Toby Reed Sutherland
Backyard Flock Editor
Toby Reed Sutherland is a practical-focused editor for small-scale backyard livestock raising. He keeps a small flock in his own residential backyard, rather than running a commercial farm. His field-guide-style articles cover coop building, daily feeding, health observation and neighborhood-friendly management. All his advice fits ordinary household backyards, avoiding large-scale farm-oriented techniques.
Articles by Toby Reed Sutherland
Do Minks Eat Chickens? Yes—and How to Secure Your Coop
Minks can kill chickens and slip through small gaps. Learn how to check for signs, secure coop openings with 1/2-inch mesh, and protect the run.
Can Chickens Eat Peanuts? Shells, Salt, and Serving Size
Can chickens eat peanuts? Get a cautious per-hen portion, shell advice, snack foods to skip, and a simple way to keep treats from crowding out balance
Can Chickens Eat Sweet Potatoes? Cooked vs. Raw, Explained
Yes, chickens can eat sweet potatoes raw or cooked. Learn how to prep them, keep portions small, protect complete feed, and handle leftovers safely.
Do Weasels Eat Chickens? Yes, and Here's How to Secure Your Coop
Yes, weasels can kill chickens. Learn how to inspect gaps, choose mesh, block digging, secure doors, and respond safely after an attack in your backya
Oregano for Chickens: Benefits, Risks, and How to Use It
Learn how to offer fresh or dried oregano to backyard chickens, what it can’t treat, and why oregano essential oil should never be dosed by guesswork.
Can Chickens Eat Pears? Skip the Core and Cut Small
Yes, chickens can eat ripe pear flesh as an occasional treat. Remove the core, cut small, keep portions modest, and clear leftovers from the run.
Homemade Chicken Feed: The Nutrients Your Recipe Must Cover
Learn which protein, energy, calcium, amino acids and premix details homemade chicken feed must cover, with practical mixing and flock-check steps.
Can Ducks and Chickens Live Together? Space, Water & Risks
Can ducks and chickens live together? Plan space for both, keep duck water away from bedding, choose suitable feed, and separate incompatible birds.
Can Chickens Eat Cabbage? Safe Portions and Serving Tips
Can chickens eat cabbage? Yes, offer plain cabbage as an occasional treat. See a cautious 5–10 g starting portion, prep tips, and when to clear leftov
Can Chickens Eat Popcorn? Plain Is Fine, but Skip the Toppings
Can chickens eat popcorn? Plain, fully popped popcorn can be an occasional adult-hen treat. Learn how to prep it, skip toppings, and protect the feed
Do Foxes Eat Chickens? 5 Ways to Make Your Run Safer
Yes, foxes can take chickens. Learn five practical ways to secure a backyard run, from framed mesh and a dig apron to a latched dusk routine.
Can Chickens Eat Blueberries? Safe Serving Tips for Your Flock
Yes, chickens can eat plain blueberries. Learn a cautious serving size, how to handle fresh or frozen fruit, and what to watch in chicks and mixed flo
Chicken Spurs: When to Trim Them—and When to Leave Them Alone
Learn when chicken spurs need attention, how to spot snagging or injury, and why a healthy spur is usually safer left alone in a small backyard flock.
Do Skunks Eat Chickens? What They Target—and How to Stop Them
Yes, skunks may take eggs, chicks, feed, and vulnerable hens. Learn to read tracks, block digging, secure food, and respond safely in a backyard coop.
Can Chickens Eat Carrots? Raw, Cooked, and How to Serve Them
Can chickens eat carrots? Yes—raw or plain cooked carrots can be occasional treats. Learn how to prep them, portion them, and protect the role of comp
Chicken Coop Insulation: Do Your Hens Need It in Winter?
Most healthy adult hens don't need insulated walls. Learn when dryness, ventilation, repairs, or a safe retrofit matter more in winter.
Can Chickens Eat Strawberries? Safe Portions and Prep
Yes, adult chickens can eat ripe strawberries. Learn a conservative portion, easy washing and chopping steps, and when to skip fruit or call a vet.
Can Chickens Eat Rice? Cooked, Raw, and Safe Portions
Can chickens eat rice raw or cooked? Get a cautious portion guide, learn how to handle leftovers, and keep rice in its place as an occasional treat.
