooking to crafting. Here are some inspiring… Read more »
One of the biggest perks of being a backyard chicken owner is collecting fresh, delicious eggs. But if you only ever scramble them or make omelets, you’re probably going to get bored after a while. The good news is there’s a whole world of exciting egg dishes out there waiting to be explored. Let’s crack… Read more »
Gathering fresh eggs from your backyard chickens is one of the simple pleasures of raising your own poultry. In fact, it may even be the primary reason you brought chickens to your home in the first place. So, of course you’re going to want to everything you can to support the animals and ensure they’re… Read more »
Deciding to invest in backyard chickens is a fantastic idea for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest payoffs is the consistent availability of freshly laid eggs. They represent a significant improvement over commercial, store-bought eggs and not just because you don’t have to leave your property to get them. If you’ve been contemplating… Read more »
When you’re in the grocery store, you may notice that some foods are labeled with the USDA Certified Organic seal. In fact, if you’re a farmer or backyard chicken owner, you may be trying to get that USDA Certified Organic seal for yourself. But what makes this seal so special? Why does it make certain… Read more »
Easter is almost here, and you know what that means—an Easter Egg Hunt! Whether you’re hosting one for your family or for your community, an Easter Egg Hunt is always a great time. However, it can be difficult to plan one, especially if this is your first Easter Egg Hunt. To help, we’ve created this… Read more »
When you’re in the store shopping for eggs, chances are you’ll see various types of eggs on the shelves. You may even see two terms: free run and free range. They sound the same, but are they the same? Read on to learn more: Free Run Eggs Free run eggs come form hens that roam… Read more »
Have you ever noticed that some of the eggs your hens hatch have thick, strong shells, while others have thin, weaker shells? If so, you’re not alone. This is a common plight for backyard chicken owners. Understanding why some eggshells are thinner than others, then, can help you figure out what you should do next…. Read more »
If you’ve been to the grocery store recently, you’ve noticed how expensive eggs have become. What used to be one or two dollars for a carton of eggs is now nearly five or six. Why has this happened? And will the prices ever go down? Read on to learn more: What’s causing egg prices to… Read more »
Every backyard chicken owner knows that some strange things can happen with their flock. One of those are lash eggs. These types of eggs aren’t pretty to look at, and when you first see them, you may not know what to do next. Here, we explain everything you need to know about lash eggs and… Read more »
January is when many people go on diets. As such, they become very concerned about they’re taking into their body and the fats they eat. If you’re going on a diet, then, you may be wondering if you can still eat those delicious eggs your chickens are laying each morning. While the amount of fat… Read more »
In our previous blog post, we talked about the different ways you can store your freshly laid eggs. One of the most popular ways is to store them in the refrigerator. This will keep them good and fresh for up to six months. Nevertheless, there are correct ways to store your eggs in the refrigerator… Read more »
Part of the joy of having backyard chickens is having fresh eggs. While it’s great to take those eggs and use them that very morning, what do you do if you want to use them at a later date? Here we go through everything you need to know in order to properly store your chickens’… Read more »
In our last blog post, we explained the secret behind egg yolk color. In that very post, we touched on the nutritional benefits of eating egg yolks. But what about egg whites? There are many people who eat only egg whites and take out the yolk, assuming that this is the healthiest thing to do…. Read more »
When you crack open an egg, the first thing you notice is the yolk. But have you ever wondered why some egg yolks are light yellow and others a deep orange? Some people believe it has to do with the breed of the chicken, others with the nutrients in their diet. However, both are wrong…. Read more »
When you crack an egg, what do you do with the shell? If you’re like most people, you likely throw it out without another thought. But your chickens worked hard to make those shells, so take advantage of it! Eggshells have a variety of uses that can help your chickens and yourself. Here are some… Read more »
You’re collecting your hens’ eggs for the day when you notice something you’ve never seen before: a wrinkly egg. While not particularly common, wrinkled eggs can occur especially from older layers. Understandably, chicken owners will have plenty of questions about these wrinkly eggs and what causes them. Thankfully, we have answers. Infectious Bronchitis Infectious bronchitis… Read more »
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 »
When you head to the grocery store, you’ll likely see many varieties of eggs. You’ll see white eggs and brown eggs, cage-free and pasture-raised, and more. Another distinction you’ll notice is the size of the eggs. Chicken eggs can come in many sizes, but the USDA recognizes only six weight classes. Read on to learn… Read more »
When many people start a backyard flock, they typically start by raising chickens and producing chicken eggs. However, more and more people are discovering the joys and benefits of raising ducks as well. Ducks not only provide great companionship, but they will also produce plenty of delicious eggs. These eggs are quite different from chicken… Read more »
