Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
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Charles Russell
Charlie. Char-Lee. Choch. Wee-Wee.
Rest in Peace Buddy.
You were 8 weeks and I was 36 when Dennis very specifically picked you ‘for his soft eyes’.
He said your job was to keep me safe. To keep an eye on me when we moved to Weed in 2010.
Good job Buddy, You did a good job.
14 years of you by my side: 24/7/365.
Always watching me. Right there. Steps away. Always in sight. Me always watching you too - those soft and joyful eyes.
Nothing is the same.
The house is empty.
Meals are silent.
Nights are seemingly unbearable.
You are everywhere and no where simultaneously. Your absence echoes. There isn’t a space you hadn’t reached.
We hear your footsteps on the flooring, your scratch at the front door, the thud when you land on the bathroom rug, the snarky snap of the lid to your dog feeder alerting us you want to be fed now or I’m behind schedule. The way your paws landed on the bench at the foot of the bed to assist you to getting up. The soft breath of air I felt (and smelt) on the pillows we shared. You are Everywhere.
My car is meaningless now. Sure, it’s a car and it has purpose and it functions. But, I bought it so we could road trip, so you would have additional room to stretch out and be comfortable. So you could roll dawn alllll the windows. Your muddy paw prints from the park on Thursday have dried on the middle seats.
I’ll keep rolling down the windows in your honor to take the sting out of the obviousness of your absence. The wind helps.
The shop is hollow. I’ve been avoiding the UPS and USPS drivers, neighbors. I don’t know how to tell them. You were The Mayor around there. It was your territory and you monitored it closely, sauntering the pathways and along the grass at your leisure: sniffing, marking, pooping on Sidney’s coveted and manicured grass. You always looked at me strangely when I picked up your turds, always.
My office is vacant. Your water bowl has dried up. What the fuck am I going to do with your gorgeous Balinese wood bed? I must have X-ray vision because I see you there too.
There are balls, squeaky toys, numerous beds, a variety of blankets, pillows, food dishes, food, multiple ramps, gates, various leashes, collars, several vests, shoes for winter, lots of things for summer, a life vest, sleeping medications from the vet, bottles, jars, tinctures and supplements from holistic practitioners to keep you in precisely tip-top shape.
The obvious next best move, in my mind, is to have it all bronzed, shellacked, encased, mounted and displayed on the largest wall in the living room (with museum quality lights), lit up like the Hollywood sign because these things are important. They are precious. Yours. I carefully selected it all to suit your needs and wrap you in safety.
It was early and whatever happened we will never really know but it was your time and you knew it. Thank you for coming to us, letting us know, waking me up and alerting me that you needed help.
Your pain was unbearable to us too. My soul cracks open and I can not speak when I recount those moments.
Dennis, cautiously, ran red lights and broke speed limits on empty backroads and the 101. Your heavy body in my lap as I sang our special version of You are My Sunshine, rubbing your little white forehead wrinkle and letting you know it was okay to go while silently begging you to stay - knowing your body had endured too too much and you needed to go bhut were holding on.
If there was anything that could have been done to keep you here I would have done it, anything. No matter what. We would have done it.
We buried you in the field, along the lane, your purple glow necklace activated so you could always see and find your way home. Of course, I’ll design a fabulous monument, mosuleum style, Liberace-like because it feels appropriate to honor the excellence of your sweet, sweet soul in grand proportion.
Charles Russell you lived, I mean you really lived, happily, with enthusiasm and joy that made every day a damn delight.
The trails we hiked, paths we walked, lakes and rivers we paddled. Me always behind you and you trotting back to heeler me behind the knee to hurry it up. The roads we drove. And our final epic journey to Baja for the holidays. All of it: so much fun. Joyful. Thank you for showing me that there is bliss and sheer happiness in the little things.
We are going to love you for the rest our lives.
You were such a good boy.
Dell was right when he said you were a Champion.
Until we meet again.
09-09-2009 to 01-26-2024
✨💔✨
🤍🖤🤍
]]>I usto think I would just run out to the coop, feed the ladies, flip the water, toss out some treats and be back in the confines of my cozy house in 5 minutes flat, or less which, I think is faster than most ambulances, isn’t it?
But here’s the thing.
It Never Worked out as I planned ….never 5 minutes.
Why?
For starters, I’d run out in clothes that were/are inappropriate for being out in the cold, wet, mud, rain [insert your weather situation here]. Because I’m usually in my home wearing something cozy and comfortable my “just going to run out to the coop real quick” looked like this:
a tank top/t-shirt or other inside/summer apparel
thin yoga pants or capri pajama bottoms,
flip flops or open toe Birkenstocks,
and then I’d throw on a sweatshirt or zip up a hoodie and dash out.
IMMEDIATELY my feet were cold and usually got wet, which I hated. Then I’d be bumping into and brisking past the foliage in and around my coop which would splash me with a fan of cold water droplets. And, now, mad + wet and miserable – I’m about 21 seconds into my 5 minute jaunt in a bigger hurry and frustrated. Lawd, help my husband if he happens to inquire as to what’s for dinner when I get back inside!
Are you with me?
Here’s what I’ve done to switch it up:
When I know I’m going outside to do what I consider to be chicken chores (put them up, let them out, collect eggs, clean the coop, etc) I have the following things at the ready, by the door, with no exception.
Armored up with 1-5 above I’m able to go out in my comfy clothes and be bundled and protected from the elements.
Just think how much more pleasant it can and will be when you go out into the crappy world and are prepared for it.
Colder weather folks are probably wearing gloves too.
Next up:
HANDY CHICKEN COOP THINGS for shitty winter weather.
For the outside: I have purchased three sets of these. Zero batteries needed. One points at the front of my coop. The other is at the back of my coop and it shines brightly on the rear gate when it detects any activity. We have them all over our property and I took one to Baja with me: totally reliable, solar, functional and EASY to set up and use.
Now for inside: I keep the following things in my storage area and have found them helpful to have on hand during winter :
In closing…when on a plane they tell us to put on our oxygen mask first don't they? I know fully understand it applies to chicken coop chores too! Get comfortable, bundle up, make sure you can see what the heck you are doing and then get out there and do the thing.
Happy winter.
Or
....at least try these things and then see if you can be happy with your chicken keeping chores during winter.
All my best, Dawn
]]>There's a lot to cover so I’m going to do my best to keep it short and concise, but please know that I’m available with any questions that you may have.
