tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19484903332652372492024-02-26T01:18:31.228-05:00Pam's Backyard ChickensChickens . Gardening . Nature . CraftingPam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-27765377640130605982023-06-15T05:00:00.000-04:002023-06-15T22:10:43.334-04:00How Old Do Chickens Need to Be to Lay Eggs?When will your chickens start to lay eggs? The wait for the first eggs from your new hens may seem long, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not. When hens are about five to six months old they will start to lay eggs. Find out more about what to expect when you're egg-specting!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15KPVAdN255ToNGXWcB9FDJI6dCxNrjTq-XYR6XvrTomPpLzWG3lO4hFZQAzzgnWhKuLLmeiJYw-e3mgKAllBjPKp7gTlGTEbJNusnEasyw-TsTfOPAiL-qVPxXbSFg_sF7KRhparvx3_l8ycwHrTRX7eKM4Lmrm-2Z95IcPifF9SrHoSpIDwRMEkbQ/s940/chickens-laying-eggs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15KPVAdN255ToNGXWcB9FDJI6dCxNrjTq-XYR6XvrTomPpLzWG3lO4hFZQAzzgnWhKuLLmeiJYw-e3mgKAllBjPKp7gTlGTEbJNusnEasyw-TsTfOPAiL-qVPxXbSFg_sF7KRhparvx3_l8ycwHrTRX7eKM4Lmrm-2Z95IcPifF9SrHoSpIDwRMEkbQ/w640-h536/chickens-laying-eggs.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<a name='more'></a>It's important to remember the start date (point of lay) for egg laying varies by breed and time of year. Every chicken is different. Heritage breeds take longer to begin laying than the new hybrid mixes that have been bred to lay lots of eggs and start the process quickly. If you raise chicks in the fall, they won't begin laying until the early days of spring as daylight hours start getting longer.<br />
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<b>đ FYI</b> đ Egg laying is influenced by the amount of daylight available. Hens need at least 12 hours of daylight to lay. Fourteen to 16 hours of light is optimum.<br />
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<b>What Do I Feed Laying Hens?</b><br />
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Laying hens need extra calcium since about 40% of an eggshell is made of calcium. As your pullets (young hens) are growing, they should be fed a starter/grower feed. Do not feed them layer feed until they reach 16 to 18 weeks old. Layer feed can cause health problems and even death in immature chickens. When you first switch from starter/grower to layer feed, be sure to do it gradually to allow your bird's body to adjust to the new formulation.<br />
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If you have a mixed flock with adult and immature birds, you can feed everyone starter/grower feed until the hens mature. The starter/grower feed won't hurt the adult birds. You can supply calcium, such as oyster shells, separately to your mature layers.<br />
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<b>How Many Eggs Will My Hen Lay?</b><br />
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Hens lay approximately 200 to 300 eggs annually based on the breed type. There is record of a Black Austrolorp laying 364 eggs in 365 days. She was busy!<br />
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Some of the best <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2017/09/looking-for-good-egg-layers-heres-top.html" target="_blank">egg-laying breeds</a> include <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2020/01/sussex-chicken-breed-spotlight.html" target="_blank">Sussex</a>, <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/09/leghorn-great-white-egg-laying-chicken-breed.html" target="_blank">Leghorn</a>, <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/01/breed-profile-ameraucana.html" target="_blank">Easter Egger</a>, <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/08/brahma-chicken-breed-spotlight.html#more" target="_blank">Brahma</a> and <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/02/breed-profile-new-hampshire-red.html" target="_blank">New Hampshire</a>.<div>
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<b>What Egg Color Will my Chickens Lay?</b><br />
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Rhode Island Reds, Black Austrolorps,and Golden Sex Links all lay brown eggs. White Leghorns lay white eggs. For different <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/03/chicken-breeds-that-lay-blue-or-green.html" target="_blank">chicken egg colors like blue or gree</a>n, there are some fascinating breeds to try. Ameraucanas, Araucanas and Cream Legbars all lay blue eggs. For green eggs, you can raise Easter Eggers (which can lay a rainbow of egg colors from bluish, green, pinkish or cream) or Olive Eggers and Favaucanas. Light Sussex, Mottled Java and Faverolles all lay a pinkish-cream egg. Welsummers, Penedesencas, and Maran chickens all lay dark chocolate brown eggs.<br />
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<b>How Long Do Chickens Lay Eggs?</b><br />
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Peak egg production for backyard chickens generally occurs at two years of age and slowly declines thereafter. To make sure your hens are producing good quality eggs, itâs important to feed them a healthy diet and keep a constant supply of fresh water available. Older hens do need more calcium. A great supplement is to feed your chickens their own shells. Save the used shells, clean and microwave them for a few seconds. When theyâre crispy, break them up and mix them with their feed. You can also add more calcium into your flockâs diet by purchasing a commercial feed with added calcium.<br />
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Purina published the following graphic that shows the decline in egg production over a hen's life. For the average backyard chicken keeper, there's no reason to cull chickens based on their egg-laying. Most people will find that over time they have a flock of mixed ages supplying an adequate amount of eggs for a family.<br />
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<br /></div><br /></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-66311952220427825382023-05-11T07:00:00.000-04:002023-05-11T09:58:14.897-04:00Homemade Bath Salts and Scrubs Making homemade bath salts and scrubs is easy and decadent. These two recipes are so great youâll find yourself making them again and again. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF14yEOzqmsXkzTBHjyxQ2nTvl54TJ3eZUMeG1Qg9yfhZT6urWrf7qSsXHf2m26siNseFePHsOmi8O9JyRCbw0g_ZSKcbWOXdGZZm0ypQV32NPMamOSsy_E2J5vnhaC7sby0E5bFEvEftI/s1600/031+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I love making homemade bath salts and scrubs! They are decadent, yet easy to make. These two recipes are so great youâll find yourself making them again and again." border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1600" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF14yEOzqmsXkzTBHjyxQ2nTvl54TJ3eZUMeG1Qg9yfhZT6urWrf7qSsXHf2m26siNseFePHsOmi8O9JyRCbw0g_ZSKcbWOXdGZZm0ypQV32NPMamOSsy_E2J5vnhaC7sby0E5bFEvEftI/w640-h392/031+%25282%2529.JPG" title="Homemade Bath Salts and Scrubs" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>All the ingredients can be found at your local grocery, craft store or online. There's almost no excuse not to make them for your next bath. Just grab the ingredients from your pantry and you're ready for a relaxing soak in the tub. You can also make bath salts ahead of time and store them in your bathroom closet so theyâre always handy. Theyâre great for your skin and can be tailored to meet your specific needs.<div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="I love making homemade bath salts and scrubs! They are decadent, yet easy to make. These two recipes are so great youâll find yourself making them again and again." border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSASphN1UG1Ky2M38tVE6UN8tPbxutYsKgEBbY8JLJbbNbzt2NJRLKR3gvinKi2vH1oh3_6LPSMn8E-45dqvsuoygPDPadIxBJ5OQTaHBCwnDcsqJVze7cpz97QjOYL9RE3_G2W10aE53v/w400-h400/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy.png" title="Homemade Bath Salts and Scrubs" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b>Basic Bath Salt Recipe</b><br />
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2 cups Epsom salt<o:p></o:p></div>
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½ cup baking soda</div>
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<b>Optional Additions</b> </div>
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Âź cup Dead Sea Salts â <o:p></o:p>Adds lots of minerals and increases the healing power of homemade bath salts.</li><li>
½ cup Nonfat Dry Milk â <o:p></o:p>This is wonderful for adding a moisturizing element. The milk cleans and softens skin.</li><li>
Essential Oil â Add to your fragrance preference. My Christmas salts include 10 drops each of clove bud, lavender, and bergamot.</li><li>
Food Coloring â <o:p></o:p>Add enough to achieve the color youâd like.</li><li>
Âź to ½ cup Regular Oats (not instant) â Run through a blender to make them very fine. Oats cleanse the skin and lock in moisture.</li><li>
1 Tablespoon Fine Granulated Sugar</li><li>
Âź cup Citric Acid â This gives your salts fizz and is great to use in salts made for kids.</li></ul></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDCUAKfWTxtauugPwyA-COrHjBF-FfvGd8idAGcCdxUgzoar-PpSDv6tFBVNhyLxSnbGbV-kErH-MNNyzRHNxy3zIfrK08rAWrtHQymWVek2E61ooEQ7SxFNzlF1e1HixlRxKsU_a7dgW/s1600/014+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I love making homemade bath salts and scrubs! They are decadent, yet easy to make. These two recipes are so great youâll find yourself making them again and again." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDCUAKfWTxtauugPwyA-COrHjBF-FfvGd8idAGcCdxUgzoar-PpSDv6tFBVNhyLxSnbGbV-kErH-MNNyzRHNxy3zIfrK08rAWrtHQymWVek2E61ooEQ7SxFNzlF1e1HixlRxKsU_a7dgW/w640-h480/014+%25282%2529.JPG" title="Homemade Bath Salts and Scrubs" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Quick Tip:</b> Donât get too wrapped up in exact measurements with your homemade bath salts. If you like more baking soda or dried milk, by all means, add them. Being able to personalize your salts is the fun part!<div><br />
Add the dried ingredients into a big bowl and stir them together. Then add the essential oils and food coloring and stir everything together again. The essential oils and coloring will distribute through the mixture. After the salts are thoroughly mixed, they can be packaged. Cellophane bags and tied with pretty ribbons work well. Homemade tags add a special touch.<br />
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To use, pour Âź cup (or more) into a hot bath and enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9irWJS3e5AVgJrxxm3Z9dCAD-M6fkQHXnJhzXPdNXR7ElNJzOjMeGI_kSpW7vOe6NyL8hNS-MdQ1CiBzR3rI3E4aoxo7rq4BJ3XuCRVwDM4Pd7QANhr5vpRMyCAvLWCGqzVpN7JWUDaV/s1102/Homemade+Bath+Salts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I love making homemade bath salts and scrubs! They are decadent, yet easy to make. These two recipes are so great youâll find yourself making them again and again." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9irWJS3e5AVgJrxxm3Z9dCAD-M6fkQHXnJhzXPdNXR7ElNJzOjMeGI_kSpW7vOe6NyL8hNS-MdQ1CiBzR3rI3E4aoxo7rq4BJ3XuCRVwDM4Pd7QANhr5vpRMyCAvLWCGqzVpN7JWUDaV/w426-h640/Homemade+Bath+Salts.png" title="Homemade Bath Salts and Scrubs" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<b>Homemade Body Scrub<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">A homemade body scrub is super easy because thereâs no measuring involved; just a few simple ingredients and lots of fun. You can make this recipe with salt or sugar according to your personal preference. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Basic Recipe</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Epsom salts, Sea Salts or plain sugar<o:p></o:p></div>
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Olive Oil<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lemon Juice (either directly from the lemon or from the bottle)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Essential oils for scent </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYpqsjJ3HO9cWirCAhsr7jZZN_rFqpUQ3NAR0VNJq8AuJTqF6qlrhOtuBcdtvyzevUEVDG0uKjhWyOf-hTQW21KAiVLb3V7Of3zMzZffLiR89TFqpuqTc0B1wewzxb8EJ9LISR5GoaIFP/s1600/020+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I love making homemade bath salts and scrubs! They are decadent, yet easy to make. These two recipes are so great youâll find yourself making them again and again." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYpqsjJ3HO9cWirCAhsr7jZZN_rFqpUQ3NAR0VNJq8AuJTqF6qlrhOtuBcdtvyzevUEVDG0uKjhWyOf-hTQW21KAiVLb3V7Of3zMzZffLiR89TFqpuqTc0B1wewzxb8EJ9LISR5GoaIFP/w480-h640/020+%25282%2529.JPG" title="Homemade Bath Salts and Scrubs" width="480" /></a></div>
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Put your salt/sugar in a bowl, mix with olive oil and lemon juice until itâs the right consistency, then add a few drops of essential oil until the smell is to your liking<br />
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Once all the ingredients are mixed, just put the homemade bath scrub in a pretty jar and then use it to have super-smooth skin year-round.</div>
</div></div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-79657644732409006912023-04-10T05:00:00.002-04:002023-04-10T08:29:51.378-04:00A Guide to Raising Baby Chickens for BeginnersNowadays many are taking
back some control and raising their own food via a flock of backyard chickens.
Itâs not a bad idea! If youâve never raised a flock before, or need a quick
refresher, here's a quick guide to raising baby chickens for beginners.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid30UUkzKVV0HgvC-TRW2MkFCRMzTJ5i5GYSBtRSYN8m55Pf7ReI-pnbtUM_LdTLT4xGWmrDNJoJlVj9ukwT0G0hIJVgawD01QpgZz2i9fzQTjdwT6vg8c4BCNjjyNsX5zGkqP2wU16Sfb/s2048/20190726_182134.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If youâve never raised a flock before, or need a quick refresher, here's a quick guide to raising baby chickens for beginners." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid30UUkzKVV0HgvC-TRW2MkFCRMzTJ5i5GYSBtRSYN8m55Pf7ReI-pnbtUM_LdTLT4xGWmrDNJoJlVj9ukwT0G0hIJVgawD01QpgZz2i9fzQTjdwT6vg8c4BCNjjyNsX5zGkqP2wU16Sfb/w640-h360/20190726_182134.jpg" title="A Guide to Raising Baby Chickens for Beginners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><a name='more'></a><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Chickens 101 - Can You Have Chickens?</span></b></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Before getting started raising baby chickens for beginners, be sure to check your local regulations to see if chickens are
allowed in your neighborhood. Most subdivisions with homeownerâs associations donât
allow it, but some do. Some areas
restrict the number of birds you can keep. Others allow hens but not roosters.
Others regulate how a chicken coop looks, how far from the property line it
must be located etc.
Donât forget, properly cared for chickens can live a long time.
(I have chickens that are over 10 years old.) They are your responsibility and
are a long-term investment. Donât purchase because of the pandemic, purchase
because you are ready for the commitment and the reward that comes with it.
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that defines things. Backyard chicken keeping is no different. In fact, itâs
vital to know the terms of the road before you start out, otherwise, you may end
up where you didnât want to go. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Hen</b> â A mature female chicken. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Pullet</b> â A female chicken thatâs less than a year old. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rooster (Cock)</b> â A mature male chicken. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cockerel</b> â A young male chicken. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Straight Run</b> â Unsexed day-old chickens. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2013/08/how-to-raise-chicks-with-a-broody-hen.html" target="_blank">Broody Hen</a> </b>â A hen that wants to lay eggs and hatch them. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Clutch </b>â The set of eggs a broody hen sits on to hatch. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Point of Lay</b> â This is the time when pullets begin to lay eggs
for the first time. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Breed</b> â A group of chickens with the same general features of
height, weight, feather color, egg color etc. Examples of breeds are Cochin, Rhode
Island Red, Wyandotte and Orpington. When a breed of chicken mates with its
same breed, you can expect the offspring to have the same characteristics as
the parents. A hybrid chicken is mixed with two or more breeds. Like a mutt., its
offspring will not breed true. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bantam</b> â A small-sized chicken, usually Âź to ½ the size of a regular
chicken. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Broiler</b> â A chicken raised for meat. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Laying Hen (Layer)</b> â A chicken raised for its eggs. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Molt </b>â The natural yearly process where chickens shed their
feathers in late summer/early fall and replace them with new feathers. A
chickenâs first adult molt begins around 18 months of age. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Coop and Run</b> â The coop is an enclosed chicken house where
chickens will roost at night and lay their eggs. A run is an enclosed structure
attached to the coop where chickens can get outside and stretch their legs. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Nest Boxes</b> â A designated area of the coop (can be boxes hung
on the coop wall) where hens will lay their eggs. You should provide one nest
box for every four to five hens. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Brooder</b> â This is the area where you hand-raise baby chickens.
It contains a heat source and food and water. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Comb</b> â The fleshy red skin at the top of a chickenâs head. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wattle</b> â The fleshy red flaps of skin on a chickenâs chin.
Pin the image below to save this information for later.</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5FMIml-BcI5NGxkUOw24Joi_ZpidOflmS1-_XazJmG2H2TA5bvr3n3f7sInRAxJBG7-ZF5ZfW7-JvBly3WM7lp7wti_n87SfQsKnQsOvuLGI0iSAS7eLT-nFPZ68naDq-HTjf2aYytehraLWFx-EP26Z3_QU5CwJSCWJHeWcSWI7MndDQrZsI98zOA/s1102/A%20Guide%20to%20Raising%20Baby%20Chickens%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5FMIml-BcI5NGxkUOw24Joi_ZpidOflmS1-_XazJmG2H2TA5bvr3n3f7sInRAxJBG7-ZF5ZfW7-JvBly3WM7lp7wti_n87SfQsKnQsOvuLGI0iSAS7eLT-nFPZ68naDq-HTjf2aYytehraLWFx-EP26Z3_QU5CwJSCWJHeWcSWI7MndDQrZsI98zOA/w426-h640/A%20Guide%20to%20Raising%20Baby%20Chickens%20(2).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><b><span style="font-size: large;">
Purchasing Day-Old Chickens </span></b><div><br /></div><div>Day-old chickens will come sexed as pullets or unsexed as
straight run. If you purchase straight run, that means youâre going to get
males and females together. Statistics show straight run is about 50/50 females
to males. If you canât have roosters or donât want them, donât purchase
straight run. Know, however, that sexing day-old chicks is not completely
accurate, so sexed pullets may not all turn out to be hens. In a farm store,
you also canât be sure a worker or shopper always picks up a chicken and puts
it back in the right brooder. Sometimes straight-run chicks end up in pullet
bins. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Note</b>: You do not need a rooster for a hen to lay eggs, she
will lay eggs regardless of whether you have a rooster. A rooster is only
needed to fertilize eggs. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2016/03/7-tips-for-successfully-buying-chicks.html" target="_blank">purchase from a farm store</a>, you will be able to handpick your chicks. Be sure you are happy with your choices before you leave the
store as they donât usually accept returns. Know that many stores have a
minimum number of chicks or ducks, that you must purchase at one time. The
most common minimums are three or six at a time. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Choosing Your Chicken Breed </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Breed choice is part of the fun of chicken ownership - there are literally hundreds to
choose from! Here are some categories to consider based on your goals â egg layer,
dual-purpose (can be used for eggs and meat), meat bird, weather tolerance
(heat, cold or both). Within those parameters, there are many choices. Some are
more family-friendly. Some will go broody more than others. All have unique feather
colors. <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/03/chicken-breeds-that-lay-blue-or-green.html" target="_blank">Egg color may also a consideration.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Note</b>: Eggshell color is genetic and does not affect the taste
of an egg. Egg taste is based on a chickenâs diet and the freshness of the egg. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Raising Baby Chickens </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>When you <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/02/baby-chick-health-101.html" target="_blank">hand-raise day-old chicks</a>, you are replacing their
broody mom, so youâve got to provide what she would provide them â shelter,
warmth, food and water.
Donât spend a lot of money on your brooder because it will
need to get bigger as your chicks get bigger. You donât want it too big in the
beginning because the chicks shouldnât get too far from their heat source. Three
examples I have used are a large plastic storage tub, an old guinea pig cage
and a mesh puppy playpen. I raise my chicks inside the house and then move the
brooder to the garage as the chicks get bigger (and messier). Make sure your
brooder is secure on the top because baby chickens can fly! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0I45YDge1tHrShoS2_NDz1Ttw_zOoQ-lhomT8oqnLLYNCrl9KghMDCo_a63Wr_asmpPK8lJ5Iti1MORdwW8YJq8dUMHlIgIiTE8ms19Q431lpfSbQ6-SFjmHR8LnCtBFYR_WUvZF-Jtcb/s2048/20190726_182054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If youâve never raised a flock before, or need a quick refresher, here's a quick guide to raising baby chickens for beginners." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0I45YDge1tHrShoS2_NDz1Ttw_zOoQ-lhomT8oqnLLYNCrl9KghMDCo_a63Wr_asmpPK8lJ5Iti1MORdwW8YJq8dUMHlIgIiTE8ms19Q431lpfSbQ6-SFjmHR8LnCtBFYR_WUvZF-Jtcb/w640-h360/20190726_182054.jpg" title="A Guide to Raising Baby Chickens for Beginners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For heat, there are two popular options, a heat lamp and a
brooder plate. I started out raising baby chickens with a heat lamp. It worked well,
but youâve got to be careful because a heat lamp can be a fire hazard.
Eventually, I splurged and switched to a brooder plate. I wish I had done it
sooner (a Brinsea EcoGlow, in case you're curious). I wish I had done it sooner. Itâs easier, uses less electricity and has
a greatly reduced fire risk. You also donât have to worry so much about the
temperature. Just make sure the room where your chicks are being raised is a
good temperature. (I keep mine at 73°F.) Then let the chicks do the rest. They
will run out from under the brooder plate to get food and water and to explore,
then run back under when they need some heat. This is what they would do if
they were being raised by mom. </div><div><br /></div><div>If youâre using a heat lamp, you need to measure the
temperature at the bottom of the brooder since thatâs where the chicks hang
out. From hatch to one week of age, the brooder temperature should be 90 to 95°F and then go down five degrees each week. Watch your chicks closely. If
they are cold, theyâll huddle around the heat and will chirp loudly, if theyâre
too hot, theyâll be sprawled out around the brooder and pant. Make adjustments
as needed. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kNSkwrycANqaZ14OXUsFdYiuTKh7_6uyyMu2h6XSYCLXG6tGQSk-dTRDOCuvZpY57jsHj-OEp8Qx6gDetmGJOqOYyvuEPW0oc2EmOJbcmJvxBKdWlVg59MA1D7uj5qiFhI9d93XTJn-m/s2048/A+Guide+to+Raising+Chickens+for+Beginners+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If youâve never raised a flock before, or need a quick refresher, here's a quick guide to raising baby chickens for beginners." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kNSkwrycANqaZ14OXUsFdYiuTKh7_6uyyMu2h6XSYCLXG6tGQSk-dTRDOCuvZpY57jsHj-OEp8Qx6gDetmGJOqOYyvuEPW0oc2EmOJbcmJvxBKdWlVg59MA1D7uj5qiFhI9d93XTJn-m/w640-h360/A+Guide+to+Raising+Chickens+for+Beginners+1.jpg" title="A Guide to Raising Baby Chickens for Beginners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Special chick-sized equipment for food and water is available
and helpful. Know that as the chicks grow, youâll need to raise the food and
water to their height to reduce waste. Until pullets reach their point of lay, they
must be fed starter/grower feed. This comes in two different formulations:
medicated and non-medicated. The medicated feed contains amprolium which keeps
the number of coccidia low in the chickâs system so their maturing immune
system isnât overwhelmed and they develop coccidiosis which can result in poor
growth and death. If your chicks have been vaccinated for coccidiosis, they
donât need medicated starter feed. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Note</b>: Do not feed layer feed meant for hens that are already
laying eggs to baby chickens. Layer feed contains calcium which is harmful to a
growing chick. If you have a mixed flock of adults and young chickens, switch
everyone to starter/grower feed and offer calcium free-choice to the adults. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">When Can My Chicks Go Outside? </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>For the first month of life, chicks arenât fully feathered and
canât regulate their body temperature. If the chicks are a few weeks old and you
have a warm day, you can <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/04/baby-chicks-get-outside-time.html" target="_blank">take them outside</a> to a protected enclosed area for
short visits, but stay with them and bring them back inside if the weather
turns or they are showing signs of distress. </div><div><br /></div><div>Your chickens can live outside full time when they are around nine
to 10 weeks of age and the weather is not dipping into the 50s at night.
If you have an existing flock, you should wait
to integrate the new chicks until they are about the same size as the older
birds. This can take a bit and may require temporary separate housing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23Rb2SKjVu6eg9Ot5Xfj2KRpbW80dXsa344ZLSgpwuq-vWCtoOBY2q6rRW_AU4IHpN19yGL__WyfYyJ4MDIrlWcdO-naBokW0ky4hBRkfGc9P6wwcM-gLzimyBaiHw4GnVaABc33dZS1L/s2048/A+Guide+to+Raising+Baby+Chickens+for+Beginners.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If youâve never raised a flock before, or need a quick refresher, here's a quick guide to raising baby chickens for beginners." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23Rb2SKjVu6eg9Ot5Xfj2KRpbW80dXsa344ZLSgpwuq-vWCtoOBY2q6rRW_AU4IHpN19yGL__WyfYyJ4MDIrlWcdO-naBokW0ky4hBRkfGc9P6wwcM-gLzimyBaiHw4GnVaABc33dZS1L/w640-h360/A+Guide+to+Raising+Baby+Chickens+for+Beginners.jpg" title="A Guide to Raising Baby Chickens for Beginners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">When Will I Get Eggs? </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The quick answer to when youâll get eggs is around 18 to 20
weeks of age. This can take longer depending on the breed and the time of year
you purchased your chicks. If you are <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/09/can-you-raise-chicks-in-fall.html" target="_blank">raising chicks in the fall</a>, they will
mature in the winter and will not lay eggs until the length of daylight
increases. Chickens need about 16 hours of light each day to maintain
consistent egg laying. </div><div><br /></div><div>Around 18 weeks, introduce layer feed to your hens. This will
give them more calcium to make their eggs. Donât go cold turkey on the feed.