There’s nothing quite like using fresh eggs in your kitchens. It’s one of the reasons why people start raising backyard chickens in the first place. However, as you’re collecting the most recent batch of eggs, you may notice some of them have softer shells (some may even be shell-less). There are a number of different… Read more »
You’re in the grocery store and a column of egg cartons stand before you. You see various words and phrases etched onto the cartons like Grade A or Free-Range. When you open the carton, some eggs are white, while others a soft brown. Many people just pick up the first carton of eggs they find,… Read more »
For many Americans, an egg or two in the morning is a classic breakfast staple. Whether they’re scrambled, over-easy, or mixed in with a quiche, most of the eggs we use come from chickens. And granted, chicken eggs are certainly nutritious and tasty. Nevertheless, more and more people are now discovering the benefits of duck… Read more »
Any American who has traveled to Europe has probably noticed one striking culinary difference—eggs are not refrigerated. Instead, they are left to comfortably rest in bowls on kitchen counters. It’s a phenomenon commonly seen in many other parts of the world as well. As a result, we are left to wonder who is right in… Read more »
While chickens provide great companionship, there is a very tangible benefit to raising backyard chickens: their eggs. Having a fresh supply of eggs that your family can enjoy each morning is why many chicken raisers get into the business in the first place. Plus, there’s no denying that selling your chicken eggs can be quite… Read more »
One of the joys of raising backyard chickens is having a fresh supply of eggs each morning. But what do you do when that supply gets too big? While you can store eggs to use later, you will still be getting more and more of them as time goes on. If you don’t want your eggs to… Read more »
When you first start raising chickens, you may notice that the eggs you receive from your hens aren’t quite as uniform as the ones you’re used to buying in a grocery store. That’s because commercially-sold eggs are inspected and sorted before they’re shipped to ensure all the eggs in a carton appear roughly the same…. Read more »
Perhaps the primary reason for raising backyard chickens is having a fresh supply of eggs on your table every day. However, when you’re new to raising chickens, you may be asking yourself one question: how often will my hens lay eggs? Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer. The short answer Frankly, there is no short… Read more »
Have you caught your chickens eating their eggs? It’s a common, but serious problem that plagues many flocks, and the longer that you let it go on, the harder it is to stop. Here we discuss why chickens eat their eggs, and what you can do to stop it. Why are my chickens eating their… Read more »
One of the best things about raising backyard chickens is having a supply of freshly laid eggs in your kitchen at all times. However, if you want to take advantage of that supply, you must take care of your chickens’ eggs properly. This includes washing them and storing them for when you finally need them…. Read more »
If you walk into your local grocery store, you’ll notice that most eggs have white-colored shells. However, did you know that there are multiple variations of egg colors? In fact, colored eggs are commonly found in backyard coops. Before you start your collection, there is some vital information to understand: The Science Behind the Color… Read more »
You’re in the grocery store and you grab a carton of eggs. You look at the label and see the word “cage-free.” Then you look at another carton of eggs and see “free-range.” Both terms appear to mean the same thing, but in fact they’re quite different. They’re also quite misleading, as these terms create… Read more »
One of the joys of owning backyard chickens is having freshly laid eggs on your kitchen table. Yet, there may come a time when one or many of your chickens stop laying eggs. The reasons can be varied, ranging from age to more serious health concerns. Nutrition If your chickens stop laying eggs, then the… Read more »
At Chickens for Backyards, we offer fertile hatching eggs as well as incubation kits to our customers who are interested in mothering eggs themselves. Keep in mind, however, that motherhood can be tough, for chickens and humans alike, and if you’re new to raising backyard chickens, you may be unsure how to start incubating your… Read more »
When you purchase a dozen eggs from the grocery store, all of the eggs are typically the same color. You might get a dozen white eggs or a dozen brown in your carton. But when you take a look at the eggs that are laid by your personal chickens, you will notice that they are… Read more »
Hens sometimes go through phases where they will “refuse” to lay eggs for a period of time. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you’re raising chickens for the sole purpose of having fresh eggs at home. There are several different reasons that hens might suddenly stop laying eggs and Chickens for Backyards has some… Read more »
A broody hen is a hen that becomes obsessed with sitting on her eggs until they hatch, even if they’re not fertilized. While this might seem like a positive behavior on the surface, it’s not good if the hen keeps you from collecting unfertilized eggs. Broody hens can become very aggressive if you attempt to… Read more »
Following Easter, the most egg-centric holiday of the year, this is the perfect time to appreciate eggs for being nutritional powerhouses and culinary staples in cultures all across the globe. That’s why food producers, hatcheries and chefs are all celebrating National Egg Month in May! In honor of our favorite month of the year, we’d… Read more »
As a chicken owner, the last thing you want is for one of your hens to develop a taste for eggs. This typically happens when an egg breaks in a nesting box and a hen finds that it’s full of sweet, delicious yolk. Once a hen discovers that the contents of their eggs taste pretty… Read more »