First up: END OF YEAR IMPORTANT DATES you’ll want to know. Above is a chart with the End of Year Updates that pertain to Subscriptions, Online Ordering, and a much-needed End of Year closure. You’ll also see the date when I throw open the doors, dust off the tables and get back at it again with newfound energy, and enthusiasm. (about that End of Year closure….if you’re interested follow me on Instagram as I’ll be sharing bits of my solo migration down to Baja in search of warm sunshine, sand, tacos and turquoise waters.) More on that later.
ONWARD: Treats for Chickens Subscriptions are changing.
It has always been my intention that my VIP (very important peeps) Subscription Customers would have first pick and priority on our truly premium, Certified Organic and Non-Gmo, healthy treats, herbs, supplements and problem-solving solutions for your beloved flock members. And, in the last several years that hasn’t worked out as planned.
And, that my friend is changing.
Beginning in December all Subscriptions will ship the first full week of each month. This will ensure Subscribers really do have first priority on products they want while continuing to save 20% on each Subscription order. Each month Subscription orders will process and ship the first full week of the month.
On our end we’ll be able to look ahead, eliminating unexpected shortages and ensure our inventory and supplies are stocked and available to committed Subscribers.
As a customer who Subscribes to auto-shipments, (a VIP), you will have access to a small private group in Facebook (The Coop at Treats for Chickens) where you can share about your chickens, connect with other community members, post egg recipes, have first access to seasonal products, get tips + general keeping info as be first to know about (and have access to savings on) trips and adventures with yours truly. I’ll be adding fun things to the private group like a monthly coop cleaning playlist and other spontaneous things I think of too.
To my regular, one-time order folks: you’re important too! Your orders will be processed as usual, full priced, leaving our warehouse typically 2-4 days from the date your order is received. I’d love to see you in The Coop though. Join if you are able.
IMPORTANT DETAILS about Subscriptions and how to stay in the loop.
In closing: THANK YOU. Your business, your loyalty, that you shop with your dollars and love your chickens the way you do is the heartbeat of this company. Of course, I’m available with questions - please reach out.
Many thanks and all my best: Dawn, Treats for Chickens
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If I had a brick and mortar store I would have in-person events and we could do cool stuff together. Explore, paddle board, hike, hang around the firepit in my yard orrrr an open range campfire. Certainly we'd talk chickens and life. And, experience life outside it's 9-5 busy-ness.
Well, I’m doing a thing.
Let’s meet.
Let’s hang.
I have partnered with Trova Trips. They are going to take care of destination logistics and the agenda. We just show up and experience the journey.
We’ll also have a fun loving, good natured, local guide to show us around. So, wondering where to eat or what fabulous sights to see won’t be an issue. We will be submersing ourselves into culture, exploring, learning new perspectives and it’ll be done while staying in safe, clean and tidy hotels (or maybe in a yurt or glamping tent orrrrr maybe alongside camels in Morocco? Maybe.) You with me?
Certainly we can travel mainland, USA - Alaska anyone?
But, seriously...what about Indonesia: the floating markets, making our way through Bangkok in tuk-tuks. Exploring ruins, riding rickshaws and digging our hands in the dirt at an organic farm – for our dinner. Traveling through the night on a sleeper train and awake among temples and palaces while dining on tasty cuisine.
Or maybe you can see yourself in Morocco, India, Turkey, Bali, Vietnam……..Japan anyone?
To be honest, the destinations are really quite limitless and I'm curious to learn about the places you've dreamed of travelling to. The corners of the world that have felt too far away, out of reach or perhaps you've felt "not possible" without a travel buddy or a solid, safe plan of getting there, being there and returning home in one piece.
Of course, there will be details attached to each journey and those will get flushed out, so it is crystal clear. The first step is to click here and fill out a 4-5 minute questionnaire. Complete the questionnaire and you’ll be entered to win a big bag of Nesting Box Blend. (IMPORTANT: email me at dawn[at]treatsforchickens.com so I can make sure you are included in the drawing)
The form consists of 13 questions, and many are multiple choice/click. I sense it will be a throwback to a high school World Geography class as there’s an extensive list of locations and destinations all neatly organized in an alphabetic fashion.
Why all the questions? Well, it'll help me gauge your:
Don’t worry - filling out the questionnaire does NOT obligate you to do, go or take part in anything.
And, of course I'm at the ready with tips and know-how on how-to set your coop, chickens and chicken sitter up for success if you do decide to fly the coop with me and other like-minded, fabulous folks.
Let’s meet.
Let’s do this!
Don't even think twice. What you do next matters.
All the best,
Dawn
]]>Here at Treats for Chickens we think we do a pretty good job at packaging up your orders and getting them into the trusty hands of the delivery folks that micro-manage your shipment all the way on down the road and to your doorstep. And, mostly it's a timely process.
Until recently.
The surge of lost, stolen and damaged packages has been costly for both of us. And, it takes time. Which sucks.
And, it costs extra money. Which also sucks.
And, your chickens have to wait longer to get their Crack....and we know we need to stop the madness right there. Enough is enough, right?
Not to mention it was grating on my nerves and creating a customer service two-thumbs down, way down, situation.
The time it takes to get results with carrier claims when a package is "in transit" ....for an extended period of time (when you and I both know that it's frigghin lost) but systems are systems and Policy says that until the package is duly determined to absolutely be "lost" ...then, it isn't lost and we need to patiently wait.
Waiting on a package is like watching the snow melt in winter. It takes forever, is boring and I don't want to do it.
Alas, I have a solution.
We now offer a delivery guarantee with shipping protection. This protection means we will replace your shipment in the event it's lost, stolen or damaged in transit. The coverage costs are pennies on the dollar and the process for claims is efficient and simple.
Remove the headache and hassle with our Shipping Protection - without it we no longer replace shipments when they are lost, stolen or damaged during transit.
- Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Can we kelp you in another way? For more information about domestic fowls, visit the Treats for Chickens blog, cluck HERE.
Hungry for more feathered friend wellness? Of course, you are, because your flock deserves eggs (cellent) treat (ment). For fabulous and healthy egg laying hens, Treats for Chickens recommends certified organic supplement: Cluck’n Sea Kelp™
]]>
Hi friend and fellow chicken parent.
I write to remind you that every year Cluck Bucks expire at the stroke of midnight on December 31. But, this year we are doing things differently.
This year, the time has come and 2022 Cluck Bucks will expire, fly the coop and the whole program will retire December 31st at 11 PM CA time.
