Found 110 hits.

Teacher’s Page – FAQ

...a nesting box. Classrooms that do a hatching program usually give the chicks away before they feather out and become adults. The HenCam is a way to introduce mature chickens to the students. Fun craft projects and other things Make a chicken mask. Glue on feathers. Make a yellow chicken crown. Glue on cutouts of eggs, chicks. Add feathers. Do the chicken dance. Here is the dance on The Lawrence Welk Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UV3kRV46Zs Make a chicken “purse” from a plate. http://www.freepreschoolcrafts.com/easter-chick-purse-from-paper-plate/ Use a plastic cup to make a chicken clucker. http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/chicken_cup.php I welcome your ideas! Please email me at terry@terrygolson.com...

Treating Respiratory Diseases in Chickens – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...scale. Usually, you’ll dilute it in water and dose them through their water font. However, your sickest hens might not be drinking. Use an eye dropper or a syringe to pour the medicated water down the hen’s throat. Tylan is a powerful drug, and more specific for severe cases and MG. Tylan might come in pill form, which makes it easy to give to an individual hen, but not so nice when you have a dozen or more hens to medicate! Continue to medicate according to package directions. The ailment will return if you stop dosing before the advised number...

The Spa Treatment – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...making those eggs, day after day, is depleting, and as the hen ages it gets increasingly harder for her to replenish her system. It can go out of whack. Often, when this is the issue, your hen’s comb will change color and she’ll hunch up and barely move. (See Agnes’ story here.) If this is the case, then the Spa Treatment can help. It also is effective when a hen has ingested toxic plants. The Spa Treatment is also effective in fixing minor blockages. Sometimes the hen has a mild glitch in her intestinal or reproductive tract. Her muscles need...

The Chicken Medicine Cabinet – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...you take your chicken to a vet and have blood work done, you won’t know what you have. Symptoms can be deceiving! I dose with what I have, and if symptoms don’t improve in 24 hours, I reassess the drugs that I’m using. Don’t purchase ahead of time as they have a limited shelf-life. But, once you have them, store in a safe place (preferably with a cool, steady temperature) and use when you need them. It’s a simple medicine cabinet. It’s most effective is you know your animals, thoughtfully observe what’s amiss, and use the products with common sense....

My Chicken Looks Sick! Now What? – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...your hen – she looks listless, is hunched, isn’t eating, perhaps her comb has paled, or she appears to be straining to lay an egg. My first course of action is my Spa Treatment, which is basically an epsom salt soak, a dose of olive oil, and TLC. This is surprisingly effective and has brought many hens back from the brink. It works when there is what I call an imbalance of inputs and outputs. In order to create that egg, the hen has to digest and process food, then circulate the minerals, etc. through the blood, then utilize them...

Gail Damerow Visits The HenCam (and a giveaway!) – HenBlog – Thursday, March 15, 2012

...can see the other stops here: 2-Mar For the Love of Chickens http://fortheloveofchickensblog.blogspot.com/ 3-Mar Vintage Garden Gal http://www.vintagegardengal.com/ 4-Mar The Garden Roof Coop http://www.thegardenroofcoop.com/ 5-Mar Common Weeder http://www.commonweeder.com/ 6-Mar Chickens in the Road http://chickensintheroad.com/ 7-Mar Garden Rant http://www.gardenrant.com/my_weblog/ 8-Mar Fresh Eggs Daily http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/ 9-Mar My Pet Chicken Blog http://blog.mypetchicken.com/ 10-Mar Coop Thoughts http://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/ 11-Mar BoHo Farm and Home http://www.bohofarmandhome.com/ 12-Mar Happy Chickens Lay Healthy Eggs http://happychickenslayhealthyeggs.blogspot.com/ 13-Mar A Charlotte Garden http://acharlottegarden.blogspot.com/ 14-Mar Farm Fresh Fun http://farmfreshfun.blogspot.com 15-Mar The HenCam http://www.hencam.com/henblog/ 16-Mar Life on a Southern Farm http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com/ 17-Mar A Dozen Girls, the Chicken Chick http://eggcartonlabels.blogspot.com/ 18-Mar North Coast Gardening http://www.northcoastgardening.com/...

Books by Terry Golson

...cook. All of the recipes come with nutritional breakdowns. A review in The Washington Post stated, “Golson accomplishes something that’s often lacking in low-fat cooking: She makes it interesting, delicious, creative and family-friendly.” Sample recipes from this book are available at cookstr.com. Available from Amazon.com. Wholehearted Cooking If you want to cook healthy, creative foods on a daily basis, but don’t know where to begin, Wholehearted Cooking offers a fresh start. The more than 175 delicious recipes prove that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring. (Note that at the time of publication, the author’s name was Terry Joyce Blonder.)...

The Yuck Factor – HenBlog – Friday, September 11, 2015

...didn’t appear to need a shot of penicillin, but that I should worm the goats with ivermectin. This anthelmintic comes in a paste form, in a syringe that you squirt into the goat’s mouth. Sorry, I have no photos, as I was squeezing and Steve was straddling Caper, (trying) to hold him still. It’s not good to worm goats on a regular basis. Pasture management and keeping them healthy help to keep the parasite loads down. However, I do send fecal samples to the vet yearly to ensure that parasites haven’t gotten out of hand. Only once did we need...

How I Know What I Know About Chickens – HenBlog – Thursday, June 24, 2010

...chicken forums on the web, like BYC. It’s a great community, and there’s some good advice, but there’s also a lot of guess work and erroneous information being dispensed. Some of the state agriculture commissions have useful information. On the other hand, some are geared to commercial farmers, and the advice is wrong for the backyard keeper. I’ve got an annotated list of some good sites on chickenkeeping.com. Ultimately, I take what I’ve gathered and make my own conclusions. I keep chickens for eggs, but also for pets. My hens are individuals to me, and each one is valuable. I’m...

How To Give Medicine To A Chicken – HenBlog – Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Buffy’s most recent miraculous recovery was due to The Spa Treatment, and especially to the tonic of epsom salt and juice that I dosed her with (1 teaspoon of epsom salt in one ounce of juice.) The easiest way to give medicine to a sick hen is by diluting it in their drinking water. This is the way to give antibiotics to an entire flock. But, if your hen is weak, she might not drink it, or not get in enough to help. That was certainly the case with Buffy. I knew that she needed to have a full dose...

Sick Chicken Diagnosis and Care (continued…) – HenBlog – Thursday, July 23, 2009

...Few people have access to avian vets, and few avian vets know anything about chickens. But, really, it doesn’t matter the exact cause since the treatment is usually the same. Yesterday I started Alma on a dose of antibiotics in her water. This is the easiest way to administer the drugs, especially if you are treating an entire flock (which I’m not.) If the hen has a bacterial infection, this usually cures them. Since Alma isn’t drinking, I’m thinking of switching to a pill form. Meanwhile, the next step I apply to all lethargic, not-eating, not-pooping hens it to dose...

My Take On Worming – HenBlog – Thursday, October 11, 2012

...Or maybe you’ll visit a friend who has chickens and you’ll get mud (and the parasites’ eggs) on your boots. Maybe you’ll pick up a bird at a sale. Eventually parasites will lurk on your property. But, that doesn’t mean that you have to dose your chickens with drugs. Management is the key to keeping your chickens healthy. Notice how the cover of the brochure shows only one worm, but many intermediary hosts. That’s because it’s those common insects that are the key. Get rid of those hosts to break the cycle and your flock will be fine. Beetles and...

