Nesting boxes are a recent addition to my vintage 1920’s era chicken coop. Tired of retrieving eggs from plastic-totes-turned-nesting-boxes (that had a tendency to migrate across the floor of the coop!), I mounted permanent nesting boxes that could be accessed without climbing into the coop. Along the way, I used a few cheats to make installation and…
Chickens are hardy birds that adapt well to a wide range of temperatures if given the resources needed to keep themselves warm. In this article we’ll talk about a few basic ways to winterize your chicken coop, a few unique ideas to help your birds stay toasty through the coldest months, and how to keep…
When we decorate for Christmas, we usually just decorate typical things: putting up a Christmas tree, placing a wreath on the door, and perhaps putting outdoor lights on our house. But the chicken house in your yard can be a fun spot to add cheer and decorate for the holidays too. As Americans rediscover backyard…
Good chicken-coop landscaping includes a balance of well-chosen vegetation with foliage-friendly coop management practices. In this article, I’ll be reviewing the creative planting methods we use at Hawk Hill as well as the trial-and-error-proven plants we’ve come to use in and around our coop year after year. List of Recommended Plants for In…
Lately I am enjoying more photography and appreciation of small delights around Hawk Hill. In this spring “Favorite Things” posts I got herb bouquets, art, and kittens. I’ve been trying to be more intentional about appreciating less glamorous things as beautiful- enter these sage blossoms and fennel fronds. Hardly standouts in the garden, they made…
Last Updated: I raised 35 meat birds this spring and in order to keep things civil in the coop, I decided to construct a small chicken tractor. I had just a few basic goals for my coop: Movable by 1 person Fold or Collapse for Flat Storage Quaint/Tidy Looking Predator proof (or as close as…
How I Convince a Broody Hen to Adopt Hatchery Chicks: If you’ve ever fussed with heat lamps, cold drafts, warm days risking overheating, and tiny baby chicks in a brooder, you know how frustrating the brooding process can be – and finding a hen to adopt your chicks and do the temperature regulation for you…
Like a lot of chicken owners, I struggle to get anything green to grow in my chicken coop. Last spring, totally out of space in my garden, I decided to experiment with growing watermelons vertically up the “trellis” of my chicken coop’s run. Growing vining plants vertically and keeping chickens can go hand in hand…
Our farm has long been home to chickens. Often they spend daylight hours free ranging, but for various reasons, many days the chickens stay confined to their 100 year old coop and a 10 foot by 12 foot fenced run. Early in my chicken keeping, I was frustrated by chickens pulling up and eating any…