And when I say “program” I mean the most incorrigible system ever.
Our Cluck Bucks system has not been functioning properly – for some time, as you know, and I apologize for any confusion and hassle of which I know there was so, so, much confusion and hassle.
Rarely, did we hear about its ease, grace or that it was a user-friendly service. The dashboard that you logged into was clunky, if you were able to login. The backend record keeping was a mess and was not compatible with other well-oiled features and apps running on our website. We tried and tried to triage her to be simpler but we always found ourselves struggling with inconsistencies and incurable errors.
And, so with the new year, new beginnings: we take a break.
What’s next: well that is “to be determined” with a launch date of undetermined. This is just the truth.
It was my hope to say (by now) that we have a new, robust, high-functioning program to better serve you, my loyal customer and feathered flock parent, but that’s not the case. We have not found a program that accomplishes what we need and require. And, if you’ve ever called into the office and spoken with Jocoya you know she is kind, determined and leaves no stone unturned. Her continuous search to learn and unearth a new/proposed loyalty app has turned up the same inconsistencies. Which is total rubbish and we can't keep kicking the can down the road so to speak.
So, for now we retire the program and see what happens. I believe in the woo* and when one door closes.......another must open even if it's just a window with a great view.
For now, thank you for putting up with the most difficult loyalty program on the entire system of the innerwebs.
We still offer our Subscribe + Save program which is a pretty fluffy discount of 20% off per order. CLUCK HERE for details and info.
Wishing you all the best as 2022 turns into the season of the MOST and the New Year begins fresh and bright in 2023.
To health + happiness,
Dawn
*woo: a belief in fun, magic, light hearted, spiritual, soulful things that you can't always see bhuut you shure can feel.
12/1/2022
]]>If you’re scrambling for chicken eggs, searching high and low at the supermarkets, there is no need to look further because to crack the case of the missing eggs — the answer lies in a nationwide egg shortage.
Maybe recently you came across an article or two with the titles like “What's causing the dramatic increase in egg prices?”, “Why eggs are becoming more expensive,” or “Avian flu causes nationwide egg shortage,” which all of them discuss this un-egg-pected price surge to one of America’s essential foods- eggs. Yes, everything is more expensive, but the price of eggs has shocked many of us. Chicken egg prices have been stable for the past four decades as supply and demand have been in sync. But with severe bird flu outbreaks, inflation, and supply chain issues (like the increased cost of diesel gas and a decreased workforce) have changed the norm. With today’s egg prices more than ever, fellow chicken keepers are making efforts to become more self-sufficient.
For many chicken keepers, raising chickens is much more than keeping chickens for egg laying purposes. They are our pets and our friends. Bhuttt, you must admit that grabbing a basket and walking out to your chicken coop to collect fresh eggs from your flock feels pretty gooddd. We feel a sense of pride in our flock and a sense of accomplishment in providing nutritious food on the table (or, as the trendy kids say, “Farm-to-Table”).
In order to regularly collect a full egg basket, you need to select the right chicken breed, for certain breeds excel in egg laying. And as January is the month to start thinking about what chicken breed to get- in preparation for Chick Season- now is the best time to research.
Ahnnd, if chicken eggs are your top priority to dodge store-bought egg prices, here are The Top 6 Best Egg Laying Breeds For Egg Production. P.S. Some of these breeds (Australorps, Golden Comet, Leghorn, Lohmann Brown, and Rhode Island Red) will sound familiar from other Treats for Chickens’ chicken breeds or egg layer breeds blogs…
Austra White
Austra White chickens are a hybrid chicken breed created from crossing black Australorps and white Leghorns. Compared to their purebred relatives, the white Leghorn (and their fickle disposition), the Austra Whites have a calm, docile personality. Which puts you at ease in collecting eggs for the household.
Eggs Per Year: 250+ Egg Size: Large Egg Color: White
Australorps
Australorps are a heritage, dual-purpose chicken breed that can be raised for egg production. The hens of heritage chicken breeds, such as the Australorps, have a longer productive lifespan. Australorps are as calm and gentle as chicken breeds come. Most hens from this breed will be docile, relaxed, and relatively tame chickens, which are great for young chicken keepers.
Eggs Per Year: 250+ Egg Size: Large Egg Color: Dark salmon pink to light brown
What would you like to learn more about the Australorps chicken breed? Cluck here.
Golden Comet
Golden Comet chickens are a widespread hybrid chicken breed and bred by mating a White Rock hen and a New Hampshire Red rooster. This combination results in sex-linked chicks, which can be sexed as soon as they hatch based on their plumage’s color. Golden Comets also mature quickly and start laying earlier than many purebred chicken breeds- as early as 16 weeks. Golden Comets are a pretty laid-back chicken breed.
Eggs Per Year: 250-300 Egg Size: Large Egg Color: Brown
Leghorn
Leghorn chickens are one of the most well-known purebred chicken breeds (probably thanks to cartoons and commercials) and are egg -cellent layers. Leghorns come in widely recognized varieties, from the Blue to the Cuckoo; but, the white Leghorn is by far the most popular and is the best egg laying variety. White leghorns are a standard breed used by the commercial egg industry for producing white eggs. Whites are said to be nervous, but some say their White Leghorns have been the sweetest, primarily tame.
Eggs Per Year: 200-280 Egg Size: Medium to large Egg Color: White
What to learn more about the 5 Best White Egg Laying Chicken Breeds? Cluck here.
Lohmann Brown
Lohmann Brown chickens are a hybrid breed of chicken that originates from Germany. The breed was developed by crossing Rhode Island Red chickens or New Hampshire Red chickens with White Rock chickens. The result was a prolific, brown egg laying breed of chicken. Lohmann Brown chickens mature quickly and start laying as soon as 21 weeks. Not only do they lay an incredible amount of eggs, but their friendly temperament makes them suitable around children and other chickens!
Eggs Per Year: 320+ Egg Size: Large Egg Color: Brown
Rhode Island Red
Rhode Island Red chickens are a heritage chicken breed known for creating many commercial hybrid chicken breeds thanks to their natural egg production. Not only are Rhode Island Red hens good layers, but these hens have a longer productive lifespan than many hybrid chicken breeds. Rhode Island Red hens are spirited girls- loud and high energy!
Eggs Per Year: 150-250 Egg Size: Large Egg Color: Brown
What to learn more about the 5 Best Brown Egg Laying Chicken Breeds? Cluck here.