What Makes Egg Yolks Orange? The Real Role of Chicken Feed
Learn what makes egg yolks orange, how feed and forage change color, why darker yolks aren’t automatically healthier, and how to test one change safel
Poop Board for Chicken Coop: Size, Height, and Bedding
Learn how to size a poop board for a chicken coop, set the right roost gap, choose bedding, build a sturdy tray, and clean it on schedule for less mes
Can Chickens Eat Tomatoes? Safe Parts, Portions & Risks
Can chickens eat tomatoes? Learn which parts to offer, a cautious portion for adult hens, how to prep fruit, and what to do after accidental pecking.
Incubator Humidity: 45–55% Before Lockdown, 65–70% After
Use 45–55% incubator humidity through day 18, then 65–70% at lockdown. Learn to test the hygrometer, read air cells, and adjust water safely.
Can Chickens See in the Dark? Their Night Vision Has Limits
Can chickens see in the dark? Learn what twilight allows, why lux isn’t a vision cutoff, and how to help a hen reach her roost safely.
Can Chickens Eat Grapes? Safe Portions and How to Serve Them
Can chickens eat grapes? Yes—fresh grapes can be an occasional treat. Get a cautious serving size, prep steps, treat limits, and signs to watch.
How to Tell How Old a Chicken Is: 6 Reliable Clues
Learn how to tell how old a chicken is using records, feathers, combs, body clues, eggs, and honest age ranges—not one misleading sign from a single v
Chicken Coop Light in Winter: How Many Hours Hens Need
A practical winter chicken coop light plan: reach 14–16 total hours, preserve darkness, set brightness, and decide whether extra laying is worth it.
Can Chickens Eat Pumpkin? Safe Portions, Seeds, and Prep
Yes, chickens can eat pumpkin. Learn safe starter portions, whether seeds and rind are okay, how to prep it, and when an old pumpkin belongs in the bi
How to Keep Snakes Out of a Chicken Coop: 7 Real Fixes
Learn how to keep snakes out of a chicken coop with seven practical fixes: tighter mesh, sealed gaps, a safer run edge, feed control, and safe removal
How to Build a Chicken Coop: Plan for Airflow and Predators
Plan a backyard chicken coop around flock size, dry ground, high ventilation and joined-up predator barriers, with practical sizing and build checks.
Can Chickens Eat Apples? Safe Portions, Seeds, and Prep
Can chickens eat apples? Get a practical portion for adult hens, seed and core advice, prep sizes, spoilage checks, and tips for keeping feed first.
Hen Crowing? 5 Reasons Your Hen Sounds Like a Rooster
Hen crowing doesn’t prove you have a rooster. Learn five causes, body clues, a seven-day log, and which health signs warrant a poultry vet.
Gapeworm in Chickens: Signs, Treatment, and Prevention
Gapeworm in chickens can cause gaping and neck stretching. Learn urgent warning signs, diagnosis, treatment choices, cleanup, quarantine, and preventi
Grit for Chickens: Which Type to Buy and When to Offer It
Learn which grit chickens need, when to offer it, how to choose chick and adult sizes, and why grit and oyster shell belong in separate dishes.
Do Raccoons Eat Chickens? The Coop Weak Spots to Fix
Do raccoons eat chickens? Yes. Fix five coop weak spots with 1/2-inch mesh, a two-step latch, a roof, a dig apron, and secure feed storage.
Do Chickens Sleep at Night? What Your Flock Actually Does
Do chickens sleep at night? Learn the normal dusk-to-dawn routine, roost space, chick sleep, coop lighting, and warning signs in a backyard flock.
Do Possums Eat Chickens? The Real Risk to Your Flock
Do possums eat chickens? Learn the real risk to eggs, chicks, and adult hens, then secure your backyard coop against nighttime visits.
Chickens and Cats: Can They Safely Share Your Backyard?
Can chickens and cats share a backyard? Learn how age, prey drive, barriers, introductions, hygiene, and vet thresholds change the safest setup.
Can You Eat Fertilized Eggs? Safety, Taste, and Storage
Can you eat fertilized eggs? Learn what fertilization changes, how incubation affects safety, what red spots mean, and how to store and cook backyard
Chicken Poop Chart: 7 Colors and What They Mean for Your Flock
Use this chicken poop chart to sort normal brown, green, white, red, black, yellow, and orange droppings from signs that need a closer check for your
Chicken Limping? 7 Causes and What to Check First at Home
Chicken limping? Use a calm 10-minute check to spot foot injuries, bumblefoot, mites, sprains, and warning signs that need a vet today at home.
