Found 51 hits.

The Chicken Medicine Cabinet – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...(gentian violet) and povidone. The povidone is the expensive version of betadine. It effectively kills germs and does wonder on red, irritated bottoms. The blu-kote, also a topical antiseptic, (though not as powerful) has the added benefit of darkening red skin which reduces pecking. Both are permanent stains, which is one more reason to have those disposable gloves on hand. If you do have a chicken with a wound, then topical analgesic and antibiotic creams can be used. The other product that you should know about is the calcium alginate dressing. If your chicken gets a puncture wound (a dog...

Chick Care – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...this with the help of small rocks that the chicken swallows. Even if your hens free-range, it’s unlikely that they can find just the right pebbles for their gizzard. Certainly chicks, in a cleanly bedded brooder, don’t have access to what their gizzards need to function properly. That’s why they need you to provide grit. You can buy a bag of grit at the feed store or online. Basically, it’s ground up granite. Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B007571S0M&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_56bf607b41321c986bdba1337d9e9711 is finer than chicken grit. It might seem crazy to...

Chicken Necropsies – HenBlog – Monday, August 12, 2013

...healthy cockerels. So, the workshop taught me the basics, but after doing my first necropsy on a hen from my own flock, it was obvious that a healthy rooster is nothing like an aged laying hen. I looked for necropsy tutorials. Cornell Veterinary School has put a 4-hour video online. I watched that. State extension services have basic information online, like this fact sheet from Ohio State. I found papers about specific diseases, like this one on kidney damage in commercial layers. I looked through my collection of poultry books. The most useful illustrations were found in the older books,...

Fun Holiday Shopping – HenBlog – Friday, November 19, 2010

...I’m lucky to have indie bookstores nearby, but I also shop online, especially for used books – that’s where I’ve found those old chicken keeping texts that I tell you about. (By the way, for you horse people out there, check out my friend, Robin’s, used equestrian horse books.) What I really enjoy are unique handmade items. I’ve found some wonderful crafts, and made some even more valuable friendships, through a combination of this blog and an online community of artists. Celia Hart is a printmaker and is now also collaborating with a jeweler. Jenny Tiffany makes the most adorable...

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

...keepers with years of experience. Use caution and commonsense when looking for answers on-line. If you do an internet search for chicken respiratory issues, gapeworm will pop up, as if this is a prevalent cause of breathing issues. I’ve seen countless on-line discussions which toss up gapeworms as a probable cause for coughing in a flock. It’s like when you have a sore throat, troll online for ideas for relief, and an hour later you’re sure that your windpipe will have to be removed due to a rare, tropical disease! If Gail hasn’t seen a case of gapeworms in 40...

Why I Don’t Use Avian Vets – HenBlog – Monday, December 17, 2012

...dying. Although there are charts online for figuring out what infectious agent is affecting your hens, I’ve found them unreliable. (Out of curiosity I’ve used those expensive lab tests and discovered how off those charts are.) So, I recommend starting with a course of antibiotics right away, which can be bought on-line or at your local feed store. If they don’t work, you probably have a virus. When it comes to these respiratory diseases, a vet’s diagnosis is of no help. Either antibiotics will work, or they won’t. (More about what I do for respiratory disease is in this FAQ.)...

Sick Hens – HenBlog – Monday, July 8, 2013

...I dosed her with a syringe. I have directions and a YouTube video of how to do this here. I had some Terramycin eye ointment leftover from an injury to Scooter’s eye. I’ve kept it in the fridge, and although it’s well past expiration date, it is still useful. (You can buy this online, but there’s currently a shortage.) I squeezed a bit into Ruby’s crusty eye. Within two hours, Ruby’s eye was looking better, I could see that this wasn’t an injury, but rather that I had a respiratory infection to treat. I’ve seen this here before. Hens have...