Now, you probably noticed that I keep mentioning the terms "hybrid chicken" and "heritage (purebred) chicken." Thus, you are probably also asking, "Which one is better for egg production? A hybrid chicken breed or a heritage chicken breed?"
This depends on what you are looking for. Many hybrid chicken breeds (not just those listed above) have been designed for optimal egg output. Hybrid chicken breeds have been developed to outperform their heritage, purebred ancestors. However, hybrids only lay well for the first one to two years of their life. Whereas, purebred chickens have better genetics because they have both a longer productive lifespan and a longer lifespan in general (as well as being less disease prone). Let me know in the comments section if you want a blog on the pros or cons of hybrid chicken breeds or a hybrid vs heritage chickens blog. I can scramble something up for you.
A little Chicken Care for the Winter reminder. If you’re a backyard chicken keeper with one of the listed egg laying breeds (Austria White chickens, Australorps chickens, Golden Comet chickens, Leghorn chickens, Lohmann Brown chickens, or Rhode Island Red chickens), but notice that egg production has slowed down during the winter, fret not. One of the reasons (not the only reason) could be the lack of light. A chicken’s egg production slows depending on how much light they get during the day. If you want to encourage egg production, you must provide a light source (not a heat lamp) to ensure your chickens get between 12 to 16 hours of light daily. I also recommend a good source of calcium and phosphorus for eggshell formation in laying hens. This can be found in Treats for Chickens' oyster shells and sea kelp meal, or better yet, in a Need A Little Extra Bundle.
Whether you want a daily supply of fresh eggs instead of skyrocketing-priced eggs from the store or start your own chicken egg vending machine business (like Sonoma County’s Wise Acre Farm), these chicken breeds are the top egg layers. Provide your flock with dedicated time, love, a nutritious diet, and a little pampering (aka treats), and you will get the best of both worlds from your flock- fresh eggs and happy chickens!
- Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Can we kelp you? For more information about domestic fowls, visit the Treats for Chickens blog, cluck HERE.
Hungry for more feathered friend wellness? Of course, you do, because your flock deserves eggs (cellent) treat (ment). For fabulous and healthy egg laying hens, Treats for Chickens recommends certified organic supplement: Cluck’n Sea Kelp™
Share your flock experience with Treats for Chickens on Instagram + Facebook with #treatsforchickens #petsofinstagram #eggshortage #emptyeggsshelves #egglayers #henwellness
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Holy Moly Molting Season!
Chicken molting is a natural process where your chickens will stop laying eggs and lose feathers around their neck, breast, wings, head and back for a couple weeks up to even a couple months. Each.Chicken.Is.Different. Some have a hard molt and lose nearly every feather. Others just drop one or two and call it a season. It's hardly fair and I'm guessing it's a genetic thing. Molting happens to roosters, too. So, this hideous experience isn't just for the ladies!!
Molting chickens is challenging enough but what about when your chickens molt and are losing feathers in winter? It just doesn't seem right - I'm layering on the thickness and warmth and my flock members are dropping feathers.
What the heck, right?
The fact is, this unpleasant situation is a reality for many chicken keepers, so I’m here to guide you through the stress of your chicken molting in winter.
Your chicken losing feathers in winter is a big problem because they need feathers to keep warm during the winter cold. Many chicken keepers don’t artificially heat their coop because of the threat of coop fires and because it negatively impacts your chicken’s ability to acclimate itself to the cold temperatures.
Heating a Chicken Coop the Natural Way
If your chickens don’t get acclimated to the cold temperatures due to an artificial heat source, and the electricity goes out (very common occurrence during winter), your birds will be less able to cope with the cold and are capital S.C.R.E.W.E.D. {PS: please do not heat your coop.}
Instead of using an artificial heat source, I have two suggestions for natural heat sources. The first is: straw. The second: chicken butt fluff. Huh? Sounds odd, but let me explain…
Let’s start with talking about how you can use straw to keep your chicken molting in winter, warmer. As we know chickens are pretty darn smart, have great personalities and put themselves to bed at night.
Putting themselves to roost is a great gift from Mother Nature. The farther we get into winter and temperatures dropping, the sooner in the evening the sun sets and your flock turns in for the night. .
As it gets colder, your late molter will spend more time inside your chicken coop roosting {or just hanging out where it's warmer} with the rest of your flock huddling up for warmth.
You can enhance the warmth of your interior coop by adding straw to the floor of the coop to trap body heat, keep the nooks and crannies warm and to aide a bit in boredom busting {chickens love scratching around in straw searching for pebbles, insects and such}. Go ahead and layer on the straw - no need to be stingy.
Another source of heat for chickens molting in winter is “chicken butts.” That means placing your molting chicken in-between fluffy members of the flock to help your late molter stay warm. Remember that molting chickens are totally uncomfortable, so you want to be gentle when handling and holding them. Instead, grab a couple of your sweeter gals - your fluffy full-feathered hens in your flock and place them around your molting chicken, so your late molter can snuggle with them and stay warmer!
Help your Molting Chicken Grow it’s Feathers Back
Chickens need energy and protein to grow feathers back, so you'll need to be providing extra goodness while your molting chicken is in a special time of need! Whip out the mealworms, sunflower seeds, meat scraps, and whatever other high energy and high protein chicken treats you have that are healthy for birds!
Want to turbo charge your flocks nutritional intake? Healthy Hen Wellness Herbs can be added to feed along with Cluck'n Sea Kelp.
I do have a recipe that I call Molt Mender. It's a combination of ingredients that you feed to your flock over the course of several days/weeks to give their bodies a boost of nutrients, proteins and fats. You can feed it directly to your flock as-is or add additional sources of protein [hamburger, fish, eggs]. The main idea is to get plenty of protein, grains, kelp, fats and lots of fresh water!
MOLT MENDER RECIPE: Located in Tips For Use, here!
What NOT to do with Molting Chickens in Winter
As a chicken keeper with a chicken losing feathers in the winter I am going to place a friendly wager that you might have thought about bringing your pet featherless, fowl indoors? I've done it too.
If you are going to bring your molting chicken indoors during the winter months please keep in mind the temperature transition he/she will need to undergo once their feathers are back in place and you've returned to them to the coop. It's going to take them time to re-acclimate to the sharp winter temperatures of the outdoors.
There's another situation to consider as well: pecking order. The pecking order is going to restructure itself when your "house chicken" is in getting warm and toasty. So, please be conscientious and spend several hours out with the flock when re-introduction day comes around to ensure that your new fluffy gal isn't being bullied.
