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.

A practical resource for backyard chicken keepers — real experience, careful research, and no vitality-optimizing nonsense.

Illustrated plate: a rust-brown hen and a barred grey-and-white hen standing on opposite sides of a wire fence, heads turned toward each other as though in conversation — Fig. 1 — Neighbours, comparing notes.

Start here: chicken hydration

The site's first deep dive — water, electrolytes, and heat stress. The questions that come up most, answered properly, then expanded from there.

Water & Hydration

How Much Water Should Chickens Actually Drink?

A rough guide, and why "it depends" is the honest answer.

Illustrated plate: a small flock of hens scratching in pale sandy soil in the shade of a tagasaste, a jarrah behind them, hard summer sunlight, a simple wire run beyond — Fig. 2 — Gingin, Western Australia.

About this place

Years ago I lived on a farm in Gingin, Western Australia, keeping chickens with my young family. I don't keep them anymore, but the questions kept coming — so I started digging for answers that actually made sense.

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The Hot Weather Flock Checklist

A simple rundown of what to check before a heatwave hits — water, shade, ventilation, and the signs that mean it is time to act.

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