A woolie chicken is a nickname for ultra-fluffy chickens—most commonly Silkies—that have soft, hair-like feathers instead of typical structured feathers. But their differences go far beyond fluff. From feathered feet and extra toes to black skin and unique pigment traits, these chickens are genetically distinct from standard breeds. This guide explains what causes these features, what it means for care, and whether a woolie chicken is the right fit for your backyard flock.

A power outage during incubation can be stressful, but it doesn’t always mean your hatch is ruined. Learn how long eggs can survive without heat, how outages affect incubation and lockdown, and practical steps you can take to protect your hatch until the power returns.

Broodiness is a natural chicken behavior, but it can quickly become a problem when a hen refuses to leave the nest, stops laying, and disrupts the rest of the flock. This guide explains what causes broodiness, what signs to watch for, and the most humane ways to break a broody hen, including the broody breaker method, repeated nest removal, and temporarily blocking nesting boxes. It also covers how broodiness affects flock behavior, which breeds are most likely to go broody, what not to do, and common questions about chicks, fertile eggs, and how long broodiness lasts.

Frizzle chickens are known for their curly, windswept feathers, but they’re often confused with frazzle chickens — a fragile condition caused by breeding two frizzles together. This guide explains the genetics behind frizzles, what their feathers feel like, whether other hens pick on them, and how well they handle cold or wet weather. You’ll also learn about frazzle feather loss, sunburn risks, and the best ways to keep these unique birds comfortable and healthy in your flock.

Most families spend between $800 and $6,000+ setting up their first backyard chicken flock, with ongoing monthly costs around $50 to $100 for feed, bedding, and basic care. While there are real financial investments upfront, many households find the return comes in fresh eggs, reduced food waste, daily responsibility for kids, and more time spent outdoors together — making chickens a lifestyle upgrade as much as a practical one.

Yes — you can leave your chickens alone for a weekend, but only if the right systems are in place first. Automatic feeders, mounted nipple or gravity waterers, auto coop doors, proper ventilation, and predator-proof latches help make sure your flock stays fed, hydrated, and protected while you're away. Taking time to test your setup before you leave can prevent common issues like spilled feed, frozen or tipped water, or missed nighttime lockups. With a weekend-ready coop, your chickens can safely manage for 48–72 hours — and you can travel without worrying about what’s happening back home in the coop.

Healthy adult chickens can survive winter without a heater — even during freezing nights — as long as they can stay dry, roost off the ground, and avoid wind exposure. This guide explains how chickens maintain body heat overnight, what conditions increase cold-related risks, and when safe supplemental warmth may help during extended sub-zero temperatures.

Many backyard chicken owners wonder if their flock needs heat during the winter. In most cases, healthy adult chickens can tolerate freezing temperatures thanks to their natural insulation — as long as their coop stays dry and protected from drafts. This guide explains how chickens grow insulating down feathers during fall molt, what winter conditions increase frostbite risk, and when safe supplemental warmth may help in extreme cold. Learn the safest ways to support your chickens through winter without relying on heat lamps

Learn how to turn everyday eggshells into a liquid calcium solution using a simple vinegar reaction. This method helps convert slow-breaking eggshell calcium into a form that can move through soil water and reach plant roots sooner. In this guide, you’ll see why crushed shells take so long to work, how the reaction process changes calcium availability, how to dilute the finished liquid safely, and how often to use it in your garden to support healthy roots, strong stems, and better fruit development.

Thinking about getting six chickens? This guide explains how many eggs a small backyard flock can lay each day, week, and month—plus what affects egg production throughout the year. Learn what’s normal and how to keep your egg basket full.

Pasty butt is a common issue in baby chicks where droppings stick to the vent and can block waste from passing. This blog explains what causes it, how to gently clean and treat it at home, and what signs to watch for if a chick may be too weak to recover. With early checks and simple care, most chicks can bounce back quickly during those first few days.

Most families of four use 1–2 dozen eggs per week. Because laying hens typically produce 4–6 eggs weekly, starting with 5–7 hens offers a comfortable supply — even during seasonal slowdowns — while giving you flexibility to use extra eggs for enriched sourdough baking or as a natural protein and calcium boost for your hens.

Backyard chickens are becoming a practical addition to modern households looking for fresh food, lower grocery costs, and more intentional daily routines. This article explores why families across the country are choosing to raise small flocks at home — from reliable egg production and reduced kitchen waste to kid-friendly responsibilities and a calmer start to the day

Properly storing fertile eggs before incubation plays a major role in hatch success. This guide explains the best temperature, humidity, positioning, and turning practices for holding hatching eggs while you collect a full batch. Learn how long fertile eggs can be stored before hatch rates begin to decline — and how to protect embryo viability before incubation even begins.