Grit and Probiotics for Chicks – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 23, 2013

...in a cleanly bedded brooder, don’t have access to what their gizzards need to function properly. That’s why they need you to provide grit. You can buy a bag of grit at the feed store or online. Basically, it’s ground up granite. Chick grit is finer than chicken grit. It might seem crazy to spend $10 on a bag of pebbles, but it is essential to the health of your new flock. This is not a new idea. I have a catalog from 1919 that offers bags of chick grit for sale. The first day that the chicks arrive, make...

Warhol Goats – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 13, 2013

While we were away the GoatCam finally gave up the ghost and died. Over the few days that its circuits went bonkers, the GoatCam got artistic. For awhile a gallery of Warhol Goats were streamed online.   IT Guy Steve spent yesterday morning replacing the cam. I assisted by getting the goats into the pasture and closing the gate behind them. They do like *helping* with tools, but for some reason Steve thought he could do a better job without them supervising. So, the GoatCam is now back up and running, albeit a bit less colorfully than last week. We’ll...

Goat Mineral Dispenser – HenBlog – Wednesday, October 10, 2012

After the recent scare with Pip’s bellyache, I decided that occasionally giving the boys their goat minerals wasn’t enough. They needed a feeder. There’s not a lot of goats around here and the feed stores don’t carry sturdy goat-proof dispensers. So, I found this plan online, and Steve built it. The goats offered their assistance with the installation. But Caper thought that the power drill was a head scratcher, so the goats were asked to wait outside. Minerals, designed especially for goats, are essential for their health. I poured the mineral into the feeder and let the goats back into...

Tools for the Coop – HenBlog – Thursday, January 30, 2014

...to have passages clear and tools stowed where the goats can’t reach them to “help.”) Have I left out your favorite chicken coop tool? In another post I’ll list the things needed to setup a coop, like waterers and grain bins. * Please note that I have Amazon links to these tools so that you can get an idea of pricing. I have not necessarily purchased items through these online stores. However, if you do shop Amazon, please start by clicking through a link on my site. I’ll get a small commission from Amazon, which helps to support HenCam. Thanks!...

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

...(gentian violet) and povidone. The povidone is the expensive version of betadine. It effectively kills germs and does wonder on red, irritated bottoms. The blu-kote, also a topical antiseptic, (though not as powerful) has the added benefit of darkening red skin which reduces pecking. Both are permanent stains, which is one more reason to have those disposable gloves on hand. If you do have a chicken with a wound, then topical analgesic and antibiotic creams can be used. The other product that you should know about is the calcium alginate dressing. If your chicken gets a puncture wound (a dog...

Position is Everything – The Vintage Hen – Saturday, June 9, 2012

Position in Life is Everything might not be your (or my) motto to live by, but it does apply to eggs. This thermometer was a promotional and educational giveaway provided by the Institute of American Poultry Industries in the 1950s. Egg farms would have their names printed on the item, and they’d nail them to the wall of their barns. I checked online, and Weaver Bros. remain in business. I’m sure that they still pack their eggs pointy end down, although I doubt that they still collect the eggs in baskets (it appears to be a caged operation.) While your...

Lily is 13 – HenBlog – Friday, April 1, 2016

When I brought Lily home, she was somewhere shy of six months of age. Like so many dogs now in New England, she was brought up from the South where spay and neuter programs aren’t as prevalent. I found her online, from a “border collie rescue” – but it was more like one good-hearted person channeling dogs to new homes. Here she is on the day that I met her. Yes, she was black and white, but she wan’t a border collie. I was told that she was good with dogs and people. It became clear early on that that...

Goodbye Brooder, Goodbye (to some) Chicks – HenBlog – Monday, May 20, 2013

...I was itching (literally) to reclaim my barn. It was so good to get the coop back in order. After I cleaned, Steve moved the cam back into the coop, so InsideCam is once again online. Now there are twelve pullets (and one cockerel) and four Old Girls in the Little Barn. In one week, half of those youngsters are going to live at the nursing home. I’ll keep six. One way or another, Mr. Grumpy will be gone. Twinkydink can’t wait. Betsy and Edwina are relieved. But, I do think that Buffy enjoyed the hubbub. And the chick food....

