Category Archives: Raising Chickens

Straight to the Source – A Visit to Our Flock Farms

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Chris Huseman

Offering healthy and happy baby chicks doesn’t happen by accident.  In fact, proper care and nutrition to help ensure optimal growth is provided to the source flocks through a dedicated person, years of experience and a genuine enthusiasm about chickens.  … Continue reading →

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How to Care For Your Chickens Through the Winter

Posted on November 29, 2011 by McMurray Staff

For tips and information about how to best care for your chickens through the winter, please see these articles on our blog: Keeping the Chicken Water from Freezing Preparing Your Laying Flock for Winter (Part 1) and Part 2 – … Continue reading →

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Feeding Your Chickens Table Scraps

Posted on October 4, 2011 by McMurray Staff

Chickens like to eat table scraps, and most of the leftovers from your meals are safe for them to eat.  Table scraps alone don’t form a balanced diet for your chickens, so you should use them as a supplemental treat, … Continue reading →

Posted in Feeds and Feeding, Raising Chickens | Tagged | 19 Comments

At What Age Will My Chickens Start Laying?

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Matthew Pressly

Introduction The age at which your hens will begin to lay depends on their breed type.  Hybrids are the earliest birds to start laying, starting about 1 month earlier than non-hybrids. Non-hybrids, which include our rare and heritage breeds, typically … Continue reading →

Posted in Egg Layers, Raising Chickens | 3 Comments

How Can I Get My Hens to Lay in their Nest Boxes?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by McMurray Staff

Sometimes hens lay their eggs on the floor of the coop, which can be a problem because the eggs get soiled from their manure, and the eggs are more likely to get cracked, broken, or stepped on. Hens will also … Continue reading →

Posted in chickens, Egg Layers, Raising Chickens | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

How Warm Should I Keep my Baby Chicks?

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Matthew Pressly

When baby chicks hatch, they need additional warmth. Their body heat alone is not enough to keep them warm. Without additional heat, they can become chilled and stressed, and if it goes too long, they can become ill or die. … Continue reading →

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How Much Space Do My Chickens Need?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Matthew Pressly

  Chickens will be happier and healthier if they are let out during the day to forage. At night, they need protection against predators, so they should be kept in a chicken coop or shelter.  The proper size of the … Continue reading →

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Breaking a Hen of Broodiness

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Matthew Pressly

Usually, when one of our hens goes broody, we let her continue to set so that she can hatch and raise chicks.  Occasionally, though, a hen will go broody at the wrong time. Maybe we don’t have space for her … Continue reading →

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Raising Chickens for Our Home Flock, Day 52

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Matthew Pressly

  Our chickens are about eight weeks old. Most of their adult feathers have grown in.  The chickens appear to be about one third the size that they will reach as adults. They are about the size of bantams.

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How to Introduce New Chickens into Your Flock, Questions and Answers

Posted on June 21, 2011 by McMurray Staff

1. How old should the chickens be when I introduce them into the main flock?

Posted in Raising Chickens | Tagged , | 15 Comments