Can Chickens Fly? How High and Far Your Birds Really Go
Can chickens fly? Learn how high and far backyard hens travel, what fence heights change, and why launch points and a roofed run matter before you bui
Black Soldier Fly Larvae for Chickens: How Much Is Safe?
Learn how much black soldier fly larvae for chickens is safe, with dried-versus-live portions, 10% treat math, age guardrails, sourcing, and a 7-day t
Scaly Leg Mites in Chickens: Signs and Treatment Steps
Learn how to spot scaly leg mites, check look-alike problems, follow label-led treatment, clean coop cracks, and know when to call a vet for your back
Pasty Butt in Chicks: What to Do in the First 10 Minutes
Learn what to do for pasty butt in chicks in the first ten minutes: warm the chick, soften the plug, dry it, and spot signs that need a vet or extensi
How Cold Is Too Cold for Chickens? Know the Warning Signs
Learn how cold is too cold for chickens, the warning signs of cold stress, coop fixes, chick temperatures, frostbite first aid, and when heat is justi
How to Catch a Chicken Without a Chase: 7 Calm Steps
Learn how to catch a chicken without a chase using seven calm steps for timing, barriers, safe holds, injured birds, quick checks, and a gentle releas
Chicken Sneezing: 7 Causes and When to Isolate a Bird
Chicken sneezing can be dust, fumes, mold, or infection. Use this seven-cause guide to decide what to inspect, when to isolate, and when to call a vet
Fairy Eggs in Hens: Why They Happen and What to Do Next
Fairy eggs in hens are usually a one-off laying glitch. Learn what causes yolkless eggs, how to handle them, and when a vet is the right next step.
Prolapsed Vent in Chickens: Causes, Care, and Vet Signs
Learn how to spot a prolapsed vent in chickens, give safe bridge care at home, recognize emergency vet signs, and reduce the chance of a repeat.
Mycoplasma in Chickens: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Learn how to spot Mycoplasma in chickens, isolate a sick bird, work with your vet, handle eggs, and reduce spread through quarantine and cleaner coop
How to Keep Chicken Water From Freezing: 7 Safe Fixes
Keep chicken water from freezing with seven safe fixes, from heated waterers to no-power rotation, plus winter safety rules and backup checks for a sm
Splay Leg in Chicks: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
Learn what to do for splay leg in chicks during the first 24 hours: fix footing, fit a gentle hobble, recheck on schedule, and know when to call a vet
Chickens and Dogs: 7 Steps to Safe Backyard Introductions
Learn how to introduce chickens and dogs in seven practical steps, with barriers, leash distances, short sessions, stop signals, and a permanent safet
Chicken Egg Colors Chart: Brown, Blue, Green, and More
Use this chicken egg colors chart to compare white, brown, blue, green, and olive eggs, understand pigment, and choose layers for your backyard flock.
Fowl Pox in Chickens: Signs, Spread, and What to Do
Learn how to spot dry and wet fowl pox, isolate a sick chicken, limit mosquito spread, support recovery, and know when a vet is needed in a backyard f
Wry Neck in Chickens: Causes, First Aid, and When to Call a Vet
Wry neck in chickens can follow injury, nutrition problems, toxins, or disease. Learn safe first aid, what to record, and when to call a vet the same
Vent Gleet in Chickens: Signs, Causes, and Safe Next Steps
Learn how to spot vent gleet in chickens, clean a dirty vent safely, sort likely causes, and know when same-day veterinary care is needed for your bac
Diatomaceous Earth for Chickens: Safe Uses and Real Risks
Learn safe uses and real risks of diatomaceous earth for chickens, from product grade and mite claims to low-dust application and vet thresholds.
Chicken Sour Crop: Signs, Causes, and When to Call a Vet
Learn how to spot chicken sour crop, separate it from impaction, avoid risky home fixes, and know when a hen needs urgent veterinary care today.
Marek’s Disease in Chickens: Signs, Prevention and Care
Learn how Marek’s disease shows up, what to do in the first 24 hours, how hatch-time vaccination helps, and when backyard care has reached its limit.
