Category Archives: Shopping for Poultry BLOGS

By Harvey Ussery |Updated on December 10, 2024 EmailPrint FacebookPinterestX by Adobestock/AndyMellow Learn about methods for breeding heritage chickens to achieve a hardy and productive flock designed for the modern homesteader. Many of us who keep backyard flocks are aware that industrial chicken breeds from commercial hatcheries aren’t the best option if we’re hoping to raiseContinue reading “Breeding Heritage Chickens: Why Not to Rely on Chicken Hatcheries”

We do not grow our own seeds. It is simply too time-consuming, we don’t have the experience, and we do not have enough land to grow many items. If you are looking for seeds, here are some places to try: Online: My three favorite places are MiGardener, Bentley, and Seed Savers Exchange. You cannot beatContinue reading “Seed Companies”

January 17, 2026: We still have tons and tons of eggs. Only a partial amount are shown. They will not hatch. $3 per dozen. December 2025$3.00 per dozen. Please send a message for pick-up. They will not hatch as they have been refrigerated. I have at least 6-9 dozen available now and will have moreContinue reading “$3 Eggs (Dec. 2025)”

This is an opinion article quoted from Poultry Hatch. Lower in our blog is an entirely different opinion article on why you should buy from Local Farms. Both give different perspectives so you can make the best choice for you. Why You Shouldn’t Buy Chickens from Local Farms: 10 Strong Reasons to Choose a HatcheryContinue reading “Opinion: Should I buy from Breeders or Hatcheries?”

Discover 7 impactful ways to help save endangered heritage chicken breeds, from backyard raising to supporting conservation organizations—preserving vital genetic diversity for our future. Heritage chicken breeds are disappearing at an alarming rate, with over 75% of traditional poultry varieties now endangered or at risk of extinction. These historic breeds—prized for their genetic diversity, naturalContinue reading “7 Ways to Support Heritage Chicken Breed Preservation”

A poultry farmer offers up the lessons she learned after constructing her own DIY egg incubator cabinet to hatch rare heritage chicks. |Updated on February 17, 2025 A poultry farmer offers up the lessons she learned after building a homemade egg incubator cabinet to hatch rare heritage chicks. My current homemade incubator must be theContinue reading “Build a Homemade Egg Incubator”

OUR MISSION To protect America’s endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction. Why save them? Many of America’s once-common farm animals face extinction if we do not take action now. Rare farm animals represent an irreplaceable piece of earth’s biodiversity and offer incredible variety that may be needed for future farms – robust health, motheringContinue reading “The Livestock Conservancy”

Sometimes when you have been working with certain topics for a long period of time you forget that not everyone has the same level of understanding that you do. A recent case in the news about the bird flu, which don’t get me wrong is a big problem  was where a backyard person in NewContinue reading “Understanding Bird Flu”

If you have a backyard hobby of raising chickens, you may be surprised to learn that it can actually be a profitable venture. There are several ways to make money from chickens, whether it’s selling eggs, breeding and selling chicks, or even offering chicken-related products and services. In this article, we’ll explore some ideas toContinue reading “From Hobby to Business: How to Make Money From Chickens”

Black Sex Link Chickens are well known hybrids that produce an abundance of eggs and tend to be tolerant to heat and cold weather. These are just a few reasons why this breed has become increasingly popular. Black Sex Link Chicken Breed History The origin of Sex Links is not entirely clear, and information tendsContinue reading “Black Sexlink Chicken Breed”

Wyandotte Chickens are best known for their unique appearance of stunning feathers and ability to be a dual-purpose bird. For these reasons and many more they can be found in backyards across the states. Silver Laced Wyandotte Chicken Breed History Wyandottes originated in the United States in the 1870’s by a group of four individuals.Continue reading “Silver Laced Wyandotte Chicken Breed”

Barred Rock chickens are known for their hardiness, broodiness, and easy-going personality. These desirable traits coupled with their ability to be dual purpose; it is no wonder why they are so popular with homesteaders. Barred Rocks are a variation of Plymouth Rocks, and their name is often used interchangeably. Barred Rock Chicken Breed History BarredContinue reading “Plymouth Barred Rock Chicken Breed”

Don’t despair if your straight run chicken count includes more cockerels than you’re inclined to keep. |Updated on April 28, 2025 The author keeps her cockerels in “bachelor tractors” so they can forage for greens and bugs. Can you eat roosters? Don’t despair if your straight run chicken count includes more cockerels than you’re inclinedContinue reading “Can You Eat Roosters?”

