Benefits of Elderberries for Chickensby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | January 30, 2024This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Elderberries are an ancient holistic remedy that were used by the Native Americans to help treat both internal and external health issues. But… did...

8 Most Cold Hardy Chicken Breedsby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | May 2, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. You know the saying, “gotta’ have the right tool for the job”. Well it’s the same logic when it comes to choosing chicken...

What is Cold Stress in Poultry?by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | January 2, 2024This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. What is cold stress in poultry? Cold stress is the response a chicken’s body has to staying warm in cold weather. It is...

Should I Insulate the Chicken Coop?by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | December 19, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. When it comes to winter chicken keeping, questions like, ‘should I heat the chicken coop?’, ‘does the coop need to be insulated?’, and...

The Deep Litter Method for the Chicken Coopby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | December 5, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. If you’ve been a northern homesteader for any length of time, you’re probably pretty familiar with the term ‘deep litter method’....

How to Prevent Marek’s Disease in Chickensby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | November 21, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Marek’s disease is a prevalent virus that commonly infects young and growing chicks but can also infect mature birds as well. This...

Feeding Chickens a Homestead Diet: Grain, Treats, & Supplementsby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | November 7, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Feeding chickens a homestead diet is a great way to raise your flock in a sustainable and frugal way! Each...

What is Marek’s Disease in Chickens?by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | October 24, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Marek’s disease a common but little known poultry disease. It can take on many shapes and forms, so it is often a confusing...

Chicken Poop Problems: The Scoop on Poopby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | October 10, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Yup, it’s a gross topic, but it is helpful to discuss chicken poop problems that you might encounter in the homestead flock....

What is Grit for Chickens?by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | September 26, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Did you know that chickens eat stones? That’s essentially what chicken grit it. Chicken’s need grit in their diet to aid digestion of other...

The Importance of Calcium for Laying Hensby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | September 12, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. The homestead flock needs to have a balanced and nutritious diet in order to stay healthy and productive. One of the most...

5 Tips to Vacation-Proof the Chicken Coopby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | August 29, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Maybe you are a modern pioneer who likes to travel (like me). Or you just need your homestead chicken coop to be...

8 Natural Supplements for Chickensby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | August 15, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Natural supplements can boost flock health, improve production and help prevent against disease and parasites. However, have you ever heard the saying “too much...

When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 25, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. While there are many reasons why you may choose to raise chickens on the homestead, one of the most beneficial additions chickens add...

How to Design a Chicken Coopby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 18, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. When building a homestead chicken coop, there are guidelines to keep in mind and there are also essentials that must be included. If...

What to do with an Aggressive Roosterby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 11, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Any rooster can be protective and assertive, so knowing how to deal with an aggressive rooster is important for raising a safe...

How to Prep a Chicken for a Poultry Showby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 5, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Poultry shows are actually significant to us as modern pioneer homesteaders. They encourage the maintenance and preservation of heritage chicken...

When to Remove Chicks from the Incubatorby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | June 27, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. If everything goes as planned during a hatch, you shouldn’t have a problem with knowing when to take the fluffy youngsters out...

How to Stop a Hen from Being Broodyby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | June 20, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. What causes your friendly, mischievous hen to turn into a lion in the nesting box!? Broodiness. A hen who has gone...

Broody Hen 101: Troubleshooting a Broody Henby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | June 13, 2023This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. A broody hen can be a great asset to the homestead flock! When a hen goes broody, she wants to set on...