Make the switch gradually to allow their systems time to adjust. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is also the time to introduce nest boxes. Line the boxes
with some clean shavings and place a few fake eggs into each box. This shows
the hens where to lay. </div><div><br /></div><div>As your hens start to lay, be aware their first eggs will be
small and of inconsistent quality. This is the time you may find more
double-yolk eggs. This is all normal as a henâs body adjusts to the rhythm of
laying. </div><div><br /></div><div>Collect eggs often and make the decision to wash or not. Eggs
have a protective layer called a cuticle. Itâs what you see thatâs shiny and
wet when an egg is first laid. It dries quickly and is efficient at keeping out
bacteria. If you wash an egg, the cuticle is removed and the egg should be stored
in the refrigerator. Many backyard chicken keepers donât wash their eggs unless
they are heavily soiled. Small particles can be brushed or picked off. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3iZRdVn2qRmBlREL1vCjsVi2cFL1yVGCXRhA58RFx8pG4ApMsZEV7Ak5xD70k77nrt97EMp3U2TjtPyW-LbKX3lpdFLeE7754ZFcVs82pNyZZkPZXfYjey8-L0YpnpQzwQ75RylhreKm/s2048/A+Guide+to+Raising+Baby+Chickens+for+Beginners+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If youâve never raised a flock before, or need a quick refresher, here's a quick guide to raising baby chickens for beginners." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3iZRdVn2qRmBlREL1vCjsVi2cFL1yVGCXRhA58RFx8pG4ApMsZEV7Ak5xD70k77nrt97EMp3U2TjtPyW-LbKX3lpdFLeE7754ZFcVs82pNyZZkPZXfYjey8-L0YpnpQzwQ75RylhreKm/w640-h360/A+Guide+to+Raising+Baby+Chickens+for+Beginners+2.jpg" title="A Guide to Raising Baby Chickens for Beginners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Broiler Chickens </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Raising chickens for meat is possible and not terribly time-consuming. First, decide how much meat youâll need for your family for a period
of time, say six months or a year. Thatâs how many birds you should raise,
process and freeze. (Maybe throw in an extra bird or two in case of losses.) Then,
decide what you want to raise.
There are a couple ways you can go with meat birds â raise
hybrids specifically designed for meat or raise dual-purpose breeds. </div><div><br /></div><div>With the hybrid birds, there are usually two offerings, a
Cornish Cross-type or a Ranger type.
The Cornish Cross is a white bird meant for confinement. It
grows quickly and is ready to process around eight weeks for a five-pound table
bird. (It takes about 10 pounds of feed per bird to reach this weight.) If you
want a larger table bird, you can let them go a bit longer, but donât wait too
long. Because of their robust growth, Cornish Cross can develop
life-threatening health problems and suffer. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Note</b>: Broilers can overheat easily because of their rapid
weight gain. Itâs best to raise them early or late in the season to take
advantage of cooler weather.
Ranger birds can free-range and take a bit longer until
processing time around nine to 12 weeks of age. </div><div><br /></div><div>If youâre raising dual-purpose birds, you can pick straight
run and eat the roosters leaving the hens for egg production. Dual-purpose
birds can be processed around 16 weeks. </div><div><br /></div><div>Both the rangers and dual-purpose birds are said to have more
flavorful meat with little fat because they can free-range and have a more
natural diet.
Keep in mind the difference between the live weight and the edible portion of a chicken is roughly 70 percent give or take a little for
breed.
Broilers should be raised on starter/grower feed for three to
four weeks and then switched to grower/finisher feed. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are not prepared to slaughter your own birds, look to
local sources. There are usually processors that handle 4-H birds and can
process your birds too. You usually need to set up the processing date when you
first get your birds, that way the processor can fit you in the schedule. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ongoing Maintenance </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>On a daily basis, chickens are easy to maintain. At a minimum,
they should be let out of their coop to roam their enclosed run or safely free
range in the morning. They need fresh water and food each day and refreshed as
needed. Their eggs should be collected each day and they should be closed safely
in their coop at dusk. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cleanliness is key to good health. The coop bedding (pine
shavings are my preference) should be changed as needed. If your birds free
range during the day, the bedding wonât get dirty as fast as the bedding for
confined chickens. </div><div><br /></div><div>Your birds can help you turn kitchen waste into eggs/meat as
you feed them your leftover scraps. Just make sure not to make treats,
including scratch grains, too much of their diet. A ratio of 90 percent formulated
diet to 10 percent treats is a good gauge. </div><div><br /></div><div>All said, raising backyard chickens provides
your family with a reliable source of food and it can be a wonderful learning
experience for children. Plus, who doesn't love an adorable baby chicken?</div><div><br /></div><div><i>As seen in The New Pioneer magazine.</i></div></div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-52510015458328282632023-04-07T05:00:00.003-04:002023-04-07T08:49:42.105-04:00How to Make Glitter and Floral Print Easter EggsThese fun Easter egg decorating techniques give a nod to my girls, who
love anything sparkly, and to my garden for the life it brings after a long
winterâs sleep. Learning how to glitter your eggs and make floral print Easter eggs is easy, fun and colorful!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8jOl1iupAsfV5qYk7-YICAano0ZZzw4kVAIJcsLJg7hSLxz_JwdwnDSGCL3qDOLaSxLfU2-abORLDba8B2hdxIRT_c3d6m5-t-bwKRouJbbFQoyqaBOy2v6jHhQhWIQNKiwu7ukVzZGa/s1600/IMG_0655+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8jOl1iupAsfV5qYk7-YICAano0ZZzw4kVAIJcsLJg7hSLxz_JwdwnDSGCL3qDOLaSxLfU2-abORLDba8B2hdxIRT_c3d6m5-t-bwKRouJbbFQoyqaBOy2v6jHhQhWIQNKiwu7ukVzZGa/s640/IMG_0655+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>For both of these Easter egg decorating techniques, I used
farm fresh chicken eggs in a variety of colors; brown, white and green. If
youâve never tried different colored eggs from breeds like <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/01/breed-profile-ameraucana.html" target="_blank">Easter Egger chickens</a> or <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/02/breed-profile-new-hampshire-red.html" target="_blank">New Hampshire chickens</a>, itâs something I highly recommend. Itâs
really cool to see how the different colored eggs take the dyes. Of course, my white eggs are all supplied by my <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/09/leghorn-great-white-egg-laying-chicken-breed.html" target="_blank">Leghorn chickens</a>. I also hard
boiled and let my eggs cool before I got to the decorating. Blowing out your
eggs ahead of decorating can be done too. Itâs really personal preference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p>
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To make my dye bath, I used warm water, a tablespoon of
white vinegar and 10 to 20 drops of food coloring. I have used both liquid food coloring and gel coloring. I prefer the liquid because it mixes
with the water easily. The gel food coloring needs to sit in the water for
about five minutes before it dissolves. I guess I'm impatient that way! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXQppP-P3Xp-46XBo3Gzmxw79T1nCUExItXEYx24NXSBcKLiG_2zj5Iwb4KbrRYbBTP1p0kxplLuL4pzr6Do_EY4rTBK86Vv8wr2qpwyjLwSVneDZ26fEYszDAZ0oSOoEFFKvA0asoXax/s1600/Glitter+and+Floral+Print+Easter+Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXQppP-P3Xp-46XBo3Gzmxw79T1nCUExItXEYx24NXSBcKLiG_2zj5Iwb4KbrRYbBTP1p0kxplLuL4pzr6Do_EY4rTBK86Vv8wr2qpwyjLwSVneDZ26fEYszDAZ0oSOoEFFKvA0asoXax/s640/Glitter+and+Floral+Print+Easter+Eggs.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Glitter Eggs</h4>
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This is such a fun egg decorating technique because anything goes! All you need is some craft glue and glitter. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For most of the designs, I dye my eggs first, let them dry completely and then get creative. For a polka dot effect, I brush circles of craft glue on the egg and then dust the wet glue with glitter. For half and half eggs, I brush craft glue over the bottom of the dyed egg and then dust that area with glitter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For a stunning glitter effect, (a favorite for my kids) you donât even have to dye your hard-boiled eggs. You can brush the entire egg with craft glue and then completely cover it in glitter. Now, thatâs some sparkle!</div>
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Floral Print Eggs</h4>
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I have seen eggs like this for years and always wanted to try it. I was a little intimidated because they look so beautiful and complicated. But, in fact, theyâre easy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZRhMa9XeSXw5qlZRDxGzDOgkOR-jAmEXAFAYqTw_NbDFe-qPWAC-PSO5x2-md27_Rii4PLkRDfbtX8zn9aTgE7NU-Aguc6GoWdDGtm3JZnjIvg0uLnH3ZsgaxY6e1X99_7LwuGZ2rPga/s1600/IMG_0760+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZRhMa9XeSXw5qlZRDxGzDOgkOR-jAmEXAFAYqTw_NbDFe-qPWAC-PSO5x2-md27_Rii4PLkRDfbtX8zn9aTgE7NU-Aguc6GoWdDGtm3JZnjIvg0uLnH3ZsgaxY6e1X99_7LwuGZ2rPga/s640/IMG_0760+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This technique uses hard boiled eggs that are completely
cool and leaves from your favorite plants. For these pictures, I used cilantro
and dill from my herb garden. You can use any plant you have handy, but Iâve
found the bigger leaves work better and are more dramatic. While the dill I
used made a cool print, I found the smaller leaves tend to bunch together and
are harder to use.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
To make the leaf impression, carefully position your chosen foliage
on your egg. Cut the legs of some old pantyhose in about three to four-inch
lengths and then cover the egg and leaf with pantyhose to hold the leaf in
place during the dyeing process. Gather the cut ends of your pantyhose together
and secure each tightly with a rubber band. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFjcOiQOKSSdp8X_yEDTPepVrPq3EJcGlXgmr22lw-X6QymKHSb0A3VDqdjo5C40BTc0YaP1eQlIhQNDPdjKI3EieMEzVSY1OlqbA54wbJxZ5D6TvwF7aVXlJBwjogl_ptJylg_k2zpyX/s1600/IMG_0635+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFjcOiQOKSSdp8X_yEDTPepVrPq3EJcGlXgmr22lw-X6QymKHSb0A3VDqdjo5C40BTc0YaP1eQlIhQNDPdjKI3EieMEzVSY1OlqbA54wbJxZ5D6TvwF7aVXlJBwjogl_ptJylg_k2zpyX/s400/IMG_0635+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then, put your egg into a dye bath until the color youâd like is achieved.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmZ-73FQzeRtRySHaon93tLnBk5BlavoAqouzeKT6dxHBJvdsAV07NwT3mkks82JjYg8oguiSR7Yha8RiV8aGWygXaKfXZvypOlGJnMVhVpubZ2q58m3P71_GTh0t-KE3oR7r_fKFS-Zt/s1600/IMG_0637+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmZ-73FQzeRtRySHaon93tLnBk5BlavoAqouzeKT6dxHBJvdsAV07NwT3mkks82JjYg8oguiSR7Yha8RiV8aGWygXaKfXZvypOlGJnMVhVpubZ2q58m3P71_GTh0t-KE3oR7r_fKFS-Zt/s400/IMG_0637+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once you take the egg out of the dye, carefully remove the pantyhose and the leaf. Then place the egg on a rack to dry. The darker the dye color, the more stunning the effect.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKr6PjhifqwdbFGmDT1x0Wtj1Xz-pESZ7AJD-TJe2pk4ALDXVuVpfdOXymH0S4vtrhx7w0IBV6CI7Tg5rJf4xH2J2MJ9WhUuACwduB-eNstxHmE1jC1p0yMAPE34JjzQPQT3hOHTQQJlq/s1600/IMG_0643+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKr6PjhifqwdbFGmDT1x0Wtj1Xz-pESZ7AJD-TJe2pk4ALDXVuVpfdOXymH0S4vtrhx7w0IBV6CI7Tg5rJf4xH2J2MJ9WhUuACwduB-eNstxHmE1jC1p0yMAPE34JjzQPQT3hOHTQQJlq/s400/IMG_0643+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdxU6zXLX0tKmekO46ie7OKtqaF2JzMnKW4XiRbS3FIj47huDBmb1SyXXB8trjCfI3gchwrIAmTca4boLo2ZW319zvcnqRI7Ow0gdP__Eek8kaeKT-q5IijasjDf_JzKL5VS_zzvRw2N9/s1600/IMG_0648+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdxU6zXLX0tKmekO46ie7OKtqaF2JzMnKW4XiRbS3FIj47huDBmb1SyXXB8trjCfI3gchwrIAmTca4boLo2ZW319zvcnqRI7Ow0gdP__Eek8kaeKT-q5IijasjDf_JzKL5VS_zzvRw2N9/s400/IMG_0648+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>get cracking and
have fun adding some new techniques to your Easter egg fun!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-78997211595938825982023-04-07T05:00:00.002-04:002023-04-07T08:49:24.024-04:00Creative Easter Egg Decorating IdeasEaster's such a fun holiday. So why not step it up and use some creative Easter egg decorating ideas your whole family is sure to love.<br />
<br />
As I grew up, we always bought our white eggs from the store and used a PAAS Easter egg kit to make beautiful Easter creations. Itâs not that my mom didnât know how to dye eggs with food coloring; I just think my sister and I loved buying our cool egg kits so much that she didnât deny us the pleasure.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to today, and at Easter, my egg customers have a definite preference for the white eggs laid by my <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/09/leghorn-great-white-egg-laying-chicken-breed.html" target="_blank">Brown Leghorn</a> chickens. They see all the kits in the store and fall for the myth that white eggs dye so much prettier than other colors. Nothing, in my opinion, can be farther from the truth. In my family, we prefer to dye the <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/02/breed-profile-new-hampshire-red.html" target="_blank">brown</a> and <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/01/breed-profile-ameraucana.html" target="_blank">green eggs</a> laid by the rest of my flock. I love the deep, rich tones that the brown and green eggs provide when theyâre dyed. And frankly, we donât need a kit from the store. We use the <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/04/coloring-easter-eggs-with-pantry.html" target="_blank">food dye from our pantry</a> and find that itâs so versatile that we can make tons of interesting combinations.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMikc29JaFSU8zi5CtxZfoC0Z7qIpwCxZyDI_fEuNC9KWeMNwQc4Ft_9awJeYzuH7vIjQtvRKdtKg0FbBZNWYXLcp2cmFhkOQ12jxtuF09vgY2xnQkbwWV0ozqHEIBJZELJxXcbaZsL8M/s1600/001+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMikc29JaFSU8zi5CtxZfoC0Z7qIpwCxZyDI_fEuNC9KWeMNwQc4Ft_9awJeYzuH7vIjQtvRKdtKg0FbBZNWYXLcp2cmFhkOQ12jxtuF09vgY2xnQkbwWV0ozqHEIBJZELJxXcbaZsL8M/s640/001+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polka dot, rubber band and flower decorated eggs. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a><h4>
Getting Started</h4>
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For a plain dyed egg without anything fancy, you need to start with clean hard-boiled eggs. There are so many methods for hard-boiling eggs. I use my grandmotherâs recipe. I start with cold eggs covered in cold water. I bring everything to a boil for 10 minutes and then let the eggs sit in the water until itâs cool.<br />
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<b>Quick Tip:</b> Save the water from your boiled eggs and use it to water your houseplants. Theyâll love the extra nutrients in the water.<br />
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Iâm a pro at this now, so I normally just eyeball my ingredients, but to be exact, you can use the recipe on the back of the food coloring box which calls for a half cup of hot tap water mixed with one teaspoon of vinegar. You add a teaspoon of food coloring, either liquid or gel form. But, for the gel type, you have to let it dissolve for about five minutes before submerging your egg. You can vary the amounts of coloring for your preference â smaller amounts of color give a lighter effect and mixing colors can give you a custom look.<br />
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Once your egg is submerged, the recipe box calls for it to remain in the color bath for about four minutes. This is not a hard and fast rule. Play around with this a little. Youâll find the longer the soaking time, the deeper the color. Once youâve got a color you like, pull your eggs out of the color bath and let them dry on a rack.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdObrz6CloYcCjyRa1U_hM0XAu2rlRo87sZ0i6k_QwaRdSgrqBQ-osR_sm7agU7dsXanlt6buu3zuPEMwGl8CFglSBqjFNOJgd-HYmkQs8x5X6qjMHzYns51WDm58LLEI7TloKm5E9k9D/s1600/Creative+Easter+Egg+Decorating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdObrz6CloYcCjyRa1U_hM0XAu2rlRo87sZ0i6k_QwaRdSgrqBQ-osR_sm7agU7dsXanlt6buu3zuPEMwGl8CFglSBqjFNOJgd-HYmkQs8x5X6qjMHzYns51WDm58LLEI7TloKm5E9k9D/s640/Creative+Easter+Egg+Decorating.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter eggs dyed with food coloring. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<br />Polka Dot Eggs</h4>
For this, I like to use a two-step method. First I dye my eggs in a light color like pink, lime green or yellow. Then I apply round stickers (office supply stickers) randomly around the egg, making sure to firmly press the edges so they have completely adhered to the egg. Then I put my egg in a darker dye and let it soak for a few minutes. Once I remove the egg, I let it dry and then remove the stickers.<br />
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<h4>
Rubber Band Eggs</h4>
I like to use a two-color method here too, but it's not required. You could also start out with a white egg, giving you more contrast at the end. After dyeing my eggs first, I wrap my egg with thick rubber bands (like the kind you find on produce at the grocery store). Then I put my egg in a different color dye and remove it after a few minutes. After the egg dries, I gently remove the rubber bands and have a dramatic geometric striped egg!<br />
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<h4>
Flower Decorating</h4>
My kids love this one and itâs super easy. Just take an already-dyed egg, randomly glue flowers around the shell and decorate them as youâd like. I like to use school glue since itâs not toxic and for the picture, I used paper-type flowers from the scrapbooking section at my local craft store. You can also use silk flowers; really whatever youâve got on hand. I then glued sequins on the flowers to give them a center, but many silk flowers come with a center. In the end, youâve got an egg thatâs almost too pretty to eat!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPom5NqEuCD3Y97iYt_d6y-e69l5PpSSGC41jW2nqhE8sUYKaXBSqklqIDCGuoHJopRG3GMwqchDUQ8LyhthW0sB04IT-OcNzg9pXf6YJpyiK2EMhoHdPhvvKN6GRbD6OJuEJSISB1J3t/s1600/Easter+Egg+Decorating+Ideas+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPom5NqEuCD3Y97iYt_d6y-e69l5PpSSGC41jW2nqhE8sUYKaXBSqklqIDCGuoHJopRG3GMwqchDUQ8LyhthW0sB04IT-OcNzg9pXf6YJpyiK2EMhoHdPhvvKN6GRbD6OJuEJSISB1J3t/s640/Easter+Egg+Decorating+Ideas+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Most importantly, have fun with these methods and have a Happy Easter!Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-76977050900922500382023-04-07T05:00:00.001-04:002023-04-07T08:49:06.075-04:00How to Make Marbled & Tie-Dyed Easter EggsWhy make Easter decorating hard on yourself or expensive? You can make marbled eggs and tie-dyed eggs using everyday ingredients from your pantry including food coloring. These techniques produce beautiful eggs that look like they came from a fancy egg dyeing kit. Both you and your kids are sure to love them!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq6b7x64YPYWWzgxUqInaxsJW3NXftp0fr-jJi3ceYwhTvYiC7V9UouJZM2SPSASx309vYFddk5owdck0Boc9aBfERyPchHBMW9ahYLRXQmcE7m2FUKFCvvF_8mP9sucGldJ6ISOYGAK4/s1600/017+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="You can make marbled eggs and tie-dyed eggs with everyday ingredients from your pantry. These techniques produce beautiful eggs that look like they came from a fancy egg dyeing kit." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq6b7x64YPYWWzgxUqInaxsJW3NXftp0fr-jJi3ceYwhTvYiC7V9UouJZM2SPSASx309vYFddk5owdck0Boc9aBfERyPchHBMW9ahYLRXQmcE7m2FUKFCvvF_8mP9sucGldJ6ISOYGAK4/s400/017+%25282%2529.JPG" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marbled Eggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<a name='more'></a></h4>
If you have backyard chickens, you probably have chickens that lay brown or colored eggs like the <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/02/breed-profile-new-hampshire-red.html" target="_blank">New Hampshire</a> or <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/01/breed-profile-ameraucana.html" target="_blank">Easter Egger</a>. These eggs are great for dyeing. They produce a deeper and richer tone than white eggs. Just use some common sense, a brown egg is not going to dye well with a pink color, but it will take a stronger color like red.<br />
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If you're more traditional, you may have a flock that includes white egg laying chickens, like the <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/09/leghorn-great-white-egg-laying-chicken-breed.html" target="_blank">Brown Leghorn</a>. Those white eggs are beautiful and are perfect for <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/04/silk-tie-dyed-eggs.html" target="_blank">silk tye dyeing</a>. Make sure to stock up a couple weeks before Easter!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZZQz7W5llDYlzyQDZGtf-dArFJDVPYBUxChGD_mWcPZONn6ricDYtHv8Oe9IwOQ61iMc_vG-gVWjMUyeNwRJLrOm5tPlHBmTY7EcX3ertMaeEgbUVFp2SjnkzUHcJF0XIRA731IxSbXv/s1600/Marble+%2526+Tye-Dyed+Easter+Eggs+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZZQz7W5llDYlzyQDZGtf-dArFJDVPYBUxChGD_mWcPZONn6ricDYtHv8Oe9IwOQ61iMc_vG-gVWjMUyeNwRJLrOm5tPlHBmTY7EcX3ertMaeEgbUVFp2SjnkzUHcJF0XIRA731IxSbXv/s640/Marble+%2526+Tye-Dyed+Easter+Eggs+2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<h4>
Marbled Egg Ingredients</h4>
<h4>
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Food Coloring</li>
<li>Vinegar</li>
<li>Vegetable Oil</li>
<li>Water</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: 400;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-weight: 400;">
Start out with a plain hard boiled egg or an egg that's already been dyed in one color. Fill a cup with warm water (enough to cover an egg) then add one tablespoon each of white vinegar, canola oil and your dye of choice. Swirl the mixture and then drop your egg into the mixture as it's still moving. Quickly pull the egg back out of the mixture. You'll see beautiful swirls of color. </div>
<div style="font-weight: 400;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The secret to success with marbled eggs is how quickly you insert and remove the egg after stirring. The longer you wait, the less dye will adhere to the egg. I would encourage trying it both ways and seeing what you like best. Also, you can dye an egg with one color, then dry it and use this marbling technique with another color for some really cool results.</span><br />
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<div style="font-weight: 400;">
<br /></div>
Tie-Dye Egg Ingredients</h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Vinegar</li>
<li>Food Coloring </li>
<li>Water</li>
</ul>
Rinse a hard-boiled egg with vinegar and place it in a colander over a sink or protected area. Squirt two to three drops of food dye directly onto the egg then agitate the colander to spread the color. Let the color set for 30 seconds. Repeat the process for multiple colors. (I use fewer squirts of color as I go along.) Once finished, quickly rinse the eggs in water to remove excess dye. Dry the eggs and rub with cooking oil if desired to produce a shine.<br />
<br />
This method produces vibrant and unique eggs. The secret to success is to start with a light color and then repeat with no more than two to three colors. If you use any more, the colors will become mottled and ruin the effect. Also, Iâve written this recipe as if using one egg, but you can dye multiple eggs at once for quicker results.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx-SG61tgPSXBvs7wJ9yTsDJazDzi35f8O49x4f3Mwh8LNpbMya4XwWIXg8-lkIXZ2Nhcnt565lkl6cBdq36qdpdqYtZaT9HAwO9Qh9IoSl2to1MYDDSy8vMxnRz6YdKtk1A0EzzOaCcp/s1600/020+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="You can make marbled eggs and tie-dyed eggs with everyday ingredients from your pantry. These techniques produce beautiful eggs that look like they came from a fancy egg dyeing kit." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx-SG61tgPSXBvs7wJ9yTsDJazDzi35f8O49x4f3Mwh8LNpbMya4XwWIXg8-lkIXZ2Nhcnt565lkl6cBdq36qdpdqYtZaT9HAwO9Qh9IoSl2to1MYDDSy8vMxnRz6YdKtk1A0EzzOaCcp/s640/020+%25282%2529.JPG" title="" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tie-Dyed Eggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Do you have a favorite method for coloring Easter Eggs? Let me know in the comments below.<br />
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Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-77834645712779439172023-04-07T05:00:00.000-04:002023-04-07T08:48:25.071-04:00How to Make Silk Tie Dyed EggsSilk tie-dye eggs are a beautiful way to reuse old silk (think ties) you may have around the house. They are mess-free and easy since they get the hard-boiling and dyeing done in one step. An added bonus is their wow-factor. Here's how to create your own... <br />
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<b>INSTRUCTIONS</b><br />
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1. Wrap a piece of 100% silk around a raw egg with the pattern side toward the egg. (Make sure to use pure silk, not an imitation. You can also reuse the silk about three to five times.)<br />
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2. Wrap a piece of white cotton cloth around the already silk-wrapped egg.</div>
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3. Tie the bundle with a twist-tie and place it in a glass or enamel pan. TIP â According to my friend and culinary professional, Rita<strong> </strong>Nader Heikenfeld, you shouldn't use an old aluminum pan or an old copper pan that is not lined with tin. Most of the aluminum pans sold today are anodized or coated inside. This process makes them nonreactive to acid foods so they are fine to use.<br />
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4. Fill a pan with enough water to cover the eggs. </div>
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5. Add three tablespoons to 1/4 cup vinegar to the water depending on what size pan you use.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PamsBackyardStudio" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEtl96XTHN8F4CHwpXx56djWv1LrjDQTs-riJFgZpzkaqnJFgjEjK0uN2heH8BDvCrw_Wr-ePeErXF9e-ghAg0TOcjNZaJ4-5IW2dZLDS2bwimOwjvZzszIfUlcvtOfyP-8VSaAIfKUOn/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252813%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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6. Bring to a boil, simmer for 20 minutes or more, remove the eggs from the water and unwrap when cool.<br />
