Cluckin' Good Time: Why chickens rule the roost

Cluckin’ Good Time: Why chickens rule the roost

If you’ve ever wondered what’s missing in your life, the answer is probably chickens. These feathered friends can assist fertilize the soil, mow the lawn, and even lay the eggs you eat for breakfast. What could be better than this?

To honor the memory of our favorite member of the poultry flock, we’ve gathered some wisdom from our farming and homestead writers who appreciate the value of chicken.

Take a look at these suggestions:

How to choose the right breed for your poultry flock

With so many options to choose from, choosing a good breed for your poultry flock can seem overwhelming. There are many different factors to consider, such as the climate, the scale of the project envisaged, the level of involvement, whether children will be involved or not, and much more.

Checklist for broiler chicks

Are you considering raising broiler chicks? There are many things worth knowing! Fortunately, Joel Salatin knows A LOT about stocking and raising poultry.

Manage your chicken droppings: the joys of deep litter

Have you ever heard the saying, “always follow your nose?” As it turns out, this is a good rule of thumb when it comes to chicken droppings – but what does your nose tell you? Composting chicken manure into the deep litter of your chicken coop will improve chicken health, reduce labor, and retain most of the nutrients for your garden.

Un-Coop Your Poop: Everything You Need to Know About Chicken Tractors

By keeping your laying hens in a stationary coop, you are missing out on their amazing talent for building soil. Separate chicken droppings by placing your flock in a mobile shelter!

You have got an email. And these are chicks!

There’s nothing better than receiving a box of cute, fluffy chicks in the mail. It’s a miracle that a newly hatched chick can survive without food and water for exactly the same amount of time it takes to send a package from anywhere in the United States to anywhere in the United States.

No kidding: the wild and wonderful chicken tractor

Aside from the fun of telling your friends that you’re gardening with something called a “chicken tractor,” there are plenty of other benefits to working the farm with a few animal friends.

Are you Team Duck or Team Chicken?

Are you considering adding a flock of laying hens to your yard, but having trouble deciding between ducks and chickens? Don’t bother yourself anymore.

Low risk forest pastures: chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks and geese

Do you want to start working with Silvopasture? Consider buying a flock of poultry! Poultry flocks add value to the managed ecosystem (pest control, soil amendment, etc.) which in turn will enable them to flourish and be productive livestock. However, you will need to decide which type of poultry will be best suited to your particular ecosystem: chickens, turkeys, ducks or geese?

Video: Natural feeding options for poultry flocks

Settler and author Harvey Ussery discusses natural poultry feeding options, including self-harvesting methods and the employ of weeds as supplemental food.

The most comprehensive guide yet to raising all-natural poultry for tiny farmers, homesteaders and professional breeders. Compact Scale Poultry Flock, Revised Edition offers a practical and integrative model of working with chickens and other domestic birds, based entirely on natural systems.

Happy Urban Dirt