The Chicken Medicine Cabinet – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 3, 2011

...you take your chicken to a vet and have blood work done, you won’t know what you have. Symptoms can be deceiving! I dose with what I have, and if symptoms don’t improve in 24 hours, I reassess the drugs that I’m using. Don’t purchase ahead of time as they have a limited shelf-life. But, once you have them, store in a safe place (preferably with a cool, steady temperature) and use when you need them. It’s a simple medicine cabinet. It’s most effective is you know your animals, thoughtfully observe what’s amiss, and use the products with common sense....

It’s Here! – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook is officially here!   If you’d like to try some recipes from it, the Boston Globe ran an excerpt in their magazine section (try the Pickled Beets and Eggs!) Cookstr.com also has recipes from the book (try the Cinnamon Sugar Puffed Pancake!) The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook can be found at your local indie bookstore (please shop there if you have one in your town!) It is also available from Amazon.com. I am selling autographed copies through my HenCam store. Make sure that you fill out the order form telling me who you’d...

Signs of Spring – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 22, 2008

...the question “when will the hens start laying?” or “what’s wrong with my Orrpington?” The only thing amiss with your chickens is the dark of winter! So, even if it well below freezing, go out and check your nesting boxes – if possible twice a day, so that the eggs don’t sit there and freeze and crack. Also, if you have pullets who have never laid before, put a wooden egg in each box to give your girls a hint about where to lay. (Purchase these eggs from poultry supply houses, like EggCartons.com. See my site, chickenkeeping.com for a list.)...

Taking Care of Business – HenBlog – Friday, June 4, 2010

You might have noticed a couple of new links at the bottom of the HenCam homepage. If you haven’t yet checked out the ringtones by the Little Pond Farm Animal Choir, please do! I’ve no idea how many people have purchased ringtones by Marge and the other vocal enthusiasts here, because iTunes charges for that info (and it’d probably cost me more to find out than I made – we’re not exactly music moguls here.) It’d help if you left a review on the iTunes site. I’ve also opened up a store at Cafepress.com. I came up with this logo:...

The Epsom Salt Cure – HenBlog – Thursday, February 24, 2011

..."cage-free" chicken farms. That's why I'm so fussy about where the meat I buy comes from! Ken Amen Terry. I'm still fortunate that family members still raise a few steers and hogs. I buy my red meat from them. Chicken and turkey on the other hand unfortunately comes from the store, can't find a supply of pastured raised poultry around here except at Thanksgiving. Jennifer Terry, Well your post is the only thing I have found that comes close to what is going on with my flock. I thought I would run it by you and see what you think....

Lash – HenBlog – Thursday, September 26, 2013

...but can’t find any solid information. There is nothing about lash in any of my poultry keeping books, not in Gail Damerow’s tomes, nor in my vintage guides. What I know about this comes from my hands-on investigations. I do necropsies and have seen such masses inside of chickens. It is not, as is often erroneously claimed on internet forums, a piece of the reproductive tract. It is not a tumor. It is composed of eggs that have become compacted and possibly infected. I’ve seen them small as jelly beans and as large as my fist. Sometimes, when you cut...

Automatic Chicken Coop Door – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 25, 2013

...My question is when I look at this door what keeps it from being forced open? I can see a crafty coon getting his little mitts in the opening in the door and jamb and forcing it open. Jonathan Terry perhaps a silly comment or question but cant you kist flip the door and then it will open the correct way? i would think they would be kind of universal Melissa Forgive me for an off subject comment--I'm getting a kick out of the fact that Phoebe seems to have staked out a cool spot under the nesting boxes, while...

Tillie Takes New York – HenBlog – Thursday, April 1, 2010

...I was taping your show and he came in about 20 minutes into it and CHANGED THE CHANNEL!!! I didn't notice, until it was over and I pulled the tape out and saw what channel the tv was on. I may still kill the old fart. LOL- seriously, I was so looking forward to seeing you. My sis says Martha doesn't do reruns, so guess I AM SOL. Terry Golson Your husband is in luck. Someone taped it, and it's up on youtube, divided into 4 segments. Mine is the last. http://www.facebook.com/l/d0b1f;www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmmUkXH4irI http://www.facebook.com/l/d0b1f;www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEkS-N0tYAA http://www.facebook.com/l/d0b1f;www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMmF03ucw_k http://www.facebook.com/l/d0b1f;www.youtube.com/watch?v=aauKznUux4A Dianne Oh! Thank you, thank...

Big Boys – HenBlog – Friday, November 9, 2012

The goats’ fecal test came back positive for pole worm. Keeping internal parasites at bay is very difficult. It’s not simply a matter of dosing them with chemicals, which, although is sometimes necessary, is not effective without careful management of the environment as well. I’m not an experienced goat keeper, and I’ve been relying on the wisdom of people like my friend, Sarah, at Cudzoo Farm (her goatmilk soaps, by the way, are absolutely wonderful and are for sale on line.) In order to give the right dose of anthelmintic, I needed to weigh the boys. My goats are Nigerian...

Agnes’ Dark Comb – HenBlog – Monday, April 30, 2012

A couple of months ago, Agnes looked poorly. She sunbathed, hunched and fluffed. She didn’t lord it over the other hens. Her comb turned dark and shriveled. This is a sick bird. Agnes is a Golden Comet, which is hybrid designed to lay day in and day out for two years. After that, it’s assumed that she’s done. She’s three and she hasn’t laid an egg yet this spring. Neither has her sister, Philomena, who doesn’t look sick, but is also depleted. A real farmer would dispatch them. I’m not a real farmer and so I’ve come up with some...

Pepto-Bismol for Pip – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 25, 2012

...heart-breaking thing and over the years the details have dimmed.give pip -(pep) a hug with that picture, you couldn't help it Terry Golson Jean, farming so often is learning from one's mistakes, isn't it? And hoping the mistakes aren't too serious. Thank you for sharing your story. Terry Golson 20 pounds of dog food? Amazing. But rather funny about the breaking and entering :) Martina I thought of your boys when I saw this on the news: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1244150--goats-as-groundskeepers-golf-course-says-employing-animals-is-eco-friendly-alternative Glad Pip is ok. Love the pink beard. Terry Golson The goats would certainly prefer the poison ivy to the grass! I...

What Do You Want at HenCam? – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 10, 2012

...your comments. I feel a real sense of community among you and your readers. I too look at your web cams a couple of times a day even though I have hens of my own. I would love more about composting and gardening. How about a garden cam? Have you let the hen cam girls back into the compost since they are laying less anyway? Carol Caldwell I too love your blog just as it is. I follow 3 but always look at yours first every day and yours is the only one I comment on. You also get many...

Today’s Happy Photo – The Vintage Hen – Monday, July 8, 2013

...Made our day too! Blessings! Sara This picture just made my day too! So sorry about your vacation and your girls. If anyone can turn this around, you can. Hoping all goes well. (P.S....Lulu was my favorite too). Tracy I know you're a rider and fellow horse person, so you'll understand this comment. What I noticed most about the sweet photo of Phoebe and Pip isn't the interaction of snouts between the two, but Pip's soft expression. I didn't know goats could have "a kind eye", but this one certainly does. As you know, it's not that common in equines,...