Coccidiosis in Chickens: Signs, Causes, and Safe Next Steps
Signs of coccidiosis in chickens, same-day triage, treatment-label safety, and dry-litter steps to limit spread without guessing at doses or egg withd
Egg Float Test Results: Sink, Stand, or Float Explained
Learn what egg float test results mean when eggs sink, stand, or float—and why storage history, shell condition, and cooking matter more for safety.
How to Get Rid of Rats in a Chicken Coop—and Keep Them Out
Learn how to get rid of rats in a chicken coop: remove feed, seal gaps, trap safely, clean contamination, protect chicks, and know when to call for he
Chicken Enrichment Ideas for Small Runs: 9 Low-Cost Fixes
Try nine low-cost chicken enrichment ideas for small runs, from scatter feeding and dust baths to perches, sightline breaks, and safe slow feeders.
Rooster Attacks: How to Stop Them Without Making It Worse
A practical guide to rooster attacks: stay safe during a charge, log triggers, fix flock pressure, and decide when management or rehoming isn't enough
How to Keep Hawks Away From Chickens: 7 Practical Fixes
Learn how to keep hawks away from chickens with seven practical fixes: cover the run, add escape shelters, supervise ranging, and respond fast after a
How Long Can Chickens Go Without Water? The Safe Limit
How long can chickens go without water? Learn the safe limit, dehydration signs, daily water math, and a 48-hour backup plan for 3–12 hens today.
Egg Bound Hen Symptoms: 7 Signs and What to Do Next
Learn the 7 egg bound hen symptoms, how to check her safely, when to call a vet, and why warm baths and home fixes have limits.
Bumblefoot in Chickens: Signs, Causes and Safe Home Care
Learn how to spot bumblefoot in chickens, sort mild scabs from vet cases, bandage safely, and fix the perch, bedding, and mud problems behind it.
How to Treat Frostbite on a Chicken Comb—and When to Call a Vet
Learn how to treat frostbite on a chicken comb: slow warming, safe cleaning, vet red flags, and winter coop changes that prevent a second freeze.
Should You Wash Fresh Eggs? The Safe Answer for Backyard Hens
Should you wash fresh eggs? Learn when to leave backyard eggs unwashed, when to discard them, and how to wash, dry, refrigerate, and date them safely
Plants Toxic to Chickens: 12 Backyard Dangers to Remove
Learn which plants are toxic to chickens, what parts pose risk, how to clear them safely, and which poisoning signs need a same-day poultry vet call.
When Do Chickens Stop Laying Eggs? Age, Breed, and Molt
When do chickens stop laying eggs? Learn how age, breed, molt, daylight, feed, and a 14-day count reveal whether your hen is slowing or sick.
How to Keep Chickens Out of the Garden: 7 Fixes That Work
Learn how to keep chickens out of the garden with seven practical fixes: fencing, mesh, covers, a better scratch area, and a seven-day test for backya
Best Bedding for Chicken Coop: 5 Options, Costs and Trade-Offs
Compare the best bedding for chicken coop use: pine, straw, hemp, sand and pellets, with depth, cost math, moisture limits and a clear pick for your f
Chicken Worms Symptoms: 7 Signs Your Flock Needs Help
Learn the seven chicken worms symptoms to watch, how to test fresh droppings, rule out look-alikes, and respond safely without guessing at dewormers.
How to Tell if a Chick Is a Rooster: 5 Signs to Watch
How to tell if a chick is a rooster: check sex-linked down, wing feathers, comb growth, legs, hackles and crowing with a practical recheck calendar.
How Long Do Chickens Live? 5–10 Years Is Typical for Hens
How long do chickens live? Plan on 5–10 years for a healthy backyard hen, and learn how breed, age, predators, housing, and health shift that range.
How to Stop Chickens Pecking Each Other: 7 Practical Fixes
Stop chickens pecking each other with seven practical fixes: isolate bloodied birds, add space and resources, check feed and mites, then reunite safel
Egg Production Calculator: How Many Eggs a Hen Lays, and How Many Hens You Need
Work out how many eggs your hens will actually lay - by breed, by age and by season - and how many birds it takes to hit a target like a dozen a week.
Fermented Chicken Feed: Benefits, Risks, and a Safe Method
Learn a safe fermented chicken feed method for small flocks: benefits, risks, a 1:1.5–2 water mix, dry-feed portions, spoilage signs, and stop rules.
Hardware Cloth vs Chicken Wire: Which Keeps Chickens Safer?
