You gather a few eggs, boil up a batch, and then the shell takes half the white with it. Sound familiar? It's one of the most common kitchen headaches for backyard flock keepers, and it's actually a sign your eggs are really fresh. Here's the funny part. The fresher the egg, the harder it usually is to peel. Store eggs spend time in packing, shipping and on shelves before they ever reach a kitchen, while yours might be a day or two old. The good news is that most peeling hack

Fresh eggs are one of the best parts of keeping a backyard flock, but a good laying season can bring in more than any family can eat. The good news is that hens working overtime don't have to mean wasted eggs. Freezing and pickling are two easy ways to enjoy the extras long after the laying slows down. Start with a good egg Great preserved eggs start with great fresh eggs! Grab ones with clean, uncracked, sturdy shells, since the shell is the egg's built-in first line of prot

Whether you keep ducks in your backyard flock or you’ve scored a dozen from a neighbor, duck eggs are a baker’s secret weapon. They’re bigger, richer, and ready to make your favorite recipes taste a little more special. What Makes Duck Eggs Different? Bigger yolks: Duck yolks are larger and creamier, so you get more richness in every bite. More protein in the whites: Duck whites are sturdier, which helps baked goods rise higher and hold their structure. Thicker shells: They t

If you've ever cracked open a quail egg, you know there's something almost magical about it. Speckled shell, perfectly golden yolk, and a richness that punches well above its weight. But quail eggs aren't just charming, they're genuinely impressive from a nutrition and culinary standpoint. Here's why so many backyard flock keepers are making room for a covey of quail alongside their chickens. Source: Sugar Feather Farms A Nutritional Powerhouse in Miniature Don't let the smal

There's a certain smell that means fall has officially arrived at the coop and this year, it's the same one filling your kitchen. We built our newest Coop Recuperate Pumpkin Spice scent around a warm, homemade pumpkin spice blend, and once we had it perfected, we couldn't stop using it in all our favorite recipes. So we're sharing it with you, along with five of our favorite pumpkin spice recipes to make while your coop gets its own cozy fall refresh. Whether you're prepping

Picture credit: Pinterest There’s a specific kind of morning that tells you fall is coming with cooler air, that first golden light hitting the coop, maybe a few leaves already skittering across the run. If you’ve got backyard chickens, that shift in the air is your cue to start thinking ahead. Fall prep isn’t just about pumpkins and sweaters although we love those things too! It’s the window where a little bit of work now saves you a lot of headaches once the weather really

If you’ve ever pictured a duck in your head, like the classic storybook waddling across the yard, chances are you were envisioning a Pekin! With their snow-white feathers, cheerful orange bills, and upright, curious posture, Pekins are the most recognizable duck breed in America. They are also one of the easiest to fall in love with. These ducks are popular in backyard flocks, and for good reason. Whether you’re thinking about adding ducks to your existing flock or you’re alr

Picture credit: Meaty Cluckers If you’re looking for an easy, low-cost way to make your chickens’ world a little more interesting, here’s one you might not have considered: a mirror! Yes, just a plain old mirror hung on the inside of your coop or mounted in the run. It sounds almost too simple, but backyard chicken keepers have been raving about this little trick for years, and for good reason. Bored Chickens Are Trouble Bored chickens are not happy chickens. When boredom s

Short Answer: Yes, They Really Can! If you’ve ever looked at your backyard flock and thought one of your hens looks a little different than she did last year, you’re not imagining things, chickens really can change colors! It’s one of those quirky, fascinating things about keeping chickens that even experienced flock keepers sometimes don’t know. Chickens can shift in color and pattern over time, and there are a few interesting reasons why it happens. Molting Season Brings Su

Labor Day is the unofficial last hurrah of summer. What better way to cap it off than with a backyard cookout? A crowd-pleasing dessert can elevate the occasion. Enter the chocolate lava cake! These individual molten chocolate cakes are warm, gooey, and completely irresistible. The best part? They’re made in single-serving ramekins. Everyone gets their own little moment of chocolatey magic. No sharing required! The Secret Ingredient: Fresh Eggs Here’s a little bonus for fello