Feeding For Egg Production – The Vintage Hen – Monday, November 12, 2012

...had to rely on light, air, exercise, sanitation and observation. These remain the foundation of good backyard chicken keeping today. My favorite line in this pamphlet is the last, Every feeding mixture can be improved by the addition of a liberal amount of common sense. I purchased this booklet on eBay, but you don’t have to hunt down an original copy. You can read it online in the University of Illinois archives here. (Thank you to a librarian reader of HenCam who pointed me to this source!) For my commonsense take on what to feed your hens, read my FAQ....

Thinking About Pie – HenBlog – Thursday, November 10, 2011

...I’m thinking of so far, but this list will change before I start baking. Chocolate Pie, Lemon Pie (my recipe is online at Woman’s Day. Their editors added a 1/4 cup of sugar to my recipe. I do like my lemon pie on the tart side), Peach Almond Gallete, Rhubarb Custard Pie, Apple Cheddar Crumble Pie, Chocolate Pear and Ginger Pie, Tollhouse Pie, and Banana Cream Pie. On the savory side there will be Butternut Squash and Feta Pie, Chicken Pot Pie and a classic Quiche Lorraine. Are you making pie? I’m open to suggestions. My lists aren’t finished yet....

Ta-Dah! A Revamped HenCam – HenBlog – Sunday, May 27, 2012

...this is just wonderful! Ya'll did a great job here, or at least your DH did. Love how the camera doesn't go half black every few seconds and seems smoother as well. Do you share your pie recipe? Thanks for sharing your animals with us. Sheri The revised site is great. Although, I liked the old one too. The changes are definitely positive and useful. I especially like the photos and new on-line shopping we'll be able to do. It was worth the effort and time involved. I have not seen it all yet but am continuing to look and...

Good Goats – The Vintage Hen – Friday, September 21, 2012

...My heart goes out to Spencer...as a fellow photographer I know what it's like when your subject won't cooperate. Terry Golson Dan, do you have a link to your portfolio? The first time Spencer tried photographing the goats he discovered to never, ever set his equipment down :) I'm glad we supplied someone with a bit of amusement today. BTW, it's always Pip butting Caper away. Dan in Los Angeles I used to have an online portfolio. However since Apple changed to their iCloud my portfolio isn't online. I'll have to upgrade my Mac to get it back on. Oy!...

Jungle Fowl at the Museum – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, August 9, 2012

Donna They kind of look alike! That is there Great Great Great..etc....Granddaddy for sure! Donna I mean "their"......It is still early here! Kit The body reminds me more of a shamo espically with the longer legs and thinner body. But plummage wise I see it with the RIR's. I do know people will collect taxtermied hens, and they usually go for around a hundred dollars. I know someone mentioned online they even saw a taxtermied Polish hen. And I have seen taxtermied silkies on ebay. I have just gotten into eating the website the blogess, and along with zombies she...

A Morning’s Work – HenBlog – Saturday, November 24, 2012

...identify each precious animal. Carol Hi Terry. Those pies look wonderful! At first I thought your onions were kraut. (I am brewing some at the moment.) If your pie crust tutorial is still online, could you please post a link? Being somewhat visually impaired, it's easier for me to read on the computer (I enlarge everything) than in a book. If not, alas, I can and will gladly struggle with the printed page. I too received the calendar last weekend. Zazzle sent it in a strong BOX which I so appreciate because of our rough mail delivery. It's beautiful, and...