Hardware cloth vs chicken wire: compare mesh openings, predator access, dig barriers, fasteners, and the full material math for a small backyard run.
How to Incubate Chicken Eggs: A Day-by-Day 21-Day Guide
Learn how to incubate chicken eggs with a day-by-day plan for temperature, humidity, turning, candling, lockdown, hatching, and brooder transfer.
How High Should Roosting Bars Be? 18–24 Inches Works
Set your chicken roost 18–24 inches above finished bedding, then adjust for heavy hens, chicks, ceiling clearance, perch length, and dusk behavior.
How to Clean a Chicken Coop: The 30-Minute Weekly Routine
Learn how to clean a chicken coop in 30 minutes with a dry-first weekly routine, bedding depths, wash-water timing, parasite checks, and deep-clean tr
Chicken Cost Calculator: Setup, Monthly Running Cost and Cost Per Dozen
Work out what a backyard flock actually costs - one-off setup, monthly feed and bedding, and the cost per dozen eggs in peak season and in winter.
Chickens Eating Their Own Eggs: Practical Ways to Stop It
Stop chickens eating their own eggs with a two-day diagnosis, protected nests, layer-feed checks, a culprit test, and a humane seven-day decision plan
At What Age Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs? 16–24 Weeks
At what age do chickens start laying eggs? Plan for 18–24 weeks, spot the signs, troubleshoot late pullets, and prepare feed, nests, and records.
Do Hens Lay Eggs Every Day? A Realistic Hen-by-Hen Guide
Do hens lay eggs every day? Learn realistic eggs per hen per week, the 24–26-hour cycle, slump checks, and a seven-day flock forecast for backyard kee
Do You Need a Rooster for Eggs? What Backyard Keepers Should Know
Do you need a rooster for eggs? No. Get the backyard math for fertile eggs, feed, space, crowing, flock safety, and a practical hatching plan for a sm
How Much Water Do Chickens Drink in a Day? Heat Changes It
Learn how much water chickens drink each day, how heat changes the number, and how to size, shade, measure, and troubleshoot water for 3–12 hens.
Chicken Manure Compost: How to Use It Without Burning Plants
Use chicken manure compost safely in backyard beds: check maturity, spread a measured layer, time applications, and fix salt or ammonia damage.
Chicken Coop Requirements for 3–12 Hens: A Practical Checklist
Use this backyard chicken coop requirements checklist for 3–12 hens: floor space, roosts, nest boxes, ventilation, hardware cloth, water, and run sizi
Chicken Dust Bath Setup: Sand, Soil, or Something Else?
Build a chicken dust bath with a roofed 3×2-foot box, the right soil-sand blend, safe ingredients, and a five-minute weekly check for healthy backyard
What Not to Feed Chickens: Safe Treats vs. Real No-Gos
Learn what not to feed chickens: chocolate, avocado, raw beans, green potatoes, moldy scraps, risky leftovers, safe treats, portions, and vet steps.
Molting Chickens: Why Eggs Drop and What to Do Each Week
Molting chickens often lay fewer eggs for 6–12 weeks. Use this week-by-week plan to check feathers, feed, parasites, winter shelter, and recovery safe
Raising Meat Chickens: A 10-Week Plan for Your Backyard
A practical 10-week plan for raising meat chickens in a backyard, with space, brooder heat, feed, health checks, processing prep, and budget math.
Soft-Shelled Chicken Eggs Causes: 7 Reasons and Fixes
Learn the causes of soft-shelled chicken eggs, from first laying and calcium gaps to heat, stress, and illness, with a practical 48-hour fix plan.
Deep Litter Method Chicken Coop: Setup, Depth and Cleaning
Set up a deep litter method chicken coop with practical floor space, bedding depth, moisture checks, ventilation, cleanout and composting guidance for
Keeping Chickens Cool in Hot Weather: 7 Safe Fixes
Keeping chickens cool in hot weather takes more than ice: use full-run shade, clean water, airflow, space, and a clear plan for heat stress today.
Chicken Coop Ventilation: 5 Rules for a Dry, Healthy Flock
Use five practical chicken coop ventilation rules to size vents, stop roost drafts, diagnose moisture, handle winter and summer, and test airflow.
Broody Hen: Let Her Hatch, Move Her, or Break the Brood
Should your broody hen hatch, move, or be broken? Use this backyard guide for diagnosis, pen sizes, the 21-day timeline, and humane aftercare.
