Pros and Cons for Rosters.... Pros

              If you are considering having a rooster. Here is some food for thought! Roosters are great they are true protectors over the flock. If you don't have a big flock they always try to keep them, for the most part, together. He will keep a really protective eye on his girls. If he thinks you are a threat he will put himself in between you and his girls and always watch were you are. He will chase off any predators like a cat or a small dog. He will worn the others if there is some thing going on. What I think is amazing he will chase a hawk away when it swoops low to save his flock. He will basically sacrifice himself for the flock. (It's really sweet)  He will also make the girls eggs firtal for re-production. The hens will lay more when they have a rooster in sight. The reason for that is because they think they are laying for that reason.

What do I do when the hens stop laying?

This is similar to the unplanned rooster problem. Hens live up to 12 years, but only really produce eggs between six months old and two years old. Then their egg production usually drops significantly. If you want to keep the eggs coming you'll need new hens — and a plan for the old hens. We don't have the space or money for hens that aren't producing so ours go into the stew pot, though old laying hens are tough and must be cooked for a long time to be edible. This isn't something everyone is willing to do. You can also keep old hens and live with less eggs or find someone that will take them. It's a bad plan, however, to take them to shelters that have limited resources. Doing so gives chicken owners a bad rap.

Which chicken breed is right for you?

If you are having a hard time desiding which chicken breed is right for you just take the short quiz at this link and it can help you narrow down the many breeds in a mater of minutes!!! http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx

How do I know all the chicks I buy are hens?

When ordering chicks, you'll want to get pullets instead of straight run. Sexing of chicks is 90% accurate, so there is a chance that you may end up with a rooster. With the newfound popularity of backyard flocks, local animal shelters are now seeing an influx of roosters. As a responsible chicken owner you need to plan ahead: instead of dropping off unplanned roosters at the shelter or setting them free, find a farmer who is willing to take it or put it in a soup pot when it just begins to crow.

:)

Update!

I have been posting a lot on Facebook!!! The littlest chick died the black one super sad it was my favorite! I went to the chicken coop this morning to find a new chicken was there! Meet our newest addition!

The Health Benefits of Free-range Eggs [Part 2]

More Vitamin E

Vitamin E also protects cells by acting as an antioxidant, in addition to promoting healthy blood and circulatory system function. Free-range eggs contain more vitamin E than their conventional counterparts. The "Mother Earth News" survey found triple the vitamin E in the eggs they tested, and Pennsylvania State University research found double the vitamin E in the eggs of grass-fed hens.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fat known as "essential" fatty acids because the body cannot manufacture them on its own; you must consume them from food. Omega-3s are connected to heart health, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, and other potential health benefits such as decreased risk of diabetes, stroke, digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers and dementia. All three studies found higher amounts of omega-3s in free-range eggs versus conventional eggs. "Mother Earth News" reported the most modest differences, with the free-range eggs they tested containing only twice the omega-3s as conventional eggs, while the Penn State study found 2 1/2 times more. Free-range hens in the SARE study, however, produced eggs with four times the omega-3s as their