Stop tossing oyster shell on the ground and let your hens pick what they need from this sturdy 5.5-pound grit and oyster shell feeder. It hangs neatly in the coop, cuts waste, and keeps calcium available with less daily fuss.
The breed you choose determines how many eggs you actually get. Here are the best egg laying chicken breeds for backyard flocks — ranked by production, temperament, and real-world performance.
That first egg may follow a $6,000 investment once coop construction, predator-proofing, heated water, feed, bedding, repairs, and chicken math take over. The practical ways to spend less include repurposing materials, buying in bulk, and choosing solid basics instead of replacing cheap gear.
A quiet hen may need a parasite check more than a pep talk. Learn how clean water, extra space, enrichment, grit, oyster shell, and calm routines can lift a withdrawn flock while helping you spot signs that need a vet.
If you’ve confirmed mites in your flock, the spray you choose and how you use it makes all the difference. Here’s what works, what doesn’t, and why most treatments fail the first time.
The biggest fix is getting chickens to sleep somewhere other than the nesting boxes. Raise flat 2×4 roosts 18, 24 inches above the boxes, block the entrances after dusk for 7, 10 days, and your poop-covered eggs may become a thing of the past.
Oyster shell is calcium for strong eggshells, while grit works like teeth inside a chicken’s gizzard. They are not interchangeable, so this practical coop setup explains how to offer both separately, including what chicks, layers, roosters, and free-ranging birds actually need.
I’ve run three hatches in the MATICOOPX 20 egg incubator. Here’s an honest review of what works, what to know going in, and whether it’s worth buying.
A 10-compartment metal nesting box put an end to scattered eggs by giving hens wide, wall-mounted openings and keeping the collection spot together. Its vented design also helps reduce stale, stinky nests and lets you gather eggs without disturbing the flock.
Boost egg production and help chickens recover from molt fast with this simple vitamin supplement that actually works.
Why your chicken seems sad and what it really means. Learn the real causes and how to fix it fast to keep your flock healthy and happy.
Chickens puff up their feathers for several reasons. Here’s how I tell normal fluffing from the signs that make me look closer.