Giveaway! – HenBlog – Friday, April 2, 2010

...something so adorable?) So, this one is up for grabs. All you have to do is send an email to me, with “chicken purse” written on the subject line. (You must follow these directions or your entry won’t end up in the drawing!) You don’t have to write a message, but I’d love to hear from you! One entry per person, please. This contest closes Friday, April 9 at 10 pm EST. If you don’t win, you can always purchase it from mypetchicken.com. It’s a gorgeous, sunny, warm day. I’m going outside to plant peas – talk with you later!...

Homemade Horse Treats – HenBlog – Monday, January 27, 2014

The footing has been so treacherous that it has been too dangerous to ride. Tonka is barefoot, and his feet slip on ice like unwaxed cross country skis. The snow is wet, it balls up in his hooves, and so at times it’s like he’s walking on rockers. But that doesn’t mean that training him has come to a halt. We’re working on all sorts of fun and useful behaviors, like “come” and “stand” and “head down” and “let’s go” (which means walk next to my shoulder, off-lead.) I reward him with carrots, but once in awhile I like to...

Goat Notes Giveaway! – HenBlog – Monday, November 15, 2010

Goat Notes are now up on Etsy.com! They are available for purchase, either individually or as a custom set of your choosing. To celebrate the re-opening of my Etsy shop, I’m having a drawing for a set of all five cards (and a small, surprise gift!) All you have to do is tell me the title of the photo that you like the best. To read the titles, click on each picture. It’ll link you right through to Etsy and you can see all the details. Leave your entry in the comments below. One entry per person, please. The contest...

Eggs from Pastured Hens ARE Different – HenBlog – Friday, June 19, 2009

...hen or by one kept in a cage. A researcher in New Zealand has come up with a test to verify what type of housing an egg was laid in. It turns out that a pastured hen, eating a wide variety of food, produces a very different egg than the caged hen. A synopsis of the article can be read in this poultry industry on-line newsletter. Awhile back, Mother Earth News did it’s own analysis of pastured eggs and came up with similar results. Those of us with backyard hens knew this already, but it’s nice to have scientific proof....

How Laying Hen Pellets Are Made – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 14, 2015

...comes in is analyzed in their lab. A computer takes that information and determines exactly how much of which grain goes into the product. The finished feeds are also periodically tested to ensure that the ingredient analysis on the label is accurate.   Each ingredient is measured on digital scales. It’s then sent on through the feed-making machinery. This is all controlled at a central computer. When I visited, Jason was orchestrating this complex job. Jason grew up on a local dairy farm. His family still milks cows. He cares about what goes into the feed.   The ingredients get...

Observation not Assumptions – HenBlog – Friday, July 17, 2015

...net further down the fence line, and that’s where Tonka’s hay is being put. Now that there is space between the two horses all is fine. (Tonka is turning away from the net to come and say hello to me. It’s hard taking photographs when your horse is happy to see you!) I’ll keep watching. You never know what’s going to change the story. I’m available to do this sort of observation and behavior analysis for your horses (or other animals). Read about what I do at my other website, The Cooperative Horse. The first consultation is free. Email me....

Animal Updates – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 15, 2015

...see her there (and hear her nose whistles.)   Lily also goes out on the porch, where she remains vigilant from her comfy bed.   So far, her other three legs are keeping her steady. I try to limit her activity so that they stay that way, but, well, she’s Lily. The second day after the treatment with ivermectin, the bot fly larvae were vanquished and Caper’s nose was on the mend. He says that it’s all better and that soapy wet washcloths are no longer necessary. If you have a goat that likes to be cleaned up and fussed...

Goat Vaccines – HenBlog – Thursday, April 14, 2016

Dr. Sarah is coming this afternoon to give the Goat Boys their spring shots. Thank goodness for vaccines. They get a yearly rabies shot. Last year a rabid raccoon came up to our back door. We were able to remove it without incident, but the situation could have been disastrous. Knowing that all of our animals were protected alleviated a lot of the worry during that incident. The Boys also get vaccinated yearly for Clostridium perfringenstype C + D. There are diseases that arrive suddenly and are fatal, this vaccine protects against one of them. We’ll also collect a fecal...

Trouble With The Molt – HenBlog – Friday, September 28, 2012

...on her face when you gave her the medicine is priceless. She's had quite a year that gal Buffy. The comb attack and now this. As previously noted, she is getting the best care, having you watch after her Terry. I have an 18 year old cat who is teetering, I've been prepared and keep watching for that look or behavior that says "enough." Terry Golson It's hard to make those decisions, but part of what we take on when we live with animals. When the time comes, I wish your cat a peaceful passing. Janice Best of luck with...

Where To Put The Brooder – HenBlog – Sunday, March 24, 2013

...the brooder. I It needed to be cleared out, which Steve did. He also vacuumed. Dust harbors germs, so giving the coop a thorough cleaning before the chicks comes is a prudent thing to do. When the chicks arrive, the InsideCam (seen here where it is currently installed above the waterer) will be moved into the brooder and will become ChickCam. I’m often asked how the cams work. You need a bit of wiring in the barn. It’s complicated. Steve explains it in this FAQ. In my next post, I’ll show you how to build a brooder box. That’s easy....

The Spa Treatment for Sick Hens – HenBlog – Sunday, June 24, 2012

...these are signs of terminal illnesses. Cancer. Peritonitis. Organ failure. But, sometimes there IS a cure, and it’s simple. I call it The Spa Treatment, and it’s a combination of an epsom salt soak, a dose of olive oil and TLC. These hens have all been on the brink of death. They’ve shown a myriad of symptoms, and The Spa Treatment has cured them, or at least provided some relief. The hens are old and they’re crotchety, but they’re still here. I’ve written a FAQ detailing how to give the Spa Treatment. Let me know if it helps your hens....

Looking Better! – HenBlog – Wednesday, July 10, 2013

...Prompt, efficient chickeneering has returned Amber's attitude fully intact! "Pesky nursemaids with icky syringes NOT needed heah!!" Best warm wishes for Opal! What a relief to hear that she has the support of her flock. Kim Perkins Nice work Terry! It must be such a relief to see the improvement. I've ordered some antibiotic to have on hand since I can't seem to find it sold over the counter here. How soon after stopping the antibiotic is it safe to eat the eggs? Anthony I'm pulling for Opal!! Get better!!!! I am glad the other hens are doing better! I...

Opal On The Mend – HenBlog – Thursday, July 11, 2013

This morning Opal was no longer standing hunched in a corner. She was out and about with the flock.   Her eyes were open enough that she could see her way to the font and have a drink of medicated water, which means I won’t have to dose her today – a relief for both of us. What’s odd about this disease is that one side of the head is more affected than the other. The first day, when perhaps only one hen is stricken, you’ll find her with one eye clear, but the other shut. It does at first...

A Life Transformed – HenBlog – Tuesday, December 17, 2013

...quite different from those of us who are late-deafened. Having been born hearing, and having used hearing aids right up to getting the CIs did impact the success. But, much has to do with attitude and motivation to do auditory rehab. Terry Golson Sometimes it can hard to be compassionate to someone who comes across as angry, or willfully needy, or indifferent. Hearing loss causes so much stress, both of the person who cannot hear, and for the family members who aren't heard. Understanding what hearing loss is like can improve everyone's lives. Terry Golson I don't think that I...

Saving Clementine, Part 2 – HenBlog – Friday, March 28, 2014

...improved. Thank you once again for sharing such valuable knowledge with your readers. I hope never to have such a sick hen on my hands but it is comforting to have your blog as a resource, just incase. With your description and pictures, I would feel confident not only taking a course of action but knowing sometimes it's just best to do the humane thing. Your commitment to your animals' quality of life, and not letting them suffer without hope, really shows how much you love them. Keeping my fingers crossed for Darling Clementine. Bobbie Sending wishes to Clementine for...

