Before you get chickens there are some imporntant things to know. Its not just baby chicks and fresh eggs. All you need to know before you get chickens .....
Chicken chores what is it really like to take care of chickens. Day to day life of chicken care. Free range chicken back yard.
This is the time that shamrock plants are in abundance in stores each March. Should you lay down a few clams and purchase one? Yes! Shamrock plants are worth it for a holiday treat and an easy-to-care-for houseplant that will rebloom again and again. The first time I purchased shamrock plants, they were for my young kids. Needless to say, the plants were in their bedrooms and they didn't get much care. But never fear, these hardy plants are actually bulbs. The lack of water sent the bulbs into a dormant stage. And once a little TLC resumed, the plants were back in business. Instead of dying, they revived and turned into lush houseplants that have bloomed ever since. Shamrock Legend and LoreShamrocks were sacred to the Druids in Ireland; they had many triple deities. In the Celtic religion, three was a mystical number and the shamrock was associated with the sun wheel. Then came St. Patrick. According to Wikipedia, the first evidence of a link between St. Patrick and the shamrock plant appears in 1675 on the St. Patrick’s Coppers or Halpennies which show St. Patrick preaching to a crowd and holding a shamrock. The Irish legend of St. Patrick says that when he was a missionary, he had trouble getting the idea of the Holy Trinity across to people. According to Laura C. Martin in Wildflower Folklore, “The chief of a tribe asked how one could be three. St. Patrick, seeing a shamrock growing close by, bent and picked a leaf and said, “Here in this leaf, three in one, this is a symbol of my faith, Three Gods in One.” The chief was impressed by the analogy and professed his faith.” Pin the image below to save this information for later. Eventually, St. Patrick became the patron saint of Ireland and the shamrock plant has been the symbol of Ireland since the 18th century. It did have some dark days when “wearing of the green” and using the symbol of the shamrock plant was associated with rebellion in the 19th century. Today, the shamrock plant is a registered trademark by the Government of Ireland. The shamrock is to Ireland what the rose is to England and the thistle is to Scotland. In fact, the shamrock is in the United Kingdom’s Royal Coat of Arms. It grows from a single stem along with the rose and thistle. It’s a symbol of unity between the three kingdoms and can be found on public buildings and such in Britain and in Ireland. It’s even on Buckingham Palace. The leaves of the shamrock plant are said to stand upright to signal a storm’s coming. In Irish, shamrock comes from the word seamróg which means summer plant. Wood sorrel, a member of the Oxalis family, is a symbol for joy and maternal tenderness. Shamrock Plant Care Tips Don't give your plant too much water. Let the top few inches of soil dry out and then water carefully so you don't harm the delicate stems. I water my plants from the bottom. At night, shamrock plants will close their leaves. Don't worry, your plant will perk up in the morning. I keep my shamrock plants in bright filtered light. They sit in an east-facing window through the winter and on the deck just outside that window in the summer. If your plants start to turn brown and look horrible, give the bulbs some time to rest and rejuvenate. This is usually done in the summer by stopping water and letting the plants die back for a few weeks. Don't stress over giving your plants a rest. They will let you know what they need. Some people grow these plants for years and never give them a rest. Shamrock plants do well in basic household humidity. From time to time, shamrock plants can be repotted in high-quality potting soil. You can remove spent flowers by snipping them, but it's not necessary for rebloom. The shamrock is one of my favorite houseplants. It's easy and it re-blooms constantly. So, grab a shamrock plant for St. Patrick's Day. It just may bring you a little luck o' the Irish!
Today, I'm going to take you through everything you need to know about how to take care of chickens. They are one of the easiest farm animals to start with.
This is the time that shamrock plants are in abundance in stores each March. Should you lay down a few clams and purchase one? Yes! Shamroc...
To ensure your poultry flock is healthy learn which 10 immune boosting herbs and supplements ensure healthy chickens and other poultry.
Here is your ultimate guide on responsibly raising backyard chickens, including where to get chickens, coop design, daily care, food, water, eggs, and more!
Getting started raising backyard chickens can seem scary. I'll walk you through the entire process of raising chickens step-by-step.
Can herbs keep chickens healthy? Does herb use increase the immune response in the flock? The answer to both questions appears to be, yes!
Want to raise chickens? Here are some chicken questions and answers. How to get them back to the chicken coop? How to catch a chicken?
