Chickens
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How Automatic Chicken Doors Are Transforming Modern Homesteading
Modern homesteading blends tradition with technology, enhancing daily routines with tools like automatic chicken doors. These devices improve flock safety, reduce stress for keepers, and offer energy-efficient solutions. By automating essential tasks, homesteaders can focus on caring for their animals… Continue reading
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The Best Plants to Grow in a Chicken Run (Complete Guide for a Healthier Flock)
Incorporating plants into chicken runs enhances their environment by providing fresh nutrition, reducing feed costs, and improving soil health. This guide recommends various plants, including hardy greens, herbs, and fruits, while offering tips on successful growth alongside chickens. Creating a… Continue reading
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Should You Wash Farm Fresh Eggs? Pros, Cons, and What Every Homesteader Should Know
At J & J Homestead, collecting fresh eggs daily is a rewarding ritual. The decision to wash farm fresh eggs depends on storage goals or selling requirements. While washing can enhance presentation and meet safety regulations, it removes protective bloom,… Continue reading
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Can Chickens Eat Eggs? Why Feeding Back Cracked Eggs Is a Healthy Treat
Homesteading offers continual learning opportunities, such as the recent discovery that slightly cracked eggs can be cooked and fed to chickens. This practice recycles nutrients, providing protein and calcium essential for flock health. Cooking prevents bad habits and potential bacteria,… Continue reading
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Spring Chicken Care Guide: Illness and Predator Risks to Watch for as Temperatures Rise
Spring brings both opportunities and challenges for backyard chicken keepers. Increased wild bird activity heightens disease risks, while temperature fluctuations can stress chickens’ immune systems, leading to respiratory issues. Additionally, parasites, mud-related foot problems, and heightened predator activity pose significant… Continue reading
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How to Leave Your Homestead for a Few Days: Smart Planning Tips for Chicken Care
Leaving your homestead for a few days can feel overwhelming, especially with animals depending on you. However, with a solid plan in place, it’s entirely manageable. Start by documenting your daily routine, from feed and water schedules to coop opening… Continue reading
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What to Do with Cracked Eggs: Why We Feed Cooked Eggs Back to Our Chickens
During egg collection, cracked eggs were discovered, prompting a practical response. Instead of discarding them, they were refrigerated, cooked, and fed to the chickens, shells included. This sustainable practice recycles nutrients, supports hen health, and prevents egg-eating behavior. It exemplifies… Continue reading
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Preparation is Key! Bringing Baby Chicks Home: A Practical Guide for First-Time and Seasoned Chicken Keepers
Before bringing chicks home, proper preparation is crucial for their survival and health. A secure and warm brooder with the right bedding, heat source, and food should be ready at least 24 hours in advance. Monitor their health closely during… Continue reading
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New Chickens We’re Adding to the Flock This Year
This year, a homesteader is enhancing their backyard chicken flock by adding three all-female breeds for improved egg production: Whiting True Blue hens for blue eggs, Pearl White Leghorns for high white egg output, and Silver Spangled Hamburgs for heritage… Continue reading
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Introducing Chickens in an Existing Flock
The article details “The Great Chicken Swap,” an organized effort to improve chicken flock management on a homestead. The swap involved carefully redistributing eight hens and one rooster among three coops to prevent overcrowding, enhance genetics, and maintain a calm… Continue reading