Spa Treatment Update – HenBlog – Monday, December 15, 2014

...and how it works on the Spa Treatment FAQ. Here’s the thing – you’ll know if it’s been effective. A hen that previously stood hunched over will walk normally. A dark comb will turn red again. A listless hen will get her appetite back. You’ll also know when it doesn’t work. The hen will not improve. It won’t help to keep bathing her. It won’t help to force fluids and food into her. You have to know when to let go. It’s good to have the Spa Treatment option because either a) your hen will revive, or b) you’ll know...

Caper Goes to the Vet – HenBlog – Thursday, May 13, 2010

...and medications. She is 15 years old though and a very sweet girl. Glad to know that Caper will be getting better! Bonnie Jo Enjoyable post! Earlier today, I was bragging about you and your clicker-trained goats to a friend who just got two pygmy goats. Her husband found one of them standing on top of the car yesterday! I think you are amazing with your animals. Karen Pryor Very nice work, Terry! The targeting is SO much easier and more efficient than the usual 'positive' but not operant approach, of many-practice-efforts-with-praise-and-feeding. I love the picture of the two goats...

A Conversation With Root Simple – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 20, 2014

It’s just a coincidence that two podcasts they I took part in this month released their episodes the same week. I guess that I have a lot to say about chickens, because there’s almost no overlap in the content of these conversations. I’ve followed the Root Simple blog for years. Unlike many who promote urban sustainability, the couple behind Root Simple are not didactic. They maintain their ethics, but with a good dose of humor and practicality. Also, they have a few passions that I like hearing about. Erik has delved deeply into bread baking, and Kelly adores cats. (She...

Updates – HenBlog – Thursday, April 12, 2012

...Orpingtons, and I’ve a feeling I’ll be using the rabbit hutch again soon. Agnes is, surprisingly, looking better. Still not good, but her comb is a tad redder and she’s roosting and eating. I think that the epsom salts was just the tonic that she needed, if not to extend her life, at least to make her comfortable while she’s here. Another dose can’t hurt, so I’ll be soaking her again today. I promise that I’ll put up that FAQ about epsom salts soon, but I’ve been busy! This morning I visited 80 first-graders in Texas via Skype. Thanks to...

Sick Hen – HenBlog – Wednesday, July 22, 2009

...picked her up. That was enough to know that although she doesn’t look deathly ill, that something is seriously wrong. When in doubt, isolate and give antibiotics. If there’s some sort of infection (which chickens are quite prone to getting) you’ll see an improvement in 24 hours. So, Alma is in a dog crate with food and medicated water. She’s not happy about it, but I’m keeping her there. If she doesn’t improve I’ll try other things. Alma will get the best care that I can give her. I’ll bathe her, I’ll dose her, I’ll keep her comfortable. I might...

Oyster Shell For Hens – HenBlog – Friday, December 30, 2011

...It’s not expensive, but you don’t want it to go to waste. There are days when the hens won’t eat any, and others when they scarf it up. Tossing it on the ground or mixing it in the feed isn’t efficient. I’ve come up with a tidy solution. I use a rabbit feeder, hung in the barn. Florence says it’s just right. After a few pecks she goes outside. After all, she needs her daily dose of vitamin D, too. My girls don’t have to get that from their feed- fresh air and sunshine are part of their healthy diet....

Eggs for Sale! – HenBlog – Thursday, March 20, 2008

...I selected a range of eggs, from tiny to large, from white to blue, for her. And, a mother of my son’s classmate has her mother coming for a visit. Her mother grew up on a farm and remembers good eggs. I was pleased to be able to put a carton in her hands. Best yet, I have a dear, 95-year old friend going through chemotherapy. Of course, she doesn’t have much of an appetite, but she looks forward to eating eggs from my hens. I can’t think of a better reason to keep chickens. I’m about to catch the...

How I Saved Eleanor – HenBlog – Monday, September 1, 2008

...her separate allowed me to check if she was passing anything and how healthy it looked. Next, was to come up with a diagnosis. She didn’t have a mite or lice infestation, and although the skin was raw, she wasn’t pooping. I concluded that there was an internal problem. I slathered a lot of vaseline on a finger and felt inside her vent. I couldn’t find a stuck egg, however, my examination didn’t rule out an egg broken somewhere in the duct work. Luckily, Eleanor didn’t have maggots like poor Perrie (see the August 1 blog.) Possibilities were an impaction,...

Chickens Have Messy Bottoms – HenBlog – Thursday, August 18, 2011

One of the reasons that people chose to have chickens is that we like to look at them. Feathers shimmer in a range of gorgeous hues. Their fluffy-feathered bottoms are both charming and comical. Some breeds are sleek, and some, like my cochin, Pearl, look like a fussy Victorian lady. What we don’t picture, when we get chickens for the first time, is all of the runny manure and other unpleasant things that stream out their backsides. Any hint of disease often first shows up as diarrhea. Then, there’s lice and mites which cause red, bare bottoms. Sometimes, hens lose...

My Chick Order – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Some of you have a already have a brooder filled with peeping, fluffy chicks, but I have to wait until the end of April for my dose of extreme cuteness. I had planned on getting the chicks this week, but the breeds I want aren’t available until the end of April. As it turns out, it’s a good thing that the chicks aren’t here. Temperatures remain well below freezing at night and barely above during the day. I’d planned on putting the brooder in the big barn. With this cold spell, there’s no way, even with a heat lamp, that...

Antibiotic After Effects – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 14, 2011

My flock has survived their bout with the respiratory infection. However, a side-effect of antibiotics is that the treated hens lays thin-shelled eggs. I knew that some of the girls were laying such eggs when broody Betsy broke the eggs she was sitting on, ate what she could, and got coated with the rest. I’ve also noticed sticky wet spots in the shavings – likely thin eggs that the other hens noticed and ate. Thin-shelled eggs are a messy, wasteful problem, but they’re also a health risk. They’re more likely to break inside of the hen. A couple of days...

Chicken Butt – HenBlog – Friday, May 8, 2009

...It goes without saying that my favorite chicken joke (of sorts) is: You know what? (What?) Chicken Butt! I also crack up remembering the time that George Bates and I both wore our chicken hats to an American Library Association conference and then tried to cross a major road wearing them. Without realizing it, we had become the famous “get to the other side” joke! Terry: Thanks for stopping by the HenBlog. HenBlog readers can mosey over to Erica’s blog, http://ericaperl.blogspot.com/, leave a comment and you’ll be entered in a drawing for CHICKEN BUTT! tattoos, bookmarks, and a signed book....

Pip and Caper are Here! – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 23, 2009

...the two. Pip, the one with the caramel splotches, is a tad shyer. But I think he’s going to be the one who gets into more mischief! Give goats a shelf, a ledge, a manger to squeeze into, and they will. Caper is checking out the goatcam.com camera. It should be working in a few days. Meanwhile, I am training Lily Dog to be calm around the goats. This involves patience, lots of little hot dog pieces, and a training tool called a clicker. And, I’m spending a lot of time sitting in the stall with the boys. Wouldn’t you?...