Heritage chicken breeds are traditional poultry varieties developed for natural reproduction, outdoor adaptability, and long productive lifespans. While they may grow more slowly and lay fewer eggs per week than modern production hybrids, many backyard keepers choose heritage breeds because they can remain productive for years, breed reliably, and support home hatching plans. Popular heritage breeds like Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, and heritage-line Rhode Island Reds are often selected for their hardiness, steady egg production, and ability to help build a more sustainable, self-replacing flock over time.

Backyard chickens typically live 5–10 years, but breed choice plays a major role in both lifespan and how long a hen continues laying eggs. This guide explains why some chickens live — and produce — longer than others, and how to plan your coop setup to support your flock through every stage of life, from pullets to retirement.

Many new chicken keepers assume their flock needs a heated coop in winter, but healthy, fully-feathered chickens are naturally built to handle cold temperatures. In fact, adding artificial heat can increase moisture levels, frostbite risk, and dependency if the power goes out. This article explains how chickens stay warm on their own, why wind matters more than temperature, when supplemental heat may be appropriate, and how proper coop setup helps your flock adapt safely through winter.

This article explores the real cost of supermarket eggs compared to raising backyard chickens, including how starting with laying hens can shift your egg routine over time — and why safe, well-designed housing plays a key role in consistent egg production.

Choosing how many chickens to start with isn’t just about how many eggs you want each week. Chickens are social animals that need a stable flock to feel safe, establish a pecking order, and lay consistently. While a small flock may seem easier to manage, starting with too few hens can lead to stress, bullying, and unpredictable egg production. This guide explains why 4–6 chickens is often the most stable beginner setup — and what to realistically expect from your flock’s egg production during both the high-laying summer months and the slower winter season.

Many new chicken owners believe a rooster is required for hens to lay eggs. In reality, hens lay eggs naturally based on hormones and daylight — not mating. This guide explains the science behind egg production, the role of fertilization, and why skipping a rooster can make backyard chickens more realistic in suburban and HOA communities.

Ordering fertile eggs before your equipment is ready is one of the most common — and preventable — hatching mistakes. This guide explains when to purchase your incubator, brooder, and grow-out pen based on your planned hatch month, helping you prepare for setup time, shipping delays, and seasonal demand so your chicks have the best possible start.

Timing your flock purchase can make a big difference in when your hens begin laying eggs. This 101 guide walks through how chickens naturally slow egg production in winter, why spring is the best time to buy chicks or hatching eggs, and how starting early helps ensure your flock is ready to lay by fall. Perfect for first-time chicken keepers planning their first hatch or backyard flock.

Incubation success starts before you ever set your first egg. Choosing the right room, protecting your setup from pets or bumps, avoiding humidity-prone areas like bathrooms, and managing electrical safety can make the difference between a healthy hatch and preventable loss. This guide walks through simple incubator safety basics to help protect your developing chicks from day one through hatch day.

After hatch, poultry need to be moved through the incubator, brooder, grow-out pen, and coop at the right time to stay healthy. This guide covers basic timing for chickens, quail, ducks, and pheasants, along with the key signs that show when birds are ready for the next stage.

Many backyard poultry keepers start with a simple home hatch — but raising specialty or hard-to-find breeds can quickly lead to local demand for chicks. This article explores how hobby hatchers naturally transition into breeding their own birds and running small hatchery setups. Learn why separating setters and hatchers, improving sanitation, and planning brooder space are key steps toward producing stronger chicks and creating a more consistent hatching system.

An undersized brooder can quietly cause piling, feather picking, uneven growth, and unexpected chick mortality — even when temperature and feed are correct. This article explains the early signs of overcrowding so you can recognize when your chicks need more space and make adjustments before your next hatch.

Brooding is the next critical stage after hatch, and the setup that works for chicken chicks doesn’t always work for quail. While chickens can tolerate small temperature swings and environmental changes, quail chill faster and are more prone to stress behaviors like piling, which can lead to suffocation. This article walks through the basics of what a brooder should provide for both species, what features to look for in a quality setup, and why consistency in heat, airflow, and lighting matters more when raising quail. It also highlights simple differences in waterer and feeder setup that can help prevent early brooder losses.

As hatch day approaches, incubation needs change quickly. Eggs must stop turning, humidity increases, and pipping chicks create moisture, debris, and bacteria inside the incubator. This can affect developing embryos and future hatches — especially in combo units. In this article, we explain what happens during lockdown, why cleaning between hatches is critical, which cleaners are safe to use, and how a separate hatcher can help reduce contamination for cleaner hatches and stronger chicks.