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As you can see, the pattern from the silk transfers onto the egg. There are sometimes runs or smudges, but they still look beautiful.<br />
<br />Let your creativity go wild and try silk tie-dyeing eggs this Easter. I'm sure you'll love it! <br />Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-50524572079633789362023-03-29T05:00:00.000-04:002023-03-29T08:35:48.510-04:007 Tips for Buying Chicks From the Feed Store<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Make Sure You're Prepared Before You Get to the Feed Store</h3>
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For a few months each spring, when you walk into your local feed store, you're greeted to the chorus of tiny chicken chirps as the annual chick season tempts so many shoppers. If you're not sure of where to buy baby chicks, this is a great place to pick up your first flock members or add to your existing flock of backyard chickens. It's local. It's immediate. And it's fun.<br />
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Here are some tips to make the process easier on you and your new flock members.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>1. Stay in touch with your local feed store.</b><br />
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Whether you're raising chickens for eggs, for meat or for both, backyard chicken keeping is more popular than ever. So, don't assume your local feed store will always have chicks on hand in the spring. There are tons of stories of people going to the feed store only to find a sold out sign and lights out on the brooders. Plus, it's good to get your chicks as soon as possible so they're not exposed to outside factors for a long time and you can start bonding with them quickly. Your feed store placed orders for their chicks many months to even a year before they appear in the store. So, don't be afraid to call ahead and ask when chicks will be available. Store representatives will know the answer and you can plan ahead.<br />
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<b>2. Have your supplies on hand or buy them as you're buying your birds.</b><br />
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If this is your first flock, it's good to have your supplies on hand and take some time to get acquainted with your set up before your chicks arrive. That familiarity will definitely increase your chances for success. If you're a veteran chicken owner, then you usually have everything you need on hand and it's just a matter of getting it all from storage and set up. So, you have a little more wiggle room to make an on-the-spot purchase. But, either way, don't forget to add a bag of food to your cart!<br />
<b><br /></b> <b>3. Know your backyard chicken terms.</b><br />
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At the feed store, you'll likely find brooders marked with the terms straight run or pullets. You've got to know what those terms mean because it makes a big difference in what you'll be taking home. Straight run means that none of the chicks are sexed so there are definitely males and females in that brooder. Pullets are female chickens.<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b>4. Pick out the healthiest chicks. </b><br />
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This is important because once you take your chicks out the door, you have to deal with any health issues they may have. Normally there are no returns when you buy chicks. With that said, at least in my area, I normally see healthy chicks in the feed store brooders.<br />
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It's good to know baby chick health basics ahead of time. Here are some signs of a healthy chick: active, alert, eating and drinking. Look to make sure your chicks don't have scissored beaks and that their legs are straight and facing forward, not splayed. You will see chicks that are sleeping and sometimes a sleeping chick is so comfortable it spreads out for a good snooze. Don't confuse sleeping with sick. A sick chick will stand and sway with its eyes closed. It may be isolated from the others. And it will be limp if it's picked up.<br />
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<b>5. Be aware there could be roosters in your box.</b><br />
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Hatcheries readily admit they are not 100% with their sexing. And, at the feed store, many times people are picking up chicks and then sitting them down in the brooders. Sometimes they don't get put down in the right brooders and a chick from the straight run brooder with roosters ends up in the pullet brooder. This happens easily if they have a straight run and pullet bin with the same type of chicken like Buff Orpingtons. All the chicks look the same and it's easy to make a mistake.<br />
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<b>6. Don't miss out on breeds you really want.</b><br />
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If you have chicken breeds you really want, you don't have to settle for what's at the feed store at the moment. If you call the feed store ahead of time, you can often piggy-back on their order and add in your own special order.<br />
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<b>7. Make your chicks comfortable for the ride home. </b><br />
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I see so many people just plop their chicks in the take-home box and head out the feed store door. I don't like to do this. I either bring a baggy of wood chips with me or ask the store personnel to add some wood chips to the bottom of my box before they add my chicks. This makes the box warmer and it helps keep the chicks from slipping on the cardboard surface. Plus it keeps them cleaner since the wood chips will absorb any poop vs. having it smear on the cardboard. Also, it's a good idea to get your car warm so you can pop right out the feed store door and into a comfortable climate for the chicks.<br />
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Have you had a good experience buying chicks from the feed store? If so, let me know what worked and what didn't.<br />
<br />Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-19443227900906457722023-03-11T05:00:00.000-05:002023-03-11T14:11:17.411-05:00How To Care For A Shamrock Plant<div class="MsoNormal">
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. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzLyBrk4hLDMTDMK3-JLlAkPC21TsV8-wNp2gARwD7KgkuVC5YESq_gjfiDtJz4NVc9oJE9SgmSYOS5Zv3jBTJJofD0uql0gFu7bKVFdnRvzuXBMinVmOQVmRYAMYgVxC1u28qCFIAdeD/s1600/IMG_3047+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Buying a Shamrock plant for St. Patrick's Day gets you a hardy plant that will rebloom again and again." border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzLyBrk4hLDMTDMK3-JLlAkPC21TsV8-wNp2gARwD7KgkuVC5YESq_gjfiDtJz4NVc9oJE9SgmSYOS5Zv3jBTJJofD0uql0gFu7bKVFdnRvzuXBMinVmOQVmRYAMYgVxC1u28qCFIAdeD/w640-h504/IMG_3047+-+Copy.JPG" title="How to Care for a Shamrock Plant" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>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.
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PamsBackyardStudio" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMlJG3F3CDOo2c5EsYEK-n1W9-lv0NSHtas9JVhjNJ6_jxPmVdU9XfM3IIL1a3D3WhObWtqxqCop-yabj1qoFAT-HRrRLCNDiGKiVKOETIcOL_vXbjpHiXiy9Q2NTrMq3nMV1RVMGfFYy/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252811%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><h4><b><br /></b></h4><h4><b>Shamrock Legend and Lore</b></h4>Shamrocks 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. Patrickâs Coppers or Halpennies which show St. Patrick preaching to a crowd and holding a shamrock.<br /><br />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 <i>Wildflower Folklore</i>, âThe 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, âHere in this leaf, three in one, this is a symbol of my faith, Three Gods in One.â The chief was impressed by the analogy and professed his faith.â</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Pin the image below to save this information for later.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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 âwearing of the greenâ and using the symbol of the shamrock plant was associated with rebellion in the 19th century.<br />
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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 Kingdomâs Royal Coat of Arms. It grows from a single stem along with the rose and thistle. Itâs a symbol of unity between the three kingdoms and can be found on public buildings and such in Britain and in Ireland. Itâs even on Buckingham Palace.<br />
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<li>The leaves of the shamrock plant are said to stand upright to signal a stormâs coming.</li>
<li>In Irish, shamrock comes from the word seamrĂłg which means summer plant.</li>
<li>Wood sorrel, a member of the Oxalis family, is a symbol for joy and maternal tenderness.</li></ul>
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<b>Shamrock Plant Care Tips</b></h4>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">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.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">At night, shamrock plants will close their leaves. Don't worry, your plant will perk up in the morning.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">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.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">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.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">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.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Shamrock plants do well in basic household humidity.</span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">From time to time, shamrock plants can be repotted in high-quality potting soil.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You can remove spent flowers by snipping them, but it's not necessary for rebloom. </span></li>
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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!</div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-52690211227995591012021-10-11T05:00:00.000-04:002021-10-11T11:19:18.098-04:00Molting Chickens ExplainedMolting is a natural process that chickens go through at different times in their lives. A chicken's first molts take place as it grows from a baby chick to an adult. Because they're babies, we tend to think of this as a process of growing up, and it is, but it's technically molting.
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As adult chickens, molting takes place in late summer and fall when birds replace old feathers with new plumage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0bZFDVsDGGBLuId2-w6ozAi1Eom8riQ76_W1WI2mn60EIVz_RlH7nGMDwduM4nmmJQiXc2zv4e0xlOcN46tBrFmXDPzJsK0hLFh0BYDQnJGC9tdgizkCQDCFYXTio_EcJ407Bppf0guu/s2048/Molting+Chickens+101.1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Molting is a natural process that chickens go through at different times in their lives. A chicken's first molts take place as it grows from a baby chick to an adult.As adult chickens, molting takes place in late summer and fall when birds replace old feathers with new plumage." border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0bZFDVsDGGBLuId2-w6ozAi1Eom8riQ76_W1WI2mn60EIVz_RlH7nGMDwduM4nmmJQiXc2zv4e0xlOcN46tBrFmXDPzJsK0hLFh0BYDQnJGC9tdgizkCQDCFYXTio_EcJ407Bppf0guu/w640-h498/Molting+Chickens+101.1.jpg" title="Molting Chickens Explained" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
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If you observe your birds toward the end of summer, their feathers are starting to look a little ragged. Some may be broken or missing bits and pieces. This is normal. your chickens are outside in the elements each day and hard at work scratching and pecking for food. Feathers get a little worn out after all this activity! <div><br /></div><div>Molt timing is critical because feathers equal warmth. As birds enter the cold, winter months with feathers that are new and in nice shape, they are best prepared to stay warm. <div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>When Do Adult Chickens Molt?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Adult chicken molting happens around 18 months old and each year after. Feather loss starts at the head and then travels down the body. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtV0xPnd5gqxIhwJh3NgsDZMZe7Jx5PmxZ1Z1G0cblsBT5KIQ0WEY7HtNJ6sVWn4qjhLRfiKuUJT3S-QzBtTD4ls4b5QMvpg3sOomS2RmOnx5FX-6HXsvwqlEeAAYP6lEA0RnojhVwVPoc/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Some chickens will molt âhardâ meaning they lose their feathers quickly and then look bare as new feathers are growing. Other chickens molt slowly with only some bare patches showing or no bare patches at all. Their molt may be barely noticeable to human caretakers. </div><div><br /></div><div>With finicky fall weather, sometimes molting can take place when it's warm and sometimes molting can take place while snow and ice are on the ground, especially if birds are molting in later fall. The good news is that usually all flock members aren't molting at the same time, so those with newly-growing feathers can roost at night with those in full fluff and keep warm. During the day, chickens are normally moving around enough to keep warm.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<b><div><b><br /></b></div>How Long Does a Molt Last?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>The process of annual molting takes about eight to 12 weeks to complete and is normally triggered by decreasing daylight hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>Feathers are about 85% protein so you can help your birds stay healthy during molting by increasing their protein. A good way is through protein-rich snacks like black oil sunflower seeds, nuts, peas, soybeans, tuna fish and cat food, to name a few. </div><div><br /></div><div>Both roosters and hens molt. Hens will decrease or stop laying eggs during this time since all their energy reserves are being used to produce new feathers. </div><div><br /></div><div>During a molt, your chickens may act a little "off" and not have as much energy or enthusiasm as normal. It's important to monitor your chickens and to know the difference between sick chicken symptoms and a molting chicken. A molting chicken is not technically a sick chicken. </div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, molting is supposed to happen!Adult chickens losing feathers at other times of year should be investigated. There can be many reasons for losing feathers off-season. Chickens that are under stress or are infested with parasites can lose their feathers. Also, chickens without adequate food, water or light can be forced to molt. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Tip:</b> It's important to remember not to handle your molting chickens too much. Growing feathers can be painful to the touch </div><div><br /></div><div><b>What is Molting in Young Chickens?<b> </b></b></div><div><b><b><br /></b></b></div><div>Young chickens start molting quickly at just six to eight days old replacing down for feathers. And then again at eight to twelve weeks old replacing baby feathers. </div><div><b><b><br /></b></b></div><div>FYI - The second molt is when male chickens get their ornamental feathers, so that's when you know who is who. </div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <table class="tg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: open-sans, "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; table-layout: auto;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th class="tg-e3zv" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem; text-align: left;"></th><th class="tg-t103" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">MOLTING 101 â TIMELINE</span></th></tr>
<tr style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Six to Eight Weeks Old</span></td><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Downy feathers are replaced by baby feathers.</span></td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eight to 12 Weeks Old</span></td><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Baby feathers are replaced by juvenile feathers</span></td></tr>
<tr style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">18 Months Old</span></td><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">First adult molt replaces old feathers</span></td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yearly After First Molt</span></td><td class="tg-031e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5625rem 0.625rem;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Adult feathers are replaced.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM2bDSSZkbCOmogAbNkRxt37mD_r8kzhwsbaq85VqwkPCpvVYYgFi6v5cZbVOAYlWAE36tm7zQGZ3cuWYjmBymBMtybiN1fV5rVxzK3Gih0ctLL4u63w7fMibrh2z5EtIN3f5rhxd64Dh/s1600/Molting+Chickens+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Molting is a natural process that chickens go through at different times in their lives. A chicken's first molts take place as it grows from a baby chick to an adult.As adult chickens, molting takes place in late summer and fall when birds replace old feathers with new plumage." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM2bDSSZkbCOmogAbNkRxt37mD_r8kzhwsbaq85VqwkPCpvVYYgFi6v5cZbVOAYlWAE36tm7zQGZ3cuWYjmBymBMtybiN1fV5rVxzK3Gih0ctLL4u63w7fMibrh2z5EtIN3f5rhxd64Dh/w480-h640/Molting+Chickens+%25282%2529.JPG" title="Molting Chickens Explained" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
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</div><br />Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-39304137043920262632021-09-19T05:00:00.000-04:002021-09-19T19:52:12.009-04:00What is the Preen Gland on a Chicken?The uropygial gland, better known as the preen gland or oil gland, is located near the base of the tail. It's normally hidden under feathers, but molting and feather loss can expose it. What is the preen gland on a chicken? Itâs a gland that produces the oil that chickens use when preening their feathers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8V-dgz1WgHbEay2SnRZcUKYu1-La4jOdkLEm33P5r1EGYz4bQhpk1tROj_LiMXfE7MEYsKYdKzPR_uIJUS1mBi-BpNz8jbBVvAVeveXM0bmQ3BuCfbH93SzuNyqsoAeqNKX0IoNHngdZ/s1600/IMG_6400+%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8V-dgz1WgHbEay2SnRZcUKYu1-La4jOdkLEm33P5r1EGYz4bQhpk1tROj_LiMXfE7MEYsKYdKzPR_uIJUS1mBi-BpNz8jbBVvAVeveXM0bmQ3BuCfbH93SzuNyqsoAeqNKX0IoNHngdZ/s640/IMG_6400+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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What is Preening?</h4>
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By definition, preening in chickens is the act of grooming and cleaning feathers. Preening is how a chicken keeps its feathers in the best possible condition. Preening takes many forms like dust bathing and sunbathing. It also involves direct cleaning and distributing oil.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lzQGlkrZkU99lAjSlvVNV40RUF671Ysftnafebuypbq5J8Bs8uoRoq_YmkwBFVutBohf1fdB9xIY5sWvSUt9hMWzQkuliT7FY-Bwz9ZYmsPKcgYEzNznl0BpImmfxJ5E6ZtzVCo6l-_m/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252818%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><div>
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When you see chickens directly working on their feathers, they will usually have a feather in their beak and will be running their beak along the length of that feather. You may even see them bite at their feathers. The biting is the chicken grabbing parasites and small bits of lodged dirt and removing them. Running the beak along the feather puts the tiny barbules (microscopic filaments) on the end of the feather that may have come apart back together, much like a zipper. When a feather is âzipped upâ then itâs better able to function. At this time, chickens also get their feathers positioned properly so any errant feathers are put back into place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZmATfKV_tcDxNtftUwcq9iYZzuvyPzvALLdafCBF3pQLfOM9vUa8B5YM4qU_iZAQXeLRJ9c7v1jIeOrOL7m-KhGEhWfDxMW7DzW_P0-W2u66BYCUHpuX5v5Sk_kfa3KbsmHrv3A0Z5Nj/s1600/What+is+the+Preen+Gland+on+a+Chicken_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZmATfKV_tcDxNtftUwcq9iYZzuvyPzvALLdafCBF3pQLfOM9vUa8B5YM4qU_iZAQXeLRJ9c7v1jIeOrOL7m-KhGEhWfDxMW7DzW_P0-W2u66BYCUHpuX5v5Sk_kfa3KbsmHrv3A0Z5Nj/s640/What+is+the+Preen+Gland+on+a+Chicken_.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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Spreading Oil</h4>
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Often during preening, youâll see a chicken reach its head back to its tail, dip its beak into its tail feathers then come forward and run its beak and head along its feathers. The chicken will do this over and over again. This is the part of preening that involves the preen gland.<br />
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The preen gland secretes an oily, waxy substance. When the chicken rubs its beak or head against the gland, itâs able to pick up that oil. The chicken then spreads this oil along its feathers. The oil helps to keep the feathers clean by repelling dirt and dry by repelling water. In water birds, such as ducks, this is crucial in allowing them to swim by remaining dry and buoyant.<br />
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<b>PRO FACT:</b> The preen gland has a specialized tuft of feathers that acts as a brush.<br />
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The oil helps to keep feathers pliable and has antibacterial properties that help defend the feathers from being degraded by bacteria. Oil amounts and types change through the seasons, especially during mating season when the oil can have an odor made by pheromones, to help attract a mate.<br />
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Many birds throughout the avian world preen in the same way that chickens preen. The secreted oils and functions of the preen gland can vary by species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0ZRpZYiFEr9KT7mDruEtRbJXHtWQ0CS3v_BAgua4mgYVnrzfV9yCDVP1OELR2BIe5sD2SgThPWzLx0WrYRRJkl_wPsN1lwT0dTa-Lbg3aiuOja-kgAqmvCdrS7nTZ4-_JeSXoeeyG5Fd/s1600/IMG_2701+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0ZRpZYiFEr9KT7mDruEtRbJXHtWQ0CS3v_BAgua4mgYVnrzfV9yCDVP1OELR2BIe5sD2SgThPWzLx0WrYRRJkl_wPsN1lwT0dTa-Lbg3aiuOja-kgAqmvCdrS7nTZ4-_JeSXoeeyG5Fd/s640/IMG_2701+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the oil at the base of this gland. It resembles the tip of a baby bottle, which is exactly what it's like.<br />
Chickens move the oil up with their beaks and spread it during preening.</td></tr>
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Molting</h4>
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Molting is most often triggered by short day lengths and is a lot like house cats and dogs shedding their hair to prepare for the coming seasons. Chickens shed their feathers for a new set of feathers that are in good condition and can best protect them during the upcoming cold season. Molting starts at the head and neck and moves toward the tail.<br />
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If your chickens are in mid-molt, you may want to take a look and see if you can find their preen gland. It will be easier to see now than ever!</div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-42876880612320303792021-09-06T05:00:00.000-04:002021-09-06T16:50:13.468-04:00Can You Raise Chicks in the Fall?Chick season is prominent in the spring, but can you raise chicks in the fall? Yes. In many parts of the country, fall weather is mild and raising chicks is easy. But even in the North, raising chicks in the fall is possible and even preferable by many. If you'd like to start a flock or expand your existing flock, fall is a great time to take the plunge!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><h4>Plan Ahead</h4>
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Temperatures are crucial, as in the spring, with raising chicks in the fall. If you live in an area where late fall temperatures plummet, it's a good idea to plan backward. Start with knowing your likely <a href="https://garden.org/apps/frost-dates/" target="_blank">first frost date</a>. This will vary by location and the chances of frost will increase as time passes. Once you know your first frost date, then lace that with some basic information about raising <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/02/baby-chick-health-101.html" target="_blank">baby chicks</a>. Baby chicks in the brooder start with a temperature of 90 degrees with the temperature being backed off by five degrees each week. At week four, the babies are at 70 degrees. By week six, the babies are fully feathered but still should not be outside full time, without supplemental heat, when the temperature dips below 55 degrees. With these facts in mind, you should get your baby chicks at least six weeks prior to your likely first frost date.<br />
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In my neck of the woods, my first frost date is around the 15th of October. That's when the percentage for frost is medium-high. I usually plan to get my fall chicks about eight weeks before that, maybe even a little earlier, so I can have some wiggle room. My local feed stores know this and start offering fall chicks at the end of July.<br />
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<h4>
Advantages for Raising Chicks in the Fall</h4>
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On a personal note, my mother was a bit skeptical when I got fall chicks. She had grown up always getting chicks in the spring. After watching my experience, she said she'd never get chicks in the spring. She couldn't believe how much better it all came together with fall chicks.<br />
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<b>Kids & Vacation</b> â I list this advantage first because many of the other advantages are technical, but this one really impacts a family. When you get chicks in the spring, you've got to plan around spring break, end-of-school chaos and summer vacation.<br />
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Let's say you grab some <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2016/03/7-tips-for-successfully-buying-chicks.html" target="_blank">chicks from the feed store</a> at the beginning of March. Unless spring break is late, then you're not going to be able to take spring break because you've got chicks in a brooder or you'll have to find someone to watch your chicks while you're gone. That's hard because baby chicks need lots of supervision, not just a quick once-a-day look over. And, your kids won't want to leave their new cuties. You miss a week with baby chicks, you miss a lot.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb0FC-gD80uRtkN48BZ4iNvSC8-0DOG6XcjHAXSQrYInR0lwKUx4gTf9huvOVZkxlQa510EfHiqc-k0MuSYvXHW92Fe5xSRvq79LSeGStSTvW8bD1Apn7jfCjYvT_Tlm6EJMcXZAzElfa/s320/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy+%25284%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><div>