What to learn more on molting? Here is 4 Easy Tips for Molting Chickens + Recipe. All the best this and future winters.
- Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
It’s nearly the end of the year, and I’m wondering what happened to the last 10 months of 2022? I think this is sort of our human condition, right? Always looking back and wondering, "where does the time go?" I can't be the only one feeling this way?
So, you may or may not notice this is different from the usual writings that I drop into the universe, and that's 100% intentional. I have gone back and forth on what to write. But after dragging my thoughts through some stinky straw, the mud, and all poultry matter (poop) I have found my words and write to you - my fabulous Treats for Chickens community.
Each year I typically share the challenges we've faced as a small business, the ways in which we've overcome and gotten on with the business of getting on. But, I think we all know that this year has been one that we'll be most thankful to put behind us in so many ways, and so this year I'm sparing the lengthy detail, blah blah and coming in hot where my heart is feeling pulled the most!
Let’s start with this economy, huh? Man! It's a turd. Gas prices, diesel, inflation, recession, employee shortages. It's rough out there for most of us, and as a small business owner, it hits me like the pungent stench from a coop that needs some TOUGH love.
Here’s the thing about all this economy stuff: your orders are the world to us in a multi-fold of ways. When you order from us directly at treatsforchickens.com, from another online retailer or grab a bag (or three) from the shelf at your local merchant, you make it possible for us to stay in business doing what we love. Ahnnd, if I might brag: doing what we are good at.
It doesn’t stop there though.
Your purchase enforces the heartfelt feeling I had so many years ago (13 to be exact) – that backyard chickens make phenomenal pets and are deserving of really splendid lives. You say so much with your purchase, and we hear it loud and clear
What has REALLY hit me throughout the last several months is the messages and from customers, apologetic emails asking to cancel their monthly subscriptions because they cannot afford their flock's goodies anymore.
I know you have a list of things to take care of. TREATS FOR CHICKENS will still be here, waiting for you when you are ready to feather your nest once again. Pleeeeze know that I understand. I think I over-stand actually. The cancelling of your subscription is authentic, genuine and as I've always said with subscriptions: we'll still be friends, promise!
As we move onward to the usual end-of-year sheer lunacy: Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday, Cyber Monday, and all the holiday hoo-haw that settles in January with massive clearances, returns and worn out delivery drivers and retail folks on the front lines - what if we took a different approach this year shopping small, like super small?
It is so true that shopping small costs an additional buck, two or more, but we know that you'll often find better quality at a small business since products, like ours, are seriously handcrafted and/or small batched and mostly unique. Or what about experiences this year instead of tangible, mass produced items?
So you're probably thinking: what in the heck is she talking about? Well, because I love my people and you are my person, I'm sharing a tiny handful of my favorites: woman owned/operated, small businesses where you can source thoughtful, useful items: great as gifts or to simply do some good for yourself this season.
I hope you'll give these ladies a look! I know they've been working hard all year riding the wave alongside us.
So we can all be stress free with no surprises, here’s what we are doing and a timeline:
Not to be a pest bhuut, we will be sending out gentle reminder messages.
There is one last and very vital item that feels important to share.
I will forever be grateful for the tiny team at Treats for Chickens - these ladies have tenacity, drive, values, heart, ahnnnd their desire to make it right, get it right and do it all with grace and ease makes me proud. There will always be the occasional f-bombs and familiar soliloquies, regardless: it’s a joy to be with them in their zone of genius.
If you’ve ever called-in, received an online order or purchased a product off a store shelf; you can feel what I'm referring to at every touch point along the way (with the exception of our website which is currently in the shop getting her whole self-rebuilt) - I’m so grateful.
In keeping with that gratitude, this year I’ve asked my team to weigh in on Small Business Saturday, what it’s like working for a small biz these days. They'll be back next week (11/23) with their stories and links will be posted here.
Okay, that is.it.for.me. Thank you so very much from every bit of my being! Wishing you and yours all the health and happiness as you gather to round out this year in whatever way feels right for you.
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
We produce very little trash at Treats for Chickens. We have one tiny trash can that has never been full in all my time here. It is important to us that we don’t produce a large amount of waste in all aspects of the business. Our Shipping Department's shipping boxes and kraft shipping envelopes are fully recyclable. Some of the boxes we receive bulk items in are saved for later use, like shipping large orders or storing staged products for sale online. We take pride in our ability to reduce-reuse- and recycle.
Our product bags are made using some post-consumer waste, and someday we hope to have fully recyclable and possibly even compostable packaging to lessen our plastic footprint and its impact on the world. If you would like to see more sustainable packaging options from us, please let us know! Leave a comment below and join us on our green journey in the coming year.
That’s all for now, thank you for reading, and I wish you all a happy National Recycling Day. Until next time – stay plucky!
-Sonia, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Not only your flock gets the special treatment, but you can also with Treats for Chickens' Nesting Box Blend- For You cluck HERE.
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Just like at Treats for Chickens, everyone is paying more attention to the labels noted on their pet’s food. We see the word “organic” everywhere– Organic Ingredients. USDA Organic. Certified Organic. Organically Sourced. Mixed with Organic Ingredients. I know I do! Organic has moved beyond produce and is on all sorts of different items-- chips, yogurt, coffee, even baby food!
Like you, when shopping for organic, I search for keywords online (Google or Chewy). You may find yourself typing: organic chicken treats, organic treats for chickens, organic worms for chickens, treats for chickens organic, plants for chickens, etc., to find healthy options for your poultry. Alternatively, organic is not only seen in consumption but also practiced. Maybe you are a chicken parent that uses their flock to keep hungry bugs and invasive weeds at bay (if your dear feathered friend does not eat the garden goodies) instead of using chemical pesticides. Either case, the organic market is thriving.
At Treats for Chickens, we pride ourselves on being one of the only (and the first) manufacturers of organic chicken treats, organic supplements, and organic herbal nesting box blends! Which is essential to our small business. However, I know it can be confusing (trust me, it was for me, too!) what organic means and entails. I figured I'd write up an organic post about what the term means and why it’s important to us here at Treats for Chickens.
Who are these Organic Agencies I see?
The National Organic Program (NOP) “is a federal regulatory program that develops and enforces consistent national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold in the United States.”
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food.”