Humidity doesn’t just support incubation — it regulates how your developing chick prepares to hatch. Too dry, and chicks can become shrink-wrapped inside the shell. Too wet, and they may drown during hatch due to an undersized air cell and excess fluid. Because quail eggs lose moisture faster and develop more quickly than chicken eggs, monitoring humidity and temperature at egg level with an external hygrometer and thermometer is one of the simplest ways to improve hatch success.

Different poultry species require different incubator tray systems to turn properly during development. When eggs don’t turn as they should, embryos can become stuck, develop deformities like splayed legs or twisted necks, or fail to hatch entirely. Matching your incubator tray type to the species you're incubating—whether chickens, quail, pheasant, or ducks—is one of the simplest ways to improve hatch success and avoid preventable losses. 

Still-air and forced-air incubators create very different environments for developing embryos. Still-air models require higher temperatures to compensate for uneven heat distribution, while forced-air incubators circulate warm air evenly at 99–100°F. For quail, pheasants, and other game birds, forced-air incubation provides more consistent development and improved hatch success.

Hatching game birds isn’t the same as hatching chickens. Smaller embryos, faster dehydration, and more porous shells make quail and pheasant eggs less forgiving inside the incubator. This article explains how temperature sensitivity and moisture loss affect hatch success — and why game bird incubation often requires more precise environmental control from day one.

Chicken and quail eggs don’t incubate the same way. Quail develop faster, require different tray setups, and are more sensitive to temperature and humidity changes. This article explains how to time mixed hatches, when to set each species, why external thermometers matter, and what to expect during lockdown and hatch behavior.

Hatching your own poultry is rewarding — but success depends on more than just getting a chick out of the egg. This guide walks through the basics of natural vs incubator hatching, realistic hatch success rates, why chicks can’t go straight to the coop, and how to properly set up a brooder using a heat plate. You’ll also learn how to plan the right amount of space for your brooder and grow-out pens as chicks develop, when to transition them outdoors, and how to safely introduce young birds to your existing flock.

Game birds offer more than just lean, flavorful meat — they give families a way to bring field training, youth hunting practice, and working dog development into their own backyard. From Coturnix quail for eggs and beginner scent work to pheasants for advanced training days, many owners start with a few birds and eventually begin incubating their own to better match hatch timing with practice schedules. This guide explores how different game birds are used, what they taste like, and why more backyard setups are evolving beyond chickens into purpose-raised training flocks.

Not all eggs incubate the same way. This guide breaks down the major differences in hatch time, humidity levels, and lockdown timing between chicken eggs and common game bird species like quail, pheasant, partridge, turkey, duck, goose, and peacock. Learn when to increase or decrease humidity, why smaller eggs are less forgiving, and why using a separate thermometer/hygrometer at egg level can improve hatch success—especially when running mixed species in the same incubator.

Before a chick hatches, it absorbs the remaining yolk into its abdomen to use as a built-in food source during its first days of life. This process—called yolk sac absorption—is essential for proper development and early survival. In this article, we explain what a normal post-hatch belly should look like, when an unabsorbed yolk sac becomes a problem, signs of infection to watch for, and what steps you can take to protect a vulnerable chick during the first 24 to 48 hours after hatch.

Your fertile eggs have arrived—now what? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through what to do after receiving shipped hatching eggs, including how long to let them rest, proper incubator setup, marking eggs for turning, and when to start candling. Learn what you should (and shouldn’t) expect to see under candling at each stage of incubation, which egg types are harder to candle, and how to track egg weight loss as an alternative sign of development. The article also covers a critical Day 18 candling check before lockdown to remove non-developing eggs and prevent contamination during hatch.

Incubating chicken eggs at home can feel straightforward — until hatch day comes and nothing happens. This guide walks through the most common incubation mistakes first-time hatchers make, explains why they matter to chick development, and covers when it’s safe to wait for a delayed hatch versus when it’s time to remove a non-viable egg before it becomes a “stink bomb.”

Hatching chicks at home doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. This beginner-friendly guide walks through the egg incubation process from Day 1 to hatch day, including how humidity affects moisture loss, why turning eggs matters, what happens during lockdown, and how chicks absorb the yolk before hatching. With a clear understanding of common terms like pip, zip, and shrink wrapping, you’ll be better prepared to give your eggs the stable environment they need for a successful hatch.