Look out for these common broiler chicken health issues. Broiler chicken health problems primarily relate to rapid growth and heavy weight. Common issues for commercial strain broilers are lameness, breast blister, and heart failure. Among utility breeds, breast blister is the most common health concern. Lameness Commercial-strain Cornish-cross broilers are developed for such rapid growthContinue reading “Broiler Chicken Health Problems”

Silkie Chickens (AKA Silkies) are best known for their unique appearance and docile temperament. For these reasons and much more Silkies can be found in backyards all around the world. Silkie Chicken Breed History Silkie Chickens originated in Asia, most likely China, Japan, and possibly even India. The exact origin of this breed is unknownContinue reading “Silkie Chicken Breed”

Wondering where to buy your chickens from? Debating between local farms and well known hatcheries? Below is part of an opinion article from Mother Earth News explaining why chicken hatcheries might not be the best choice for adding to or starting your flock. Breeding Heritage Chickens: Why Not to Rely on Chicken Hatcheries Learn aboutContinue reading “Heritage Chickens”

Eggs, Eggs, and more Eggs Starting January 1, 2025; we are selling eggs. This is the first year that I have not offered eggs for free for at least part of the year. Please bring your own cartons if you can. These will NOT hatch. Eggs are not washed but they have been frigerated. IContinue reading “Fresh Eggs – $3.00 Dozen (Jan. 2025)”

Barred Rock Pullets (Scroll down for eggs): SOLD OUT AS OF 1-10-2025 of barred rocks but I still have the 8 below and EGGS Barred Rock Pullets. $5.00 each. I now have 5 pullets left and 3 roosters. Born November 4-5, 2024 so they are 2 months old. $25 for all 6–must go together. PictureContinue reading “$3 Eggs and Chicks January 2025”

Seeds SOLD OUT FOR 2025 All seeds are $1.00 per package-will increase to $2.00 per package in January 2026 Heirloom non-GMO seeds. Guaranteed for 1 year. I no longer sell plants. My contract with the seed company states that I cannot sell them online. Therefore, just like chickens, I do not ship seeds or plants.Continue reading “Seeds 2025”

December 2024: We still have free eggs if anyone is interested. We will most likely discontinue this in January 2025 as feed is high Please send us a message for the address November 2024 Update: We still have FREE eggs. Please send a message for the address. FREE EGGS. Please send a message for theContinue reading “FREE EGGS 2024”

Starting a DIY mealworm farm is cheap, easy, and fun!  You can raise mealworms for chickens and wild birds alike. They also make excellent fishing bait and can even be eaten by humans (apparently, they are quite tasty).  So whether you are raising mealworms for chickens or wild birds, have pets that depend on them, or like to fish, a mealworms farm can beContinue reading “How To Start A Mealworm Farm: A Comprehensive Guide For Beginners”

Our juvenile birds roaming together. We don’t separate them usually until they are old enough to breed. October 2024 End of 2024 to January 2025 End of 2024 and 2025

There may be a few people out there old enough to remember the old Weekly Readers that you got in grade school. Growing up in the late 60’s and early 70s in the remote town of Salmon, Idaho where at that time we didn’t have much TV, it was a pretty good way to keepContinue reading “When Will We Listen To The Silence Of Nature”

Welcome to the world of  home canning.  Water bath canning is the perfect place for a beginning canner to start. By the end of this article you’ll know how to water bath can many foods and pull out your canner and start with some simple projects.    Water bath canning is a method of foodContinue reading “Water Bath Canning ; Beginner Friendly Tips and Instruction”

Considering Hamburg chickens? The 16 things you must know first Breeds Hamburg chickens are wild, spirited, and, most notably, beautiful. These birds are active, full of energy, and love adventure. They love to forage, explore, and even like to fly. They also have an opinion on everything and make sure that you know it. AndContinue reading “Hamburg Chickens”

Meet rare and heritage chicken breeds. These are special kinds of chickens with old-time roots. Heritage chickens must live outside on grass to be real heritage birds. They are not just any old chicken; they’re like the superheroes of the poultry world because they can have babies naturally for many years. Heritage breeds are different fromContinue reading “Rare and Heritage Chicken Breeds: Preservation and Care”

Poultry that we breed 2024/2025 Barred Rock Barred Rock chickens are a heritage breed developed in New England. They are one of America’s oldest breeds. They are used mainly for egg production and lay around 250 brown eggs per year. These will most likely go broody and are great mothers. LIGHT BRAHMA Most hatchery Light Brahma’sContinue reading “Poultry 2024”

I’ll start out by talking about sweet potatoes it is a very desirable trait for the consumer or the home gardener to have a variety that keeps and stores well. We have some varieties that I have had in the basement for almost 2 years and they are still usable. That’s fantastic for the consumerContinue reading “When is a Desirable trait not so Desirable”

BySharon Peterson January 26, 2023 What foods DO require pressure canning? These directions are for pressure canning low-acid foods. This includes any meat and most vegetables, all of which must be pressure canned. What foods DON’T require pressure canning? Pickles, jam jelly, or fruits are all high-acid foods. If you are preserving these foods, you need toContinue reading “Pressure Canning: How to Can with a Pressure Canner”

If I could be granted just one wish before people ordered anything from us it would be that they understood what genetic diversity is. This “passion” “ job” whatever you want to call it that we have taken on requires many many hours of work. I love the work! Most days during the summer it’sContinue reading “Understanding Genetic Diversity”