Blog Tour Stop #5! – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Today’s Blog Tour stop is at Chickens in the Road. Stop by Suzanne McMinn’s website for a chance to win The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook.   My book has been getting great press! Library Journal and Shelf Awareness have each given it starred reviews. Publishers Weekly says “Golson’s wisdom (is) infinitely helpful.” You can purchase a signed copy from me, or support your local bookstore. It is also available on Amazon.com....

“Hen Mother” – HenBlog – Thursday, August 19, 2010

I’m in the local paper. I love my new title of “Hen Mother.” Don’t you? http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/news/lifestyle/x1371493473/Concord-Carlisle-residents-find-their-way-to-local-food...

Happy Birthday, Scooter! – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 8, 2014

...worry! Terry Golson I agree! People are clueless. They don't read their own dog's body language, nor understand others. I have trained Lily to sit and let others pass, but that does no good if the other dog isn't under control and comes bounding up. I've also heard from people with small children who can no longer go to certain trails in town because dogs come running up and knock down their children! And the dog owner says, "he's friendly!" Very, very frustrating. Marie Happy Birthday Scooter! I thought you were much bigger than 10 1/2 pounds. Ellen It's lonely...

Accolades – HenBlog – Wednesday, May 13, 2009

I’m pleased as punch (do my overseas readers use that expression?) because HenCam has been selected as a Top Ten Cam by EarthCam! EarthCam has an international audience, and I’ve already heard from new viewers in Italy and London. Not only did I get this news on Mother’s Day, but I also got the sweetest present from my husband – he bought me the domain name goatcam.com, and as soon as the babies are old enough to come home (about the end of June), the goatcam will be up and running. Here’s a teaser for what you’ll be seeing: I’ve...

Thanks CBC Radio! – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 3, 2007

On December 29, the Canadian radio show, Freestyle, mentioned HenCam.com as one of it’s five favorite Time Wasting Web sites. I’m honored! So, fess up and email me. How much time do you spend watching HenCam at work? Don’t be shy – you’re in good company. I’ve heard about company-wide Candy watches (loud hooting when the bunny hops by the camera). I know about the manager who keeps a window on her computer open to HenCam all day. And I’ve heard about the IT manager who banned some engineers from watching HenCam because they were using up too much bandwidth....

And the Winner Is… – HenBlog – Monday, October 8, 2007

I thought that the chickens should pick the winner, so I wrote entrants’ names on bright orange pieces of paper and put them in the Hencam.com hat. The girls were very interested, and Marge, of course, was very loud in her questions of “what is this?” and “is it safe to approach?” and, most importantly, “can I eat it?” The girls stretched their necks out to peer at the paper and Eleanor pecked at the brass buckle. But, surprisingly, these hens who don’t hesitate to peck my earrings, my shoelaces, my pants legs, refused to peck at the orange paper!...

Gorgeous Eggs – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 17, 2009

For decorative baking at a level that I don’t do, take a look at this: http://fancyflours.wordpress.com/...

I've Got an Etsy Store!and other fun things for you – HenBlog – Monday, March 10, 2008

Etsy is a sell site for crafters – each seller gets their own “store” on Etsy. It’s one of my favorite web sites. Not only is it fun to peruse (great user interface!) but since everything listed is made by the sellers, the individuality and creativity of each craftsperson/artist comes through. I apologize in advance if you lose work productivity today because you get entranced and can’t leave. I opened an Etsy store of my own to sell pinbacks and magnets. There will be more chicken-themed items up soon. But, if you know any knitters, I’ve got some lovely magnets...

Leftover Pie Crust Cookies – HenBlog – Monday, November 22, 2010

I’m elbow-deep in pie crust for my annual pie party. I’ve already frozen 10 all-butter crusts and two sweet orange crusts. Today I’ll be making four savory crusts for the butternut squash and pomegranate free-form tart. I take great pride in my flaky, soft butter crusts. Thank goodness I’ve learned how to freeze them so I don’t have to make all 20+ crusts on the day of the party! Making crusts really is easy, but it does take experience to get a perfect result. The ingredients are basic, it’s how you handle them that makes all the difference. I make...

Crafts – HenBlog – Friday, March 28, 2008

Are any of you artists? Crafters? Are you inspired by your chickens? I’m not an artist, I’m a writer. But I love the immediate gratification of making something tangible that comes from crafts. Recently I bought a pinback/magnet maker. Find some fun images on paper, cut it, pull the lever, and I have something to hold and wear! Right now I’m struggling writing a book (the words are all tangled up so far), and so I take breaks and make things. Here’s the latest. Chickens of course. They’re for sale on my etsy.com shop....

Country Living Magazine and PETA – HenBlog – Monday, April 7, 2008

I subscribe to Country Living magazine. They have lightweight articles on collecting, decorating and “country life.” So, I was excited to see, in the May issue, a page about backyard chicken keeping. (Do you realize how trendy we are? Little flocks have made it into a national magazine!) But, at the end of the page, was this, “Baby chicks are often purchased as Easter gifts – then sadly abandoned. Lucky ones find new homes, like the cover model of the 2008 Rescued! calendar (peta.org).” So, I’ve just sent this off to countryliving@hearst.com. Dear Editor, I keep a flock of fifteen...

Pimp My Bookcart – HenBlog – Wednesday, November 25, 2009

For all of my librarians out there, here is a link to one of my favorite contests of all time: http://www.unshelved.com/PimpMyBookcart/2009/ Next year, don’t you think there should be a Tillie cart? I’ll help!...

Truth in Blogging – HenBlog – Wednesday, December 24, 2008

...& Noble (my teenager loves their superb magazine selection), and I buy off Amazon and Abebooks.com. Obviously, there are a zillion choices out there. I try to be thoughtful about them, but not a self-righteous localvore. That said, I stand behind yesterday’s blog in that if I can find it on Main Street, I’ll go there first. And then I’ll get a cup of coffee. Not at Starbucks, but at Nashoba Brooks Bakery. It’s really good. Their chocolate biscotti are made in-house. They don’t come in a plastic wrapper like at Starbucks. I’ll meet you on Main Street. Happy Holidays....

Good Reading – HenBlog – Monday, January 12, 2009

I love a book with chickens in it, but I’m very fussy. I want the chickens to have their innate chickeness intact. I don’t want a human character dressed up in feathers. And I don’t want the chicken to stray too far from what a chicken would really do. I’ve a carefully edited selection on my chickenkeeping.com site. Yesterday, Sonja Bolle, writing in her column in The LA Times, had her own opinionated take on good chicken books. I was thrilled that she included Tillie! Her list was somewhat different than mine, though we agreed on a number of books....

Suburban Chicken Keeping – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, December 20, 2012

Chicken keeping in the suburbs is considered a trendy thing to do these days. But this “trend” is almost a hundred years old, as seen in this Lay or Bust Yearbook and Almanac from 1921. illustration from the Lay or Bust Yearbook, 1921 collection of Terry Golson, HenCam.com This coop style remains a practical design, and books from that era give directions for how to build them out of piano crates....

Fatty Liver Disease In Hens – HenBlog – Thursday, July 16, 2015

...age, they become more susceptible to the disease. I’ve seen and heard of many cases of fatty liver disease in backyard flocks. When hens in commercial flocks die of fatty liver disease, it’s because the companies are cutting corners, feeding cheap grains, jamming the birds into cages, and not keeping the buildings clean and dry. Our chickens don’t live under those conditions, but they’re still getting FLHS. Why? The answer is that we are loving our hens to death. Cracked corn is like candy to hens, and once they learn the sound of a can of corn rattling, they’ll come...