NOP and USDA “work together to enforce the standards, ensuring a level playing field for producers and protecting consumer confidence in the integrity of the USDA Organic Seal.”
What Does Certified Organic Mean?
A product with the USDA organic seal (label) has been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture standards. USDA states that organic “methods integrate cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.”
There’s a lot of suuuuper tedious paperwork and rigorous inspections needed to get that essential little green label. We've been doing it since 2013!
Check out this informative-- and super interesting-- USDA labeling graphic. It not only explains what the USDA Organic label means but also what all the other USDA labels mean.
What Makes Something Organic?
According to the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) website, all produce that does NOT use:
I mean, sewage sludge? Gross. I’ll take chicken poop any day.
Producing organic ingredients is a highly time-consuming task. The seeds utilized and the ground on which they are grown must be certified organic. To raise and market the goods as organic, the farmer (producer and grower) must get organic certification. Human labor is more demanding since they do NOT use or near that awful stuff. The finished product must be transported and handled separately from regular produce. It makes sense why organic ingredients are generally more expensive. Care costs.
Our pet poultry deserves an A quality. Thus, Treats for Chickens are 95+% ORGANIC!
Fellow poultry parents and chicken keepers, it is always vital to read the label and see what is stated is reflected, and of course, research the product labels to make sure. Here is CCOF (Certified Organic) Organic Labeling Guidelines infographic, CLUCK HERE. It explains the different levels of organic labeling and details its importance and where Treats for Chickens stands.
Be on the lookout for the circle USDA Organic label or products that list Made with Organic Ingredients.
Getting Certified Organic as a Small Business
As stated above, certified organic chicken treats, nesting herbs, and other products must be free of additives such as pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or other 'foreign' substances. This may sound simplistic, but in fact, it is a very labor-intensive and expensive endeavor. From the farmer/grower to the supplier and the business requires special attention to the whole process. Currently, Treats for Chickens has four products that are certified organic Chicken Crack, Cluck Yea, Cluck'n Sea Kelp, and Nesting Box Blend. But also several products "mixed with organic ingredients," meaning the ingredients are organically sourced (farmer, grower, or supplier is certified), but the whole product has not gone through the USDA process just yet, such as Gourd I Love You or Chick Chick.
Why have some of the Treats for Chickens' products not been certified organic despite having organically sourced ingredients? The cost. Paperwork, testing, annual upkeep, etc., hit small businesses' wallets. We are hoping for change.
GMOs? Not at Treats for Chickens!
About three decades ago, GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) began appearing in the food supply. Manufacturers and chemical companies began genetically modifying seeds to change their attributes. These GMOs are plants created through gene splicing techniques. For crops, the intentions were to increase pest resistance or be more drought resistant. Although… not to be a nosy bird, some large corporations have questionable practices, to say the least [I’ll leave it there]. The most common GMOs in the poultry world are soy, corn, alfalfa, and yellow squash.
That’s why, for example, corn that is organic and non-GMO is not entirely uniform. Corn may be a different color, shade, or size for various reasons: weather, environmental conditions (humid or dry), and anything else mother nature can come up with.
By purchasing organic and Non-GMO ingredients [or some delicious organic chicken treats ;) ], you aren’t supporting “sewage sludge” business practices and mentalities. You are putting positive energies into something meaningful- helping small and local farms, growers, friends, economies, and businesses. That feels sooo good!!!
Natural Means Organic, Doesn't It?
Nope, natural does not mean organic.
A product that's labeled "natural" doesn't really mean anything.
Unlike the labeling for organic, which requires extensive paperwork and oversight, "natural" can pretty much be put on anything- natural chicken treats, natural sea kelp for chickens, natural nesting box blend, etc. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) hasn't ruled on the issue but has greatly encouraged only products that have "nothing artificial or synthetic... has been added to a food that would not normally be expected to be in food" to be labeled as natural.
“It has nothing to do with manufacturing methods or pesticide use-- like organic labeling-- and instead mostly a buzzword. It's a worthless indicator on the manufacturing, methods, and environmental impact of a product.”
The term natural is frequently marketed and entirely unregulated by the FDA. Unfortunately, we need to do our homework with our pet food and cannot rely on a glance at the label for some brands. This becomes especially important for us backyard chicken keepers who feed our family, friends, and community with fresh eggs that our egg layers lay.
September is Organic Month!
Behind every pecking of organic treats your flock eats or nesting their fluffy bums in an organic herbal nest blend, there's an organic farmer, an organic supplier, or an organic innovator to thank. The Soil Affiliation launched a month-prolonged advertising campaign in September 2013 called “Nationwide Pure Month” or “Pure September.” Soon after, September became Organic Month, a month-long campaign to raise awareness of the many benefits of organic food and farming, including supporting biodiversity, wildlife, and local organic products.
Organic Closing
Selecting organic and non-GMO ingredients is a lifestyle choice that filters substances that your feather beauties simply don’t need in their diet. With several advantages, from healthier pets to a safer environment, and a few disadvantages, such as supply limitation and the price tag, organic has a positive direction. Ahnd our feathered friends appreciate our efforts. Bhutt and a big one, deciding to buy and use organic ingredients, organic chicken treats, organic vitamins, and organic nesting instead of conventional is a personal one.
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what organic means and why it's essential to Treats for Chickens! I continue to put a lot of time and effort into designing healthy products that are organically sourced so you and your chickens and other fowls (our dear turkeys, ducks, geese, swans, quails, etc.) can have the best experience possible.
With Treats for Chickens, your flock can find our Certified Organic products - located in a wing of our website - (Chicken Crack, Cluck Yea, Cluck’n Sea Kelp, and Nesting Box Blend), cluck HERE
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Can we kelp you? For more information about domestic fowls can eat or not eat, visit Treats For Chickens blog, cluck HERE and HERE.
Hungry for more feathered friend wellness? Of course you do, because your flock deserves eggs (cellent) treat (ment). For fabulous and healthy chickens, Treats For Chickens recommends certified organic supplement: Cluck'n Sea Kelp.
Thank you to CCOF and USDA for the organic labeling and seal information! And, of course, thank you to the best organic educators, suppliers, and farmers. They know their soils, their customers, and the environment!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
This is Jocoya (also known as Fox), Treats for Chickens' Administrator. We celebrate not only our feathered friends (our dear chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, etc.), but also one of our furry friends- the dog.
