Everyday Chicken Keeping
Backyard Chickens 101: What You're Actually Signing Up For
Backyard chickens are funny, useful and a real commitment. The rules, the costs, the germs and the years, checked against extension sources.
Come over the fence.
Tell me what your chickens are doing. I've probably seen something equally ridiculous, and we'll work out what's actually going on.
I kept chickens for years. I've checked the numbers so you don't have to. And no, I'm not going to talk about optimizing your flock's wellness. They're chickens.
Start here: water, heat, and thirsty chickens
Water is the most boring part of keeping chickens and the one that causes the most trouble. So that's where I started. How much they drink, what heat does to them, and why she's ignoring the clean water you just put out.
Water & Hydration
Electrolytes for Chickens: When They Help, When They Don't
Electrolytes for chickens earn their keep in a heat wave, on travel day, and when chicks arrive rough. The rest of the year they're expensive salty water, and four universities give four different answers on how long to leave them in.
Everyday Chicken Keeping
How Long Do Chickens Live (and Why Most Don't)
How long do chickens live? Five to ten years, and a few go a great deal further. Most never get the chance. What kills them first, and which of it you can do something about.
About this place
Years ago I lived on a farm in Gingin, Western Australia, with a young family and a flock of hens who ran the place. I live in the city now, where chickens aren't allowed, so this is where I keep them instead.
The Hot Weather Flock Checklist
One page to stick on the fridge before a heat wave: water, shade, air, and the signs that mean stop reading and go outside.
No spam, no daily emails. Leave whenever you like.