There’s a reason pumpkin spice shows up everywhere the moment the air turns crisp, it just feels good! Warm, cozy, a little nostalgic. It turns out the essential oils behind that signature scent aren’t just pleasant to smell, they’ve been valued for centuries, by humans and homesteaders alike, for the way they support wellness. That’s exactly why we built our newest natural coop refresher, Pumpkin Spice Coop Recuperate, around a blend of essential oils for chickens featuring

If you’ve ever lost one of your girls, you may have noticed other birds acting “off” afterwards. If that’s the case, you weren’t imagining things. Chickens are far more socially complex than most people give them credit for. So, yes they do experience something that looks a lot like grief. Chickens Choose Their People (And Their Favorites) Watch your flock for even a few days and you’ll see it. The hens that always forage together, the pair that roosts side by side every sing

Source: Hoover’s Hatchery If you’ve been thinking about adding ducks to your backyard flock or if you’re a dedicated duck keeper looking for your next favorite breed, the Golden Cascade might just steal your heart! These birds are beautiful, strong egg layers and genuinely a joy to raise. Whether you’re drawn to their warm golden coloring, their impressive gift of eggs or their easy-going personalities, there’s a lot to love about the Golden Cascade. The History of the Golden

What is Egg Bound Peritonitis? If you’ve kept backyard chickens for any length of time, you’ve probably dealt with a sick hen or two. Most of the time, a little extra TLC goes a long way. But there are a few conditions that are more serious and egg-bound peritonitis is one of them. It’s not the most common thing you’ll encounter while raising a backyard flock, but knowing what it is and what to watch for could make a real difference for the girls you love! How it Happens Pict

One of the greatest joys of keeping backyard chickens is watching them do what they do best, scratching through grass, dust bathing in the garden and foraging freely in the sunshine. Free-ranging is wonderful for your birds’ physical and mental wellbeing. But as temperatures rise and your flock spends more time outside, there’s something every chicken keeper should have on their radar: warm weather is peak season for parasites. Whether your chickens roam a large pasture or a

Picture credit: On Sutton Place There’s a reason basil has been beloved for thousands of years, and it turns out the benefits go well beyond your pasta sauce! This fragrant, easy-to-grow herb is a powerhouse for human health and a fantastic addition to your backyard flock’s wellness routine. Whether you’re a seasoned herb gardener or just getting started, basil is one plant that earns its place in every chicken keeper’s garden. Let’s dig into what basil does for your body, wh

Picture credit: Raising Happy Chickens Lets’ be honest, flies are one of the least glamorous parts of keeping chickens. They’re annoying, they spread bacteria, and if left unchecked, they can create real health problems for your flock. But before you reach for the chemical sprays, you might be surprised how much you can accomplish with natural methods. Here’s a practical guide to keeping fly populations under control the natural way. Why Fly Control Matters Flies aren’t just

Rounding up a free-ranging flock at the end of the day doesn’t have to be a wild goose chase! Here’s how to make coop time something your chickens actually look forward to. Tip 1 - Use Daily Treats as Your Secret Weapon Chickens are creatures of habit and they’re motivated by food! If you offer a tasty snack at coop time every single evening, they’ll start associating the routine with something delicious and they’ll come running. Strong Animals Happy Tract and Golden Graze ar

If you have backyard chickens, you already know they can be a little particular about where they lay their eggs. Some hens will happily use the nesting boxes, while others seem determined to find the most inconvenient corner of the coop! The good news is that a cozy, well designed nesting box can make a big difference. It gives your hens a quiet, comfortable place to lay, helps keep eggs cleaner and makes daily egg collecting much easier. Whether you’re setting up your first

Picture credit: Recipe Teacher Our secret for fall-off-the-bone drumsticks, oven or grill, it works every time and is perfect for a 4th of July cookout. We believe great chicken starts with quality, but the real magic happens in how you cook it. After years of perfecting our drumsticks, we’re sharing the one secret that separates a so-so chicken leg from one that makes your guests go quiet mid-bite. The Secret is Out Here is our secret. Cook your chicken legs to 185°F - 195°F