Feeding During the Molt – HenBlog – Friday, October 10, 2014

...complete with screaming red floppy comb. Kit I know Terry you really don't like some online chicken forums, but have you thought of entering Jasper's picture in the Moulting picture contest online? She might have a good chance in winning. Also how does Phoebe like the molasses mixed alfalfa ? Terry Golson As far as I can tell, Phoebe ignores the alfalfa. She likes her grass hay better. Terry Golson Pullets continue to shed baby feathers until they are mature. It's not a true molt. Generally, by the time my new birds reach 16 weeks, I stop buying chick feed....

The Best Scrambled Eggs – HenBlog – Monday, February 17, 2014

...luxury but like all luxury items it's best to have them occasionally and must be on malted brown bread toast for the best effect. Terry Golson I love smoked salmon with eggs. I've got a lovely recipe in the book for poached eggs, smoked salmon and asparagus. Terry Golson Yes, now they all go outside (even in the snow!) to go into the hutch to lay. Sometimes they won't wait in line and some lay in the sectioned off dark part, and others in the main area. Cindy Brown I scramble mine the same way although I use a cute,...

Candy’s Throne – HenBlog – Thursday, March 17, 2011

...put it in use. Terry Golson Candy would love those ramps, but then the goats would be jealous! Kit One lady I read online has acutal cardboard castle that her rabbit loves to chew and play in. Georgene from Florida Is Candy considered old ? What is the lifespan of this breed ? She sure is cute. Glad your snow is melting away. Tracy 56 degrees and sunshine- wow!! You must be in heaven! Love the pics of Candy! Terry Golson Glorious out! Last year it was this nice mid-March, we turned on the outside water and a week later...

Backyard Poultry Magazine Giveaway – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 15, 2014

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Katie Zack is the winner! Sure, you can go on-line to search out the answers to your questions about poultry care, and yes, there are books, too. But, there is nothing so cozy and relaxing and indulgent as reading a magazine devoted to a topic that interests you. For us chicken people, there’s Backyard Poultry Magazine. Sit on a couch (and if you’re lucky, you’ll have a dog like Scooter curled up with you) and flip through. There might be an article on a breed of chicken you’d never heard of. Or an advertisement...

No Knead Bread – HenBlog – Wednesday, July 18, 2012

...the New York Times food writer, posted baker Jim Lahey’s No Knead Bread recipe and it went viral. Since then there have been many variations. What follows is mine. 2 cups bread flour (this has a higher protein then all-purpose, but all-purpose will do if that’s all that’s available) 1 cup whole wheat flour (or you can use all white) 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast (this is different than the regular yeast. I use saf-instant) 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (I use bread salt from King Arthur) 2 cups water Stir the dry ingredients to evenly disperse the salt and yeast, and...

Changes With The Molt – HenBlog – Thursday, December 6, 2012

...know I will be using it for my 102 biology book, if I make it in to their site. Also I was wondering in your antique collecting of postcards, photos, and chicken memorable, have you ever bought anytihng off the site shopgoodwill.com ? It is a online auction site for goodwill's all over the country? Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life I so enjoy seeing all your girls. jonathan I just noticed my.Jersey Giant is missing.all the feather around.her vent, I swear I.thought he Moulted 2.months ago when she lost.her tail Terry Golson I doubt it's the molt. I've got a...

A Sad Day – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 9, 2013

...also be more difficult. Even though I have my own chickens I still like watching your girls and that includes Candy everyday. I loved reading about Candys antics and seeing all the pictures especially of her grimacing expression. Just last week she made me chuckle as I watched her sitting in the dust bath. She will truely be missed. Lynda Buckley Please accept an online hug from me (((((((()))))))) I will miss her xx Charli Lopez I am so sorry for your loss. My family and I lovex watching her and the chickens. Maryanne So sorry for your loss. Everyone...

Apologies To The Orps – HenBlog – Friday, November 2, 2012

...of the Plymouth Rock, I know you didn't particularly like how your Barred Rocks were in personality and aggressiveness. But have you thought maybe trying another variety of the Plymouth Rock such as the White, Black or Partridge varieties ? The one White Plymouth Rock I have come to know online seems to be a great hen, and is the boss of her flock and seems to be a good leader that doesn't boss the other bantams too much. Maybe another variety will redeem them in your view of Plymouth Rocks in a mixed flock. Jean R Love the "it's...