Chicken Nesting Box Size: 12×12 Inches, or Bigger for Large Hens
Chicken nesting box size made practical: compare 12×12 with larger interiors, set box count, measure depth, place boxes, and troubleshoot floor eggs.
Introducing New Chickens to Your Flock: A 30-Day Plan
Follow this 30-day plan to quarantine, check, size, and introduce new chickens without rushing the pecking order or blocking feed and water in your ba
Free Range Chickens: How Much Yard Space Do They Need?
How much yard space do free range chickens need? Start with 100 square feet per hen, then add a secure run, shade, rotation, and predator control.
How to Store Fresh Eggs: Fridge Rules That Matter Most
Learn how to store fresh eggs safely with fridge temperature, cartons, washing, dates, shelf life, float tests, cracked shells, and cooking rules for
Do Chickens Need Heat in Winter? A Safe Decision Tree
Do chickens need heat in winter? Use this decision tree to check adult hens, chicks, coop moisture, drafts, cold snaps, and heater risks before pluggi
Brooder Temperature for Chicks: Week-by-Week Guide
Brooder temperature for chicks starts at 90–95°F in week one. Use chick-height readings, behavior, feathering, and drafts to taper heat safely.
Candling Eggs on Day 7: Fertile, Clear, or Late to Hatch
Candling eggs on Day 7 without false calls: learn what veins, clear shells, blood rings, and slow development mean, plus the next checks and safe hand
Chicken Mites Treatment: What to Clean, Treat, and Repeat
Chicken mites treatment in a practical order: confirm the pest, clean hiding places, use a labeled product, repeat safely, and know when to call a vet
Raising Baby Chicks Week by Week: A 6-Week Care Plan
Use this six-week baby chick care plan for brooder heat, space, feed, health checks, outdoor time, and a safer move to the grow-out coop without guess
Raising Baby Chicks and Ducks Together: 5 Rules for a Dry Brooder
Learn how to raise chicks and ducklings together with five dry-brooder rules for heat, water, feed, bedding, separation, and outdoor timing for a smal
How Much Feed Per Chicken Per Day Free Range: Step by Step
Learn how much feed a free-range chicken needs each day, how to measure real flock intake, spot waste, and turn grams into a monthly budget.
Is Raising Backyard Chickens Worth It? Costs, Time, Limits
Is raising backyard chickens worth it? Price setup, feed, time, eggs, space, predators, and travel with a practical 30-day test before buying birds.
Chicken Predator Protection DIY: Wire, Locks, and Digging
Build safer backyard chicken predator protection DIY with hardware cloth, digging aprons, secure latches, covered runs, inspection steps, and cost gui
Best Predator Proof Chicken Coop: 5 Picks by Flock Size
Choose the best predator proof chicken coop for 3–12 hens with five flock-size picks, space targets, hardware-cloth checks, run upgrades, and a buying
How to Protect Poultry From Predators: 7 Steps for Beginners
Learn how to protect poultry from predators with seven practical steps for safer coops, stronger mesh, dig-proof runs, overhead cover, and weekly chec
Raising Baby Chicks With Their Mother: A 6-Week Guide
A practical six-week plan for raising baby chicks with their mother, from broody-hen setup and first-day checks to feed, weather, predators, and flock
Raising Baby Chicks Outside: Age, Temperatures and Setup
Raising baby chicks outside takes more than a birthday: use chick-height heat, dry shelter, secure mesh, and behavior checks from week one to the coop
How Much Feed for 20 Chickens Per Day? Measure It in 2 Steps
Learn how much feed 20 chickens need each day, then weigh leftovers for a real flock average. Includes formulas, bag math, and common waste checks.
How Much Layer Feed Per Chicken Per Day: A 4-Step Guide
Learn how much layer feed each chicken needs per day, weigh a flock ration, audit seven days, and adjust for waste, weather, treats, and age.
How Much Fermented Feed Per Chicken Per Day: Step-by-Step
How much fermented feed per chicken per day? Use dry-feed math, a three-day batch, safe checks, and a seven-day switch for your backyard flock.
