For backyard chicken keepers
Happy hens, a sturdy coop, and fewer 2 a.m. worries.
Straight answers and honest gear picks for keeping a backyard flock healthy all year: winter care, parasites, flock drama and the coop itself.
Fresh from the coop
Latest guides
-
Putting a Healed Hen Back in the Flock: The Side-by-Side Method and When to Stop
Bringing a healed hen back and the flock gangs up on her? A ready-to-return check, the see-but-don’t-touch setup Extension recommends, night vs…
-
Feather Pecking at Your Wit’s End? A Tonight Triage and Decision Tree
Hens pecking each other bloody? Start with a tonight triage for the bleeding bird, rule out molt, mites, light and feed, then…
-
How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter Without a Heat Lamp
Most chickens don’t need a heat lamp. Here’s how to keep your flock warm in winter with dry bedding, smart ventilation, good…
-
Deworming Backyard Chickens Without Guessing: Scale, Fecal and the AquaSol Label Card
Dewormer math without guesswork: when a fecal test comes first, two ways to weigh backyard hens, and the Safe-Guard AquaSol label card…
-
The Best Heated Chicken Waterers for Winter (2026 Buying Guide)
Tired of chipping ice every morning? We compared 6 heated chicken waterers by capacity, wattage and cold rating so you can pick…
-
Chicken Mites vs Lice vs Red Mites: A Vent-Check Decision Tree and Tonight Plan
Feeling overwhelmed by mites? Use this vent-check decision tree to tell northern fowl mites, red mites, lice and scaly-leg mites apart, then…
Browse by topic
Where are you with your flock?
Pick the spot that fits.
A little about me
Hi, I’m Tracy.
I raised backyard chickens before a move to the city. Keeping Backyard Chickens is where I share what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently, so your flock gets the benefit.
Our Facebook community
Join 9,000+ chicken people on Facebook
Ask questions, share flock photos, and get seasonal reminders from fellow backyard keepers.
New here? Start with what matters this month.
Cold nights are coming. These are the guides readers ask about most right now.