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Florence requires licenses for backyard chickens under city rules
News

Florence requires licenses for backyard chickens under city rules

Florence makes backyard chickens a permit matter: the license is property-specific, non-transferable, and tied to city animal rules. That’s the checklist to copy before buying chicks.

Nina Kowalski4m read
How to stop chickens from eating eggs before the habit spreads
Analysis

How to stop chickens from eating eggs before the habit spreads

Egg eating spreads fast once a broken shell teaches one hen the trick. Catch the trigger early, collect more often, and fix the nest box before the whole flock copies it.

Jamie Taylor4m read
Why hens slow egg laying in winter, and how light helps
Analysis

Why hens slow egg laying in winter, and how light helps

Winter egg slowdowns usually come down to daylight, not a broken flock. A timer, an early-morning bulb, and a 14 to 16 hour target can help without wrecking rest.

Nina Kowalski3m read
How to compost chicken manure safely for healthier garden soil
Analysis

How to compost chicken manure safely for healthier garden soil

Raw chicken manure can burn plants and carry pathogens, but the right bedding mix, heat, and curing turn coop waste into garden-safe compost.

Sam Ortega4m read
Westminster considers rule change to allow more backyard chickens
Updates

Westminster considers rule change to allow more backyard chickens

Westminster may raise backyard flock limits from 6 hens on most lots to as many as 30 on 1-acre-plus parcels, while permits and coop rules stay in place.

Jamie Taylor2m read
How to keep backyard chicken eggs safe from Salmonella
Analysis

How to keep backyard chicken eggs safe from Salmonella

Backyard eggs can be safe, but only if you collect fast, refrigerate at 40°F, and cook them thoroughly. Salmonella can live on shells or inside eggs before laying.

Jamie Taylor4m read
What to know before bringing home backyard chickens
Analysis

What to know before bringing home backyard chickens

Before you buy chicks, test the lot, the rules, and the budget: most flocks need only a few hens, but space, noise, and upkeep decide whether the coop works.

Nina Kowalski4m read
NC State guide helps North Carolina homeowners keep backyard chickens
Analysis

NC State guide helps North Carolina homeowners keep backyard chickens

North Carolina hens can bring eggs and garden fertilizer, but NC State’s guide starts with the hard part: rules, housing, and daily care.

Nina Kowalski4m read
Cary explains backyard chicken rules for R-40 and R-80 homeowners
Analysis

Cary explains backyard chicken rules for R-40 and R-80 homeowners

Cary lets hens in R-40 and R-80 without a permit, but your lot, coop, and subdivision covenants can still make or break the plan.

Sam Ortega5m read
Burlington asks residents whether backyard chickens should be allowed
Updates

Burlington asks residents whether backyard chickens should be allowed

Burlington still bans fowl inside city limits, but council is reconsidering the rule and asking residents to weigh in on backyard hens.

Jamie Taylor2m read
Connor Boyack slams city rules restricting backyard chickens
Analysis

Connor Boyack slams city rules restricting backyard chickens

Connor Boyack blasted permit-heavy chicken rules, as Baltimore County charges $33, Maryland requires registration, and other cities take very different approaches.

Sam Ortega2m read
Winter coop care tips to prevent frostbite and frozen waterers
Analysis

Winter coop care tips to prevent frostbite and frozen waterers

Sealing the coop too tight can do more harm than a cold snap. The fix is dry bedding, steady water, and ventilation that blocks wind without trapping moisture.

Nina Kowalski4m read
Why chickens need to forage, scratch, and peck every day
Analysis

Why chickens need to forage, scratch, and peck every day

A chicken that stops scratching, dust-bathing, or roosting normally is usually telling you something about the coop. Small setup changes often fix the problem fast.

Jamie Taylor5m read
How to spot and stop backyard chicken parasites before they spread
Analysis

How to spot and stop backyard chicken parasites before they spread

Tiny mites and lice can tank egg output before you notice them. The fastest fix is to read the signs, hit the coop as hard as the birds, and recheck in days.

Nina Kowalski4m read
How to hatch chicks at home with healthy eggs and proper storage
Analysis

How to hatch chicks at home with healthy eggs and proper storage

The hatch starts before the incubator does: the right eggs, cool storage, and a steady 21-day setup decide whether chicks live.

