Backyard Chicken Learning Center

You've probably seen the videos. Someone dumps a scoop of bubbly, tangy-smelling mash into a feeder and their hens lose their minds. Or they pull a tray of bright green...

If you've been raising chickens for more than a week, you've probably seen grit mentioned somewhere. Maybe in a care guide, maybe on a forum, maybe on the bag of...

Layer feed already has calcium in it. The bag says so. So why does everyone keep saying to add oyster shell on top of that? The answer has more to...

Walk into any feed store and you'll see the same three words on half the bags: organic, natural, non-GMO. They sound like they mean roughly the same thing. They don't....

Chickens are basically feathered garbage disposals. They will eat watermelon rinds, stale pasta, wilted spinach, and whatever bug just crawled past your boot. But that reputation is exactly what gets...

Calculate what size chicken coop you need to build or buy based on the size of your flock and where they will spend most of the day time.

Major Chicken Hatcheries Cackle Hatchery Hoover's Hatchery MurrayMcMurrayHatchery Meyer Hatchery My Pet Chicken Stromberg'sChicks & Gamebirds 10 white egg layers* $29.50 $37.60 $39.00 $38.90 $35.50 $49.90 10 brown egg layers...

In this guide you'll learn everything there is to know about free-range eggs and how they relate to your backyard chickens!

Find the best chicken coop bedding with this infographic. 7 bedding types, their pros & cons, rating and more.

Check out this DIY Feeder Guide to build your own PVC chicken feeder including plans for hanging, automatic & trough feeders.

In this guide you'll learn everything you need to know about chicken roosts including DIY guides, ideas, bars, boxes & more.

Our Chicken Nesting Boxes Guide will teach you about the best nest boxes, chicken nesting box size, DIY ideas & more!

There are many different options to choose from when putting down a floor for your coop. This infographic goes through the pros & cons of them!

Our Chicken Bedding Guide will teach you the deep litter method, best bedding for chicken coops, chicken run bedding & more.

In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know about chicken waterers including DIY plans, automatic waterers & more.

Quick Plymouth Rock Chicken Facts Origin United States Colors Blue, white and black Weight 7 - 8 lbs. Lifespan 10 - 12 yrs. Rate of Lay/yr. 180 - 240 eggs...

The Buff Orpington is the model English Hen. Bred as a dual-purpose bird to be bigger and better than the available breeds at the time, Buff Orpingtons are a big...

Learn how to predator proof your chicken coop with this infographic. 13 predator types & how they attack. 8 ways to keep your hens safe.

The best backyard chicken websites, blogs, Instagrammers, forums, and more to help you make the most of your chicken-keeping journey.

Broodiness is a completely natural state for hens. In this article, we’ll explain broodiness, how it happens and some tips on how to stop it.

Top 6 reasons why chickens stop laying eggs. Age, seasons, molting, diet, dehydration & disease. Why do chickens stop laying eggs?

This infographic shows the 12 best egg-laying chicken breeds! Get the most eggs by choosing the best chicken breed.

How often to chickens lay eggs? View the 57 best egg laying chicken breeds with expected eggs per week (1-5+ and more).

Whether you're breeding chickens for eggs, competition or fun, this guide will help make it easy with tips on nutrition, hatching and more!

The Ameraucana Chicken is the second USA bred bird in our list! Bred for its wonderful blue eggs, the Ameraucana is perfect for a beginner backyard chicken keeper as well...

This article brings all of the best eBooks and articles together in one handy guide so you can make the best decisions regarding your fluffy-butted ladies!

Not only are Rhode Island Reds one of the most successful breeds in the world, but they are also the state bird of Rhode Island! That’s a Mile Four first!...

While not technically a “breed” per se, the Easter Egger is one of the most popular chickens for backyard chicken owners in the world! These chickens lay colorful eggs that...

Despite their uncertain lineage of the Brahma chicken, so much else is in fact known about them!Brahma chickens were part of “hen fever” which was an obsession with poultry across...

Jersey Giant chickens live up to their name. Developed in New Jersey in the late 1800s as an alternative to turkeys, they are one of the largest chicken breeds in...

Marans chickens are famous for one thing above all else: beautifully dark brown eggs that look like they came straight out of a chocolate box. Originating in the port town...

Golden Comet chickens are one of the most popular backyard egg-laying chickens in the United States, best known for their early maturity, friendly nature, and exceptional egg production. Unlike heritage...

Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens are one of the most visually striking and well-balanced backyard chicken varieties available today. Known for their crisp black-and-white laced plumage, calm temperament, and reliable brown...

Buff Brahma chickens are a popular color variety of the Brahma breed, known for their massive size, feathered legs, and famously gentle temperament. Often described as “gentle giants,” Buff Brahmas...

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chickens are one of the most visually striking Wyandotte varieties, admired for their rich red feathers edged with soft blue-gray lacing. While not as common as...