Years ago medical advice suggested that cholesterol in eggs was harmful to health. Does that still hold true now?
20 common chicken problems and their solutions: from chicks to adults, egg issues to aggressive roosters, predators to seasonal changes.
The difference between straw and hay. Know what is best to feed your animals and what is best to use in your gardens.
Can herbs keep chickens healthy? Does herb use increase the immune response in the flock? The answer to both questions appears to be, yes!
Sour Crop, or Candidiasis, is caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans. Simply put, it is a yeast infection inside the bird’s crop. It causes the mucus membranes within the crop to swell giving the bird the appearance of having something the size of an apple lodged in its neck. This overgrowth of yeast can also create lesions in the crop, esophagus and mouth. In a true case of sour crop, the swollen area will feel squishy and a bad smell can be detected from the beak when pressure is applied to the crop. If the crop is hard, it may be an impacted crop and not sour crop, so please be sure to inspect the crop area thoroughly before treating. What our contributors have to say about treating a true case of sour crop: Vicki Says: Withhold water for the first 12 hours Withhold food for 24 hours After the first 12 hours, give only clear, clean water with no additives At this point I release the bird but I continue observation If the crop does not empty after the first 24 hours: I give the bird only clean water and try to get the crop empty to start treatment Do not feed the bird any solid food at all until the crop is empty. If it is not empty there is a reason. Adding more volume (food) is not going to help Use a dropper to give olive or coconut oil Massage the crop If the crop swells up again Confine the bird to the coop I again withhold water for 12 hours and food for 24 hours - you need that crop emptied for treatment to work. I massage the crop if it feels hard and impacted. If it is squishy I do a little massaging to get things moving. After the crop empties: I feed them eggs with a tablespoon of plain yogurt. I just smash the whole egg… shells and all - and stir in the yogurt. I observe for the next 24 hours. They are offered plain fresh water at all times. After 24 hours, if the crop has emptied, I add plain grain to the eggs. I observe for another 24 hours. I do not do much messing with sour crop. Sometimes they get something lodged in there that needs time to get out. I can usually feel it from the outside and massage it out. If you are sure it is sour crop, there are many things that can be done to treat this kind of thrush naturally. The key to curing thrush naturally and permanently is to kill the yeast with natural means and also to cure the underlying deficiency or imbalance that allowed the yeast to grow out of control in the first place. You treat all you want, but if the bird is to get better it is imperative to find the core of the issue. I offer Oregano, tea tree oil, lavender, and a few cloves to all my birds regularly. Usually this time of year birds develop sour crop from over eating all the lush greens they didn’t have over the winter. I have two that are pooping pure green from the wild strawberries and blossoms. They come in at night and look like they are going to blow up. (They look normal by morning, so I know it’s not a thrush issue.) I have culled one bird for a chronic crop problem. She just loved to eat the oddest things. I had cut up old pie tins and put them in my garden to deter birds and bunnies, and she loved to eat them. Loved shiny things. Found all my husband’s lost nails, nuts and bolts. She was very odd. If she came across a nail head in a door jam or window, she would spend hours trying to get it out. A normal, healthy crop. Justine Says: Here is what has worked for me – Cut out all ACV Give yoghurt with probiotics Eggs are also good No sugar at all - so no fruits, breads, etc. Massage crop When I first noticed that my hen Ruby had Sour Crop, she was bending over to eat and regurgitating. That stuff STANK. Like spoiled milk. Her crop was huge. I took her off food and offered her only water while I did some research. I then bought some plain, sugar free, yoghurt and offered it to her with eggs. She gobbled it up. I massaged her crop twice a day and continued to offer her yoghurt in addition to their regular feed for a week. No treats. She was better after a few days and back to normal after a week. aaggig Says: The one thing that I found after searching the internet was Red Wine... You MUST withhold food or grain based food - as Justine says it’s a yeast infection and sugars feed yeast. Give the chicken a dropper full of Red Wine and wait. Massage the crop in a downward motion. Check the chicken later and if it is not gone give them more Red wine and some plain, organic yogurt. The chicken should be cured in 12-24 hours. Another chicken owner had the same problem and I told her about the wine. At first she was skeptical but emailed the next day say it was a miracle! So that’s my 2 cents.... *Please note – Be cautious when administering liquids and oils by syringe or dropper as you do not want your bird to aspirate the liquid into the lungs. Here is a great video on giving chickens medication: *
Learn the scoop behind the different protein sources for chickens, including which is better, plant-based protein or animal-based protein!