Terry Golson

...Harcourt, 2014). I share the joys of my backyard animals with a worldwide audience via HenCam.com, which features live-streaming cams on my flock and goats. For ten years my blog chronicled the on-going joys and travails of a life with chickens. After years of riding other people’s horses, I once again have my own – a paint gelding named Tonka, who I trail ride and do dressage with. I’ve spent years steeped in the science and theory of positive reinforcement training and in animal ethology. I’ve been applying that to horse care and riding. I have my Professional Training certificate...

Mail Order Chicks – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 1, 2013

...backyard keeper, like myself. There are also suppliers, like MyPetChicken.com, that act as middlemen for a number of hatcheries. If you are interested in just one type of chicken, and want high-quality stock to show or breed yourself, then I suggest purchasing from someone who specializes in that breed. If you want just a few chicks, and aren’t too particular about the selection, you can probably pick them up at your local feedstore (which likely got them in from a big hatchery.) But, if, like me, you want a wide range of breeds, and you want them all to arrive...

Happiness at the Zoo – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 23, 2016

...In some cases, some species would be extinct if it weren’t for the knowledge that they’ve gained studying the animals in the zoos, that has enabled resultant reproductive programs.   The conference was inspiring, but for me the highlight was the pre-conference backstage tour of the Cincinnati Zoo. We watched cheetahs get their exercise and fun by chasing a toy at 40 MPH. Afterwards, this cheetah purred as loudly as a car engine, while licking her handler. This sort of relationship only comes through training, respect, and providing the animal with what it needs to thrive.   A tortoise was...

The Winner! – The Vintage Hen – Saturday, June 2, 2012

...really no overwhelming consensus. Now, when people ask me, “what’s the best breed of chicken to get?” I’ll send them to your comments. I tell people that picking which chicken to get is as personal as selecting a dog. You’ve confirmed that. Robin Jordan, a lover of Rhode Island Reds, won the prize. Crooked Brook, the maker of the tees, is not set up at this time for e-commerce. However, if you would like to purchase one from them, you can email the company. They have other breeds printed on tees, too, like the Blue Andalusian. Contact them here: info@crookedbrook.com...

Scooter Keeps Up – HenBlog – Friday, March 5, 2010

Three years ago, I decided that Lily needed a dog companion, one that she could rough-house with and challenge to tug-of-war games. On petfinder.com, I located a twenty-four pound corgi-mix who had just found her way into foster care and had whelped a litter of pups. I went to see. I was sure that the boy pup was just what I had in mind – a corgi-terrier -a tough mid-sized farm dog. I was wrong. Dad must have been a chihuahua. Scooter maxed out at 10 1/2 pounds. I’ve never been a toy dog lover. I’ve no desire to dress...

What a Crowd! – HenBlog – Monday, February 22, 2010

More than 150 people came out yesterday to the Westford Farmer’s Market Backyard Chicken Program. This is a good-sized crowd by any measure, but even more so considering that it was a gorgeous sunny above-freezing day, the sort of afternoon meant for walks and outdoor chores, not being cooped up in a church hall (pun unintended but noted.) But, there they were, people of all ages, interested in keeping poultry. I’d be delighted to bring my presentation to your town. Email me at terry@terrygolson.com for details....

Tote Bag Winner – The Vintage Hen – Friday, July 13, 2012

...me a photo of the quilt when it’s finished! Even if you didn’t win, you can still have a chicken feed tote bag. There are bags on etsy.com. I even saw bags for sale at the Brimfield Flea Market! Totes at Brimfield Flea Market I sometimes have bags for sale. I’ll be at the Carlisle Farmers Market on and off this summer with the bags and other things. (Tomorrow I’ll have canning jar vases brimming with hydrangea flowers.) If you can sew a straight line, you can make a tote yourself. The pattern that I use is one that I...

Birthday Wishes – HenBlog – Thursday, November 12, 2009

...few years ago. Bought it at a poultry show (you never know what you’ll come home with!) It was adorable. But also nocturnal. Very noisy play at night. And quite messy, stinky poo. Still, I’d welcome another one into our home. So, I still don’t know what to answer my husband. I could use a new pair of winter barn boots, but that’s not exactly a “birthday wish” sort of gift. I know – I’ll ask for homemade goat milk soap. It’s indulgent and small farm-based. There’s a nice selection on Etsy.com. Then again, we do have room for geese....

HenCam 2013 Calendar – HenBlog – Monday, November 19, 2012

I’ve selected twelve photographs of the animals that you’ve come to know here at HenCam, and put them into a 2013 calendar. It’s available now at Zazzle.com. And, right now, calendars are 25% off at Zazzle! At checkout use CALENDARTIME in the “Zazzle Coupons/Gift Certificates” box. Calendars come in three sizes. The small is perfect for a work cubicle. Enjoy!...

Egger's Good Day – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 27, 2010

...those annoying hens, Siouxsie and Tina. The children fed her lots of cracked corn, and it was ALL HERS. No sharing. She was held and pet gently by little hands. This made her very happy. The children were happy, too. They tried to capture Egger’s beauty in their drawings. Of course, it’s impossible to paint a chicken who is so perfect in real life, but they came close. If you would like one of the “actresses who play Tillie” and me to come to your school email me (terry@terrygolson.com). Eggers, Betsy and Coco are all eager for more road trips....

Goat Eyes – HenBlog – Friday, January 25, 2013

...animal needs to watch out for predators and make a quick escape. The goats can see about 320 to 340 degrees around them. Unlike horses, they don’t have a blind spot in the front. They have good night vision, too. My goats can see so well that when standing in the corner in their paddock they can spy me, through the screened porch, and then through the kitchen window, to where I’m working at the sink. They like knowing where I am. There are other animals that also have rectangular pupils, like toads and octopi, photo from howstuffworks.com which are...

Funny Food – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, October 22, 2013

NOTE: this contest is closed! Which is a good thing as I got very, very hungry reading the entries. Joan is the lucky winner! MyOwlBarn.com is one of those retro and stylish blogs that posts a daily serving of eye candy. Recently, it showed off photos from a ridiculously silly book, aptly titled Funny Food. It’s by husband and wife duo, Bill & Claire Wurtzel (© 2012 Welcome Enterprises, Inc.) The book is based on breakfasts that Bill has made for Claire over the years. The love comes through.   I contacted the publisher to tell her how wonderful I...

Gift Giving – HenBlog – Friday, December 11, 2009

...to get me. I got the pitchfork and manure shovel of my dreams for my birthday. Steve already has my wish list. I sent him some links to etsy.com. I didn’t ask for anything from Agway. But, thinking about it, I’d sure like those insulated, waterproof gloves designed for women. We celebrate Hanukkah, so the gift-giving starts tonight. I wonder what I’ll get. What do you want? I hope that Tillie Lays an Egg is on your list, or that you’re giving it to someone you love. If you want a signed copy, go through Books with Flair. This site...

More Bunny Photos – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 4, 2013

...neighbors. I wanted a neutered bunny, so it would already be through that stress before moving into the hutch. And young, because I want her here a long time. I went onto Petfinder.com, and this one year-old mixed breed rabbit was at a shelter in Brockton, which is about a 45 minute drive from home. The listing said “friendly and playful.” Spayed. I saw those ears and that stripe on her nose, and that was that. She was exactly as described on-line. She’ll stay in the hutch for a couple of days to get a sense of home and surroundings....