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The same is true for summer vacation. Get your chicks too late in the spring and all of a sudden you can't take a vacation when school lets out or through June. This is especially true if you're adding to your flock. Your newbies have to basically be full-grown before they can join your existing flock. This takes a while, and until then, you have to maintain two coops. That's a lot to put on a house sitter.<br />
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With fall chicks, all these worries go away. Your kids are either at the end of their summer break or back in school when you get your new birds. Vacation plans are far in the future and your schedule is clear to raise your new chickens.<br />
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<b>Easy Coop Construction</b> â If you start your chicks in the spring, then you're likely dealing with coop construction and set up in warm to hot or even scorching weather. Fall temperatures are mild and it's pleasant to go outside and work on your coop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiE7idIGdzBcIkXroAf7piOhW1k-ZSXlJKX42q-8tjKmU2SN-RMcUdS1IoASIXnn13L3N6Km1eDBXPjVGcLCmqPQk2eXppmdO0OcTkgXdyUvU6OhFrnquXwYMGYaxc07frO4Pf6fgiYnC/s1600/IMG_1167+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiE7idIGdzBcIkXroAf7piOhW1k-ZSXlJKX42q-8tjKmU2SN-RMcUdS1IoASIXnn13L3N6Km1eDBXPjVGcLCmqPQk2eXppmdO0OcTkgXdyUvU6OhFrnquXwYMGYaxc07frO4Pf6fgiYnC/s640/IMG_1167+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Warm Weather </b>â Taking your babies home is easy. Once they're secure in their box, you can just walk outside into the warm weather and not worry about keeping those babies warm as you walk to the car or from the car into your home.<br />
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Getting your babies outside is easier in the fall too. Many times early fall is warm, so the babies can go outside quicker. In fact, many people brood their fall chicks in a protected space outside since Mother Nature's day and night temperatures can be exactly what is required. (If you decide to do this, make sure the babies do have supplemental heat because temperatures can swing. I provide my chicks with a heat plate that they can use if needed.)<br />
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On a personal note, I like to keep fall chicks inside for the first few weeks even though they could be in a brooder in my garage. This is because we can interact with the chicks more when they're inside and I find them to be more personable this way.<br />
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<b>Increased & Consistent Egg Laying </b>â Spring chicks reach their point of lay around five to six months of age. This is usually during the summer months but can be inconsistent and result in lots of small eggs as their bodies adjust to a laying cycle. They can have issues with laying in summer's heat, then, just as they are getting into the swing of things, fall and winter roll in with shorter daylight hours. Yes, spring chicks will lay through their first winter, but it won't be at peak production.<br />
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Contrast this with fall chicks. They will mature and gain size throughout the winter. They will reach their point of lay as the days are getting longer in spring. At this point, fall chicks are ready to go! Their eggs will be larger when they begin laying and they will be more consistent throughout the peak months of spring and summer.<br />
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<b>Better Breed Selection</b> â Whether you're picking <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/02/breed-profile-new-hampshire-red.html" target="_blank">New Hampshires</a>, <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/08/brahma-chicken-breed-spotlight.html" target="_blank">Brahmas</a> or <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/09/leghorn-great-white-egg-laying-chicken-breed.html" target="_blank">Leghorns</a>, you're chance of getting what you want when you want it is low in the spring. That's because everyone else is shopping at the same time and ordering ahead. You've got a better shot at getting what you want, especially rare and popular breeds, by ordering in the fall.<br />
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Consider fall as open season for starting or adding to a flock. It's a great time to raise chicks!<br />
<br /></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-29586422212964234932021-08-30T05:00:00.000-04:002021-08-30T07:30:01.072-04:00Why do Roosters Crow? Plus Answers to Other Odd Chicken Questions!Why do roosters crow? Have you really stopped to think about all that crowing? Why so much? If you feed your chickens meat will they turn into cannibals? What about your backyard swimming pool; is that a place your chickens might like to visit? So many questions! Here are five top chicken questions along with the answers.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLT9gPX9cG7FPbuMfgYg0hxUsf04Q15VUXYB6s-OG4VTLMn6OGtBcbQJ1Tc7S3qFlojkXNPGGvNl9ieptMGCitDHZoL2AVCK_Zl6BFj3t2G1FH4WHd0zh_WM32XUq-JfmpYVJ7hcjkaw5/s1920/hahn-3607868_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why do roosters crow? Here are five top chicken questions along with the answers." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLT9gPX9cG7FPbuMfgYg0hxUsf04Q15VUXYB6s-OG4VTLMn6OGtBcbQJ1Tc7S3qFlojkXNPGGvNl9ieptMGCitDHZoL2AVCK_Zl6BFj3t2G1FH4WHd0zh_WM32XUq-JfmpYVJ7hcjkaw5/w640-h425/hahn-3607868_1920.jpg" title="Why Do Roosters Crow?" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><a name='more'></a><div><b>1. Why Do Roosters Crow? </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Roosters crow to announce and define their territory. If you think hearing a rooster crow while youâre inside your house is loud, thatâs because itâs meant to be heard, not by you, but by other roosters in the area. We live on about 13 acres in the country. There are roosters living about a quarter of a mile down the road in both directions. On a good day, I can stand outside and listen to my rooster, Hank, crowing and then hear the roosters from the other houses responding to him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most people think roosters only crow early in the day to announce the sunrise. Studies have shown that roosters will crow in response to light stimuli but they also crow according to their own internal body clocks. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67OniiPt5HUn4Y0R3_1R2Xdnp_FcfPw-vfWpfK3ZhPk0ALll75KgTxdTEc-_tHqRnuMNThzHGFe9llpegH_d_R3haCQ-EwC0NszrqbBwOHqxVsEiATOurcpTh_1qbm5yx4FjqDhB3_iTi/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252824%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Chicken keepers know their roosters will crow in the morning and all through the day. Why continue after the sun rises?</div><div> </div><div>Crowing also happens according to social rank. The highest-ranking rooster in a flock will crow first in the morning with the lower ranking roosters waiting their turn. This continues throughout the day as the roosters announce their rank over and over. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a personal note, I have noticed that when I have more than one rooster, they will crow back and forth to each other all day long. My yard can be loud! When we have only one rooster in residence, however, my yard is downright quiet. There are a few crows in the morning and that's about it. This suggests a sole rooster doesn't feel the need to compete for territory, so heâs quiet. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Pin the image below to save this information for later.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJXVHtBNgLwg_tf8yyluuVjHr1iHmmPqMuTuObFHee0jY0ZridD9vzJY7kwaIbMZnkxw4Ts_hDrrn-X8TG0EOP1OHtEHLMrljHGVuzBvTcnmmJ_pSwXDUNi-kbIoD5OlJFQaius4DCiPq/s1102/Why+Do+Roosters+Crow_.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why do roosters crow? Here are five top chicken questions along with the answers." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJXVHtBNgLwg_tf8yyluuVjHr1iHmmPqMuTuObFHee0jY0ZridD9vzJY7kwaIbMZnkxw4Ts_hDrrn-X8TG0EOP1OHtEHLMrljHGVuzBvTcnmmJ_pSwXDUNi-kbIoD5OlJFQaius4DCiPq/w425-h640/Why+Do+Roosters+Crow_.png" title="Why Do Roosters Crow?" width="425" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div><b>2. If Your Chickens Eat Meat, Will They Turn Into Cannibals?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Chickens are omnivores which means their natural diet consists of both plants and meat. When chickens free-range, they can be seen eating everything from insects to mice, snakes, and frogs along with grass and other plants. </div><div><br /></div><div>Feeding your chickens cooked meat scraps will not turn them into cannibals. It can provide a nutritious treat, especially during a molt as increased protein during this time can help with new feather development. </div><div><br /></div><div>For extra protein, you can also cook your excess chicken eggs and feed them back to your flock. I like to feed eggs to my chickens during the winter. Thatâs when itâs hard for them to pick up extra protein through their free-ranging. I scramble the eggs with no seasoning and then give them to my birds. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cannibalism in chickens is a behavior and not something caused by food. Often itâs an innocent behavior that starts when one member of the flock has a cut or broken feather thatâs bleeding. Exposed areas on the body draw attention and unwanted pecking and that can lead down a path of cannibalism. If you find one of your chickens with a cut, make sure to treat it promptly. If necessary, separate the bird until it heals.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKti984F3jBWtywX0T580EaY0uVBJESemvnoghw-nor7uZK0DiWy3Ufbru2wMfqlX7cmCB0wzaXWAHRIqrbhOjK1Wg73piuRnIhahaaCZLW98xH7mTT0Zz_dgj8b3ijwNth_1hcgH3XEA/s2048/Why+Do+Roosters+Crow+1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why do roosters crow? Here are five top chicken questions along with the answers." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKti984F3jBWtywX0T580EaY0uVBJESemvnoghw-nor7uZK0DiWy3Ufbru2wMfqlX7cmCB0wzaXWAHRIqrbhOjK1Wg73piuRnIhahaaCZLW98xH7mTT0Zz_dgj8b3ijwNth_1hcgH3XEA/w640-h480/Why+Do+Roosters+Crow+1.JPG" title="Why Do Roosters Crow?" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div><b>3. Donât Chickens Just Fly Away? </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Chickens can fly. They donât fly as well as wild birds. But depending on the breed, some are actually pretty good fliers. Lighter, more sleek birds like the Leghorn can easily fly over fences. Heavier breeds like Orpingtons and Cochins canât fly as high or as long. </div><div><br /></div><div>Flying is necessary because, in the wild, chickens roost high in the trees at night to escape predators. Backyard chickens can fly away if they are not kept in an enclosed coop and run. If you have neighbors close by, it may be a good idea to have a really tall fence or a really good relationship because chickens donât respect boundaries. If something looks good in a neighborâs yard, theyâll go for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chickens are smart though. They know their coop is safe and where they get their food and water. So even free-ranging chickens will return to the coop at night to grab some grub and a safe place to sleep. If for some reason they get caught out after the coop is closed for the night, they will generally try to find a safe roosting spot and settle in for the night. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>4. Can Chickens Swim? </b></div><div><br /></div><div>In short, the answer is not really. They can paddle for a short distance to get out of shallow water should the need arise. </div><div><br /></div><div>Modern chickens originated from jungle fowl. These wild birds live in a jungle environment and do have the chance to encounter water. They can maneuver through small, shallow streams and water areas. </div><div><br /></div><div>The better question here is should chickens be swimming? No. They are not adapted for swimming. Ducks, geese and other water birds like penguins, all have adaptations that make life in the water easy. Their feathers are covered in oil that makes them waterproof. Yes, chickens also have oil on their feathers but itâs much lighter than on a true water-dwelling bird. Itâs meant to help with water resistance but does not shed water. </div><div><br /></div><div>After some time in the water a chicken, especially heavily-feathered breeds, will become water-soaked and tired. If they canât get out of the water, they will drown. </div><div><br /></div><div>A quick internet search will show pictures of chickens swimming in pools. These are cute to see but also notice people are always around the chickens to help them. Also, think about the high chlorine level in a proper swimming pool. Thatâs not helpful to a chickenâs feathers. The better option to cool off your chickens in the summer is to provide them with a small wading pool with just a few inches of water so they can soak their legs but always have their feet on the ground. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh4Gbh5vNK99tS5HZ2yVAJWAbbBFHPdIvof9NyJeReMU71dUSkk_18R0MyYH0dVhudLm3sGt7HMNNvPtYb6bEKIrFe-b-WsUbLm5bKnSijz7M8tHU7e50_ivjlbuIpYENOFSUcljzbQjj/s760/Why+Do+Roosters+Crow+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why do roosters crow? Here are five top chicken questions along with the answers." border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="760" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh4Gbh5vNK99tS5HZ2yVAJWAbbBFHPdIvof9NyJeReMU71dUSkk_18R0MyYH0dVhudLm3sGt7HMNNvPtYb6bEKIrFe-b-WsUbLm5bKnSijz7M8tHU7e50_ivjlbuIpYENOFSUcljzbQjj/w640-h425/Why+Do+Roosters+Crow+2.jpg" title="Why Do Roosters Crow?" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. Do Hens Have a Comb and Wattles Like Roosters? </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes. Both hens and roosters have combs and wattles. Roosters have much larger combs and wattles than hens. </div><div><br /></div><div>FYI - If you're new to chicken keeping it's easy to remember. The comb is the red fleshy appendage on the top of a chicken's head and the wattles are the red, fleshy appendages hanging from the throat. </div><div><br /></div><div>What purpose do the combs and wattles serve? For roosters, their comb is used as a way to attract females. Hens are specific when looking for a mate. A large, bright red comb with tall points (given the breed) and evenly formed wattles is desired. This makes sense because this is a sign of a healthy bird that can carry a strong genetic link. </div><div><br /></div><div>In both sexes, combs and wattles are also used to help keep a bird cool. Hot blood is carried to the extremities where it is cooled and then recirculated into the bloodstream. This is why you see breeds from warm-weather climates like the Meditteranean-based Leghorns with large combs and wattles versus cold climate breeds like the Buckeye with much smaller combs and wattles. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>What other questions have you heard from new flock owners?</div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-45343981090788835332021-08-09T09:17:00.002-04:002021-08-09T11:22:20.531-04:00Feathers 101 - Why Does a Chicken Lose Feathers and More....<p>Why does a chicken lose feathers? Why are some feathers fluffy and others not? Why do roosters have different feathers than hens? There are so many questions about chicken feathers. Hereâs a helpful guide to answer those questions and moreâŚ</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_dtt-zmf0fQj55qBD1krVGqj8kMYI3n8VYAX8FS-cjv9YKRSXyN94b6QHKBBErLTXABIm_zIn3Vgbc35QQmSZBeQg0QyjHDu_gvECLXezQFYCgHzcYsygFjVMhAj_UNm-7tndf63COLK/s2048/Why+Does+a+Chicken+Lose+Feathers.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why does a chicken lose feathers? There are so many questions about chicken feathers. Hereâs a helpful guide to answer those questions and moreâŚ" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_dtt-zmf0fQj55qBD1krVGqj8kMYI3n8VYAX8FS-cjv9YKRSXyN94b6QHKBBErLTXABIm_zIn3Vgbc35QQmSZBeQg0QyjHDu_gvECLXezQFYCgHzcYsygFjVMhAj_UNm-7tndf63COLK/w640-h426/Why+Does+a+Chicken+Lose+Feathers.JPG" title="Why Does a Chicken Lose Feathers?" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div>
Chicken feathers. Theyâre what people notice most when they see a chicken. The colors. The patterns. Thereâs no denying it, chicken feathers are beautiful! In fact, many a backyard flock has been chosen for looks. Some people keep only red chickens, others buff, black and white or speckled birds. There are lots of choices. </div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Pin the image below to save this information for later.</i><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjnksjqjYBgZSMxA8cnKWKKw8CF_bQrq8EhfQIWw2SKO1-Ak2pUKwvlv0niYqY6KymPtKjbPuRNTwOtefyDmV3xA5HMshyphenhyphenn1VJLmciaEVCZgVlOn5QblPADe1fHH0i1zGsBg_re9kJf6u/s1102/Chicken+Feathers+101.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why does a chicken lose feathers? There are so many questions about chicken feathers. Hereâs a helpful guide to answer those questions and moreâŚ" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjnksjqjYBgZSMxA8cnKWKKw8CF_bQrq8EhfQIWw2SKO1-Ak2pUKwvlv0niYqY6KymPtKjbPuRNTwOtefyDmV3xA5HMshyphenhyphenn1VJLmciaEVCZgVlOn5QblPADe1fHH0i1zGsBg_re9kJf6u/w426-h640/Chicken+Feathers+101.png" title="Why Does a Chicken Lose Feathers?" width="426" /></a></div><p>But what about function? Intuitively we all know some general functions of feathers. You donât have to go any farther than your local department store to see feathers in action. Down comforters and pillows fetch a high price. Feathered earrings are popular outfit accessories. A down winter jacket is a must-have when temperatures dip. Feathers are all about function. Even their beauty has a purpose. </p><p>The overarching function of feathers is to keep a bird protected from cold, hot and wet weather and to protect the skin. But thereâs moreâŚ</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr_yqzIO8KFDkrxCVMKKQWv1h0O3UhuDJMW2ipuSHztgulQhyphenhyphenvtwWM08JHxgH4Nvs9bGlvKLBUHW_ZpGKMGEx6QsJhPi5aOQnN-IzXr3JCA3HvoaE5XWHCRulSApYRPW0UGlqmVk46Wko/s320/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy+%25284%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Types of Feathers and their Parts</b></p><p>Chickens have four basic types of feathers â contour, plumules, filoplumes and bristles. </p><p>Individual feathers can be broken down into specific parts. The shaft runs the length of the feather with the hollow quill at the end that connects to the body. Barbs come off the main shaft on both sides. Barbs have barbules which have tiny hooks that attach to the barbules of the next barb acting like a zipper that locks the barbs together giving the feather its web. The fluff is at the lower end of a feather with barbs that lack hooks giving it a downy look. </p><p>Contour feathers are the first feathers you notice on a chicken. They are the largest of a chickenâs feathers and cover the outside of the bird giving it shape and serving as the first line of defense against the elements. </p><p>Plumules are also known as down feathers. They lack the hooks that join barbs together, so they are fluffy rather than smooth. These feathers are most evident on baby chicks, after all, the primary purpose of down feathers is for insulation to trap air for warmth. On adult chickens, down feathers are found closest to the body. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSRbZxF4zmuKPM7A2N4zaDtTcpc4kyrCDqReVWZLBYfnBbW0iNY9r5DVqrE3dJ7GznQ-AZGx6YdSlx357DDFR1HO4nT0KzdDelfjzlf77bnMBpFQtkz9WuQHDRnhqLtsmrzqDsGOqfo8Y/s2048/Chicken+Feathers+101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why does a chicken lose feathers? There are so many questions about chicken feathers. Hereâs a helpful guide to answer those questions and moreâŚ" border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="2048" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSRbZxF4zmuKPM7A2N4zaDtTcpc4kyrCDqReVWZLBYfnBbW0iNY9r5DVqrE3dJ7GznQ-AZGx6YdSlx357DDFR1HO4nT0KzdDelfjzlf77bnMBpFQtkz9WuQHDRnhqLtsmrzqDsGOqfo8Y/w640-h378/Chicken+Feathers+101.jpg" title="Why Does a Chicken Lose Feathers?" width="640" /></a></div><p>Two smaller feathers filoplume and bristles are less noticeable but still provide function. Filoplumes have a few barbs at the tip giving them a hairlike appearance. Their exact function is not fully understood, but they do have sensory receptors at their base. Bristles are the small feathers around a chickenâs eyes, nose, and mouth. They protect those areas by keeping out dust and debris. </p><p>There are two types of chickens with interesting feathers that throw out the book: Frizzles and Silkies. </p><p>Frizzle chickens are gaining popularity with backyard chicken keepers because of their interesting look. Frizzle feathers happen because a mutation causes the feathers to twist and turn and stick out randomly all over the body. You can see frizzle feathering in many different chicken breeds. </p><p>Silkie chickens have only feathers that lack the ability to zip the barbs together. This means Silkies have no waterproofing so special care should be taken in wet weather. </p><div><b>Molting</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Nothing brings a featherâs function more top-of-mind than molting. In late summer, fall and even early winter, chicken keepers focus a lot on feathers because their birds may be losing them at a rapid rate. There may be lots of dropped feathers around the coop. At times, it can even look like a bird exploded. Chickens may be walking around looking half-naked. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why? What is molting? Molting is a natural and necessary process where birds shed old feathers for new. Chickens will have their first adult molt around 18 months of age and will molt annually after that. The molting season is timed with the onset of cold weather so that chickens have a new, fully functional set of feathers during harsh weather. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>FYI</b> - Molting isnât unique to adult chickens. Young chickens start molting early. They first molt to replace down with feathers. They molt again to replace juvenile feathers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Adult molting is triggered by the decrease in daylight hours as the year progresses. It starts at the head and moves down the body. Both hens and roosters will molt. During this time, hens will decrease egg-laying or stop laying altogether switching from egg production to feather production. </div><div><br /></div><div>âHigh-producing, well-fed backyard hens can lay up to 250 eggs in their first year of production. This is because it takes 24-26 hours to create each egg, and hens take a natural break each year for molting â often as days get shorter in the fall,â said Patrick Biggs, Ph.D., a flock nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz9xnGdNFhptZKOWER85PVzTIrk5HYWW9g5KOnkvHCCjq8Zo0TSDXK2qtfWJ83DMuW-EXD-0zM1PJBIdlDB71XJjkRGdvqEMwmqREKL484jguHqQWlnARXvSvwwJSmmN4-7Cmov7uJWX_/s2048/Molting+Leghorn.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why does a chicken lose feathers? There are so many questions about chicken feathers. Hereâs a helpful guide to answer those questions and moreâŚ" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz9xnGdNFhptZKOWER85PVzTIrk5HYWW9g5KOnkvHCCjq8Zo0TSDXK2qtfWJ83DMuW-EXD-0zM1PJBIdlDB71XJjkRGdvqEMwmqREKL484jguHqQWlnARXvSvwwJSmmN4-7Cmov7uJWX_/w640-h426/Molting+Leghorn.JPG" title="Why Does a Chicken Lose Feathers?" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Molting can take around eight to 12 weeks to complete. Purina Animal Nutrition recommends feeding a high protein diet to your flock during this time. Feathers are 85% protein so the increase in protein helps. You can also supplement with high protein treats like black oil sunflower seeds, nuts and tuna fish to name a few. </div><div><br /></div><div>Molting chickens may act a little âoffâ during this time. They are not sick, but their bodies are working hard to replace feathers. New, immature feathers called pinfeathers can be seen as a chicken regrows lost feathers. Pinfeathers are sometimes referred to as blood feathers because they do have a supply of blood that nourishes the growing feather. Pinfeathers are essentially the new feather rolled in a papery coating for protection. As the covering flakes off, the feather opens. Itâs a good idea not to handle your chickens much while they are covered in pinfeathers because growing feathers can be painful to the touch. </div></div><p><b>Daily Feathers</b></p><p>Feathers arenât top of mind just during molting, they play a role in many daily chicken behaviors as birds spend time each day caring for them. </p><p>When birds preen â the act of grooming and cleaning feathers â they can be seen running their beaks along their feathers to zip up loose barbs getting the feather into proper shape and/or biting at their feathers to remove bits of dirt or other substances and parasites. </p><p>If you watch carefully, as chickens run their beaks along their feathers, they generally start this behavior by twisting around and dipping their beaks into their tail feathers. Thereâs a reason for this. The uropygial gland, otherwise known as the preen gland is located near the base of the tail. Itâs not noticeable to the naked eye because itâs hidden under dense tail plumage. It looks kind of like a nipple on a baby bottle. When chickens nudge the uropygial gland, it releases an oily, waxy substance that they distribute over their feathers to keep the feathers supple and to help repel dirt and water. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgxPAlg_-WZYORxS4lnTaLbZI-3XOXqO2jam5dSURurRDK2pmvNv8iupeMyuxUKQPP_vch2xK9VTkbOcoGU7kAEpgTHzMGpLzb9sJLiIF33ieSqruIjBxY6mi-IIXn_RZv-egzdMhhn_E/s2048/Uropygial+Gland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why does a chicken lose feathers? There are so many questions about chicken feathers. Hereâs a helpful guide to answer those questions and moreâŚ" border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="2048" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgxPAlg_-WZYORxS4lnTaLbZI-3XOXqO2jam5dSURurRDK2pmvNv8iupeMyuxUKQPP_vch2xK9VTkbOcoGU7kAEpgTHzMGpLzb9sJLiIF33ieSqruIjBxY6mi-IIXn_RZv-egzdMhhn_E/w640-h456/Uropygial+Gland.jpg" title="Why Does a Chicken Lose Feathers?" width="640" /></a></div><p>Although chickens donât bathe in water, they do bathe in dust and sun. </p><p>Dustbathing is a way for chickens to remove excess oil and parasites. Free-range chickens will find a dry patch of dirt and dig their own dust baths. If chickens are confined, they need to be provided a dust bath. Chickens luxuriate in a dust bath moving to get the best angles as they scratch dirt deep into their feathers. Dust bathing chickens are a glorious sight to behold, but beware of standing too close to chickens after they leave a dust bath because they shake all that dirt and dust off and it goes everywhere!