Chicken Waterers – HenBlog – Thursday, September 20, 2012

...wet area around my composter I just had to look it up. Terry Golson There are also glass bases and waterers from the 1920s. Thanks for identifying the weed as ladysthumb. Its everywhere and even the goats don't like to eat it. Terry Golson The base is sold at the local feedstore, but you can also find online, like here. Marcia Matthysse I haven't seen Betsy for quite awhile now. Is she okay? Maybe I just haven't been watching at times when she's on camera. Terry Golson She is broody and is in the lefthand nesting box, hunkered down so...

The Workshop – HenBlog – Sunday, July 8, 2012

...would be amazed at how smart chickens are. Jessica I agree with the live podcast or some way to watch a class online. I am in Kansas and not able to get to your area but would love to have more of your knowledge of chickens. I enjoy watching the hen cams and love to watch the chickens peck around. Diana & Doug My husband and I attended a workshop last month on June 10th which was awesome..I have 4 australorps and are now 13 weeks old.....is there a definite sign when they start to lay? 2 stayed up in...

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

...area for chicken keeping FAQs, and a few surprises for you! What do you want to read and see here? More recipes? By the way, I’m the Cookstr Chef of the Day. They’ve got a few recipes from my cookbook, 1,ooo Lowfat Recipes up. Do you want more stories about the goings on here? Animal tales? What chicken keeping information would you like to see? What about videos? I think I need to make one of how to dose a chicken with olive oil. What else? Do let me know your ideas. We have a fun year ahead of us....

On The Road – HenBlog – Thursday, March 11, 2010

Judy Oh lord Terry, I'm not sure what would happen to me if I actually found myself in the King Arthur store; I have enough trouble controlling myself online! Have fun...there is nothing better than seeing old friends, enjoying a bit of a road trip, and then coming home to a hint of early Spring. Here in DC there are a few crocus blooming, and the birds are all singing their early morning songs again, so you know a new season is around the corner! Terry Golson They have stuff I don't even notice in the catalog. I've been baking...

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...

Merry Christmas Wishes – HenBlog – Wednesday, December 23, 2009

...yolks can be frozen, but you have to add a bit of sugar. If I have excessive eggs, I make pudding. Can never have too much custard! I promise a custard tutorial after the new year. Also, quiches freeze nicely, both baked and unbaked. Order "Tillie Lays an Egg" from any online seller, or ask your local indie store for it. Go here for links. Randy I'm sure you listen, and I'm sure they have plenty to say. Aren't the animals great?! Have a great holiday...Happy Hannakuh and Merry Christmas!! Stephanie Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Thank you for keeping...

Keeping the Girls Busy – HenBlog – Wednesday, October 6, 2010

...with the hens who were finding the first worms. Yum. Vicki in So. CA I've been visiting your site for some time, and have wondered what you put in that little suet feeder attached to the roosts. Now I know! What a good idea. I'm also glad to hear your opinion on the space in some of the prefab chicken accommodations. Having seen many online, I've never thought they looked big enough. When we finally get our girls, we'll make sure they have lots of room, nesting boxes, and roosts. Some day (sigh). Wendy I'd love a bigger house for...

Egg White Magic – HenBlog – Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Judy With all of your blogs about cooking I've been meaning to tell you how much I've enjoyed your online recipes (apple pie, pie crust, too ripe pears, etc.). But most of all, I am a fan of your 1000 Lowfat Recipes Cookbook, and use it almost exclusively for daily fare. Tasty stuff!! Terry Golson Thanks, Judy! 1,000 is still in print - more than ten years. A long time for a cookbook, and speaks to how useful people find it. I tested each and every one of those 1,000 recipes several times. They work! Donna Terry..BTW..Brussel sprouts were a...