Broody Coop – HenBlog – Friday, April 8, 2011

...did not seem to be aggressive together and did as a joint effort. Have you ever heard of that happening before ? Terry Golson I haven't heard of that, but I'm not surprised - especially since you're talking about Buff Orpingtons, the most amenable of birds. Kit Here are the links to the videos if that is okay, Buffy and Betty together in their brood house. Buffy won't leave Betty so she decided to go broody as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuO3xkMJBLI&feature=channel_video_title Betty and Buffy with the chicks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXbZBiaVO2s I don't know if they are still alive because the video is from two...

Previous Appearances – January 7, 2016

Want to pet a real hen and hear a good story? Families are invited to a special Chicken Storytime at Community Nursery School in Lexington where kids can pet a real hen! Come spend an hour with author Terry Golson and one of her hens. Terry will read from her book Tillie Lays an Egg, then then talk with kids about all their newly hatched questions about chickens! Each child will receive a signed copy of Tillie Lays an Egg. Cost is $30 for a family of 3, $5 more for an additional guest, and all of the proceeds go...

1916 Eggs – HenBlog – Thursday, January 6, 2011

...and make a good living. In NYC, a dozen eggs sold for 31¢. That’s $6.22 in today’s dollars. Eggs were valued and not yet a cheap commodity. Of course, the farmer didn’t see the full 31¢. It would have taken as many as 5 middlemen to get that egg to market. Still, the farmer would have received 20¢ – about $4.00 today. $4.00 isn’t bad – it’s about what those of us who keep backyard hens sell our eggs for, and, as my numbers in my previous post showed, it’s enough to cover feed costs and then some. But, why...

Steamed Eggs – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 2, 2011

...be watching thrift stores and garage sales for those old egg cookers. Kit They do have modern egg steamers for those who can't make it to flea markets, http://www.eggsteamer.com/ and I found these on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=egg+steamers&x=18&y=16 and some people suggested using rice cooker or steamers as well http://wize.com/rice-cookers-and-steamers/t10457-egg Terry Golson Click on the photo and it links to the blog I found this picture on. I wouldn't trust that cord, even if I could plug it in! Terry Golson Glad to have it confirmed! Terry Golson Thanks for these links. I have a rice cooker, but it doesn't have a...

Sick Chicken Update – HenBlog – Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The respiratory disease that started with Ruby has spread to five other hens: Opal, Garnet, Onyx, Florence and Amber. Garnet came down with a fairly mild case, and rebounded after a half day on antibiotics. Onyx, so far, has also had a comparatively easy time of it. She is broody, and only one eye is affected. She’s drinking, but since she’s not coming out of her nesting box, I dosed her, too. Opal has it the worst. Her eyes are sealed shut, and she spent all day yesterday standing in the corner of the pen. She cannot see well enough...

Wormer Warning – HenBlog – Friday, May 16, 2014

...week withdrawl period where you shouldn't eat the eggs. Gapeworm is really common in my area, my neighbor's chicken got it. My cat vet (who also used to see chickens) said that worms are the most common problem she saw with chickens. The reason commercial birds are not but on dewormer is because they are killed before they get old enough for the problem to develop :( I don't want to eat antibiotics in my food, but I really think this is an animal welfare issue. I give my cats and dogs ivermectin for heartworms. My chickens are just as...

A Break From the Barn – HenBlog – Tuesday, December 14, 2010

...greats get the animals right stories.) Also agree that Temple Grandin is worth watching - as is reading her books. I loved the Cranford series on PBS, so will look into those British costume dramas. Sometimes they don't come with closed captions... some of the older Miss Marples, (which I love) aren't close captioned, which makes them inaccessible to me.(Shout-out here to the ADA. Like many laws, not always enacted with common sense, but oh, how it improves the lives of those with hearing loss!) Keep those suggestions coming :) Brenda wishing you a speedy recovery and happy hearing again...

Egg Holders – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 18, 2010

...and down the aisles always pay off. This year, what I saw made me think about egg holders and how eggs used to be handled and how precious they were. There were plenty of egg baskets at Brimfield. I already have a number, and didn’t purchase a one. There are large baskets for the commercial farms, and smaller ones for backyard chicken keepers. They are utilitarian and beautiful. Cardboard egg cartons are a comparatively recent invention. (If you can believe it, I don’t collect them, even though the graphics can be wonderful.) In fact, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that...

It’s Greek To Me – HenBlog – Thursday, June 10, 2010

...was related to me. We still do not know. My Dad came to the states around 1908 and worked at Sheep farm in Manchester, NH called Nassikas' sheep Farm. He came to the states from a small town called Smixi. he bec April 3 at 4:45pm Terry Golson My friend Karen came up with this article dated 1916. The postcard is from 1948. There's still a lot of story to tell, but this bit of history is fascinating! http://books.google.com/books?id=NjALAQAAIAAJ&lpg=PA309&dq=%22A%20Visit%20to%20a%20Grecian&pg=PA309#v=onepage&q&f=false Sharon That article dated 1916 was interesting and I enjoyed reading it, though I didn't have time to read it all....

Treats for Hens – HenBlog – Thursday, June 7, 2012

...of compacted crop and is there a treatment for it? Donna Hi Terry! COMPLTELY off the subject....I was trying to find your recipe for what you do when you have an excess of tomatoes? I remember you sliced them and put them in the oven to use later for sauce? I am going to have a LOT of tomatoes this year and I want to be prepared! Thank you and LOVE the new site! Viki from northern Ca. LOL! That is HILarious about the hens weaving around the swining suet balls like cobras! Marcella One of my pupils gives me...

Thanks, IT Guy! – HenBlog – Thursday, July 23, 2015

...BarnCam are working. Is this on my end or yours? And Terry - love your site. It is **wonderful** beyond words to come some place ruled by compassion and common sense. Have a chuckle on me - I'm babysitting my mother's Schnoodle, who has my mother VERY well trained. And then there is my 6 month old Border Collie puppy. It's a good thing I have nothing breakable/valuable below waist height. Kim Perkins The Hencam archives are the first place I look when I have a question about chicken care. Thank you for providing practical and valuable advice Terry, and...

Who’s Who – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 1, 2011

...but so sorry about Lulu. Zoa the 3rd chick from the bottom that you said you think is a New Hampshire Red- looks very much like my 2 that I was told are Rhode Island Reds. I am wondering if my info is wrong? here is a link if you want to see mine for comparison- http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r121/zoabarker/610730195_photobucket_61883_-1.jpg Sunday Second from the top is definitely your Welsumer, I have one too and it looks the same :) I'll have to go check my Delaware and see how tall her comb is and get back to you. I didn't get to spend...

The Beast Emerges – HenBlog – Friday, April 4, 2014

...& the dog loved them too. Have a wonderful weekend. Jenn Something you might find interesting: http://www.virology.ws/2013/09/11/a-retrovirus-makes-chicken-eggshells-blue/ Suzanne Interesting! I remember reading, long ago, that there was a possibility of Chinese sailors having ended up in Peru, based on something unusual that Chinese & Peruvian chickens have in common. (Must have been those blue eggs!) Funny how the theory was so logical, and only genetic analysis would have proven it wrong. Suzanne Ah, it looks so refreshing to me! I can imagine how clean and crisp the air is. Good to see the Beast is doing well! Helen I hope...

