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Wanna know a bit more about me? Check out the About page. Why Bitchin’ Chickens? Here’s the backstory. Now that’sContinue Reading
Everything You Need To Know About Backyard Chickens & More

Adjective: remarkably good, cool, excellent. “Look at that bitchin’ rooster”
Verb: to express displeasure; grumble, “Quit yer bitchin’, I’ll be out of the nest box in a minute.”
Anyone who’s had chickens knows how fun they are. They’re beautiful, entertaining, have personalities of their own and are just plain bitchin’.
You also know that chickens like to talk. My hens can go on and on, complaining about who got to the favourite nest box first, who’s in the best roost bar spot, who’s grabbed the best treat first. Roosters get a bum rap about their crowing, but I think hands down hens do a lot more bitchin’.
I am someone who doesn’t have a lot of material wants. I’m happy with what I’ve got, not constantly yearningContinue Reading
Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is one of those old-world herbs that never quite got the fame it deserves. Known for itsContinue Reading
Eye enucleation is the surgical removal of the entire eyeball and associated tissues within the orbit. In chickens, this procedureContinue Reading
If you keep chickens for a while you’ll eventually deal with wound care. Chickens can get injured in a myriadContinue Reading
Chickens can fracture their legs in any number of ways: being stepped on (by horse, goat or human); experiencing aContinue Reading
The growth of a chick begins in the small fertilized area at the top of the yolk. A network ofContinue Reading
Molasses, the dark, sticky byproduct of sugar refining, has been a staple in livestock care for centuries. It’s sweet, mineral-rich,Continue Reading
When a chicken starts sneezing, rattling or has swelling around the eyes, the trouble often starts in an overlooked placeContinue Reading
I’m an educator by trade, experienced with curriculum development and public speaking. I’ve learned over the years that as muchContinue Reading
If there’s one herb that’s earned a solid reputation in the poultry world, it’s oregano (Origanum vulgare). Beyond being aContinue Reading
Many of of us probably first became aware of vitiligo when rumours speculated that the singer Michael Jackson was bleachingContinue Reading
Every so often, a chicken loses a foot or leg from frostbite, predator attacks, infection, or congenital deformity. For manyContinue Reading
There are a number of respiratory issues that affect chickens, some bacterial that can be treated with antibiotics, others viralContinue Reading
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) might be best known as a kitchen herb, but it’s also a powerful natural medicine that’s beenContinue Reading
I see the occasional post on Facebook chicken groups in which someone relates their symptoms of their illness and asksContinue Reading
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a micronutrient that is required for proper metabolism, nervous system function and antioxidantContinue Reading
Green Muscle Disease (Deep Pectoral Myopathy) is a degenerative condition affecting one of the two major muscles in a chicken’sContinue Reading
Keeping chickens as pets comes with joys and challenges, especially when caring for birds with disabilities. They can become disabledContinue Reading
Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS) is an infectious disease caused by a virus which mainly affects laying hens. The disease resultsContinue Reading
I’m a big proponent of small flock chicken keepers understanding an array of chicken illnesses and injuries in order toContinue Reading
Amprolium (Corid) is a widely used medication in poultry for the treatment and prevention of coccidiosis, a parasitic disease causedContinue Reading
Understanding your chickens’ digestive system will help you navigate any problems that might affect it. The crop is located on the rightContinue Reading
Borage (Borago officinalis) is more than just a striking addition to your garden. For backyard chicken keepers, this hardy annualContinue Reading
Air sacs are an essential part of a chicken’s respiratory system, but they’re very different from lungs. Chickens, like allContinue Reading
Pressure sores, or bedsores, are injuries to the skin and the tissue below the skin caused by pressure over aContinue Reading