Every dog has its day! Which is the Friday following Father’s Day each year (June 24th, 2022) as employees celebrate National Take Your Dog to Work Day across the country. This day originated in the United Kingdom in 1996, but in 1999, Pet Sitters International (PSI) created this day in the United States. PSI aims to inspire others to adopt responsibly from shelters and humane societies. And to remind us of the unconditional love that our furry friends provide us. That warm companionship between humans and canines.
For most companies having a dog in the office is a rare occasion except for a guide dog, emotional companion, or National Pet Week. However, at Treats for Chickens, we have our own onsite companion. The one and only Charlie. Hem, Charles Rupert Russell.
This handsome Australian Cattle Dog, who is soon-to-be 13 years old, brings joy to Treats for Chickens’ environment. Charles has a Masters in Chicken Etiquette and Ph.D. in Flock Friends. He easily co-exists with Dawn’s backyard chickens. He’s a little hard of hearing (he proudly wears his orange “Deaf Dog” suit) and absent-minded, but he is a sweetheart that stares into your soul with those moist brown eyes. Or maybe he is just hoping for a snack from the Treats for Chickens team?
Pet chicken parents know the benefits of having chickens, from their bubbly (or moody) personalities to their delicious egg supply. Here are the benefits of having a dog in the workplace.
PROS
🐾 Several studies have indicated that having pets in the workplace reduces stress. Articles for your leisure: WGU, Arbor, and Harvard Medical School.
🐾 Increase productivity. Wait, what? Yes, taking breaks to attend to your dog’s needs allows employees to feel refresh.
🐾 Both of you get a chance to be physically activated- sneak in a walk or two.
🐾 Both of you get more social engagement.
🐾 Your dog companion is a great morale booster to the entire office. I mean, you cannot deny the adorableness!!!
CONS
🐾 Fellow employees may have allergies or phobias. Please check with your co-workers.
🐾 Not well-trained dogs could cause distraction or risk of injury.
TOP TIPS
🐾 Like your chicken’s coop, do not forget to prepare your space for your dog. Dog-proof the workplace to make sure your companion is in a safe environment. From toxic plants, electrical cords, and trash, or if your job is outside, keep them away from the roads or pesticides.
🐾 Check in with your workplace to respect those allergies, phobia, and non-animal loving coworkers.
🐾 Designate a buddy system in case you are away from your dog.
🐾 Make sure your dog is fit in the work environment. Are their shots current? Has your pooch been recently bathed and groomed before accompanying you to work? And be mindful of your dog’s manners- are they calm with strangers and in new places.
🐾 Bring your dog’s goods such as water, food, bowls, leash, bedding, toys, medications, a pet-safe disinfectant, and poop bags (which oddly most of them smell like molasses). If in the summer, bring something to keep them cool, such as a fan, ice cubs, or frozen peas.
🐾 Scheduling your dog’s food and water consumption so the needed break is around an appropriate time.
🐾 If working in a hybrid or remote setting, don’t forget to take breaks and hang out with your dog.
🐾 Be natural in introducing your dog to the workplace. Dog lovers will make themselves known.
🐾 Have a solid backup plan, aka exit strategy. If your dog is giving you the NO, have the time and way to bring your dog home safely. Please do NOT leave your dog in the vehicle.
Whew, there is a list to convince your boss or HR to adopt a pet-friendly policy—joking (sort of) and a chance to enjoy your pooch at work. Alternative ways to celebrate this June 24th include volunteering at an animal shelter or pet rescue, organizing a virtual dog hang out with fellow dog lovers, or visiting the dog park with your furry companion.
Wishing your furry friends and you a productive Take Your Dog to Work Day!
-Jocoya, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
Sonia here, Treats for Chickens Warehouse Coordinator. And I am here again to offer another egg activity for family and friends- and the foodies.
June 3rd is an eggcellent day, a day we celebrate the egg: nature’s neat package of protein and vitamins that makes a simple and delicious breakfast or snack. There are many ways to prepare eggs, from elaborate recipes to simple ones, and the simplest of all is perhaps the hard-boiled egg.
A little birdie told me that, as popular as boiling eggs is, it is not the ideal way. Steaming, this birdie said, was better! Boiling was the only way I had ever known to cook eggs in-shell, and so like a true skeptic, I tested the theory out. I found that the bird was correct – steaming eggs is better than boiling them, one of the reasons being that steamed eggs are easier to peel.
That’s right. Steaming eggs means saying goodbye to the struggle of peeling away the egg shell. No more boiled eggs covered in pock marks from picking off shell bits, no more unwelcome crunch in your egg salad. The shell comes right off once you get the peel started on a steamed egg. This is especially useful when you need to peel many eggs, like when preparing 24 deviled eggs as hors d'oeuvres.
To prepare your own easy-to-peel smooth bodied eggs, here are the details:
You will need:
First off, we are using chicken eggs. Goose, duck, and turkey eggs are all popular to eat around the world, offering a slightly different taste from chicken eggs. But this simple recipe, we are going for the lovely chicken egg.
If you are using a steaming basket, fill the pot with enough water to touch the bottom of the basket but not submerge it. I used a colander, seated inside a pot, and filled the bottom of the pot with about 2 inches of water.
Note* If you plan on boiling many eggs at a time, this method may be better than using a steam basket as it will allow you to put in more water at the start and create steam for longer.
Once the water and basket or colander are in place, add the lid and bring the water to a boil. Once it is boiling and fogging up the top, the eggs are ready to go in. It is ideal only to do one layer of eggs at a time. You can add more layers, but you’ll need to add time to accommodate them.
Add the eggs into the basket or colander, replace the lid, and set a timer to 15 minutes. If you are doing more than 6, or if your eggs are layered, at the 15-minute mark, remove one egg from the upper layer to peel and cut open to see if it has achieved your desired yolk consistency.
Once the timer goes off, turn off the heat and carefully remove the eggs using a ladle. Place them into a little ice bath or run them under cold water to cool them down. Once the eggs are cooled, they can be peeled. You’ll find that the egg shell comes right off after the initial crack and start.
I hope this little trick makes your egg boiling ventures easier and more efficient, leaving less time to cook and peel eggs and more time to enjoy them. The Treats for Chickens team and I cannot wait to see your egg results. I wish you all a delicious Friday and National Egg Day.
Happy steaming!
-Sonia, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Share your egg results with Treats for Chickens on Instagram + Facebook with #treatsforchickens #petsofinstagram #hensofinstagram #chickensareawesome #chickenparents #backyardhens #urbanchickenkeeping #nationaleggday #yourfavoriteeggpun
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
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And welcome to Dawn’s Egg Series on, well, on eggs- the best egg laying chicken breeds!
