Author: Tanner Barnsley
Tanner Barnsley is the pen name on Chicken Rise's backyard chicken guides: what is safe to feed a flock, breeds, coops and chicks. Chicken Rise is written by a small team under pen names; we are not vets, and if a bird is unwell, call an avian vet.
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Can Chickens Eat Goji Berries? Yes, as a Treat, Not the Leaves
Ripe goji berries are a fine hen treat, at most about two tablespoons dried a day, all treats counted. Keep your hens…
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How to Raise Worms for Chickens: A Closed Bin, Not the Yard
Raise red wigglers in a lidded bin on kitchen scraps, never chicken droppings: yard earthworms carry gapeworm and cecal worm larvae for…
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Can Chickens Eat Comfrey? I’d Keep It in the Compost
Comfrey carries liver toxins, and the damage builds slowly. Keep it in the compost, and here’s what to do if your hens…
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What Not to Feed Chickens: The Short List the Vet Books Back
What not to feed chickens: moldy feed, salt, raw beans, green potatoes, avocado, chocolate, and the yard’s lead paint and antifreeze.
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Can Chickens Eat Fresh Yarrow? A Nibble, and Watch for Hemlock
A nibble is fine for a healthy hen, counted as a treat. Pick only yarrow you planted, because poison hemlock and water…
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Can Chickens Eat Lobster Shells? Yes, but Pull the Green Stuff First
Yes, but scrape out the green tomalley first and rinse off the salt. Dried lobster shell is fine for laying hens as…
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Can Chickens Eat Loquats? Yes, the Ripe Flesh, Not the Seeds
Ripe, peeled loquat flesh is a fine small treat for hens, but the seeds and leaves carry amygdalin. How much a hen…
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Do Chickens Eat Duckweed? Yes, but Mind the Pond
Chickens eat duckweed and go for it first. But it’s 92 to 95% water, and the pond it comes from matters more…
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Can Chickens Eat Honey Wheat Bread? Yes, in Small Plain Bites
Yes, your hens can eat honey wheat bread. Keep it plain and fresh, and tear it into small pieces. It’s a treat,…
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Buff Orpington Rooster vs Hen: Color Won’t Tell You, Shape Will
Buff Orpington rooster vs hen: every chick hatches alike. Combs show from 4 to 6 weeks, saddle feathers by 10 to 18.…
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Rhode Island Red Rooster vs Hen: How to Tell Them Apart, Week by Week
Rhode Island Red rooster vs hen: the comb shows first, from 4 to 6 weeks, and saddle feathers settle it by about…
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Can Chickens Eat Lovage? A Few Leaves From a Plant You Know
Yes, a few leaves from a plant you know is lovage. Keep the seed heads and roots away, and never feed wild…
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Do Chickens Eat Duck Eggs? Yes, and Prevention Beats a Cure
Yes, and it’s usually about the habit, not the duck egg. Keep eggs from breaking, collect them early, and look for the…
