Chicken Breeds
Barred Rock Chickens: Egg Production, Temperament & Care
Learn about Barred Rock chickens, including egg production, temperament, size, brown eggs, broodiness, cold tolerance, housing and complete care.
Read Article25 min read
The Roost
Tips, guides, and seasonal advice for backyard chicken keepers. From beginner basics to advanced flock care.
Chicken Breeds
Australorp Chickens: Egg Production, Temperament & Care
Learn about Australorp chickens, including egg production, temperament, size, brown eggs, broodiness, climate tolerance, housing and complete care.
Read Article25 min read
Chicken Breeds
Brahma Chickens: Size, Egg Production, Temperament & Care
Brahma chickens are giant, calm, cold-hardy birds with feathered feet. Learn their size, egg production, temperament and how to house and care for them.
Read Article26 min read
Chicken Breeds
Rhode Island Red Chickens: Eggs, Temperament & Complete Care Guide
Learn about Rhode Island Red chickens, including egg production, temperament, size, heritage vs. production strains, care and how they compare with similar breeds.
Read Article26 min read
Chicken Breeds
Easter Egger Chickens: Egg Colors, Temperament & Care Guide
Learn about Easter Egger chickens, including blue and green egg colors, production, temperament, size, care and how they differ from Ameraucanas.
Read Article23 min read
Chicken Breeds
Buff Orpington Chickens: Egg Production, Temperament & Care
Learn about Buff Orpington chickens, including egg production, temperament, size, broodiness, lifespan, housing, cold tolerance and complete care.
Read Article25 min read
Chicken Breeds
Silkie Chickens: Eggs, Temperament, Lifespan & Complete Care Guide
Learn about Silkie chickens, including eggs, temperament, lifespan, size, broodiness, housing, feeding, weather care and whether Silkies are right for you.
Read Article22 min read
Beginner Guides
Can Ducks and Chickens Live Together? Coop, Feed, Water & Mixed-Flock Safety
Can ducks and chickens live together? Learn about shared coops, feed, water, bedding, drakes, ducklings and the biosecurity risks of mixed flocks.
Read Article23 min read
Flock Safety
Do Cats Kill Chickens? How Much Risk Are Cats to Chicks & Adult Hens
Do cats kill chickens? Learn how much risk domestic and feral cats pose to chicks, bantams and adult hens, and how to protect your flock.
Read Article19 min read
Coop Care
Chickens Sleeping in Nesting Boxes? Why It Happens & How to Stop It
Chickens sleeping in nesting boxes? Learn why hens avoid their roosts and how to fix roost height, crowding, drafts, bullying and coop layout.
Read Article21 min read
Beginner Guides
How Many Chickens Should I Get? A Practical Flock Size Guide for Beginners
How many chickens should you get? Use eggs wanted, household size, available space, feed costs and time to find the right beginner flock size.
Read Article21 min read
Coop Care
Best Ground Cover for a Chicken Run: Sand vs. Wood Chips vs. Gravel
What's the best ground cover for a chicken run? Compare sand, wood chips and gravel for drainage, mud, cleaning and everyday backyard use.
Read Article24 min read
Coop Care
Chicken Coop Ventilation: How Much Does Your Coop Need?
How much ventilation does a chicken coop need? Use our planner to estimate open vent area, check existing vents, avoid roost drafts and fix moisture or ammonia.
Read Article16 min read
Coop Care
How Much Space Do Chickens Need? Coop & Run Size Chart + Calculator
How much space do chickens need? Use our coop and run size chart and simple calculator for 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or more backyard hens.
Read Article20 min read
Beginner Guides
How Much Do Chickens Cost? Chicks, Coop Setup & Monthly Costs
How much do chickens cost? See current chick prices, coop and run setup costs, monthly feed expenses, and a realistic budget for starting 4–6 hens.
Read Article20 min read
Coop Care
Best Bedding for Chickens: Pine Shavings vs. Hemp, Straw & Sand
What is the best bedding for chickens? Compare pine shavings, hemp, straw and sand for moisture, odor, cleaning, nesting boxes and everyday coop use.
