At the end of January you might start seeing signs at the local farm store about "Chick Days" ahead. By February, the stores will be clamoring with the sounds of a thousand peeps. If you've got chick fever and want to get started with a flock of chickens, now is a great time, with record inflation and prices on meat and eggs going ever up and up. But it can be overwhelming, due to all the breed choices, My husband and I have enjoyed raising backyard birds for thireteen years, and are looking Continue Reading
More Than 300 Great Name Ideas for Your New Pet
When it comes to pet names, anything goes. That being said, the ones that seem to work best are (1) easy to pronounce and (2) not too obscure. And more importantly, you want it to be a great fit! Here's a list of names I've come up with based on things like color, theme and personality. Have fun naming! Mischievous/Adventurous Astro Arizona Indiana Rascal Bandit Gambit Flash Sneak Jackal Jester Loki Minx Maven Trixie Pixie Sprite Pan Pancho Poppins Puck El Continue Reading
5 Ways to Give Your New Pet a Healthy Start
Ask any new pet owners what they wish for their new buddy and "good health" or "long life" will probably be at the top. And it's important to remember that health is about more than just diet and activity but encompasses your pet's overall wellbeing and happiness. Here are five ways to give your new cat or dog the best possible start in life! Be very hands on. Watch a mama cat or dog with her litter and you'll see how much touch and interaction goes on among them all. There's pushing, Continue Reading
Festive Christmas Name Ideas for Your New Pet
Did you get a new pet this December? Just like Santa Claus, I've been making a list, but this one is full of Christmas-themed name ideas! Nature Aspen Blizzard Chestnut Cranberry Flurry Holly Ivy Icy Jack Frost Juniper Garland Mistletoe Moose Star Nutmeg Plum Poinsettia Polar Winter Christmas Characters Angel Emmanuel Nick Nicholas Joseph Frosty Kris Kringle Lucia Rudolph or Continue Reading
Free Range Chickens: Yes or No?
Is it better to free range your backyard chickens, or keep them secure in a coop or cage? When we first started raising our poultry twelve years ago, it was free range all the way. We discovered there are both benefits and drawbacks to that, so here's the rundown in case you are on the fence about your birds. Free Range Chickens - The Advantages Less Feed: One of the most obvious advantages to letting your birds range is a free supply of bugs. That means you'll spend less on poultry food. The Continue Reading