A recent study shows that feeding hops to chickens could prevent pathogenic bacteria from taking over in your chicken's gut. Apparently the bitter acid Lupulone, which is found in hops flowers, shows to be a viable option to antibiotic treatment for chickens.

From Grit.com:  read more »

Mark found a really great post over on BoingBoing about roosters that have unusually long crows. The video post is short and worth watching. Follow this link.

Does anyone out there have one of these long crowing breeds? They are pretty unique.

Happy Holidays!

Entertain in style this holiday season with your fresh chicken eggs. But don't just serve them in food, be sure to include egg in your holiday libations as well.

Here are some recipes to try:  read more »

This week/month in chickens:

• Missoula, Montana just celebrated it's 1 year anniversary of legalized chicken keeping. Has it been a success? Find out here.
• Chicken keeping up for debate in Cleveland, with new regulations on the table. (I am from the area originally, and I am currently visiting for 2 weeks! Glad to see support for chickens in my old stomping ground.)
   read more »

I was contacted today by Andy Schneider, the chicken whisperer from Atlanta. Here are some of the details on this chicken keeping guru:  read more »

Want to learn about winterizing you coop, winter poultry diseases, or proper coop ventilation? If you live in or near the State of Delaware, then you are in luck. These topics and more will be presented in both Kent and Newcastle counties this December at the Small Flock Education Series, organized by Dr. Brigid McCrea, small flock speacialist at Delaware State University.  read more »

Be sure to check out The New Coop de Ville: The Craze for Urban Poultry Farming over at Newsweek.com. The article is well done - Jessica Bennett really did her research on the topic (and she interviewed us as well).
That's all I have time to write today!

We've had a huge rush of emails lately from people who are trying to get their city's ordinances changed. Keep them coming - and here is how we can help.

I wrote a research paper on urban chicken ordinances for a class last semester, which many have found helpful. The paper is an evaluation of chicken ordinances from 25 cities around the US, which draws out the common themes and exceptions found in the ordinances. The paper is attached below as a pdf.  read more »

Backyard chickens were recently legalized in Brainerd Minnesota. Yeah!

Here is the breakdown with my comments:  read more »

This week in the world of chickens...

• Countdown to State College chicken ordinance decision, vote to happen on the 20th of October.
• City dwellers flock to raising urban chickens. (Great article- and we are quoted in it!)
• Thomas K's picks: Top 9 books for newbie chicken keepers.
 read more »