Read Article20 min read
Coop Care
Best Sand for a Chicken Dust Bath: Types, Grain Size & What to Avoid
What is the best sand for a chicken dust bath? Compare construction sand, play sand, grain sizes and silica concerns, plus learn what sand types to avoid.
Read Article17 min read
Coop Care
Diatomaceous Earth in Chicken Dust Baths: Does It Work, Is It Safe & Should You Use It?
Should you put diatomaceous earth in a chicken dust bath? See what research says about mites and lice, inhalation risks, food-grade DE, and whether your flock actually needs it.
Read Article17 min read
Beginner Guides
What Time of Day Do Chickens Lay Eggs? Morning, Afternoon & What's Normal
What time of day do chickens lay eggs? Learn when hens usually lay, why laying time shifts later each day, whether afternoon eggs are normal, and the best time to collect eggs.
Read Article13 min read
Beginner Guides
How Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs? Daily, Weekly & Yearly Expectations
How often do chickens lay eggs? Learn how many eggs to expect per day, week and year, why hens skip days, and what causes egg production to rise or fall.
Read Article16 min read
Beginner Guides
Chicken Nesting Boxes: Size, Dimensions, How Many You Need & Where to Put Them
How big should a chicken nesting box be, how many do you need, and where should they go? A complete guide to nesting box size, dimensions, height, placement, and setup mistakes to avoid.
Read Article19 min read
Beginner Guides
What Can Chickens Eat? 50 Safe Foods, Treats & Foods to Avoid
Wondering what chickens can eat? See 50 safe fruits, vegetables, grains and treats for chickens, plus the foods you should never feed your flock.
Read Article17 min read
Beginner Guides
When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs? Age, Signs & What to Expect
When do chickens start laying eggs? Most hens begin around 18–24 weeks. Learn the signs a pullet is about to lay, what affects the timing, and what to expect from those first eggs.
Read Article12 min read
Flock Health
Why Is My Chicken Losing Feathers? Molting vs. Other Common Causes
Why is your chicken losing feathers? Learn how to tell normal molting from mites, lice, feather pecking, rooster damage, nutrition problems and more.
Read Article18 min read
Seasonal Care
When Do Chickens Molt? Signs, Timeline & How to Help Your Flock
When do chickens molt? Learn when molting happens, how long it lasts, signs to watch for and how to help your hens grow healthy new feathers.
Read Article19 min read
Seasonal Care
How to Keep Chickens Cool in Summer: Signs of Heat Stress & 10 Ways to Help
Learn how to keep chickens cool in summer, recognize the signs of heat stress and use 10 simple ways to help your flock through hot weather.
Read Article17 min read
Coop Care
How Often Should You Clean a Chicken Coop? Daily, Weekly & Deep-Clean Schedule
How often should you clean a chicken coop? Follow this simple daily, weekly and deep-clean schedule to keep bedding dry, odors down and your flock comfortable.
Read Article16 min read
Coop Care
Why Are My Chickens Not Laying Eggs? 8 Common Reasons to Check
Chickens stopped laying? Before you worry, work through eight common reasons — from shorter daylight and molting to feed, stress, broodiness, and hidden nests.
Read Article12 min read
Coop Care
What to Put in Chicken Nesting Boxes: Best Bedding, Herbs & What to Avoid
Not sure what to put in chicken nesting boxes? A look at pine shavings, straw, nesting pads, and dried herbs — plus what to avoid for cleaner eggs and happier hens.
Read Article10 min read
Beginner Guides
Chicken Dust Bath Container Ideas: 10 Easy DIY Setups
The vessel you choose shapes how well a dust bath drains, holds material, and gets used. Here are 10 container ideas for backyard flocks of every size.
Read Article5 min read
Coop Care
Do Chicken Nesting Herbs Work? Safety, Evidence & How to Use Them
Do chicken nesting herbs really work? See what the evidence says about lavender, rosemary and other herbs, what they can and can't do, safety concerns, and how to use them responsibly.
Read Article14 min read
Seasonal Care
Spring Chicken Care: Preparing Your Flock for the Season
A complete guide to spring coop cleaning, flock health checks, and seasonal care routines.
Read Article1 min read