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

...Alan Bates...it is a hoot. And the best book for pure amusement while recovering from surgery (or any other trauma) is Aunts Up The Cross by Robin Dalton, a tale of Dalton's eccentric Australian family in the 1930s. It is somewhat hard to find but absolutely worth the effort...maybe the Boston Public Library? I also agree with Jonquil about Midsommer Murders. I started with #1 from Netflix, a few years ago, and went through everything they had, until I discovered that the last few series (16 & 17) could be purchased from Acorn before NetFlix had them available. I found...

Asparagus Season – HenBlog – Thursday, May 5, 2011

Growing asparagus means that you have literally put down roots. Asparagus is a perennial. During the winter the asparagus patch looks barren. Then, in the spring, stalks emerge. The season is brief and for the rest of the summer the bed is filled with frilly greens (loved by butterfly caterpillars.) An asparagus bed takes years to mature. Even varieties like Jersey Knight, which can be harvested the first year after planting, don’t really get going for a few more growing seasons. People who rent, or have a community garden that is tilled under every season, or who have pots on...

Animal Update – HenBlog – Monday, May 30, 2011

...brink. Thank goodness for drugs. Unfortunately, the drug that used to be prescribed, and was highly effective, Baytril, is now prohibited for poultry. Why? Because those factory farmers fed it to their chickens to get increased production. They got that, plus antibiotic-reistant bacteria that was passed along to consumers, which is a huge health threat to humans. Anyway… Luckily, there’s a vet nearby who dispenses drugs for poultry. She provided doxycycline in pill form for the two sickest birds, Maizie and Siouxsie, and Tylan to put in the drinking water for the rest of the hens. Because Candy often drinks...

Barn Boots – HenBlog – Sunday, October 16, 2011

...or Servus (both made in the USA) We have them at our Tractor Supply Stores in Virginia or get them online. They are just plain navy blue, not cutesy at all, but they get the job done and they hold up well. Cheryl LOL. We just bought our homestead last month...CAN'T WAIT till we're out there full time with our chickens and various other critters and start wearing out my own pair of boots! Anna We are a family of farmers/hunters and LaCrosse Burleys are the best rubber boat we have used! Martina White I like my cheap stretchy rubber...

The Goats Get A Beard Trim – HenBlog – Wednesday, November 9, 2011

...direction, he'd go right in the opposite! Terry Golson No, they're not. Sunday Eventually I would like to have some milking goats but I haven't really done much research yet as I'm nowhere near ready. The goat posts always make me smile and re-fuel my excitement for the some-day of my own goats. Goat beard trimming: who knew?!?! Kit Goats and cats always into mischief. I feel your pain, my almost one year old Maine Coon mix cat is a doll except when you try to cut his nails. He just turns into hell on wheels, from the start. Neither...

At The Fair – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 14, 2012

lauren scheuer Sweet! I love the Bolton Fair. Just yesterday I looked it up online, only to find that I'd missed it. Meet me there next year? Natalie, the Chickenblogger Well, yes... I do want that T-shirt! You have shared all my favorite parts of the fair. The animals, the personal endeavors of farmers and artisans, children in 4H. Add an ear of roasted corn, and it makes my visit complete! Thanks for the fun. Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life Love the fair and this time I want to make sure to see all the fowl. Cresca Great post Terry....

Collecting Egg Cups – HenBlog – Thursday, January 5, 2012

...I find online. Wendy Ha! I had forgotten how demented that egg cosy looked. That was back when I still knitted, before crossing to the dark side of crochet... I'll have to do you some more. An Israeli friend, who has older relatives who speak quite old-fashioned Yiddish as well as Hebrew, says that tschotske used to mean an young unmarried boy at a wedding! 'Decorative and useless'. Hmmm. Carol Caldwell I so love the first pair of egg cups. I don't get my chickens until March and already I am collecting all thing's chicken. What hope is there for...