Raising Backyard Chickens for the First Time: 7 Numbers to Know
Raising backyard chickens for the first time? Use seven practical numbers for flock size, coop space, run space, feed, water, brooder heat, and first
Disadvantages of Keeping Chickens: 9 Costs and Chores
Thinking about backyard chickens? See nine real disadvantages, from setup and feed costs to daily chores, predators, health care, noise, rules, and tr
Backyard Chicken Breeds: 9 Best Picks for Small Flocks
Compare 9 backyard chicken breeds by size, eggs, temperament, climate, feed needs, and small-run fit, then choose a practical three-hen plan for your
Chicken Run Predator Protection: 7 Fixes That Hold Up
Use seven practical chicken run predator protection fixes: hardware cloth, anti-dig barriers, roof cover, two-step latches, clean evenings, and storm
Chicken Coop Predator Protection: 7 Fixes That Matter
Build practical chicken coop predator protection with a 15-minute audit, 1/2-inch hardware cloth, a dig apron, secure latches, and a full run roof.
Best Chicken Predator Protection: 7 Picks and Who Needs Them
Compare seven chicken predator protection picks, from hardware cloth and dig aprons to latches, roofs, electric netting, and cameras for backyard floc
Raising Baby Chicks Indoors: A 4-Week Setup Guide for Your Home
Raising baby chicks indoors for four weeks: choose the room, set safe heat, budget supplies, manage bedding, and test outdoor readiness step by step.
Raising Baby Chicks in Summer: Brooder Temps by Week
Raising baby chicks in summer? Use this week-by-week brooder temperature guide, warm-zone layout, heat checks, and safe outdoor transition tips.
Raising Baby Chicks for Beginners: Your First 6 Weeks
Raising baby chicks for beginners: a six-week plan for brooder space, heat, feed, water, health checks, and a safe move outdoors.
Feeding Baby Chicks: What to Give From Day 1 to Week 6
Feeding baby chicks from day 1 to week 6: starter amounts, water, treats, grit, label checks, feed changes, and red flags for a small backyard flock.
How Much Feed Per Chicken Per Day for Laying Hens? Step by Step
Learn the 100–120 g starting range, weigh a flock for seven days, adjust for weather and waste, and turn daily feed into a monthly shopping plan.
How Much Feed Per Chicken Per Day Calculator: Step by Step
Use this chicken feed calculator to estimate daily grams, waste, bag needs, and cost for layers, pullets, or mixed flocks; then check seven days of le
How Much Feed Per Chick Per Day: A Week-by-Week Guide
Plan chick feed amounts by week: daily grams, flock math, waste checks, free-choice feeding, and warning signs of poor intake for backyard chicks.
Raising Backyard Chickens for Eggs: A Practical Starter Plan
Raising backyard chickens for eggs starts with four hens, secure housing, feed math, health checks, winter care, and a seven-day plan for your first y
Raising Backyard Chickens for Beginners: 7 Numbers to Know
Raising backyard chickens for beginners? Use seven planning numbers for space, feed, predator barriers, brooder heat, and the first-egg timeline.
Breeding Backyard Chickens: Rooster Ratios, Timing and Care
Plan breeding backyard chickens with a humane rooster ratio, fertile-egg timing, feed baseline, welfare checks, records, and a manageable first season
Chicken Predator Protection: Hardware Cloth vs Chicken Wire
Hardware cloth vs chicken wire for chicken predator protection: mesh size, gauge, where each belongs on a coop and run, dig-proof aprons and retrofit
Raising Baby Chicks: 95°F Week One, Then Drop 5°F Weekly
Start baby chicks at 95°F under the heat source, then drop 5°F weekly until they're feathered. The full week-by-week brooder schedule and what shifts
How Much Feed Per Chicken Per Day? Grams by Flock Size
Most adult laying hens eat about 100–150 grams of complete feed daily. Use flock-size math, a seven-day audit, and local bag prices to plan accurately
Incubation Calendar: Candling, Lockdown and Hatch Dates
Set an egg date and get the candling, lockdown and hatch dates for chickens, ducks, quail, turkeys, geese and guinea fowl.
Chicken Coop Size Calculator: Floor Space, Run, Roost and Nest Boxes
Work out coop floor area, run size, roost length and how many nest boxes a backyard flock needs — or how many birds a coop you already have can hold.
Raising Backyard Chickens: What 3-12 Hens Actually Cost You
What a backyard flock of 3-12 hens really costs: coop and run startup bands, feed math in grams per bird, hidden recurring costs, and a budget templat