Not all backyard poultry are raised the same way — and choosing between chickens, quail, ducks, pheasants, partridge, turkeys, or geese can completely change your housing, brooder, and long-term setup needs. From fast-maturing Coturnix quail to cold-hardy ducks and flighty upland game birds, each species comes with different growth timelines, space requirements, and environmental sensitivities. This guide walks through the most common backyard poultry types and explains how your bird choice impacts everything from coop design to brooding conditions — helping you plan the right setup from the start.

Many backyard chicken owners begin with a simple starter coop, only to find it no longer fits their growing flock or family routine. This article explores the real-life upgrade path customers take—from cramped beginnings to full-height, customizable legacy coops that support easier cleaning, family involvement, and long-term flock care. It also highlights how a well-built coop can become a lasting, visible feature of your homestead—something that adds character to your property and serves your family for years to come.

Starter coops don’t always keep up with real-life flocks. As backyard chicken owners add spring chicks, hatch more birds, or expand their setup, overcrowding can lead to stress, feather picking, and reduced egg production. The Hen House Collection Large Quaker Chicken Coop & Run (Q1032C) offers a walk-in design with room for 35–40 chickens, built-in ventilation, and an attached covered run to support flock health year-round. With popular add-on features like epoxy flooring, electrical packages, deep litter panels, and heated roost bars, this coop is designed to grow with your flock — not hold it back.

Choosing a chicken coop that’s larger than your current flock needs may feel like overkill at first — but it often prevents some of the most common problems backyard chicken owners face. Extra-large coops make routine cleaning faster and more comfortable, improve airflow and bedding conditions, and reduce stress-related behaviors caused by overcrowding. They also give you flexibility as your flock grows, helping you avoid costly upgrades down the road. If you’re planning for the long term, investing in more coop space now can save time, effort, and frustration later.

As backyard flocks grow, many chicken keepers find their medium-sized coop becoming harder to manage. This article explores the subtle signs your coop may be maxed out, including changes in egg production, flock behavior, and cleaning demands. Learn how limited space can impact your hens—and when moving to a larger coop can make daily care simpler for both you and your birds.

As backyard flocks grow through spring chicks, winter survival, or a little chicken math, many coops quietly become overcrowded without owners realizing it. This article walks through the most common signs your chickens may be running out of space — from roosting issues and dirty eggs to feather picking and increased cleaning demands — and explains how tight quarters can impact flock health, behavior, and egg production. If your coop setup worked last season but feels harder to manage now, it may be time to rethink your space.

This guide walks through exactly what to do when fertile quail or chicken eggs arrive by mail, with a focus on the first critical steps that support hatch success. It covers careful inspection, when cracked eggs can still be set, how and when to repair minor shell cracks with wax, and why resting shipped eggs is essential before incubation begins. The article also explains incubator preparation, humidity monitoring, turning methods to avoid, the lockdown period, and what to do when chicks hatch at different times. It closes with realistic expectations for shipped eggs and the Gone Broody no hatch guarantee, helping customers feel informed, prepared, and confident before they start.

This guide walks through exactly what to do when baby chicks or quail arrive by mail, with a focus on the critical first hours after delivery. It covers brooder setup, heat plate use, bedding differences between chicks and quail, hydration, feeding order, and how to read bird behavior instead of relying only on temperature. The article also explains what’s normal after shipping, when to worry, and how to keep the first week simple so young birds can recover and thrive.

Ordering a chicken coop is exciting — until you realize your yard has to be ready for delivery. This guide walks you through exactly how to prep your yard the right way, from choosing the best location to handling drainage, leveling the ground, and selecting the right foundation. With practical tips and real-world guidance, you’ll feel confident knowing your coop — and your chickens — are set up for success from day one.

Delivery day doesn’t have to feel intimidating. This guide explains how Gone Broody coops are delivered by specialized shed-hauling trucks, how carrier communication works, what to expect with weather delays, and how to prep your yard for smooth placement—so you can feel calm and ready when your coop arrives.

Buying a chicken coop is more than picking a style or price point. This guide walks serious buyers through the non-negotiables that actually matter — from proper ventilation and roofing to flooring, clean-out systems, and room to expand. Learn what separates a coop that lasts for years from one that gets replaced too soon, so you can choose confidently and avoid costly mistakes.

Buying a chicken coop seems simple — until the first one doesn’t hold up. This guide walks through the real differences between cheap coop kits, DIY builds, and solid pre-built coops, including what usually fails, what takes more time than expected, and why many owners end up replacing their first coop. If you’re testing chickens short-term, a basic option can work. But if chickens are part of your life long-term, this post helps you understand what actually lasts — and why buying twice often costs more.