Book Giveaway! – The Vintage Hen – Monday, January 14, 2013

...Shared on Facebook Kit shared on FB and best luck with your new online store Dennis L Bought the book! Looks awesome, great price and glad to buy from you Terry. My wife and I love what you do. You're work adds quality to our lives and he lives of our hens! Dennis L Pinned it and Facebooked it... Tanya K. Sorry Terry, I'm "socially inept", but I tell everyone about you the old school way- word of mouth. Tracy Byers Congrats and how fun! Would love to win and share my passion with my friends! Jen ZenHen My Facebook...

A Project In The Works – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 14, 2012

...Mel Book!! Maybe a print series? We could order online... I would love a few to hang on the wall. ~Mel Kit History, always the history. Pictures are pretty, but the stories make them memorable. Oh I was finally able to make to Williamsburg VA, where the closest TSC and feed store that regularly has chicks at. I finally got to hold some Barred Rock and Rhode Island Red chicks. I can see why you love those Rhode Island chicks, even the confirmed pullet chicks are bold and brave. Several acutally ate out my hand and pecked it. I can...

Digging Dandelions – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 18, 2012

...have a tool we call the "weed popper" and you can use it while standing up! They're a bit tricky to find, but if you look in enough hardware/yard tool stores I'm sure you could find one. There's also a similar tool called the "Weed hound" but we've never used it. Anyways, I found a link online that has a picture of the "weed popper" tool. Hope I've helped :-) http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Alterra-Tools-897023770368-Green-Thumb-40-Inch-Weed-Popper-u107849.html Joyce I make dandelion wine using my Mom's recipe and eat the greens like my Gram taught me. The wine is never the same from year to year, some...

The Chicks I Picked – HenBlog – Thursday, January 3, 2013

I wasn’t going to get more chickens this year. Really. The Gems will be turning two years of age, and twelve mature hens are plenty to provide eggs for my table (even with those darned broody Orpingtons and a Cochin that looks pretty but doesn’t do much else!) However, I’m working with a nursing home to bring the contentment of watching a busy flock of hens to their residents. The coop will be installed by March and I’ll be stocking it with pullets. I want to supply them with seven distinct birds, all in different plumage, so that the residents...

Presents – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 7, 2010

...print. Hope the one I want doesn't sell out before I get a chance to buy it. the 7msn ranch Missed Martha's show on Friday but just watched in online - I can't believe you clicker-trained a chicken! Well, yes, I can believe it, but how cool. Poor Tillie, though...there's Martha click-click-clicking away, confusing her. Anyway, you and Tillie both did such a great job - I enjoyed seeing you in person. Terry Golson I actually clicker trained several chickens! All of the photos in Tillie Lays an Egg were staged. What's so wonderful about that sort of training is...

In Bloom Now – HenBlog – Tuesday, July 10, 2012

...feet. Why? We checked online and we think that Golda is a Buff Rock! Or maybe even a Buff Rock/Buff Orpington cross. Very interesting! Golda behaves differently - is very hardworking - digs pits, catches more bugs and, we think, is 'head hen'. Do the other three hens realize that she is 'different'? We love your flowers and very much enjoy your new web design. Terry Golson I've always wanted a Buff Rock! I'm sure your hens recognize the difference. Sheri Just beautiful! What an assortment of fresh blooms. You even managed to get wild-life in the pic. Very nice....

I Milk A Goat! – HenBlog – Monday, July 23, 2012

...know how much trouble they can be :) Kit Nice to meet you Martha, you breed some very pretty goats. I was wondering since you are a breeder, and deal with stinky bucks ? Have you ever gotten around a buck that was so stinky in musk that you needed to wear a gas mask around them and a special suit so that the stink won't get on you ? Because I guy I know online is breeding his Nubians for the first time, and borrowed a buck for the first time, and he is stinky enough that he is...