Nina Kowalski4m read
North Attleborough advances zoning update to allow backyard chickens in all homes
Updates

North Attleborough advances zoning update to allow backyard chickens in all homes

North Attleborough moved backyard chickens into the zoning code, opening all residential zones to hens with annual licenses, inspections and district flock limits.

Nina Kowalski2m read
How to spot cold stress and frostbite in backyard chickens
Analysis

How to spot cold stress and frostbite in backyard chickens

Cold stress often starts with moisture, not temperature. Watch for puffed feathers, huddling, and one-foot stands, then fix ventilation, bedding, and roosts before frostbite sets in.

Nina Kowalski4m read
Paxton debates backyard chicken rules as draft draws pushback
Updates

Paxton debates backyard chicken rules as draft draws pushback

Paxton aldermen are weighing whether hen permits, setbacks and a six- to eight-bird cap will make backyard chickens workable. The draft is drawing pushback as too cumbersome.

Nina Kowalski2m read
Rapid City offers chicken classes after new backyard hens ordinance
Community

Rapid City offers chicken classes after new backyard hens ordinance

Rapid City paired its new hens ordinance with two hands-on classes, teaching coop basics, chick care and bird health before a flock ever lands in the backyard.

Jamie Taylor2m read
Match chicken feed to each hen’s life stage
Analysis

Match chicken feed to each hen’s life stage

Most feeding mistakes start with the wrong bag at the wrong age. Match starter, grower, and layer feed to the bird’s stage, then add oyster shell, grit, and water at the right time.

Sam Ortega5m read
Why your hens stopped laying, 7 common causes to check
Analysis

Why your hens stopped laying, 7 common causes to check

A laying pause is often normal, but the fix depends on the cause. Start with daylight, then work down to molt, age, stress, feed, broodiness, and illness.

Sam Ortega6m read
University of Minnesota guide helps backyard chicken keepers plan for eggs
Analysis

University of Minnesota guide helps backyard chicken keepers plan for eggs

Eggs can be rewarding, but UMN’s guide says the real decision starts with zoning, feed bills, coop plans, and whether your birds match your space.

Jamie Taylor5m read
Airdrie backyard hen permit appeal set for July 30, 2026
Updates

Airdrie backyard hen permit appeal set for July 30, 2026

Two appeals have put Airdrie’s backyard hen rules under fresh scrutiny ahead of a July 30 hearing, with neighbors arguing the proposed flock could bring odors, pests and property impacts.

Jamie Taylor2m read
How to handle backyard eggs safely, according to Penn State and USDA
Analysis

How to handle backyard eggs safely, according to Penn State and USDA

Home eggs are only as safe as the way you collect, wash, chill, and store them, and the bloom is doing more work than many keepers realize.

Nina Kowalski4m read
MSN guide shows beginners how to build an easy chicken coop
Analysis

MSN guide shows beginners how to build an easy chicken coop

MSN’s beginner coop walkthrough lands on the real question: how to build a secure, easy-to-live-with coop without wasting money on extras that don’t matter.

Jamie Taylor4m read
How to size a chicken coop for healthier, safer hens
Analysis

How to size a chicken coop for healthier, safer hens

The best coop is the one that stops crowding, drafts, and predator gaps before they start. Size it for your flock, your winter routine, and your cleaning habits.

Sam Ortega6m read
Tractor Supply chicken coops can work, but only with upgrades
Analysis

Tractor Supply chicken coops can work, but only with upgrades

A Tractor Supply coop can be a workable starter, but the real cost shows up in hardware cloth, airflow, space, and predator-proofing.

Nina Kowalski5m read
Extension guide helps backyard chicken keepers design safer coops
Analysis

Extension guide helps backyard chicken keepers design safer coops

The smartest coop is not the fanciest one. It is the one that makes chores easier, blocks predators, and keeps birds and neighbors out of trouble.

Nina Kowalski5m read
Penn State course teaches backyard poultry basics for new flock keepers
Analysis

Penn State course teaches backyard poultry basics for new flock keepers

Penn State's backyard poultry course works like a pre-purchase checklist, pushing you to size housing, budget, and biosecurity before the first chicks arrive.

Sam Ortega5m read