</p><p>Sunbathing chickens can be found on even the hottest day of the year sprawled on the ground often with one or both of their wings extended. Chickens get so absorbed in their sunbathing that they can appear dead at first glance. But theyâre not! Sunbathing serves many purposes and plays a big role in feather health. Generally, it helps to destroy bacteria, convert compounds in the oil from the uropygial gland into vitamin D, allows for warmth in cold weather and drying if the bird gets wet. For feather health, it allows easier access to parasites for their removal. As chickens sunbathe, they will strategically expose body parts to the sun making it uncomfortable for parasites. As the parasites move to get cooler, the chicken will preen to remove them. </p><p><b>Looking Good</b></p><p>In case youâre wondering about the function of beauty, yes, beautiful feathers are a big deal in the chicken world too. While beauty is touted in humans as being only skin deep, in the chicken world, outward beauty shows a lot about the inner bird. </p><p>A healthy bird has feathers that are clean and well-groomed. A healthy birdâs feathers are at their best providing protection, insulation, the ability to fly and the ability to attract a mate. </p><p>Speaking of attracting mates, rooster feathers have beauty for that purpose. Their showy tail and neck feathers attract a henâs attention. On the other hand, hen feathers are designed more for camouflage as she has to sit on a nest and raise her brood, during which time, itâs better to stay unnoticed by predators. </p><p>For chicken keepers, feather condition can be a good indication of their birdâs health. Itâs good to check birds often so problems can be detected early. Plumage quality can start to decline noticeably if a bird is infested with parasites like lice and mites. Bare patches of skin on a henâs back can mean she is being overmated. Bare patches of skin can also indicate feather picking or eating â often a sign of bullying or that birds are too hot, bored or overcrowded. </p><p>Be careful not to jump to conclusions too quickly though. Bad-looking feathers can be a sign of an active bird or one thatâs getting ready to molt. On a personal note, I have a New Hampshire hen whose feathers always look terrible. One, she does draw the attention of our rooster more than others. But also, sheâs an active free-range bird that always seems to find places to damage her feathers. Sheâs healthy as a horse but looks a little worse for the wear. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3YfIAP7UhvIpaTWy4EDCn80gen9xHzzLSjpI_bQObwZYjnpT3jqGZ_DW2Qa5V077lUW9-GoGOyLUgSIkMBALJ0q4SQBIUhhfVHR-mtB7pvbuhEnSsckprY2AC5C2-clSUdmDlEWLMCXK/s2048/Rooster+Feathers+Graphic.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why does a chicken lose feathers? There are so many questions about chicken feathers. Hereâs a helpful guide to answer those questions and moreâŚ" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3YfIAP7UhvIpaTWy4EDCn80gen9xHzzLSjpI_bQObwZYjnpT3jqGZ_DW2Qa5V077lUW9-GoGOyLUgSIkMBALJ0q4SQBIUhhfVHR-mtB7pvbuhEnSsckprY2AC5C2-clSUdmDlEWLMCXK/w426-h640/Rooster+Feathers+Graphic.JPG" title="Why Does a Chicken Lose Feathers?" width="426" /></a></div><p><b>Feather Identification</b></p><p>Itâs good to know how to identify the feathers you can see at a glance when looking at a chicken. By using the correct terms, you can better understand your chicken and describe it when needed. </p><p><b>Hackles:</b> These feathers essentially form a ring around the neck including the rear and side feathers. Both hens and roosters have hackle feathers, but the roosterâs hackle feathers are more prominent being long and pointed. </p><p><b>Saddle:</b> The saddle is located along the rear of the back where it meets the tail. A roosterâs saddle area is covered with long pointed feathers. </p><p><b>Tail Coverts:</b> These feathers cover the base of the main tail feathers in roosters and most of the tail in hens. A roosterâs tail coverts are long and showy.</p><p><b>Sickles:</b> The main sickles are the two long curving feathers at the top of a roosterâs tail. Lesser sickles hang to the side and cover the main tail. </p><p><b>Main Tail Feathers:</b> These are the long, straight and stiff feathers of the tail. They are more prominent on a hen but covered in both sexes by the tail coverts and sickles in the case of a rooster. </p><div><br /></div><div>This article about why does a chicken lose feathers was originally published in <i>The New Pioneer </i>magazine.</div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-89123515121604959142021-07-26T05:00:00.000-04:002021-07-26T08:24:09.977-04:00Does Chicken Egg Color Affect Taste?Does chicken egg color affect taste? It's a common question. When people see green or blue eggs, they'll ask out loud if they taste different. Some people voice strong opinions by saying they like brown eggs better than white. Even seasoned chicken keepers venture into this question and say some of their chickens lay eggs that taste more creamy and better than others.<br />
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Let's face it. People associate egg taste with shell color. But do eggs with different colored shells taste different? No. Eggshell color has nothing to do with taste. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;">Egg tastes only change because of a henâs diet and the eggâs freshness.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kP9kYBI4hzLqaH03_bg_1VhY2bedp6SxvgihwrgwikqkvPat_0RSmgKrg5lAWbhqzZC7Beebj61vbiMTJaJxZhsdVi_VXxOS2FZdwDm7gLrYYEtZW8r51PEsqcq3mrDJNJgH4u54JqMI/s1600/20190130_172719+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Do eggs with different colored shells taste different? No. Eggshell color has nothing to do with taste." border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1600" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kP9kYBI4hzLqaH03_bg_1VhY2bedp6SxvgihwrgwikqkvPat_0RSmgKrg5lAWbhqzZC7Beebj61vbiMTJaJxZhsdVi_VXxOS2FZdwDm7gLrYYEtZW8r51PEsqcq3mrDJNJgH4u54JqMI/w640-h355/20190130_172719+%25282%2529.jpg" title="Does Chicken Egg Color Affect Taste?" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Egg color is determined by chicken breed. Although donât be too surprised if you find the same breed of chickens in your flock laying slightly different egg colors. It just makes for a colorful egg collecting basket! Regardless of breed, a<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;">ll chicken eggs are made the same on the inside.</span><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVk49cZ3WhzBGz1T1hXsP7DWSobbVOMNF_VaNeWwvdBfKz4I0Db0jorNZgQMXWSuIUJca9e4Nx9kuyNgzLzf1CveDE0g4Xe-BXrYLIcj_00dryVlikARSA0VFdsKvdigLfZGaZteqRLNy/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252824%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div></span>
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How Are Chicken Eggs Formed?</h3>
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Step 1</h4>
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Egg formation takes around a day and starts with ovulation where the yolk (or oocyte) is produced by a hen's ovary.<br />
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Step 2</h4>
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The yolk is then released into the oviduct where it can be fertilized if you've got a rooster. The egg formation process continues whether the egg is fertilized or not.<br />
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Step 3</h4>
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The yolk moves down the oviduct where it is covered by the vitelline membrane, structural fibers (or chalazae) and egg white (or albumen). As the egg is moving, it's spinning and the chalazae twist and anchor the yolk to the white; one on each side of the egg.<br />
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Step 4</h4>
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The eggshell, which is made of calcite, is formed around the egg. This is the last step in the egg formation before it is laid. </div>
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No matter the egg color, all eggs go through this same process.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Pin the image below to save this information for later. </i></div><div><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zaLBC7eqptgYRLrDcj1HDxBUhpBn5pRyPeVt9SQLYWVWMi3cpM7Dv6Iou4jIMBlm6evXje1BBjftvacdNTU1YhHM2pop2gaugjjQiAjGKdf_nVHNtnst5gnzWkA6kC5YlmDzvcTngrRl/s1102/Does+Chicken+Egg+Color+Affect+Taste.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Do eggs with different colored shells taste different? No. Eggshell color has nothing to do with taste." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zaLBC7eqptgYRLrDcj1HDxBUhpBn5pRyPeVt9SQLYWVWMi3cpM7Dv6Iou4jIMBlm6evXje1BBjftvacdNTU1YhHM2pop2gaugjjQiAjGKdf_nVHNtnst5gnzWkA6kC5YlmDzvcTngrRl/w426-h640/Does+Chicken+Egg+Color+Affect+Taste.png" title="Does Chicken Egg Color Affect Taste?" width="426" /></a></div></div><h3><br /></h3><h3>
How Is Chicken Egg Color Applied?</h3>
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All eggs start out white because they are formed of calcite which is a crystallized form of calcium carbonate. If you've got a white egg-laying chicken breed like <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/09/leghorn-great-white-egg-laying-chicken-breed.html" target="_blank">Leghorns</a> in your flock, then nothing else happens and the egg stays white.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBgqaY3X3bkbg-kyCvdJFtki_S0NoM2wWvQU2ZFNSnfGN7gKztpASVYecEvNzsLKWewzcvQNuyl44fAgObWIZ64oH0qodc3mSaHrOK4HHKNHqhfBkWiPwtqctZc2kSBPAdn-5ABAyjR9U/s1600/Fall+2010+032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Do eggs with different colored shells taste different? No. Eggshell color has nothing to do with taste." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBgqaY3X3bkbg-kyCvdJFtki_S0NoM2wWvQU2ZFNSnfGN7gKztpASVYecEvNzsLKWewzcvQNuyl44fAgObWIZ64oH0qodc3mSaHrOK4HHKNHqhfBkWiPwtqctZc2kSBPAdn-5ABAyjR9U/w480-h640/Fall+2010+032.JPG" title="Does Chicken Egg Color Affect Taste?" width="480" /></a></div>
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If you have brown egg-laying chicken breeds in your flock like Rhode Island Reds, <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/02/breed-profile-new-hampshire-red.html" target="_blank">New Hampshires</a>, Barred Rocks, <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/08/brahma-chicken-breed-spotlight.html#more" target="_blank">Brahmas</a> or Australorps, then the process continues. The brown color or pigment is laid fairly late in shell formation and does not penetrate through the shell. That's why the inside of a brown egg is white.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o7NAkWbNjqu2_h2-RSmpOiqkGPPkIGwODtAayfu82Ox0s4U5UlT-eGXa4bEHAKzIqCBTDN2r_UCSVQROUApb7asp4SIACSth2xPxYCUkgSnU508xUHyoQqN50vYfCxE_Ytuwkz4dOJT3/s1600/IMG_9915+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Do eggs with different colored shells taste different? No. Eggshell color has nothing to do with taste." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o7NAkWbNjqu2_h2-RSmpOiqkGPPkIGwODtAayfu82Ox0s4U5UlT-eGXa4bEHAKzIqCBTDN2r_UCSVQROUApb7asp4SIACSth2xPxYCUkgSnU508xUHyoQqN50vYfCxE_Ytuwkz4dOJT3/w640-h425/IMG_9915+-+Copy.JPG" title="Does Chicken Egg Color Affect Taste?" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you have <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/03/chicken-breeds-that-lay-blue-or-green.html" target="_blank">green or blue egg-laying chickens</a> like <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/01/breed-profile-ameraucana.html" target="_blank">Easter Eggers</a>, the process is even more interesting. Blue pigment is applied fairly early in the process and sinks through the entire shell. If you've got a blue egg layer, then the process is done at this point. If you've got a green egg layer, then there's one more step. The brown pigment is actually applied after the blue pigment. It's late in the process so it doesn't sink through the eggshell, but it does mix with the blue on the surface to create green.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y-PShwQDozqOZ7UztbeKUNUoMFaH-ht2Ewl5oLfUhVKLWtywHh1qv381hIy-f-UiPzSxFXdIsy6YlvR03-h-w19WtQ6XtIoDrnibDxRVylaRLGMkQFMtHocsuNOwI22mwdCoofPekWTm/s1600/006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Do eggs with different colored shells taste different? No. Eggshell color has nothing to do with taste." border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y-PShwQDozqOZ7UztbeKUNUoMFaH-ht2Ewl5oLfUhVKLWtywHh1qv381hIy-f-UiPzSxFXdIsy6YlvR03-h-w19WtQ6XtIoDrnibDxRVylaRLGMkQFMtHocsuNOwI22mwdCoofPekWTm/w640-h480/006.JPG" title="Does Chicken Egg Color Affect Taste?" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ameraucana sitting on nest of green eggs.</td></tr>
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What Makes Eggs Taste Different?</h3>
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Do some eggs taste different? Yes. But, it has nothing to do with the shell color. Egg taste depends on so many factors. Are your backyard chickens allowed to free-range and get as many bugs, small animals and greens as they can find? If so, the yolks of their eggs are going to be more colorful and taste more creamy than eggs from a bird that's only been allowed to eat commercial feed. Just what are your chickens eating when they free range? Some foods do affect the taste of an egg. Also, how fresh are your eggs? If they're going right from your coop to the frying pan, they're going to have a lot more flavor than something that's been in a refrigerator for a few weeks. </div>
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Next time you hear someone say they like one egg color more than another, you'll know the reality behind that egg color.<br />
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<br /></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-54706733346069273562021-07-19T05:30:00.001-04:002021-07-19T05:30:00.221-04:00How to Grow Parsley from SeedLearning how to grow parsley from seed means you'll have ready access to this versatile herb almost year-round. Named 2021âs Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association, parsley is one of the most recognizable of herbs. If youâve been to a
restaurant, youâve probably been served curly parsley as a garnish. However, parsley is much more than a garnish and it can be an important herb to grow if
youâre selling herbs and produce for profit.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Adn1giAYVzmbTV-SgTcnvXvxwBgeu59DTvpkDOQHoDWJDlecmisqiYUKj5ep1h9DAcR8Ve8HNN5dx8mKCMy8WKFkO-mFOrGFhDLATLtb0Wcva6LyfxvZbJghkFSHW7jk4lu5U5MRqqJL/s1920/parsley-790703_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow parsley from seed means you'll have ready access to this versatile herb almost year-round." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Adn1giAYVzmbTV-SgTcnvXvxwBgeu59DTvpkDOQHoDWJDlecmisqiYUKj5ep1h9DAcR8Ve8HNN5dx8mKCMy8WKFkO-mFOrGFhDLATLtb0Wcva6LyfxvZbJghkFSHW7jk4lu5U5MRqqJL/w640-h426/parsley-790703_1920.jpg" title="How to Grow Parsley from Seed" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Starting Parsley from Seed </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Over time and use herbs, such as parsley, have
gathered lore thatâs passed from generation to generation. It
is said that parsley is the property of the devil and it travels to him seven
times before it can grow. This
lore most likely sprung up because parsley takes a long time to germinate. At
Turner Farm, <span class="MsoCommentReference">a certified Real Organic farm in the Village
of Indian Hill in Cincinnati, Ohio, both flat-leaf and curly parsley
are staple long-season crops that are started twice a year from seed.</span></div><div><span class="MsoCommentReference"><br /></span></div><div><span class="MsoCommentReference">âWe
start them both from seed and parsley is a little bit persnickety, a little bit
sensitive when it comes to seed starting. It typically takes ours two to three
weeks to even start coming up from seed. And even when it does, itâs really
tiny and grows pretty slowly,â said Abby Lundrigan, the Turner Farm Crop
Production Manager.</span></div><div><span class="MsoCommentReference"><br /></span></div><div><span class="MsoCommentReference">At
Turner Farm, parsley is started in open flats, then moved to trays with cells, allowed
to grow and fill the cells, then planted in the field. It is started in
February then field-planted mid-April with a second field planting in July.</span></div><div><span class="MsoCommentReference"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9b0_V4MKqvrkAPE85W6fmk5-rGUf4nykKrTFwIABVeu5QSqa2drdA867JKapAg7as8SyQ21G6U28fSVuyPMD_qDaGiroJ4vTcWYiv5TVe41Icx1yfYi35wZUNpOIAApobHQfx7y66ugv/s1102/How+to+Grow+Parsley+from+Seed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow parsley from seed means you'll have ready access to this versatile herb almost year-round." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9b0_V4MKqvrkAPE85W6fmk5-rGUf4nykKrTFwIABVeu5QSqa2drdA867JKapAg7as8SyQ21G6U28fSVuyPMD_qDaGiroJ4vTcWYiv5TVe41Icx1yfYi35wZUNpOIAApobHQfx7y66ugv/w426-h640/How+to+Grow+Parsley+from+Seed.png" title="How to Grow Parsley from Seed" width="426" /></a></div><div><span class="MsoCommentReference"> </span></div><b>Biennial
Life Cycle</b><div><br /></div><div>Parsley is a biennial plant, meaning it grows
during its first season then flowers and dies back in its second season. Turner
Farm manages parsley as an annual and puts in new plants each season. </div><div><br /></div><div>âOnce
the plant is putting its energy into producing seeds, the seed stalk it sends
out is really thick and tough and woody. Itâs putting its energy into producing
seeds so itâs not putting nearly as much effort into growing these smaller
vegetative leaf stalks that we would be harvesting. At that point, because we
want to keep harvesting a consistent quality and quantity, we will put in new
plants,â said Lundrigan.</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8bBRuPhnxEyQQkjmrtjaAC_3beVvoVTks0i9aSepL4fqHhOVKlpHU_AUsNBrlstF4cDEl-1qaH7NUM0f6wMnrjSrNa6jrwrkGwLNqudMY2Y2IZgXDEKzZPhOcaJ5ceQkCHBoDG_UpwLB/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252823%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Harvesting</b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Parsley is a member of the Umbelliferae family
along with celery, carrots, cilantro, anise and fennel. It has a basal plate â a
central growth point where leaves are grown. At Turner Farm, parsley is
harvested with this basal plate in mind.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">âWe
harvest parsley from the outside of the plant. The largest, oldest stems are
going to be on the outside of the plant. Thatâs how we harvest off of it for so
long. We always want to leave that central growth point intact so that it keeps
growing new shoots,â said Lundrigan. âCelery is in the same family and is maybe
a better visual example. Celery has those outer stalks and then that inner
heart. If you think of parsley the same way, we want to keep the center part
always producing new shoots so we are harvesting those outer stalks. When we
harvest celery, we do the same thing.â</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLMoa5zBqstAC37_R4zQHMeSznv2PXzpWyj4KJsNtM7nW6GpZXIQRvE2GV4kIW7aECRw8BOgA5QVPq471PRC2HR7IoXYkWvZbOXf1E4brKFr21pel7S9rUJtz2buVgc0HnfvxgbIkWtrm/s1920/planting-4226839_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow parsley from seed means you'll have ready access to this versatile herb almost year-round." border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLMoa5zBqstAC37_R4zQHMeSznv2PXzpWyj4KJsNtM7nW6GpZXIQRvE2GV4kIW7aECRw8BOgA5QVPq471PRC2HR7IoXYkWvZbOXf1E4brKFr21pel7S9rUJtz2buVgc0HnfvxgbIkWtrm/w640-h426/planting-4226839_1920.jpg" title="How to Grow Parsley from Seed" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><br /></div><b>Cold-Hardiness</b><div><br /></div><div>Parsley can be the backbone of a
working garden because it grows well into the cold weather. At Turner Farm in
planting zone six, parsley thrives under winter row covers. July curly parsley
plantings are harvested well into March/April and flat-leaf plantings last into
December/January.</div><div><br /></div><div>âI
honestly remember times I would go to look under the row cover and expect the
parsley to be dead and it just didnât look like it knew anything was going on,â
said Lundrigan. </div><div><br /></div><div>âWe had this one bed that had fall and winter crops in it and the field was pretty
much full of turnips and watermelon radishes. I remember harvesting everything
around the parsley and the parsley was this one lone strip that remained after
everything else was gone.â</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Customer
Popularity</b></div><div><br /></div><div>At Turner Farm, parsley is gathered
by bunches to be added to CSA shares and sold at an on-site farm market and
local farmers' markets. Bunches
sell, depending on size, for $1 to $2. This equals about $1 an ounce/$16 per
pound. A typical grocery store bunch is about this size. Turner Farm also sells
parsley to restaurants in half to one-pound increments.</div><div><br /></div><div>While
both are offered, flat-leaf sells much better than curly parsley. Lundrigan
says curly is grown because it is more cold-hardy than the flat-leaf so they
can be sure to have it as an offering for a longer time. </div><div><br /></div><div>âFor some reason, flat-leaf is so much more popular than the curly. Iâm not sure why,â
she said. âI like the curly for things like Tabouli or if Iâm putting it in
something fresh like a salad. I think itâs a little sturdier or crunchier it
just has a little bit more texture than the flat-leaf. I think they taste the
same. Iâm not sure why thereâs this prejudice against the curly.â<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH48S3kVpNiI2Qm69Mm9d4t4nvVzJhQ-yAzjqjM4wgXf9XlHyriBlcps0tkPRUA68uXB0UatOKhT-IbwKEcTagIh8lYgStf-fD4GQDN1foXwrSGrTCJ1GahUQVRZ0Dk2c1A_3FQFoFmLIc/s1920/black-swallowtail-caterpillar-5495912_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow parsley from seed means you'll have ready access to this versatile herb almost year-round." border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1429" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH48S3kVpNiI2Qm69Mm9d4t4nvVzJhQ-yAzjqjM4wgXf9XlHyriBlcps0tkPRUA68uXB0UatOKhT-IbwKEcTagIh8lYgStf-fD4GQDN1foXwrSGrTCJ1GahUQVRZ0Dk2c1A_3FQFoFmLIc/w477-h640/black-swallowtail-caterpillar-5495912_1920.jpg" title="How to Grow Parsley from Seed" width="477" /></a></div><p></p><b>Butterfly
Host Plant</b><div><br /></div><div>Parsley is a host plant for black
swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. Many people actually call them parsley
caterpillars.</div><div><br /></div><div>âWe
try not to squish those guys when theyâre eating our parsley or fennel or
anything in that family,â said Lundrigan.</div><div><br /></div><div>When
planting parsley, be sure to leave enough for the caterpillars!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>This article about how to grow parsley from seed was originally published in <i>The New Pioneer</i> magazine. </b></div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-68430101549256750792021-07-12T05:00:00.001-04:002021-07-12T10:57:25.888-04:00How to Use Rosemary in Your Home and Chicken CoopRosemary uses are as varied as its varieties from the kitchen, throughout the house and even to the chicken coop. A native of the Mediterranean, Portugal and northwestern Spain, the name rosemary means "sea-dew" since its blossoms have a dew-like appearance. Known for remembrance, rosemary is certainly a hard-to-forget herb!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrryHYMXZHavrJm9ahYAxCHP5h8DQ2LBTRYipsePA7KldZqvbOxG1Kcs0FOrNODOQDpxLjG3zdNec_I8JLvrcDoVdjLnblGClqppBLs8B6GupUNu7NOpSOkNYD6WXlz9DUVkVUa46OnRg/s1600/Rosemary+in+the+Chicken+Coop1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosemary uses are as varied as its varieties from the kitchen, throughout the house and even to the chicken coop." border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="894" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrryHYMXZHavrJm9ahYAxCHP5h8DQ2LBTRYipsePA7KldZqvbOxG1Kcs0FOrNODOQDpxLjG3zdNec_I8JLvrcDoVdjLnblGClqppBLs8B6GupUNu7NOpSOkNYD6WXlz9DUVkVUa46OnRg/w500-h640/Rosemary+in+the+Chicken+Coop1.jpg" title="How to Use Rosemary in Your Home and Chicken Coop" width="500" /></a></div>
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<h4>
Rosemary Uses </h4>
<br /><b>
Repelling Insects</b> â Rosemary's insect-repelling qualities have been well-established through the centuries. In Bancke's <i>Herbal</i> from 1525, he states "Take the flowers and put them in thy chest among thy clothes or among thy Bookes and Mothes shall not destroy them."<br />
<br /><b>
Repelling Germs</b> â Rosemary oil has antibacterial properties. Rosemary was one burnt in homes to keep away the black death and in French hospitals during World War II to kill germs.<br />
<br />⢠In the home, rosemary can be used in a simmering pot of potpourri on the stove to release oils. You can easily combine rosemary with other herbs and scents according to preference and the season. Examples include juniper berries, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, lavender, orange, lemon and vanilla.<br />
<br />
Rosemary is often used in drawer and closet sachets to keep moths and pests away.<br />
<br />⢠In the chicken coop, rosemary can be hung in bundles throughout the coop. Rosemary uses also include an insect spray made by mixing rosemary essential oil with water. Spraying this throughout the coop will keep insects at bay. I found this out first hand when a swarm of bee-like flies invaded our coop. Once I hung my rosemary bundles and used my DIY insect spray, the flies were gone and didn't come back.<br />
<br />
If you have space and/or live in a southern clime, you can plant rosemary near the coop to repel pests.<br />
<br />
Dried rosemary can be added to nest boxes to keep insects away and calm hens as they're laying.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Pin the image below to save this information for later. </b></i><br />
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A Herb Through the Ages</h4>
<br />
Rosemary has been an important plant for centuries and there are many stories about this wonderful plant. A few favorites are below.<br />
<br />⢠It is said that when the Holy Family fled Egypt, they had to hide from soldiers. Mary spread her cloak over some rosemary plants and hid behind it. They say the flowers then turned blue to honor Mary. In the Christian faith, it is said that rosemary will grow for 33 years. That's the number of years Jesus lived.<br />
<br />⢠Greek students would wear necklaces and headbands of rosemary to help them do better on tests.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyXDw9D85U9FXS90mwtG7E07O24yiRJcPehPIBzG_vS_7gim01iH4qS97VFyl7mpL2CFOW1erfiTSmoPxTw6oH6L_q6LECO_qEsGNbtOIks2bAFJK-J7SrUEH1HuA7iT7wUD5iwR0Q1oM/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252822%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<h4>One Popular Plant</h4>
<br />