November : Blue Slate Turkeys – $100 for the set. One hen. One Tom. 5-6 months old. Must go together. Baby chickens: Barred Rock, Black Sexlink, maybe one Black Australorp. Born October 1-2 of this year so now 6 weeks old and I can pick female from males. I also have: Lavender Orpington, Echequer Leghorn, cream legbar, Bielefelder,Continue reading “Shop: 2022”

Should I Buy Chicks from Breeders or Hatcheries? Should I buy chicks from breeders or hatcheries? As a homesteader, you may find yourself asking this question. Even if you haven’t asked yourself this question, it is a good question to consider when deciding where to source your homestead flock from. While both sources have theirContinue reading “Opinion: Should I buy from Breeders or Hatcheries?”

30 years of working on preservation and we finally have reached where we have all of our chickens, ducks and geese in better buildings with easier to work with facilities. When we started many breeds were disappearing rapidly and a choice had to be made between waiting for cash flow and build a suitable structureContinue reading “Constructing an Economical and Efficient Poultry Building”

Homemade feeds can work and at one point in my life worked well. Between my first and second years of college my parents moved to the warmest part of Idaho the Lewis-Clark Valley just south of the Palouse where peas, lentils, barley and spring wheat are farmed in large areas. I could get a feedContinue reading “Poultry Feeds #2”

Every year I judge between 6 and 10 4-H poultry shows for various counties in eastern Iowa. It is always a fun experience to interact with the youth and pass on what information that I can about specific breeds and tips on raising and showing. It is always good to help perpetuate an interest inContinue reading “Poultry Feeds #3”

020 marks 50 years that I have raised poultry. It all began in the Spring of 1970 with 4 small ducklings that I lost to a weasel at 6 weeks of age and then came a mixed breed very old bantam hen with several chicks and 3 old White Wyandotte hens. I wasn’t quite 9Continue reading “The Best Feed For Poultry: 50 years of Experiments Part I”

Credit: Glenn Downs (opinion article) When I started this operation back in 1988 the goal always was and always will be to not focus on profit but preservation and education. When Linda and I got married in 1993 we continued on the same path. We have always stuck to that goal even though it hasContinue reading “Year 2050: Where Have All the White egg Layers Gone”

Group of chicken on a farmyard in a village located in Mazowieckie Province of Poland Not long ago, most farms and households in the United States played host to at least a small flock of chickens. Chores such as collecting eggs and butchering birds were a part of daily life for all but the mostContinue reading “Backyard Heritage Chicken Breeds”

There are so many reasons to save seeds. You can save them to make sure you have the selection you want or to preserve a family heirloom. You might be inspired to save seeds as a budget measure, saving seeds and saving money at the same time. Working with a variety to select characteristics youContinue reading “Why You Should Save Seeds”

A strong dual purpose chicken, the Black Australorp is a fun heritage breed chicken to raise (and to say!). A good choice for both egg laying and meat production, this heritage poulty breed chicken traces its heritage to the Orpington, bred in the village of the same name in Kent by William Cook in theContinue reading “Black Australorp Chickens: Heritage Poultry Breeds”

Your flock could be the best source of meat, eggs, and homemade fertilizer for plants. by Adobestock/trongnguyen What are the benefits of raising chickens? In a word, poop! Learn how to put chicken manure as fertilizer to use in your garden.  Fresh, nutritious eggs and homegrown roast chicken dinners are reason enough to raise yourContinue reading “Benefits of Raising Chickens”

There are four main ways you can obtain chicks: from a mail-order hatchery (almost year-round), from a local farm store (mostly in spring), by placing fertile eggs in an incubator (anytime), or by placing fertile eggs under a hen that has “gone broody” (usually in spring). If you decide to order by mail, you canContinue reading “Raise Your Best Flock Using Broody Hens”

|Originally Published on May 1, 1970 1 / 2 An example of an anaerobic compost method, this type of compost pile should be turned every few weeks. Tangy red tomatoes, butter peas, crisp lettuce, sweet onions, corn on the cob, watermelon that drips off the chin and other succulent goodies … fresh from your ownContinue reading “An Introduction to Organic Garden Fertilizer and Compost”

HENS: Young hens: $10-15 24 months old and up: FREE ROOSTERS: Pure breed roosters that I hand raised are $5 each grown. For most breeds, I cannot tell they are a rooster until they are several months old. I do not breed or sell mixed roosters. EGGS: Eating eggs $1.00 per dozen. They are refrigeratedContinue reading “2018 Prices”

|Published on May 9, 2014 We have had a variety of heritage breed animals on our Ohio farm. We want to help save their genetics by raising them and their off-spring. Our lives are enriched not only by their presence, but also because of their produce.We currently have Dutch Belted cows, Narragansett turkeys, Dorking chickensContinue reading “Help to Preserve Rare Heritage Breeds”