Links and Resources

Breeds of Chickens

There are many breeds of hens. All are beautiful and amazing. Visit this link to learn all about the different characteristics of each breed. Learn which breeds are best suited for our climate, egg laying productivity facts , their different personalities and much more.

Hen House Designs

So you want to build your own hen house? No need to be overwhelmed ... hens don't care if it is perfectly square. They will appreciate the love and thoughtfulness that you put into it. This site lists what components are needed for a hen house. It also has 44 beautiful DIY designs. There is even a tool to sort number of birds, cost and difficulty of build for your convenience.

What Chickens Can and Cannot Eat

Sharing kitchen scraps and leftovers with your flock is a great way to vary their diet, especially when winter has killed the grasses and bugs they usually forage upon. You will quickly learn your pets' favorites. It turns out that hens are great "waste managers". By consuming waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill hens save city dollars. This site has an extensive alphabetized list of foods that hens can and cannot eat.

Therapeutic Pets

Hens are not just fluffy and fun, they are good for you! Hens are now being used as therapy animals for a wide variety of issues including dementia, Alzheimer’s, psychiatric illness, depression, and autism. Their calming effect helps with symptoms like anxiety, emotional distress and loneliness. It’s no wonder backyard poultry has gained popularity and led to city ordinances allowing urban flocks.

Routine Hen Care Tasks

Hen care doesn't have to be complicated. Learn about some of the essential tasks to make sure you're giving your hens everything they need. This page organizes the important tasks by daily, monthly and semi-yearly activities. In my day we called them "chores". The website is called "the spruce". At the bottom of the link are other great resources about hens.

Fertilizer For Gardens

When it comes to manures, there is none more valued for the vegetable garden than hen manure. However, there are some things you need to know about hen manure in order to use it correctly. You will need to learn how to compost. Once you master this easy concept your final product will be prized; known as "black gold". It will make a great gift for your gardening neighborhood friends.