Rosemary has become a staple herb for the kitchen herb garden. It can easily be found at many nurseries and in many varieties. Many people will purchase a few varieties and grow them to see which becomes their favorite. Some varieties are upright and others are prostrate which means they will grow along the ground.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SlHuQ9wqHAzEpJtcyoMjaumHiT1niED07hbXHyR1rEgO5-JxZgETbvZbOkgZdotBIi7o_uJyBBQCgs_xCivtfsUjN2EpTWuOTqpxL3InM3EgijYiCQAK2FjDbeakcEUvPD7GfjsAbwTa/s1600/Rosemary+in+the+Chicken+Coop2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosemary uses are as varied as its varieties from the kitchen, throughout the house and even to the chicken coop." border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="893" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SlHuQ9wqHAzEpJtcyoMjaumHiT1niED07hbXHyR1rEgO5-JxZgETbvZbOkgZdotBIi7o_uJyBBQCgs_xCivtfsUjN2EpTWuOTqpxL3InM3EgijYiCQAK2FjDbeakcEUvPD7GfjsAbwTa/w435-h640/Rosemary+in+the+Chicken+Coop2.jpg" title="How to Use Rosemary in Your Home and Chicken Coop" width="435" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
<h4>
Keeping Rosemary Indoors in Winter</h4>
<br />
Rosemary is not a cold-hardy herb. In the north, people will treat it as an annual or try to overwinter it indoors. In the south, it thrives in gardens year-round. A great southern city to visit is Charleston, South Carolina where you can see hedgerows of rosemary that line the walkways.<br />
<br />⢠Rosemary is hardy through zones 8 to 10 meaning it can't be grown outside where the temperature drops below 10â.<br />
<br />
<b>Timesaver:</b> If you live in the north, you can plant rosemary directly into a decorative container if you plan to bring it inside during the winter. If you change your mind about your garden-planted rosemary, it can be transferred from the garden to a container in the fall.<br />
<br />
It's important to remember that rosemary needs water to survive but doesn't like wet feet. Be sure your plant has good drainage. Water only when needed, but be careful not to let your plant dry out completely.<br />
<br />⢠Green needles turning brown equals overwatering.<br />⢠Woody growth and yellowing leaves equal a plant that is rootbound and needs to be re-potted.<br />⢠Gentle misting can mimic rosemary's native habitat and help keep the plant healthy.<br />
<br />
Rosemary plants do not like the dry heat of a home in the winter. The key to keeping your plant alive is to keep it in a cool place with good sunlight. I move my rosemary planters outside on any winter day that gets above 40 degrees or so. If I use my plants for decoration when company is coming, I only move them into place when I'm entertaining and then move them back to their ideal spot.<br />
<br />Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-46609252724949794332021-07-05T05:00:00.002-04:002021-07-18T16:07:57.400-04:00A Pollinator Field Guide<p>We know that pollinators are important, in fact, they are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we take. This has spurred on a backyard revolution of planting for pollinators. While everyoneâs busy making their land animal and insect-friendly, itâs fun to know whoâs who in the garden. That way, when you start spotting the pollinators youâve attracted, youâll know what youâre spotting and some fun facts about them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7y7_e4kOgy95tJwom_P56ehQLXvMmF6IzcWgc7mOyXKzHPKFlWYPyC1PpzBYqxmsmGnqGhc31uDbIN8HI-o51WSvAWFWzLb-XRBcFxvFK4Io2Oim-RkJB9wT1t2LKsWRHSRKwkLsQwJ-/s2048/Pollinators+Silvery+Checkerspot.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Itâs fun to know whoâs who in the garden. That way, when you start spotting the pollinators youâve attracted, youâll know what youâre spotting and some fun facts about them." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7y7_e4kOgy95tJwom_P56ehQLXvMmF6IzcWgc7mOyXKzHPKFlWYPyC1PpzBYqxmsmGnqGhc31uDbIN8HI-o51WSvAWFWzLb-XRBcFxvFK4Io2Oim-RkJB9wT1t2LKsWRHSRKwkLsQwJ-/w640-h426/Pollinators+Silvery+Checkerspot.JPG" title="A Pollinator Field Guide" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>Is an Insect a Bug?</b></p><div><div><br /></div><div>Since insects make up a sizeable portion of the worldâs pollinators, chances are those are some of the first pollinators youâll get a chance to observe. When I worked as a naturalist, I always discussed the words insect and bug because theyâre often used interchangeably and thrown around without much thought. </div><div><br /></div><div>First things first, a bug is an insect, but not all insects are bugs. Bugs are a particular type of insect. This begs the question of what is an insect? An insect can be identified by the following features: an exoskeleton (hard outer covering), three distinct body parts (head, thorax and abdomen), six legs, two antennae and compound eyes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Pin the image below to save this information for later.</b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxAkMJlnHTJ0j5fFYCLLK9pVpcBl-mc9TKI-p2Eu0DlTXHtX0z5_yQyc4gnpmwuTCNQFYi8tzMu2OaC7zGAJfB9qVhJTOrQII9L4ODgDIsRZ4C7X3FfshZPbwAL47_rPqvacSjvuBvaW1/s1500/A+Pollinator+Field+Guide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Itâs fun to know whoâs who in the garden. That way, when you start spotting the pollinators youâve attracted, youâll know what youâre spotting and some fun facts about them." border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxAkMJlnHTJ0j5fFYCLLK9pVpcBl-mc9TKI-p2Eu0DlTXHtX0z5_yQyc4gnpmwuTCNQFYi8tzMu2OaC7zGAJfB9qVhJTOrQII9L4ODgDIsRZ4C7X3FfshZPbwAL47_rPqvacSjvuBvaW1/w426-h640/A+Pollinator+Field+Guide.png" title="A Pollinator Field Guide" width="426" /></a></div></i><div><br /></div>At this point, most people ask about spiders. Are they insects? No. They are arachnids (thus the term arachnophobia, the fear of spiders). Spiders have two distinct body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), eight legs and no antennae or wings. </div><div><br /></div><div>How does the term bug fit into this mix? Bug is a common term for the order of insects known as Hemiptera or true bugs. This order contains some familiar insect species including aphids, bedbugs, water striders, cicadas and stink bugs. What makes them unique? They literally suck â they use their proboscis to suck the juices from plants and even animals. Yes, other insects like butterflies have a proboscis, but the difference is that a butterfly or bee can roll up its proboscis. A true bug cannot retract its proboscis. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz_r5YsuMSCUaGyK3GXFbWBK2LXNgPq6sEgTLv9dtTt79rrYh6hXwNddj5FMYyz2YHZnNOffNAucR3Aqs_zpTnnqdlqPKxJro_FQE62bisp3bJWWBuaKF8K8nf2M3cAIfKR2nJAZKw88B/w400-h400/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy+%25284%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Is That a Butterfly or a Moth?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Itâs funny because this is a question most donât give any thought, but it can sometimes be a challenge. Butterflies and moths belong to the order Lepidoptera which translates in Greek to âscale wingâ â Lepidos for scales and ptera for wings. Aside from beetles, Lepidoptera is the largest order of insects with over 120,000 species worldwide around 14,000 of which reside in North America alone. Numbers vary on this from source to source. These are from my trusty Golden Guide to Butterflies and Moths. Sufficed to say, there are a lot of butterflies and moths in the world around us. So if youâve ever been the recipient of this seemingly simple question (especially from your kids) then itâs good to know some clues to help you identify your winged visitors. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Time of Day</b> â The general rule of thumb is that butterflies are active during the day and moths are active during the night. There are, however, exceptions to the rule. One of the coolest exceptions is the hummingbird moth. At first glance, you may mistake this day-flying moth for its namesake, but look closer. A member of the sphinx moth family, this moth hovers in front of flowers sucking nectar just like a hummingbird. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Coloration</b> â Butterflies are generally bright and colorful so they blend in with the flowers they visit. Moths get the short end of the stick here; most are dull colored. Since they fly at night, they donât have much need for colors. Although I have to say, their browns, blacks and grays often have wonderful patterns that do bear admiration.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Resting Stance</b> â Notice how your winged insect sits when it stops flying. Butterflies rest with their wings held up together. When moths rest, their wings lie flat; held close to their sides, covering their back. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4oppXcxtfQTbimh0U66ee0vGZ5vizkHxGzkcezGOaLozaapMIHOaHzsKC6mxa10pwEC_CxoHX2fYu-kUagO_w7y7Hax3L0hN3t9pb4vRZXPglAzyyAPJbDSy6d2wOyN9xlVSryrftCTl/s2048/Pollinators+Zebra+Swallowtail.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Itâs fun to know whoâs who in the garden. That way, when you start spotting the pollinators youâve attracted, youâll know what youâre spotting and some fun facts about them." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4oppXcxtfQTbimh0U66ee0vGZ5vizkHxGzkcezGOaLozaapMIHOaHzsKC6mxa10pwEC_CxoHX2fYu-kUagO_w7y7Hax3L0hN3t9pb4vRZXPglAzyyAPJbDSy6d2wOyN9xlVSryrftCTl/w640-h426/Pollinators+Zebra+Swallowtail.JPG" title="A Pollinator Field Guide" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Antennae</b> â If you can get a close up look, you should take a peek at your insectâs antennae. The antennae of butterflies are usually clubbed at the end. A mothâs antennae are normally feathery. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Body Shape</b> â Moths usually have a thicker, more hairy body while butterfly bodies are much more streamlined.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Life Cycle</b> â No matter whether youâve found a moth or a butterfly, both start life from an egg that hatches into a caterpillar which then forms into a pupa that transforms into an adult. The difference is in the case that encloses the pupa. Butterflies form a hard case called a chrysalis that in some cases is notable for its beauty. For example, Monarch butterflies form a mint green chrysalis with gold accents. Moths form a cocoon case from silk threads that looks hairy and a little untidy. Skipper butterflies are an exception to this rule. They form a cocoon around their chrysalis. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleG3wSTUQBsGKNRoYmDS6YGE8qavLyINtpAhNbxnBkxVOiq1B6CWwJsm1nVDd719nvVUVm1PF_78Bm9wNuS0RcBiL86vGq3uaOZ-jSE36w4P1S-lQVNe3XXotS67JIm7yIEzKC3mnuZo9/s2048/Pollinators+Chyrsalis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Itâs fun to know whoâs who in the garden. That way, when you start spotting the pollinators youâve attracted, youâll know what youâre spotting and some fun facts about them." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleG3wSTUQBsGKNRoYmDS6YGE8qavLyINtpAhNbxnBkxVOiq1B6CWwJsm1nVDd719nvVUVm1PF_78Bm9wNuS0RcBiL86vGq3uaOZ-jSE36w4P1S-lQVNe3XXotS67JIm7yIEzKC3mnuZo9/w640-h360/Pollinators+Chyrsalis.jpg" title="A Pollinator Field Guide" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, only a butterfly/moth nature guide will help you correctly identify the exact species youâve spotted. But, these quick tips will help you narrow down your search and satisfy your curiosity; is it a butterfly or a moth? </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Is That a Bee or a Wasp?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>While viewing butterflies on your pollinating plants is fun, itâs a practice that should be done with care since you donât want to scare away your quarry and you donât want to get stung. Donât get me wrong, butterflies donât sting, but bees and wasps can! If your pollinator garden is anything like mine, youâll have a few butterflies at a time flitting around your flowers accompanied by lots of bees buzzing around. My flowering basil plants are a particular favorite for bees, sometimes you can walk by and hear the buzzing coming from each plant. It can be tricky not getting stung if you want to get some great pollinator pictures for articles like this one!</div><div><br /></div><div>Donât let a sting deter you, let your curiosity entice you to take a closer, if not more careful, look at whatâs buzzing around. On closer inspection, you may be astonished that not all those insects youâre spotting are bees, in fact, some are wasps and even flies. They are called bee mimics. Hereâs how to tell the difference. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGkaZwHLReJAgqy4o2XFGZp3ICCQC0s46qC6SgHw-mibBuDQiJDkut76jeL6iwhMOvt9VE2dhuL087shqNjCqFLVrppS_HexvBfm3F-5LDHI26BFPv_acR5zPihDLDtbhEhly2pWKJjYo/s2048/Pollinators+Bumble+Bee.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Itâs fun to know whoâs who in the garden. That way, when you start spotting the pollinators youâve attracted, youâll know what youâre spotting and some fun facts about them." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGkaZwHLReJAgqy4o2XFGZp3ICCQC0s46qC6SgHw-mibBuDQiJDkut76jeL6iwhMOvt9VE2dhuL087shqNjCqFLVrppS_HexvBfm3F-5LDHI26BFPv_acR5zPihDLDtbhEhly2pWKJjYo/w640-h426/Pollinators+Bumble+Bee.JPG" title="A Pollinator Field Guide" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tip:</b> Bees and wasps will usually not sting unless they feel threatened, however, there are some wasps that are more aggressive than others. Social bees are also more likely to sting than their solitary-living counterparts because they are defending their colony. A single bee will sting only once, but a wasp can sting multiple times. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bees and wasps belong to the insect order Hymenoptera. Flies belong to the order Diptera. Bees, including honeybees, and wasps both create naturally occurring nests, but bees produce honey, wasps do not. Some wasps are easily distinguishable by the telltale paper nests you can find hanging in trees or inconvenient spots like above the front door or under the deck steps. Bees donât make these paper nests. Youâll notice, Iâm not using the word hive for bees, a hive is a man-made structure for honeybees only. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of pollen, bees eat pollen and nectar from plants. They use that pollen as a source of protein for their young. Wasps use meat as the source of protein for their young. Both flies and wasps eat other insects, but not bees, theyâre natural vegetarians.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wasps and bees both have four wings while a fly only has two. Wasps and bees have chewing mouthparts while flies have sucking mouthparts. Both bees and wasps have long antennae while flies have short kind of feathery antennae. Some flies actually can be identified as such because their eyes are located together at the top of their head while bees and wasps have eyes toward the side of their head.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bees have a more substantial, thick and rounded body than a wasp. A waspâs body is slender, smooth and has a skinny waist. Wasps will also have smooth legs whereas bees have hairy legs for gathering pollen. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Raising Butterflies and Moths</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The lifecycle of butterflies and moths fascinates many, including me. Itâs fun to raise butterflies and moths to give nature a helping hand and to see the process unfold; especially if you have kids. </div><div><br /></div><div>Butterflies and moths undergo a complete metamorphosis which includes four life stages â egg to caterpillar (larvae) to chrysalis (pupa) to adult. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can raise your insects from any of the first stages, but frankly, butterfly and moth eggs are really small, hard to find and cannot be removed from the leaf where they are attached. If you want to raise the egg, remove the whole leaf. Most people find caterpillars in the garden and go from there. There are mail-order companies that sell butterfly kits. Those usually come with the live caterpillars to raise. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before you start, itâs a good idea to invest in a field guide that helps with identification not only of the adult butterflies and moths but also what they look like in their caterpillar form. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXR3IDKMyp_b5eq3ZAmQe7nHTWTuv5CmfWg9A5JjCcxBxYCfLez2oAwO5XIy0TtMrPLbd1GJYS8Eph9AoMiA3Vbkny71y92exIRKkdjPdpoUI8AnldMF8J6cIqToqOX6Bd22AgnAon4w8/s2048/Pollinators+Wooly+Bear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Itâs fun to know whoâs who in the garden. That way, when you start spotting the pollinators youâve attracted, youâll know what youâre spotting and some fun facts about them." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXR3IDKMyp_b5eq3ZAmQe7nHTWTuv5CmfWg9A5JjCcxBxYCfLez2oAwO5XIy0TtMrPLbd1GJYS8Eph9AoMiA3Vbkny71y92exIRKkdjPdpoUI8AnldMF8J6cIqToqOX6Bd22AgnAon4w8/w640-h360/Pollinators+Wooly+Bear.jpg" title="A Pollinator Field Guide" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When you find a caterpillar, take note of where it is and what itâs eating. (This is the same for an egg.) This is crucial because each caterpillar has a specific host plant or plants that it can eat. You cannot substitute other plants. The caterpillar will not live. The most famous example of this is the Monarch butterfly. Its caterpillars can only eat milkweed. Be prepared to provide your caterpillars with fresh leaves every day. Caterpillars eat a lot!</div><div><br /></div><div>Caterpillars should be kept in a protected container outside. We have a screened-in porch where my kids keep their caterpillars out of direct sun and weather. We use a wonderful mesh cage with a removable bottom that was once an anole/reptile cage. The removable bottom is perfect for cleaning caterpillar poop. They make a lot of it! You can buy specific butterfly/moth homes. You can also repurpose an old aquarium and use a mesh lid to allow ventilation. The caterpillars will need some branches so they can climb. The butterflies may use the branches to hang as a chrysalis and both will use the branches when they emerge to hang upside down and dry their wings. </div><div><br /></div><div>Youâll notice the chrysalis changes as the butterfly moves closer to emerging. This is really obvious with Monarch butterflies. The chrysalis changes from mint green to a clear shell where you can see the dark butterfly inside. </div><div><br /></div><div>When you have a butterfly or moth emerge, do not jostle or touch it, their wings will need to dry. Once dried, you can release your butterfly in your pollinator garden during the day and your moth in the pollinator garden during the evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>Have fun!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>This pollinator field guide was originally published in The New Pioneer magazine. </div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-75163838389769084392021-06-28T05:00:00.000-04:002021-06-28T09:51:24.815-04:00Chicken Breeds Made in AmericaJust in time for Fourth of July, itâs fun to consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock. They are good egg layers with high levels of production. They can endure the tough weather we often get in this country. And many have unique features, such as hawk-coloring to avoid predator detection. Nothing fancy, only purpose, for these breeds whose history, in many cases, goes back to our founding fathers and helped to bring about a growing nation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ70MJmy5SWLnbYOpbEnn7sa68lAjqcAVsgnQ1VHUm3zxpr1P8IIgt0f_mRqNHV_Dj7Oek9hTEUaAN6dWJVGg9gZ27rinqyy_KSBiSvqYSU8SHMkgQbQzT6VHSgfCak2pWxU0wAZN1lgyf/s1600/20160801_092402+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ70MJmy5SWLnbYOpbEnn7sa68lAjqcAVsgnQ1VHUm3zxpr1P8IIgt0f_mRqNHV_Dj7Oek9hTEUaAN6dWJVGg9gZ27rinqyy_KSBiSvqYSU8SHMkgQbQzT6VHSgfCak2pWxU0wAZN1lgyf/w640-h358/20160801_092402+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><h4>
Ameraucana
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Developed in the 1970s and first admitted to the American Poultry Standard in 1984, this breed is perhaps the most confused by consumers since many hatcheries mistakenly sell their Easter Eggers as Ameraucanas. True Ameraucanas are beautiful birds with muffs and a well-feathered body that lay blue/green eggs long into the season.<br />
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<b>Class:</b> All Other Standard Breeds<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type:</b> Pea<br />
<b>Colors:</b> Black, Blue, Blue Wheaten, Brown Red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten, White<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 5.5 Pounds (Hen) 6.5 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Blue/Green
Egg<br />
<b>Size: </b>Large<br />
<b>Production:</b> 3+ Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Very Cold Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Docile, Active, Friendly
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLyA9JbxFSVZI2B-ol-HdWJ20ElfjdIZrAACNgXRqodIB9mnkRWUkXnDl1nJlxn-FgOAcL_rOyHZyg-UYHMV16PhuvD-ZKPdCsUDlh2Y0CKEAFKitqBTWKVcXCrysKEYzNDNt2zDNVDCn/s1102/Chicken+Breeds+Made+in+America+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLyA9JbxFSVZI2B-ol-HdWJ20ElfjdIZrAACNgXRqodIB9mnkRWUkXnDl1nJlxn-FgOAcL_rOyHZyg-UYHMV16PhuvD-ZKPdCsUDlh2Y0CKEAFKitqBTWKVcXCrysKEYzNDNt2zDNVDCn/w426-h640/Chicken+Breeds+Made+in+America+%25281%2529.png" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<h4>
<b>Buckeye</b></h4>
Developed in Ohio and named for the state tree because their color is comparable to the mahogany in a buckeye nut, the Buckeye is the only breed developed solely by a woman. They also hold the distinction of being the only pea-combed breed developed in the United States. Buckeyes are winter hardy, good layers and make good backyard pets with their friendly personalities.<br />
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<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type:</b> Pea<br />
<b>Color:</b> Mahogany Red<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 6.5 Pounds (Hen) 9 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown<br />
<b>Egg Size:</b> Medium<br />
<b>Production:</b> 3 to 4 Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Very Cold Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Friendly, Sociable<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOQFbg3ZdetlgG9gwUBi7HbpevuwEiyD8-MF0YPqj2EFm8EYs2MeSfFzKJhcBGTLNt7Gmh57t1z2hxxxOTI-MLDNsbdoh4mNgs30Nbcow64rczqZIkaKCwVWcfoTaOb5qeEgQqdo7NrFn/s1600/IMG_8032+%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOQFbg3ZdetlgG9gwUBi7HbpevuwEiyD8-MF0YPqj2EFm8EYs2MeSfFzKJhcBGTLNt7Gmh57t1z2hxxxOTI-MLDNsbdoh4mNgs30Nbcow64rczqZIkaKCwVWcfoTaOb5qeEgQqdo7NrFn/w426-h640/IMG_8032+%25281%2529.JPG" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckeye bantam.</td></tr>
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<h4>
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<h4>
<b>Delaware</b></h4>
Named for the state where it was developed, the Delaware chicken was once a staple of the broiler industry. This is a friendly, dual-purpose bird that can be used for eggs or meat. Interestingly, female Delawares may be mated with male New Hampshire or Rhode Island Reds and the resulting chicks are sex-linked and able to be sexed according to their color.<br />
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<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type:</b> Single<br />
<b>Color: </b>White with Incomplete Black Barring<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 6.5 Pounds (Hen) 8.5 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown<br />
<b>Egg Size:</b> Large<br />
<b>Production:</b> 4 to 5 Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Cold and Heat Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Calm<div><br />
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<h4><b><br /></b></h4><h4>
<b>Dominique & Plymouth Rock</b></h4>
The Dominique is thought to be the oldest American breed, one of the first breed of chickens established in America. Dominiques were replaced in popularity by the Barred Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rocks are said to have been developed in Massachusetts after the Civil War and were named for one of the stateâs most famous landmarks. The two breeds look similar with a barred color pattern thatâs referred to as hawk-coloring, meaning it confuses aerial predators. If you look closely, you can tell the two apart because the Dominique has a rose comb while the Barred Plymouth Rock has a single comb. Plymouth Rocks can be found in other colors. Dominiques nearly became extinct, but are regaining in numbers.<br />
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<b>Dominique</b><br />
<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type:</b> Rose<br />
<b>Color:</b> Black and White Barred<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 5 Pounds (Hen) 7 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown<br />
<b>Egg Size:</b> Medium<br />
<b>Production:</b> 3 to 4 Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Cold and Heat Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Calm, Gentle, Good Forager<br />
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<b>Plymouth Rock</b><br />
<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type:</b> Single<br />
<b>Popular Colors:</b> Barred, Black, Blue, Buff, Columbian, Partridge, Silver Penciled, and White <b>Standard Size:</b> 7.5 Pounds (Hen) 9.5 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown<br />
<b>Egg Size:</b> Large<br />
<b>Production: </b>4 to 5 Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Cold Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Especially Docile<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih5nJHe4Q9JiOmiiVheRHIyX0RRgMRnw2qUZB17zjVbJMyhMRf7rFkAjZIi7yj_ic4neV-nR9S1fLh3ThPY08b_dkZzGRgp6UMR553CEJKRUoHHtupXviYIm_PqL09xcYjDdDO8CWGa6c/s1600/Plymouth+Rock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih5nJHe4Q9JiOmiiVheRHIyX0RRgMRnw2qUZB17zjVbJMyhMRf7rFkAjZIi7yj_ic4neV-nR9S1fLh3ThPY08b_dkZzGRgp6UMR553CEJKRUoHHtupXviYIm_PqL09xcYjDdDO8CWGa6c/w640-h480/Plymouth+Rock.JPG" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barred Plymouth Rock</td></tr>
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Java</h4>
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Admitted to the Standard of Perfection in 1883, the Java is considered to be the second oldest breed of chicken developed in America and was the foundation stock for the creation of the Plymouth Rock and Jersey Giant. The stock for the Java chicken we know today came from Asia, hence the name. </div>
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<b>Class:</b> American</div>
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<b>Origin:</b> United States</div>
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<b>Comb Type:</b> Single</div>
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<b>Colors:</b> Black, Mottled</div>
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<b>Standard Size:</b> 7.5 Pounds (Hen) 9.5 Pounds (Rooster)</div>
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<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown</div>