Mt. “Healthy” – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Laura Thank you Terry - complete intelligence and good sense. I really appreciate your intelligent analysis of normal things that usually cause mass panic over the internet. Christine O. Good advice! Is that Etheldred in the last picture? Your Speckled Sussexes are beautiful. Terry Golson It's hard to remember if that was Etheldred or Agatha. Both changed their spots numerous times before maturing. It's not Florence, because she's the smallest. Terry Golson Thank you. It took quite a bit of effort to wade through the panic and find solid information. Research is all done on commercial flocks. But, the experienced...

Of Lice And Hens – HenBlog – Monday, May 10, 2010

...older, less active hens harbored the most lice. On the other end of the spectrum was Lulu, the busiest hen of the lot, who didn’t have a louse on her. Here is her healthy bottom. Notice the many small, downy feathers. They’re so fluffy that you can’t see her skin. Here’s another view. Isn’t that a nice bottom? After bathing the hens, their pens got raked and DE was put down. My oldest and most infested hens also got a dusting of commercial louse powder. Eleanor will never have a fluffy bottom, like Lulu, but she’s a lot more comfortable....

Sick Hens – HenBlog – Monday, July 8, 2013

...be effective. Luckily for Ruby, by midday she was able to eat, and drink her Duramycin-laced water. It was hot, and she was feverish, so I put her into a wire pen for air flow.   By Sunday afternoon, Ruby’s comb no longer felt hot, her eyes looked clear, and she was ready to go back in with the flock.   I think that perhaps the onset of this was instigated by the bout with infectious bronchitis. Secondary bacterial infections are cited in the literature as a frequently occurring after iB. I’d hoped that since Ruby had what seemed the...

Thin-shelled Eggs – HenBlog – Friday, June 17, 2011

Chickens in perfectly healthy flocks once in awhile lay thin-shelled eggs. As the yolk progresses down the reproductive tract, white surrounds it, then a membrane, and then the shell. It takes about 20 hours for the shell to form, and if during that time the hen is stressed, the shell might not fully develop. Sometimes there’s a glitch in that conveyor belt and the egg comes out too soon. But, if your usually perfect egg-laying hen starts consistently laying thin-shelled eggs, something is amiss. They might need more calcium in their diet. They might be diseased. They might simply be...

Worms – HenBlog – Thursday, January 21, 2010

...sure that every hen gets the same dose. I give it to them instead of their normal pellets for a week every six months and they don't seem to notice. Verm-X isn't really powerful enough to get rid of persistent worms like tapeworms and gapeworms but can act as a preventative so it's best to worm your animals with a medicinal product first and then switch to Verm-x. Verm-X itself is composed mainly of the active ingredient in garlic so I imagine is less effort than mixing up your own! Hylla Evans DE has the crystalline structure that slices up...

An Early Molt – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 10, 2010

...the hens to molt at once. Chemical companies are developing additives to start the molt. Yet another reason to keep your own hens. I’d rather do without eggs than have them come from those conditions. Chickens aren’t the only ones that grow a new coat for winter. Candy sheds out her old fur and will have a much warmer wrapper for the winter. Like the hens, the process is already starting. Just look at those tufts of fur coming off. What a bad hare day (ouch, sorry for that terrible joke – this heat is affecting my sense of humor!)...

Thank Yous – HenBlog – Sunday, May 1, 2011

lauren scheuer So fun to read the story of the BFF's! Lis Lovely story about BFFs. (Total shot in the dark, but camp TW? Me, too, three years in the late 70s.) Jen Sounds like a great two days.... it's so wonderful that spring/summer are beginning which means a plethora of events like Green Fair! I appreciate four distinct seasons, but I love the growing/harvest time the best. I never realized you were a horse person (or I forgot). Anyway, I had the great pleasure recently of working on a documentary about the real-life horse whisperer Buck Brannaman and I...

Blue Friday – HenBlog – Friday, May 27, 2011

...them, it's easy to lose focus... then get down on yourself. Believe me, I've been there. When I get like that I put a time limit on my writing... 20 minutes and make myself write no matter what crap comes out, usually, the small work time frame and promise of a short break after is enough to spark a fire. Though I don't have to tell you that, your writing is so engaging. Your readers are all cheering for you. I'm glad to hear the hot weather is back. Denise Everyone needs some down time. I had my daily dose...

Egg Smashing, Egg Eating, Broody Hen – HenBlog – Friday, June 10, 2011

...found it well worth my time to read. Here is the link if you are intrested http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=518839&p=1 She even has a picture of him asleep on her lap after he demanded she pick him up and take him. Apparently he loves to fall asleep on her lap while she is on the computer. http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=518839&p=5 And picking him up to correct him is not working, because he loves to be held all the times, and just starts to coo when she does. Their are some other stories about roosters "loving" their owners, even one that took to mating with sandwich containers....

Coco – HenBlog – Friday, August 12, 2011

...was, at the hotel before the Martha show. She just owned that place! I will miss her too. Kit Coco was quite the lady. I am so sorry to hear of her passing at just three years old. She was quite the beauty. And her spunk on taking on a your mistake Opal will always be in my memory. Poor Betsy, to have out lived two companions. I hope she is doing okay as well, and will soon have another companion that will be nice to her and so she won't be the only little white hen in your coop....

Blowing Out Eggs – HenBlog – Monday, January 28, 2013

...the white and yolk out? Jaye Re: hanging eggs, how about using ornament findings? You can buy them here: http://www.amazon.com/25-Ornaments-Findings-Supplies-Decorating/dp/B006E924WS/ref=pd_sim_k_4 I think you could use a glue gun to apply them to your eggs. M.E. We used to do this when we made pysanki (sp?)--Ukrainian Easter Eggs. That's a great gadget, btw. Blowing out those eggs is TIRING. Our jaws used to ache... Missing the bunny. Suzanne The egg-blowing kit comes with an egg holder? Or is that another find? Can you make a larger hole, so that the yolk comes out whole? Suzanne Oops, I took a second look...

Preparing For Winter – HenBlog – Thursday, October 18, 2012

The outside water got turned off two days ago. Around here if you think, “Oh, it’s lovely weather, there’s plenty of time to leave the convenient spigots on” what you’ll have are frozen and broken pipes and a very big repair bill. When the crew comes and blows out the lines, I know it’s time to prepare the coops for winter. We do take a risk and leave the outside spigot next to the back door on until it’s freezing during the daytime. So, for now, I have a hose stretched out to the barn. That will be turned off...

Waiting For Eggs – HenBlog – Monday, September 5, 2011

...who have told me that watching the HenCam and reading about my animals is what you turn to when you need some sanity in your workday." I dare say that many of us have not told you this but it is just as true for us ! TY for your beautiful photos, delicious stories, your wonderful recepies, travel tales, family fun, heartfelt compassion, and your smart & lighthearted approaches to endless situations. HenCam always provides an enriching dose of down to earth natural beauty and appreciation for what Nature has to offer up each and every day. In the course...

The Nest Egg – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, October 9, 2012

...flock like the "Gem-Like Colors"? M.E. You have a great human soul!! M.E. Ha....try to find a dozen eggs from well-raised chickens for less than $4 here in the city of Satan. The farmers market eggs are pretty much $5 a dozen. On the other hand, in WF t'other day, they had some kind of bake-it-yourself "Italian" meatloaf, complete with foil pan. It looked to be 2 pounds, cost $18! Eggs, especially from a happy, healthy farm, are still a bargain! Terry Golson Come to think of it, those are chicken-y colors. Onyx has that green shimmer in her feathers....