Choosing the right chicken coop size is one of the biggest decisions new chicken owners make — and one of the most common regrets. This guide breaks down how many chickens really fit in a coop, why roosting space and ventilation matter, and how pecking order and “chicken math” can quietly lead to overcrowding. If you’re torn between coop sizes, this article helps you understand why bigger usually means healthier birds, easier care, and fewer headaches later.

Thinking about backyard chickens but not sure where to start? This guide breaks down what you actually need to raise chickens without the overwhelm. From how many chickens to begin with, to whether you need a run, to what daily care really looks like, this post walks through the basics in a calm, honest way. It’s designed to help you decide if chickens fit your life—and to feel confident taking the next step if they do.

Thinking about getting chickens but not sure if they truly fit your life? This guide walks through the real reasons families want chickens — from fresh eggs and calmer kids to daily routines that replace screen time. It also shares the honest pros and cons most people don’t talk about, including the time commitment, care needs, and why the coop setup matters more than the chickens themselves. With clear expectations and the right planning, chickens can feel simple, joyful, and rewarding. Without it, even small problems can turn into stress. This article helps you decide if chickens match your lifestyle before the first bird arrives.

After 30 days of winter use, chicken keepers learned the truth about coop cleaning. Deep Litter keeps the air cleaner and drier, which helps control ammonia smell and humidity. This makes it the best choice for chicken health in winter when bedding is stirred and topped up. Litter trays can still work, but frozen poop can stick and smells can spike if the litter gets wet. The best tray litter for winter is construction sand in a thin, shallow layer, because it stays less dusty, drains moisture fast, and lets you scrape poop off the top easier. Play sand and straw are not great for trays in winter because dust and moisture can make smells worse and cleaning harder. The key to winter success is keeping litter dry, using airflow vents, and scraping trays often.

Winter can be hard on chickens, especially when it’s wet, windy, and freezing cold. Frostbite usually hurts the comb, wattles, and toes, and it changes the color of their skin from pale to gray to black if it gets worse. In this blog, you learned what frostbite looks like, what chicken body parts look like normally, how to treat frostbite gently, and when the weather becomes too dangerous for your flock. You also got easy tips to prevent frostbite so your chickens can stay safe, warm, healthy, and happy all winter long.

Taking care of chickens in winter isn’t about making the coop warm like a house. It’s about keeping the air dry, fresh, and safe to breathe. Chickens add moisture and dust to the coop when they breathe, poop, and move around. If the coop is closed too tight, the air gets heavy, damp, and stinky with ammonia. When the air is bad for humans, it’s even worse for chickens and can make them cough, sneeze, or feel sick. The best way to help is to let air leave high above the chickens, while blocking strong wind at their level. A healthy winter coop is usually 20°F to 40°F inside, with vents placed 18–24 inches above the roost bar. Upgrades like epoxy floors, deep bedding, and litter trays can make winter cleaning much easier. When airflow is balanced, your chickens stay healthier, the coop smells better, and winter feels less stressful for the whole flock.

Winter makes it hard to keep chicken water from freezing, but using the right tools makes a huge difference. Heated waterers, de-icers, heated bowls, and rubber pans offer the strongest protection, while insulation tricks and warm-water rotation help in milder weather. Safe additives like ACV and beet juice support health but won’t stop freezing, and daily water checks are still essential. With the right setup, your flock will stay hydrated and healthy all season long.

Winter can be tough on backyard chickens, but with the right setup, your flock can stay warm and healthy all season long. In this guide, we explain how chickens naturally keep themselves warm, what temperatures become dangerous, and why windchill and moisture matter more than the number on the thermometer. You’ll learn about safe heating options, whether you should insulate your coop, how the Deep Litter Method adds natural warmth, and why ventilation is the key to preventing frostbite. It’s an easy, practical winter care overview—perfect for any chicken keeper looking to protect their birds in cold weather.

Winter Snow & Your Chicken Coop: What You Need to Know
Snow can get surprisingly heavy, and the wrong chicken coop roof may not stand up to winter storms. Our guide explains which roof styles handle snow the best, how to tell if your coop is strong enough, and safe ways to remove snow without damaging the roof. We also cover why sturdy, northern-built coops—like those from Hen House Collection and Driftless Outdoors—are some of the safest choices for snowy climates. Keep your flock protected all winter long with simple tips that make a big difference.

So… What Exactly Is a Lash Egg? If you’ve ever reached into your nest box expecting a warm, smooth egg and instead pulled out a strange, rubbery lump that looks like it crawled straight out of the Upside Down, you’re...

Your Guide for Raising Chickens for the First Time We help families and homesteaders raise happy hens without the stress. Follow this simple guide packed with tried-and-true tips we hear every week from experienced chicken keepers. 1) Start Smart: Check...