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<b>Egg Size:</b> Large</div>
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<b>Production: </b>3 to 4 Eggs Per Week</div>
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<b>Hardiness:</b> Cold Hardy</div>
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<b>Disposition:</b> Calm, Forager</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf3jcyobqSuDsR91wDGng6Ga5oDpxyQrNiUmGddAVAicWKgA0bvQpiR4SWlPlEvj7_-mXYGsAjQQTXI5UHnPx10lSdPJyMPx-TZgFMKnlL2U5zqafNTIqA2tnkhJHqLf-Ih6u7QSAPhzE/s1600/20191221_144157.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf3jcyobqSuDsR91wDGng6Ga5oDpxyQrNiUmGddAVAicWKgA0bvQpiR4SWlPlEvj7_-mXYGsAjQQTXI5UHnPx10lSdPJyMPx-TZgFMKnlL2U5zqafNTIqA2tnkhJHqLf-Ih6u7QSAPhzE/w640-h382/20191221_144157.jpg" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Java</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Jersey Giant</h4>
As its name implies, make sure you have room to house your Jersey Giants, known to be one of the largest chicken breeds. Also as the name implies, this breed was developed in New Jersey. This is a slowly maturing bird with beautiful black feathers that become iridescent in the sun.<br />
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<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type:</b> Single<br />
<b>Colors:</b> Black, White<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 10 Pounds (Hen) 13 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown<br />
<b>Egg Size:</b> Large<br />
<b>Production: </b>3 to 4 Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Cold Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Calm, Gentle<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQyBgwdcrStVd-wHGI-lX9AQyXfQIN156S2z-lrfJyRH-nklYPO78bAOGKPW7NxI4JaluMN4MrYyS-RcnBbZLdmyrRtgMgfseYh1nzDqoMSCBY5zT1cl-5nAQ94lDfDv77DterYFAs30I/s1600/jersey-giant-3186181_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQyBgwdcrStVd-wHGI-lX9AQyXfQIN156S2z-lrfJyRH-nklYPO78bAOGKPW7NxI4JaluMN4MrYyS-RcnBbZLdmyrRtgMgfseYh1nzDqoMSCBY5zT1cl-5nAQ94lDfDv77DterYFAs30I/w640-h428/jersey-giant-3186181_1920.jpg" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jersey Giant hen.</td></tr>
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New Hampshire</h4>
This is a great family-friendly bird thatâs named for the state where it was developed. Many confuse this breed with the Rhode Island Red, which makes sense because it was originally developed from Rhode Island Red stock. This is a dual-purpose bird that matures early and consistently lays brown eggs.<br />
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<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type: </b>Single<br />
<b>Color:</b> Red<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 6.5 Pounds (Hen) 8.5 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown
Egg<br />
<b>Size: </b>Large<br />
<b>Production:</b> 4 to 5 Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Cold and Heat Tolerant<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Calm, Friendly<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKj1ukUXRqVMRAXiv2K6g2DJcW4IbgLHqMT4jetyL_Atpl1ydT5bzAT_nh4uwtOc8imvD3kYx8sRM8pmuZog0orMgo3110EGgU9As5ZdeL67Jwe3OXnN1aTdhxi7Ze86Et1XAUT4cifzV/s1600/IMG_3033+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1600" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKj1ukUXRqVMRAXiv2K6g2DJcW4IbgLHqMT4jetyL_Atpl1ydT5bzAT_nh4uwtOc8imvD3kYx8sRM8pmuZog0orMgo3110EGgU9As5ZdeL67Jwe3OXnN1aTdhxi7Ze86Et1XAUT4cifzV/w640-h344/IMG_3033+-+Copy.JPG" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rhode Island Red</h4>
Rhode Island Reds were developed in the 1800s and the breed was named after the state where it was developed. This breed holds the distinction of being Rhode Islandâs state bird. This is a utility breed that can be used for eggs and meat. It is considered a superior bird for backyard flocks.<br />
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<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type: </b>Single<br />
<b>Color:</b> Red<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 6.5 Pounds (Hen) 8.5 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown<br />
<b>Egg Size:</b> Large to Extra Large<br />
<b>Production:</b> 5+ Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness:</b> Cold and Heat Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Docile<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBplWLlwQhoXbp2zAOj93ztjCqRh7twxAUU00c6cDTffvjyuzc_iGOwZu6oCTm3TUTlyxQqgZ75_4Z7jmKfeJ8gfEXpQHMcMiNZp7lw2JBX3rtYkcurpmNQfj0yPpomSCXFw_6TR7p9Bw1/s1600/RIR1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBplWLlwQhoXbp2zAOj93ztjCqRh7twxAUU00c6cDTffvjyuzc_iGOwZu6oCTm3TUTlyxQqgZ75_4Z7jmKfeJ8gfEXpQHMcMiNZp7lw2JBX3rtYkcurpmNQfj0yPpomSCXFw_6TR7p9Bw1/w640-h360/RIR1.jpg" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wyandotte</h4>
Wyandottes were developed in New York and Wisconsin and named after the Native American Wendat tribe. The familyâs parent variety is the Silver Laced Wyandotte. From there, many color variations have been bred, some recognized by the American Poultry Association, others not. This is a hardy, all-around useful chicken that graces many backyard flocks across America.<br />
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<b>Class:</b> American<br />
<b>Origin:</b> United States<br />
<b>Comb Type:</b> Rose<br />
<b>Popular Colors:</b> Silver Laced, Golden Laced, White, Black, Partridge, Silver Penciled, Columbian, and Blue<br />
<b>Standard Size:</b> 6.5 Pounds (Hen) 8.5 Pounds (Rooster)<br />
<b>Egg Color:</b> Brown<br />
<b>Egg Size:</b> Large<br />
<b>Production:</b> 4 to 5 Eggs Per Week<br />
<b>Hardiness: </b>Cold Hardy<br />
<b>Disposition: </b>Calm
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT57T7FGGEJsrGBoX6wcr0CklL2DVfbyZ77J7UuHxYPZqA5fv20Icc16KZGRgVahenMJvmXOrdL72MjJIb7Ol11sW7tIWYvfWdBOVLF_vS9HGpf-UotW00YkQQi6kKSDu1wWp3HOtrJFw/s1600/IMG_6714+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Consider adding some chicken breeds made in America to your flock. These breeds are the backbone of a hardy, productive flock." border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT57T7FGGEJsrGBoX6wcr0CklL2DVfbyZ77J7UuHxYPZqA5fv20Icc16KZGRgVahenMJvmXOrdL72MjJIb7Ol11sW7tIWYvfWdBOVLF_vS9HGpf-UotW00YkQQi6kKSDu1wWp3HOtrJFw/w640-h425/IMG_6714+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" title="Chicken Breeds Made in America" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Laced Wyandotte</td></tr>
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</div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-3543880233031125102021-06-21T05:00:00.000-04:002021-06-21T10:06:34.796-04:00Do Chickens Eat Ticks and Spiders?Have you ever wondered if chickens eat ticks and spiders? The short answer is yes. In fact, before we got chickens, I did a lot of research on this subject because we had a problem with black widow spiders.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DAMQ4IZeOqt3jMoOPA39-Vi_FGuF8v5iw1Yvc9RsjidxIbuDfDlNW_ySfw5HLZ6hxgMRDzuLgk1M0qeNxVHsqLXinBNnApKAv4vBkb4ZuVWoZfMG5weR5cEzLts1kQqA8wQPj25x7rGu/s1600/Do+Chickens+Eat+Ticks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Have you ever wondered if chickens eat ticks and spiders? The short answer is yes." border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DAMQ4IZeOqt3jMoOPA39-Vi_FGuF8v5iw1Yvc9RsjidxIbuDfDlNW_ySfw5HLZ6hxgMRDzuLgk1M0qeNxVHsqLXinBNnApKAv4vBkb4ZuVWoZfMG5weR5cEzLts1kQqA8wQPj25x7rGu/w640-h422/Do+Chickens+Eat+Ticks.jpg" title="Do Chickens Eat Ticks and Spiders?" width="640" /></a></div>
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Black Widow Spiders Ugh!</h4>
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My theory with our black widow spider problem is that it started when we had a boulder retaining wall professionally built. I theorize the spiders came in on the black fabric they put in between the soil and the boulders. We didn't know this until I was playing with my kids in the sandbox. My oldest got in the box and then I bent down to put my youngest in the sand. As I did this, I noticed a truly black spider on the sand. I used to be a naturalist, so I immediately knew what the spider was. I grabbed both kids fast and took them in the house. I went back out to catch the spider and show my husband.<br />
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From then on, we found black widows everywhere. We sprayed the boulder wall and, I am not exaggerating, we had hundreds of black widows crawl out and die on our pavement. It was so unprecedented that we called our local wildlife office to see if anyone else was infested. In fact, it was a banner year for the normally reclusive black widow spiders in our area. But our infestation was out of control and dangerous. My husband was bitten and we knew we couldn't continue to live with the poison control number posted on the fridge and the worry of what would happen if our young children were bitten.<br />
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When people ask me why we got chickens, our black widow spider problem tops the list. We stopped trying to use chemicals to solve our spider problem. We started our flock with 19 day-old chicks and let them free range once they got old enough. Since then, our birds have kept our spider problem in check. Yes. We still find an occasional black widow, but that's to be expected because they are native to the area.<br />
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Our chickens have proven to be great not just with black widows, but other spiders too. If I'm outside and happen upon a spider, I grab a chicken, show her the spider and she's more than happy to eat it.<br />
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<i>Pin the image below to save this information for later. </i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9j33XWEsQSvoT23LMrP8VRvmd4UeWLTfdxEW7Y-PjDnbux7tK5iNXLtS5cX8JJfSk7jze3JKRctWsIYZTg56TNw__DV-CNnPMBBBc9FRIVvuJ-EnE_Cm4Mfx84qhCYf7cg7llHZIv5Sl/s1102/Do+Chickens+Eat+Ticks+and+Spiders.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9j33XWEsQSvoT23LMrP8VRvmd4UeWLTfdxEW7Y-PjDnbux7tK5iNXLtS5cX8JJfSk7jze3JKRctWsIYZTg56TNw__DV-CNnPMBBBc9FRIVvuJ-EnE_Cm4Mfx84qhCYf7cg7llHZIv5Sl/w426-h640/Do+Chickens+Eat+Ticks+and+Spiders.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<h4><br /></h4><h4>Do Chickens Eat Ticks?</h4>
<div><br /></div>Yes. Chickens do eat ticks. This is a great benefit of having a flock of backyard chickens since tick populations are growing and more and more people are contracting tick-borne diseases.<br />
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Guinea fowl have a great reputation for eating ticks and so do chickens. They will forage high and low when allowed to free-range. They have great eyesight and a tick is a tasty meal.<br />
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There was a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1858289" target="_blank">study</a> done in 1991 where chickens were looked at as a viable part of an integrated tick management program in Africa. In the study, chickens were allowed to free range with infested cattle. It was found the chickens ate both engorged and unengorged ticks. They preferred unengorged ticks. The number of ticks they ate varied from 31 to 331 per chicken with an average of 81 per chicken.<br />
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Many folks that keep a backyard flock report a reduction in their insect population overall, including ticks. That has certainly been the case for me. But it's important to remember that chickens can't possibly eat every insect that enters your yard and should not be considered a tick-borne disease preventative. You can have chickens and still have ticks.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pqJI8YEWaR6rLmQ0s8N5Ve4B4L8F160xZKswv-E8DfsseCdqQOQt5RrqGhljzeA4cjMrqDSB54-KECwJDbTqmR55EJ0Sc0NCs43Zuc76S7JTn6X_-Pv1J1jgzpm7mKIxk_F4dO-Pybes/w400-h400/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy+%25283%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><h4><br /></h4><h4>How to Help Your Chickens With Tick Control</h4><br />Keep the grass in the areas where you are active cut short. Ticks love tall grass!<br /><br />Reduce leaf litter and tree debris like fallen branches. These are areas where ticks love to hang out!<br /><br />Keep yourself safe by using a safe pest spray and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Be sure to tuck your pant legs into your socks so the ticks can't crawl up the inside of your pants.<br /><br />Know your tick species.<br /><br />Check yourself, your family members and pets for ticks every day.<br /><br />Be sure to use tick preventatives on your outdoor pets. This is often included in a prescribed flea treatment. Be sure to ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.</div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-34580642615259846542021-06-14T05:00:00.002-04:002021-06-14T05:00:00.176-04:00How to Grow Blackberries and Raspberries<p>Blackberries and raspberries kicked off the 2020's as the Herb of the Year. Scientifically known as Rubus, and referred to as brambles, it would be hard to find a more useful herb for the homestead and self-reliant homeowner. Learning how to grow blackberries and raspberries provides delicious berries that can be eaten straight off the vine or cooked into cobblers, crisps and tons of other dishes. The berries can also be turned into products like jams, jellies or even wines for personal use or for sale to add diversity to farm income. Some even grow the berries and offer them as a u-pick product during the summer months providing customer foot traffic to the farm.
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHmK6M3dnbJBQ86L3od3MvjLUF0TZ_r9Xodj2Rca6Cpzzfhz4YebbnKq2UKgo7quU-YJ6Y58PSIFgIRwb3YaSVvSN53pg4t5ixhZrgaBIUW5yjsQogQjxAJCuYVKadHtIxgeqJfQ2pHkh/s1920/raspberries-and-blackberries-5001160_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow blackberries and raspberries provides delicious berries that can be eaten straight off the vine or cooked into cobblers, crisps and tons of other dishes." border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHmK6M3dnbJBQ86L3od3MvjLUF0TZ_r9Xodj2Rca6Cpzzfhz4YebbnKq2UKgo7quU-YJ6Y58PSIFgIRwb3YaSVvSN53pg4t5ixhZrgaBIUW5yjsQogQjxAJCuYVKadHtIxgeqJfQ2pHkh/w640-h426/raspberries-and-blackberries-5001160_1920.jpg" title="How to Grow Blackberries and Raspberries" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>To Plant or Not to Plant!</b></p><p>If youâve got acreage, you may be lucky enough to find some bramble patches with blackberries, raspberries or both growing wild. If youâve got those patches, keep them. They are a find and the stuff of many a childhood memory picking and eating sweet berries until fingers were stained red. </p><p>Wild brambles are also important for local wildlife, obviously as a food source, but also providing a home and protection for many. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqQSlMN8-qfdDZzcmZc99JXkWnO4F3fbsUcgJAwxNi2ud7Gy1GhKBn877Uva-DdWCse_J7psTOca0nWK6Bdq-q_-I66CtxfMICvHnskClhHM6G3dJ_zuzsUgsfhPEKz6If_G3iruTI11l/w400-h400/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>If youâre not sure if youâve got blackberries or raspberries on hand, a good way to tell the difference is that individual raspberries will pull off the stem hollow inside leaving the receptacle behind on the plant. Blackberries will pull completely off the stem leaving nothing behind. Raspberries are also hairy whereas blackberries are smooth fruits. </p><p><b>Thorns!</b></p><p>Wild brambles are full of thorns and must be picked with caution. But if youâre starting a bramble patch from scratch, youâll find plenty of thornless varieties in your local garden store aisles. Berry production from a wild bramble patch can be unpredictable as rough winter weather and grazing by local wildlife can take their toll. If youâve got bramble patches, itâs good to keep an eye on them so you can get to the ripe fruit first. </p><p><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Pin the image below to save this information for later. </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSvFBZbbQ9xLfMrL_-0D_9L9l2WLLRRxv7-VDIaPWMbJaPT7AxWLi4sSZDD2aiuqmiyF5mBp5TipTVHakrsXukc6jO4maBrRAlv2jF-3Ii9V6ocCePxnyq4JALx9Hnflw_f2NYMkbKcp2/s1102/How+to+Grow+Blackberries+and+Raspberries.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow blackberries and raspberries provides delicious berries that can be eaten straight off the vine or cooked into cobblers, crisps and tons of other dishes." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSvFBZbbQ9xLfMrL_-0D_9L9l2WLLRRxv7-VDIaPWMbJaPT7AxWLi4sSZDD2aiuqmiyF5mBp5TipTVHakrsXukc6jO4maBrRAlv2jF-3Ii9V6ocCePxnyq4JALx9Hnflw_f2NYMkbKcp2/w426-h640/How+to+Grow+Blackberries+and+Raspberries.png" title="How to Grow Blackberries and Raspberries" width="426" /></a></div><p><b>The Lifecycle of Rubus</b></p><p>Whether youâve got a wild bramble patch or youâre planting some nursery plants, itâs important to understand how these berries grow and produce. The roots and crowns are perennial, meaning they come back from year to year. The branches are biennial, meaning they have a two-year lifecycle. The first year they are called primocanes. They do not produce fruit, just growth and foliage. In the second year, they are called floricanes. They produce fruit and then die back. If youâre buying nursery cultivars, pay attention to the label. Some plants are primocane producing, meaning they produce fruit on first-year canes. </p><p>In a wild bramble patch, floricanes naturally die back and break off with time. They fall to the ground and are absorbed back into nature. The natural ebb and flow of cane growth can result in a rather large patch that may have to be managed as part of a good land-use plan. In a cultivated garden, itâs best to manage plant growth by trimming off spent floricanes and trellising growing canes to allow for better airflow and smaller patch sizes. </p><p><b>Folklore of Brambles</b></p><p>Blackberries have been around thousands of years and grow throughout the world. In this time and breadth of space, folklore has grown around these delicious plants. Some say their thorny stems were used as Christâs Crown of Thorns with the red of the berries representing his blood. Itâs also said to be bad to eat blackberries after September 29, a date known as Michaelmus or National Poisoned Blackberry Day. Legend has it that Archangel Michael fought with and banished Lucifer from heaven on this date. When Lucifer fell from heaven, he landed on a thorny blackberry plant in hell. Naturally, he hated that plant, so he spat on it and cursed it. </p><p>On the other hand, while raspberries have been around for a long time too (their seeds have been found in Roman settlements) the folklore surrounding raspberries is much kinder. Literally, they say the juice of raspberries represents the blood flowing to the heart, which is where kindness is said to start. Raspberries played an important part in colonial America after tea was taxed in 1773. Since colonists were skipping imported tea, they turned to raspberry leaves to help fill the need. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif30-qmca6ni-Jl2HFZHcENPn357vlzt1XVPM-6Llw3M6tQxn48aGq-CrUl-IyF2vqmDKKpABHSBvf-gBmJQNyr6QHmDn9y701h68-O6mole52QkPRcKQ-jKRCFPG94tfH3LWSLw3jcigj/s1920/raspberry-3454504_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow blackberries and raspberries provides delicious berries that can be eaten straight off the vine or cooked into cobblers, crisps and tons of other dishes." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif30-qmca6ni-Jl2HFZHcENPn357vlzt1XVPM-6Llw3M6tQxn48aGq-CrUl-IyF2vqmDKKpABHSBvf-gBmJQNyr6QHmDn9y701h68-O6mole52QkPRcKQ-jKRCFPG94tfH3LWSLw3jcigj/w640-h426/raspberry-3454504_1920.jpg" title="How to Grow Blackberries and Raspberries" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Planting Tips</b></p><p>If youâre lucky enough to have wild berry brambles, you have no worries about where to plant your berries. If youâre planting a berry patch, youâre also in luck. Because blackberries and raspberries are native to the United States, they adapt and grow well in most regions.</p><p>A sunny spot is best for berry plants with good soil and drainage. You can get a soil test through your local extension service to analyze your soil composition and amend it as needed before planting. </p><p>In the beginning, your plants will need regular water as they get established. After that, watering should only be needed in times of drought. </p><p>As mentioned, trellising is needed to provide airflow and support. If you donât trellis, your plants can still live, theyâll just be floppy and spread. Trellising can be homemade - planting berries along a fencerow means the fence does double duty. If youâre growing a u-pick berry patch, itâs worth it to look into commercial trellising and high hoop houses. These can help maximize your berry growth and minimize winter weather damage. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcrWaf4vfz6mRb_iJ8lsLOVBje7kudUitidO-q7tBUGq_uacXHuOvWNjqiLh7UxPKX-R-V1KXuCKZGuLwb4c-2n9Rq_vKTkzNBAFZLYxgAvkiqUjH3mIG6mhOC6sqVFfF8FPAyiO1pSl3/s1920/berry-3513546_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning how to grow blackberries and raspberries provides delicious berries that can be eaten straight off the vine or cooked into cobblers, crisps and tons of other dishes." border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcrWaf4vfz6mRb_iJ8lsLOVBje7kudUitidO-q7tBUGq_uacXHuOvWNjqiLh7UxPKX-R-V1KXuCKZGuLwb4c-2n9Rq_vKTkzNBAFZLYxgAvkiqUjH3mIG6mhOC6sqVFfF8FPAyiO1pSl3/w640-h480/berry-3513546_1920.jpg" title="How to Grow Blackberries and Raspberries" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Because there are so many varieties to choose from, follow the pruning instructions that come with your specific plant. Floricane fruiters will require trimming of spent canes where primocane fruiters can sometimes be cut completely back to the ground each fall. </p><p>Specific plants will vary when they produce berries â some bear fruit throughout the season, others produce during a specific time period (early, middle or late season). Depending on how you plan to use your berries, this matters. Do you plan to can jams and jellies or sell homemade pies and need product through your selling season? Do you want to host u-pickers and need berries during the summer when kids are off school? Some say the time of fruiting changes the flavor of the berries. Others say late-producing plants are more susceptible to disease. If youâre just starting out, you may want to plant a few varieties and see what tastes the best, then adjust and expand from there. </p><p>No matter what plants you choose, growing brambles or seeking out the wild brambles on your land in this year of Rubus can be a fun and yummy endeavor. </p><p>This article about how to grow blackberries and raspberries was originally published in <i>The New Pioneer</i> magazine. </p>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-60156767793640796912021-06-07T05:00:00.000-04:002021-06-07T09:05:18.071-04:00How to Keep Chickens Cool in SummerKeeping your chickens cool in summer is a must-do. There's nothing we can do to stop the heat, but we can help our chickens beat the heat.<br />
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With the mercury rising, it's important to remember that high temperatures can be harder on a flock than the cold temperatures of winter. The effects of heat are cumulative and can be enhanced by high humidity, so be sure to keep vigilant during heat spells. A temperature of 80 degrees with high humidity can bring on heat-related problems.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: left;"><b>How Do Chickens Cool Themselves?</b></div>
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When we're hot, we sweat. Yes, it's uncomfortable, but it is a cooling mechanism for humans. Do chickens sweat? Nope. They rely on both adaptations and natural behavior to cool themselves.<br />
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<b>Adaptations</b> â Chickens, especially Meditteranean breeds like Leghorns, put their combs and wattles to good use in warm weather. As blood circulates through their combs and wattles, heat is released, cooling the chicken. The larger the combs and wattles, the more surface space is available to release heat.<br />
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<b>Behaviors</b> â Chickens naturally know what to do to assist their bodies with the task of staying cool. They will spread their wings and lift their feathers to let heat escape. Chickens will start to pant when the temperature reaches 85 degrees. They can also vibrate their throat muscles which allows warm moisture to evaporate. In the heat of the day, free-range chickens look for an undisturbed shady, cool spot to rest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC40eK0n-VhY2edRskrgMLS5xBCSWkWBvHZ0QHvILe-iOLz5Gj_Qqt4bdms3ky7jJAyfoR1Xarh-lSEQ1ZEB9p8IN2GjebkXDyYAj7sngl5BjCqxsheq6UuPQ9Z5dn96UV1Aw1MhHLOf27/s1600/IMG_6210+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC40eK0n-VhY2edRskrgMLS5xBCSWkWBvHZ0QHvILe-iOLz5Gj_Qqt4bdms3ky7jJAyfoR1Xarh-lSEQ1ZEB9p8IN2GjebkXDyYAj7sngl5BjCqxsheq6UuPQ9Z5dn96UV1Aw1MhHLOf27/s640/IMG_6210+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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How We Can Help</b></div>
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<li>We can provide these cool spaces throughout the yard with garden plantings, awnings, umbrellas or whatever it takes to get out of the sun.</li>
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<li>Water is crucial during the summer's heat. Adding more water containers, keeping them filled, and locating them in shady spots is helpful. </li>
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<li>Adding some ice to the water hits the spot, just be sure not to add too much. We don't want to shock our chickens with frigid water, just cool them off a little. </li>
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<li>Provide some chilled treats like watermelon or blueberries. The chilled food is a nice break from the heat and the extra water inside helps your chickens stay hydrated. </li>
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<li>Consider adding a shallow pool of water where your chickens can stand in the water to cool off their feet. </li>
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<li>Don't coop up your chickens during hot weather. The inside of a coop can be much hotter than outside and more intense. If you're considering where to place your coop, keep summer's heat in mind. Locate your coop where there is relief through the shade, such as the edge of a tree line. When your chickens do go inside at night to roost, make sure the coop is well-ventilated by leaving windows open and having a fan running to increase air movement.</li>
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<li>Check on your chickens often during the summer heat. If you have kids, be sure they don't run around and try to play with the chickens. Increase activity equals increased body heat. Keeping your birds comfortable and undisturbed will help them avoid heat stress and enjoy the summer.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNBl2BmM6S2cO910tfKShkyitJgk3x9ckv3FXVxaIDuyvQv9PpFoigP5p7loGa1f8Cm_X2k7W81P2D_0F6D2bxUNGTHThPA1n6fcv8aMG5tvwZU4DNCtB8jv3b23kqi0W6EBL2oNn_24r/w400-h400/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy+%25283%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