Good landscaping in and around your chicken coop can improve flock health by providing well-ventilated shade in the heat of summer and fresh supplemental forage year-round. Well-managed plants help bind the nitrogen in the soil that is produced by chicken manure and minimize run-off by aerating soil into a sponge-like consistency that's better able to
Chicken Resistant Plants Gardening with chickens can be a pleasure as well as frustration and challenge. Here is a list of plants from my garden (USDA zone 9 - 10/ Sunset zone 22) that I have had success with my chickens leaving alone. For a...
Chickens need protein to help with moulting in the autumn, cold and stress in the winter. Here are the ten best sources.
Learn the Tips of caring for baby chicks at the farm, from nurturing them yourself to understanding how it differs from a mama hen's care. Essential steps and tips for raising healthy, happy chickens from day one.
Marans chickens are famous for laying incredibly dark brown eggs. These birds are friendly, do well both in confinement and on the range, and they get along great in mixed-breed flocks. They have much to offer for backyards and barnyards alike. But before you get your own Marans chickens, there are
How to Raise Peafowl: Information on the Basics Peafowl are a beautiful bird whom people love to see. Their big, blue and green colors will take your breath away. They are one of the most detailed animals in the world. However, although...
Ten steps to spotting when your flock is succumbing to heat exhaustion - and what to do about it.
This reader shares photos of his low-maintenance coral bells and hybrids featuring their fresh expanding foliage, lush colors and silvering.
Here's a question, can chickens eat peaches? Because domestic chickens can produce unfertilized eggs without the aid of a rooster, many people keep a......
Transform your backyard into a place of escape where you can unwind, enjoy some fresh air, and have fun with friends and family. To foster an inviting atmosphere, combine outdoor furniture, decor, landscaping, and other elements that suit your style and needs.
Bantams are miniature chickens that you'll simply fall in love with! here's everything you need to know about how to take care of them.
Reuse eggshells - don't throw them away! If you've been tossing your eggshells, I'm about to convince you to keep them. No eggshells in my trash cans!
Pendulous crop in chickens. What causes pendulous crop or impacted crop in chickens. How to treat it and help your chickens recover and digest their food properly.
Lessons from caring for a flock in an Italian hilltop village. Seven facts which can help you raise healthy chickens naturally, too.
Raising chicks for beginners - What to expect the first 6 weeks. March just flew by, and our chicks have grown so much. I can't even believe it! They've...
Growing fodder for chickens is easy! Here is a chicken fodder system that works well, and helps answer the question—what do chickens eat, afterall?
So, How do you vacation when your chickens don’t? One of the challenging parts of raising backyard chickens is leaving them when I’m going on a vacation
Alliums are easy to plant in fall and enjoy in spring. Check out our care tips for growing alliums and our favorite allium flower varieties.
No shortage of articles circulate online about using mint with backyard chickens, but how much faith should you place in those claims when the health of your pet chickens is at stake? Let's take a critical look at the most common claims made about mint to see what they look like when held up to
Raising your own backyard chickens is a great way to increase your sustainability and improve the health of your family by providing organic eggs with no added hormones. Plus, chickens are a natural source of
Nothing more frustrating to watch your beloved flowers get all torn up from your hens! Here are 8 proven tips that work to protect flowers from chickens.
I have sprouted and tested 17 types of sprouted grains on my…
Bantam chickens are pocket-sized poultry that pack a punch! Let’s crack open the world of petite poultry: their eggs, temperaments, needs, varieties, and of course…their size + FREE downloads!
Gardening for chickens, growing plants for feed. Have you considered planting a garden just for your chickens? It's a great sources of free feed and can really reduce your chicken feed bill!
When I walked outside, my little Ameraucana, Edy Bea, sprinted over to see me. I squatted down so she could jump in my lap, and as she looked into my eyes, her pupils were doing the craziest thing. Her pupils were dilating to an enormous size and then constricting to a teeny tiny size—they were doi
Want a healthy, inexpensive treat for your chickens? Here's one that's fun, nutritionally beneficial and easy to make.
Good landscaping in and around your chicken coop can improve flock health by providing well-ventilated shade in the heat of summer and fresh supplemental forage year-round. Well-managed plants help bind the nitrogen in the soil that is produced by chicken manure and minimize run-off by aerating soil into a sponge-like consistency that's better able to