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Heat-Tolerant Chicken Breeds</b></div>
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Although itâs easier to keep chickens warm vs. cool, itâs important to choose the correct breed for your location, whether that be a cold-hardy chicken or a heat-tolerant chicken breed.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Popular Heat-Tolerant Breeds:</div><br />Black Australorp<br />Brahma<br />Delaware<br /><a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/01/breed-profile-ameraucana.html" target="_blank">Easter Egger</a><br /><a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/09/leghorn-great-white-egg-laying-chicken-breed.html" target="_blank">Leghorn</a><br /><a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/02/breed-profile-new-hampshire-red.html" target="_blank">New Hampshire Red</a><br />Plymouth Rock<br />Rhode Island Red<br />Sussex<br />
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Every year there are stories of folks that bought the wrong breed for their climate and experience losses, have unhealthy chickens, or end up bringing their birds inside where the climate is more moderate. Donât let this happen to you! Make sure to pick a breed that will live comfortably in your climate. Your birds will thank you for it!</div>
<br /></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-70453087835764749532021-05-31T06:00:00.000-04:002021-05-31T09:50:13.713-04:00Top Ten Facts About RoostersSome folks can't have a rooster in their flock, but if you can, these top 10 facts about roosters may just have you considering adding these beauties to your backyard flock.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDkU9CDoxMo6Qj9BWdBb5HW81EnEgPAlvai4BhVINoAwr4T8Sey1tOlnk64fw1Jh6BhogjmUUglS4bc6__pP72_p5AOe6cImkjZNVNDjdQhc6Ur7LCnQPoWNlhqeDyg9tyHqq6fXhKQfC/s1600/IMG_1732+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="These top 10 facts about roosters may just have you considering adding these beauties to your backyard flock." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDkU9CDoxMo6Qj9BWdBb5HW81EnEgPAlvai4BhVINoAwr4T8Sey1tOlnk64fw1Jh6BhogjmUUglS4bc6__pP72_p5AOe6cImkjZNVNDjdQhc6Ur7LCnQPoWNlhqeDyg9tyHqq6fXhKQfC/w640-h426/IMG_1732+-+Copy.JPG" title="Top Ten Facts About Roosters" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>1. Roosters Equal Self-Sufficiency</b><br />
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A rooster gives you control over the destiny of your flock and ultimately your food. No longer are you dependent on ordering day-old chicks or hatching eggs. If youâve got an incubator, or even better, a broody hen, then you can expand your flock as it suits your needs.<br />
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<b>Rule of Thumb</b> â Remember that about <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2012/05/omg-its-roo.html" target="_blank">half the eggs you hatch will be roosters</a> so each hatch can bring some new layers along with the meat for the freezer.<br />
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<b>Rooster Trivia â</b> Do you need a rooster to have your hens lay eggs? The short answer is no. This may seem trivial to chicken keepers, but itâs actually the most asked question people have about chickens. You do not need a rooster to have chicken eggs. Hens will lay eggs regardless of whether a rooster is around or not. A roosterâs job is the fertilization of those eggs.<br />
<br /><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Pin the image below to save this information for later. </i><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7KFnECxBVWV6gPnwz0sQRwZFLDhzNPvYl4Uw6V2cMQ7cglEl3Zq92_9_gk1j-GGuEBA6lWvNi8tw_jphZJmQq6XWhkPe5-50jiJ7Jrod7CxMSEBSxE6AEBnEc3gJOv8Qw4i-gpKepiZV/s1102/10+Rooster+Facts+PIN+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="These top 10 facts about roosters may just have you considering adding these beauties to your backyard flock." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7KFnECxBVWV6gPnwz0sQRwZFLDhzNPvYl4Uw6V2cMQ7cglEl3Zq92_9_gk1j-GGuEBA6lWvNi8tw_jphZJmQq6XWhkPe5-50jiJ7Jrod7CxMSEBSxE6AEBnEc3gJOv8Qw4i-gpKepiZV/w426-h640/10+Rooster+Facts+PIN+%25281%2529.png" title="Top Ten Facts About Roosters" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<b>2. For Roosters, Looks Matter</b><br />
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How a person looks often helps guide humans as they find a mate and itâs the same with chickens. Itâs all about genetic destiny for both hens and roosters. An outward appearance of health and vigor provides a glimpse into the future indicating the ability to provide strong offspring.<br />
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Hens tend to favor roosters with a large red comb with tall points. Evenly formed wattles and long spurs are also must-haves. Long, shiny, and colorful hackle and saddle feathers are used as a rooster puffs up and displays for a hen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFX0vtDcYuNB4QQrNZug8U5eqzVTzJ2KjOXCnNn1xlf5g7XOnsfb9oMFFqSZR86Ep6ied8M-DQbQYQ1uAPiGxfGDSfPuT8eEqJjKqMoeA-pyp54fy_I_CtQj6MJLMGk9iJfxe58FXQzjS/s320/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy.png" /></a></div><br /><b>3. Roosters Equal Protection </b><div><br /></div><div>A rooster can be the ticket to safety for your hens. A rooster wants to live on through his offspring and you donât have offspring if you donât have a group of hens that are safe. A good rooster will take this duty seriously and keep an eye out at all times for trouble.<br />
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Itâs not unusual to observe a rooster busily pecking while tilting an eye up to the sky or scanning the perimeter. If he spots something, a rooster warns the flock with a series of low noises. This tells the rest to stay close to him and remain vigilant. If the danger doesnât pass, he will quickly sound the alarm by squawking loudly and gathering his flock in a safe area to hold them there until the danger passes. If needed, a rooster will attack a predator to keep it away. This is appropriate aggressive rooster behavior. But sadly, there are stories of roosters being injured and even losing their lives as theyâve defended their flocks.<br />
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<b>4. Multiple Roosters Can Live Together in a Flock</b><br />
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Roosters can live with other roosters. If you want to have multiple roosters, it is easier to keep them together if they are all raised together from a young age.<br />
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If you have an established flock with a rooster, it is easier to introduce new roosters while you introduce new hens. Some do have success in introducing adult roosters.<br />
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<b>Keep in Mind</b> â Roosters will establish a pecking order as they learn how to get along. This can be messy and there can be injuries. Be prepared to tend to wounds and to intervene if things get out of hand. Also, be aware that some roosters may never get along.<br />
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<b>Did You Know?</b> â Some people set up <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2015/04/four-pre-made-chicken-coop-options.html" target="_blank">bachelor pad chicken coops</a> devoted entirely to their roosters.<br />
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<b>5. Roosters Have Hardy Sperm</b><br />
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The normal body temperature of a chicken is between 105 degrees and 107 degrees. Roosters do not have a penis. A roosterâs sperm is produced and carried inside his body and stays viable at body temperature. Once a rooster has mated, his sperm can stay viable inside a henâs body for up to two weeks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEI_zCXogxQ-_MTOOk4R0EbvC2sa1d9uLuVHXdFNXBjZMOd_Yn5vaD9r3S2OIRJwqAzyPsAPP_wypdSHNMOKtjx3BRYp7wvj4EZrT0GKhM0AIDxSNqAP8qHPGcvkM5Gwga-1xiBxc7b7U/s1600/IMG_1736+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="These top 10 facts about roosters may just have you considering adding these beauties to your backyard flock." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEI_zCXogxQ-_MTOOk4R0EbvC2sa1d9uLuVHXdFNXBjZMOd_Yn5vaD9r3S2OIRJwqAzyPsAPP_wypdSHNMOKtjx3BRYp7wvj4EZrT0GKhM0AIDxSNqAP8qHPGcvkM5Gwga-1xiBxc7b7U/w640-h426/IMG_1736+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" title="Top Ten Facts About Roosters" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>6. The Sun Rules Rooster Reproduction </b><br />
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We all know that light influences a henâs laying cycle, but did you know that it also influences a roosterâs fertility? A roosterâs sperm and testosterone are produced in his testes. These testes shrink and grow seasonally. A rooster's comb and wattles also grow and shrink seasonally as they are used to attract hens.<br />
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<b>7. Roosters Don't Always Eat First</b><br />
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While foraging, roosters often come across food and tasty treats but they won't always be seen eating those treats. Instead, the rooster can be found standing close to the treat and tidbitting. This is a behavior where the rooster clucks softly and moves his head up and down while picking up bits of food and dropping them. A roosterâs long wattles are said to be helpful in gaining a henâs attention while heâs tidbitting. The hens will then eat first and the rooster will eat anything thatâs left over. This ensures the hens stay healthy to raise a roosterâs offspring.<br />
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<b>8. Roosters Will Keep Order Among the Hens</b><br />
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A rooster is fully aware of the pecking order established in his flock and he will help to keep hen squabbling to a minimum. If there is no rooster in a flock, a dominant hen will usually take this role.<br />
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<b>9. Roosters Don't Always Rule the Roost</b><br />
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Roosters and hens donât live in exclusive pairs. A rooster will mate with all the hens in a flock. If you have more than one rooster, then a hen may mate with different males. But this is where the hen takes a lead role. If she doesnât want offspring from a particular rooster, usually the less-dominant rooster, then she can âdumpâ his sperm.<br />
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<b>10. Rooster Spurs Grow Continuously</b><br />
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A roosterâs spurs grow throughout his life. Some roosters are good at keeping their spurs maintained at a reasonable length; others are not. If thatâs the case, human intervention may be needed. Spurs that are too long can cause damage when mating with hens. They can also interfere with a roosterâs gait as his spurs hit the opposite legs.<br />
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Bonus Fun Facts!</h4><h4><b><br /></b></h4><h4><b>đRooster is a Relatively Recent Term</b></h4>
The term rooster refers to an adult male chicken. This term didnât appear until 1772. Before that, an adult male chicken was called a cock. When that term became considered rude, it generally fell out of favor, however in some countries and in poultry shows today, that term is still used. A young male chicken under a year old is called a cockerel.<br />
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<b>đRoosters Have Zodiac Rock Star Status</b><br />
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The rooster is the only bird in the Chinese Zodiac Calendar.</div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-72335846271439238082021-05-24T05:00:00.000-04:002021-05-24T13:05:00.213-04:00How to Attract & Feed Hummingbirds When the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in spring, we celebrate at my house. Each year we set up a protected area by our mudroom door and our kitchen window. The hummingbirds always find it and the air above the feeding station is soon filled with hummingbirds zipping around at all hours. It's a joyous sight!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqQOlcUUOPVGBlb9-hbXzN-sVIkd5hd4bz38wLsTDNiJvoTeIKzJXhBC9rNygvoseTgoHTWYiQeuSppfBJU_IZutvTyI1-EBTiLeNeya5ONlvQ5Nzox0YhQrY8btCDA7FprlZCh0fqN_g/s1600/DSCN1187+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqQOlcUUOPVGBlb9-hbXzN-sVIkd5hd4bz38wLsTDNiJvoTeIKzJXhBC9rNygvoseTgoHTWYiQeuSppfBJU_IZutvTyI1-EBTiLeNeya5ONlvQ5Nzox0YhQrY8btCDA7FprlZCh0fqN_g/s640/DSCN1187+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><b>Hummingbird Feeder Set-Up</b><br />
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Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that are orange and red.<br />
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I like to visit my local gardening store just as the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are about to arrive and purchase and some spring-blooming flowers. I plant them around my feeder area so the birds have a natural source of nectar. I also keep the flowering plants refreshed through the season and find they attract hummingbirds and lots of other nectar-loving species like butterflies and bees.<br />
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There are lots of commercial feeder options available. I use one that's got a vintage look with a red glass bottle that holds the nectar.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV9X5nS2iaJwyEXtdWxX-NznVoKgAyRFnlegxIEfNMRyxY92Vnwe_uQEFqKyvb8A0o-xPgCHERXn7umvQj1-uYc18SWHNiu6cZEG4fa1-Tg3PMIJxhGaHyYB6dH42ardTayrCU9OlmLdh/w400-h400/Copy+of+PBS+on+Etsy+%25282%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The most important thing to remember about your feeder is to keep it clean and refresh the nectar often, especially during hot weather as the sugar water ferments in the warmth. On hot summer days, I will often refill my feeder with fresh nectar each day.<br />
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To make the nectar, I dissolve 1/4 cup of sugar in one cup of water. I double that as needed to refill my feeders. In the hummingbird-feeding world, some folks boil their water before adding the sugar. Others don't, and I fall into this camp. It doesn't take long for sugar to dissolve in water if you stir it well. If you're going on vacation, you can make up extra ahead of time and save it in the refrigerator so your house sitter can refill your feeders as needed.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">CAUTION: DO NOT USE COMMERCIAL NECTARS THAT ARE DYED RED OR DYE YOUR HOMEMADE NECTAR RED. THIS CAN BE HARMFUL TO THE HUMMINGBIRDS YOU ARE FEEDING. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<ul><li>Scientific Name - <em>Archilochus colubris</em></li><li>The average Ruby-throated Hummingbird is 3 to 3 3/4 inches long with a wingspan of 4 to 4/3/4 inches. </li><li>Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be identified because they have a red throat and a slightly forked tail. </li><li>The Ruby-throated Hummingbird beats its wings 53 times per second. </li><li>Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can fly up to 60 miles per hour. </li><li>Hummingbirds can see the ultraviolet spectrum, which humans can't see. </li><li>Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the most common species of hummingbird in Eastern North America and are North America's only breeding species of hummingbird. </li><li>Hummingbirds can cross the Gulf of Mexico in one flight. </li><li>Peak breeding activity is in June and July. </li><li>Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually produce two broods per year. Egg incubate for 14 to 15 days and young leave the nest in 20 to 22 days. </li><li>Nectar is not the only food for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. They will eat insects and small spiders. </li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIw3feo787zITBq3B6tcW0POspsVjATbN_d_AFOpgFOIpJl9TrVI-_MVi5poAoIL2HPMGLabIXkYVz-pcCjp32r9Aa3oXRSzMxqUdZrS1-c5Q2WdxcFWngeO0Zu1jDPRHLDPPSvrtTYoEw/s1600/DSCN1174+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIw3feo787zITBq3B6tcW0POspsVjATbN_d_AFOpgFOIpJl9TrVI-_MVi5poAoIL2HPMGLabIXkYVz-pcCjp32r9Aa3oXRSzMxqUdZrS1-c5Q2WdxcFWngeO0Zu1jDPRHLDPPSvrtTYoEw/s640/DSCN1174+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird</span>.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR8JFHeGrB1aGRmoEdiUrlhVwRBuH3Xgqc2NPi6MX-GgCn0-MB57Hijo2w_Ten-97iJSYdg2mQ9HeHySNggL6MqseReTZcSY7QD-hOWXUKExy99Al9NCNMv8_YYEKadNs793iG0_ojmX1/s1600/DSCN1175+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR8JFHeGrB1aGRmoEdiUrlhVwRBuH3Xgqc2NPi6MX-GgCn0-MB57Hijo2w_Ten-97iJSYdg2mQ9HeHySNggL6MqseReTZcSY7QD-hOWXUKExy99Al9NCNMv8_YYEKadNs793iG0_ojmX1/s640/DSCN1175+%25282%2529+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Hummingbirds like to have places to rest near a feeding station,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">so be sure to provide some easily accessible foliage. </span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Track Your Hummingbirds!</b><br /><br />Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate south to Central America each fall and back up to North America in the spring. They arrive pretty early in the season, so be sure you're ready for them by checking the <a href="https://journeynorth.org/hummingbirds" target="_blank">Journey North</a> Map to see where the Hummingbirds are in their migration. For me, Hummingbirds are usually spotted at our feeders sometime around early to mid-April.<br /><br />FYI - Journey North is a citizen science project, so feel free to join and report your Hummingbirds as they arrive.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-30775707978419126532021-05-17T05:00:00.000-04:002021-05-17T08:41:22.275-04:00OMG! It's a Roo! How to Tell if You Have a Hen or a RoosterAre you wondering if you have a rooster in your flock? If so, you're not alone. As baby chicks start to grow up, it's not uncommon to wonder about the sex of your chickens even if you chose from the pullet brooder at the store or ordered pullets directly from the hatchery. Here's my personal story with getting an accidental <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/05/top-ten-facts-about-roosters.html" target="_blank">rooster </a>and how you can tell what you've got one (or three) in your flock.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtQYjziTovnMXv4_BaZ3VMxQHCK9eG9O3FYF_pxUA9xOe-Ml6hnuyvQWLNOAc0UqJFrFINoIpdU-WGBPl9zC54CyUITUP1ad5bHcPRpil0pgAjpKLtH4ZnghphNVD-e0L9VJkvPOHUex4/s1600/044.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Are you wondering if you have a rooster in your flock? If so, you're not alone. Here's a guide to help you tell." border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtQYjziTovnMXv4_BaZ3VMxQHCK9eG9O3FYF_pxUA9xOe-Ml6hnuyvQWLNOAc0UqJFrFINoIpdU-WGBPl9zC54CyUITUP1ad5bHcPRpil0pgAjpKLtH4ZnghphNVD-e0L9VJkvPOHUex4/w640-h480/044.JPG" title="How to Tell if You Have a Hen or a Rooster" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roopert as a young rooster.</td></tr>
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Accidentally Getting a Rooster</h4>
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It all started when we were <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2016/03/7-tips-for-successfully-buying-chicks.html" target="_blank">buying chicks from the local feed store</a>. I was picking out two Buff Orpingtons. I had already put one in the box. I picked up the next and its wing was covered in poop. The salesperson apologized for the poop and suggested I pick another chick. The poop didn't bother me and it didn't concern me with <a href="https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/2019/02/baby-chick-health-101.html" target="_blank">baby chick health</a>, so I'm not sure why I did this, but I put the poopy one back and grabbed a nice big healthy chick. I even remarked to the salesperson, "Wow! This one's really big!" He agreed and I left the store happy with my choices.<br />
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A couple of weeks later, I started to get suspicious. Kate, as the chick was called, was bigger than her counterparts and she developed her comb and wattles fast. They were much larger than everyone else's and they were redder.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamsbackyardstudio.etsy.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWOnqI6W7c_AzkxmBOrX8dLqs9r_hJWRlU9ZMovTttD9jQX1jf_rvui4ynDRRdPTPZuXofHn434PIxpxbbKfn_EIMpHKuUK_q-o9frNctyZ6tBmmFD5VUWyse_XoSFhXQUqJEsr_bFDhyphenhyphen/w400-h400/PBS+on+Etsy+%252820%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I began to wonder if I was a statistical "victim" of a chick sexing mistake. <div><br /></div><div>One morning, my husband and I were in the garage putting the chicks out for the day and we both froze in place as we heard a faint but distinct "cock-a-doodle-doo." We stood still and waited to see if it would happen again. Sure enough, my suspicions were confirmed. We had a Buff Orpington rooster!<br /><br />A name change was definitely in order, so Kate became Roopert. He eventually fathered two more roosters and we've not been without a rooster in our flock since then.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Pin the image below to save this information for later. </b></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6FpQpSfmM48r1Eymtlei2lRPqOVP5Czc09uNT26P3Jqf1SprBuJ4MVsTe-U3Uwwp992muMWmJgQgWVl9r_tyeOnyLbcakQ53GYVMKW1PZ76pr4q3ue31IAhtTllHNkYzBDN8Vh0dr79H/s1102/How+To+Tell+If+You+Have+a+Hen+or+a+Rooster+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Are you wondering if you have a rooster in your flock? If so, you're not alone. Here's a guide to help you tell." border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6FpQpSfmM48r1Eymtlei2lRPqOVP5Czc09uNT26P3Jqf1SprBuJ4MVsTe-U3Uwwp992muMWmJgQgWVl9r_tyeOnyLbcakQ53GYVMKW1PZ76pr4q3ue31IAhtTllHNkYzBDN8Vh0dr79H/w426-h640/How+To+Tell+If+You+Have+a+Hen+or+a+Rooster+%25281%2529.png" title="How to Tell if You Have a Hen or a Rooster" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>How to Tell a Rooster from a Hen</b></div><div><div><br /></div>The best way to tell if you have a rooster or a hen is by watching your bird's behavior and body development. However, these signs are not 100% accurate.<br /><br /><ul><li>Roosters will be larger than hens.</li></ul><ul><li>The combs and wattles on a rooster will be darker pink and they will grow faster and larger than a hen's combs and wattle. </li></ul><ul><li>Roosters will be more bold and friendly early on while hens are less friendly. (This reverses with age.)</li></ul><ul><li>If you have more than one rooster, they may chest bump and challenge each other.</li></ul><ul><li>Hackle feathers (located on the neck) for roosters are longer, more pointed and narrow. A hen's hackle feathers are more rounded and oval-shaped. </li></ul><ul><li>Roosters have long, skinny saddle feathers located where the back meets the tail. These start to develop around 12 weeks of age.</li></ul><ul><li>Roosters will start to crow around four months of age. </li></ul><ul><li>Roosters will have thicker legs and may develop spurs early in their development.</li></ul><br />The only way to be fully sure if you have a rooster is to see whether your bird eventually lays an egg or not. The reason for this is that rooster rules are made to be broken. Sometimes hens will have large combs and wattles. Sometimes they will crow. Hens can be extremely friendly. Hens will chest bump each other to establish the pecking order.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28TgToC5z6T-8WtYGBi2X3TGeBlreXkiS3jmcYsSRiP5QZtLd6AJENp-EHA30C1Jc0IoPobm2ih-514ghMx7qPv9ipZrSijHkOfwaZY6MLmltihV9JSQgNC2Ae_FzuqP8B30_E1zRsvav/s1600/008+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Are you wondering if you have a rooster in your flock? If so, you're not alone. Here's a guide to help you tell." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28TgToC5z6T-8WtYGBi2X3TGeBlreXkiS3jmcYsSRiP5QZtLd6AJENp-EHA30C1Jc0IoPobm2ih-514ghMx7qPv9ipZrSijHkOfwaZY6MLmltihV9JSQgNC2Ae_FzuqP8B30_E1zRsvav/w640-h480/008+%25282%2529.JPG" title="How to Tell if You Have a Hen or a Rooster" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roopert as a fully-grown rooster.</td></tr>
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<h4><br /></h4><h4>How Did I Get a Rooster?</h4>
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If you incubate eggs at home, you're almost guaranteed to get a rooster. Statistics say that 50% of a clutch will be roosters.<br /><br />Hatcheries are usually about 90% accurate with their sexing and some like <a href="https://www.meyerhatchery.com/index-b.a5w?md=policies" target="_blank">Meyer Hatchery</a>, guarantee 100% accuracy. Because hatcheries like return customers, your best bet is to order directly.<br /><br />The feed store is where I ran into problems. This is not to say that buying chicks from a feed store is bad, it's just wise to be cautious. Here's why. The feed stores get all their chicks shipped from the hatchery. They are taken out of their containers and put into the store brooders. Hopefully into the right brooders with the right signs. Then people, like me, shop those brooders. Chicks are picked up and inspected during the buying process. Some are put into boxes to take home, others are put back into the brooders. If you have brooder of Buff Orpington pullets next to a brooder of straight run Buff Orpingtons, it's easy enough to set a chick or two back into the wrong brooder. There are lots of places for unintentional error at the feed store.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fjbtTs7GWRLrSPFr0HIqpzWuWuknI6J1kR4SdjF8UCOX9v-omq_ZqDVwbLDGoEwmaYb9Edof-KUL5Wi2Q3V-jrEfSj_igASLDUKGHzJLQf1y6GBxkMdYKzN0GrW3jdmTr0kPHFMpKlB9/s1600/IMG_6154+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Are you wondering if you have a rooster in your flock? If so, you're not alone. Here's a guide to help you tell." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fjbtTs7GWRLrSPFr0HIqpzWuWuknI6J1kR4SdjF8UCOX9v-omq_ZqDVwbLDGoEwmaYb9Edof-KUL5Wi2Q3V-jrEfSj_igASLDUKGHzJLQf1y6GBxkMdYKzN0GrW3jdmTr0kPHFMpKlB9/w640-h426/IMG_6154+%25282%2529.JPG" title="How to Tell if You Have a Hen or a Rooster" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two hens establishing a pecking order through chest-bumping and feather raising. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><h4><br /></h4><h4>Is There a Full-Proof Way to Know What I'm Getting?</h4>
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Probably the best way to be guaranteed whether you're getting a hen or rooster is to buy sex-linked chickens. Sex-linked chickens are cross-bred, so at hatch, you can tell their sex by their coloring.<br />
<br /></div></div>Pam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.com39