At Treats for Chickens, we firmly believe chicken parents can never get enough chickens [and] eggs. Whether you’re selling eggs for money or happily sharing with friends and family for food, or naturally dying eggs for Easter, more is always better, am I right? Brown eggs, green eggs, blue eggs, tinted eggs, speckled eggs, and double dark brown eggs [chocolate eggs] - I love them all!
Occasionally you will find yourself at the market doing the walk-of-shame and purchasing a dozen because your ladies just aren't layin'. Reasons for poor egg performance could be:
Chicken keepers raising chickens for eggs need to know what breeds of chickens are the best egg laying chicken breeds to maximize egg production. Treats For Chickens’ Dawn even put together a little math equation to help explain how this works.
C + E x Y = MH
C = Chicken Keepers
E = Egg Production
Y = Best Egg Laying Chicken Breeds
MH = More Happiness for Chicken Keepers
So, here's the situation, chicken parents: it's time to learn which breeds of chickens are the best egg laying chicken breeds for regular brown eggs.
Waddle roll please, Treats For Chickens Top 5 Best Brown Egg Layers…
The Australorp breed of chicken is a cross between a Rhode Island Red chicken and an Orpington chicken. They were developed in Australia in the 1920s for the purpose of developing one of the best egg laying chickens that are well suited to the Australian climate. But we love them here in the states just plenty!!
Australorp Chicken Eggs Production: Australorp chickens lay beautiful light brown eggs. These egg laying champions hold the world egg laying record with one hen from this breed laying 364 eggs in 365 days (holy moley)! You can expect between 250-300 large eggs each year from your typical Australorp chicken.
Australorp Chicken Behavior: Australorps are as calm and gentle as chicken breeds come. Most hens from this breed will be docile, relaxed, and quite tame chickens. I have personally had two in my chicken keeping days: one was broody every other day but would snack on treats from my hand on any day and the other gal was a champion layer with a big attitude.
Lohmann Brown chickens are one of the best hybrid chickens for egg laying. They were developed by a German genetics company from the selective breeding of New Hampshire chickens with other brown egg laying hens. And while this description may seem a little freaky this particular breed has worked wonders for farmers in South Africa. It's a shame they are not available in the United States but we have some ladies here in the states that run a close second.
Lohmann Brown Chicken Eggs Production: Lohmann Brown chickens lay brown eggs. These chickens begin laying jumbo sized eggs after 4-5 months from hatching. You can expect around 300 eggs a year from your Lohmann brown chicken.
Lohmann Brown Chicken Behavior: Lohmann Brown chickens are very docile and friendly. There is a reason Lohmann Brown chickens are the most widespread egg laying chickens on planet earth. Not only do they lay an incredible amount of eggs, but their friendly and even-temperament make them good to have around children and other chickens!
There’s no way you’ve not seen a Golden Comet Chicken running around somewhere, at least once in your life. Golden Comet chickens are a widespread hybrid chicken, bred by mating a White Rock hen and a New Hampshire rooster.
Golden Comet Chicken Eggs Production: The Golden Comet Chicken breed starts laying eggs as early as 16 weeks. The math on that is 4 months and that is early! You can expect between 250-300 brown colored eggs from your golden comet chicken annually.
Golden Comet Chicken Behavior: You’ve got yourself a curious and friendly bird if you have a Golden Comet chicken in your flock. They don’t mind being picked up by new people and they are rarely if ever involved in any scuffles or arguments with other chickens. Pretty laid back and a few chicken parents could learn a thing or two from this happy little hen.
Sussex Chickens are a breed of chicken that’s raised for egg laying and meat [dual purpose breed] -although Treats For Chickens sees them as pets. The Sussex chicken is a British chicken breed and comes in eight different colors. The most common color of Sussex chickens is white with a black neck and black tail feathers. My other favorite of this breed is Fern Meadow which has a marvelous spotted feather pattern and who resides with @Tarahharlin.
Sussex Chicken Eggs Production: Sussex chickens lay brown, white, or tinted eggs and you can expect between 180-200 eggs per year from your typical Sussex chicken. However, some strains of this dual-purpose chicken breed are better at egg laying than others, and can give you up to 250 eggs per year! Way to go ladies!
Sussex Chicken Behavior: This chicken breed is a good addition to any mixed flock! But please keep in mind that all chickens have their own personality and you can get the occasional snooty little hen that's not the most even-tempered gal.
Finally, a good ol’ American made gal! The Rhode Island Red Chicken breed was developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island from the breeding of oriental chickens like the Malay chicken with Brown Leghorn chickens from Italy! This chicken breed also makes for a good dual purpose bird that lays an abundance of eggs.
Rhode Island Red Chicken Eggs Production: Rhode Island Red chickens lay light brown, medium to large eggs. The Rhode Island Red chicken breed starts laying eggs around 4-5 months, which is super earlier than other breeds. You can expect 150-250 eggs a year from your Rhode Island Red chicken.
Rhode Island Red Chicken Behavior: The Rhode Island Red chicken breed is the opposite of docile! These are some spirited girls! The hens are loud and high energy. The roosters of this breed of chickens can be a little more hyper and active too.
Okay, there you have it, chicken keepers. 5 Best Brown Egg Laying Chicken Breeds - well four since Lohmanns are based in Africa but these feathered friends nonetheless made the list of the Top 5 Best. Let me know fellow Treats for Chickens parents, what other best brown egg layers should go on the list.
-Dawn, Treats For Chickens 🧡
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Let's keep your layers happy regardless of what color eggs your chicken lays.
Our Treats for Chickens Dawn has written a great article about the Top 5 Best Brown Egg Laying Chicken Breeds, now it’s time to cover their white egg laying counterparts. We couldn’t leave you white egg lovers hanging! If nobody else does, you can rest assured that Dawn has got your back!
Knowing what the best white egg laying chickens (best white egg layers) are means more money in your pocket if you’re selling eggs for profit, and more brownie points if you are sharing eggs with friends and family for food! Who couldn’t use more money and appreciation in their life? Hack, maybe even that glorious Instagram photo for National Eggs Day [psst, that’s June 3- an eggcellent day to practice egg photos and puns].
Time to get down to business, chicken parents. Break [beak] out your pencil and paper because Treats For Chickens are about to discuss the top 5 best white egg laying chickens!
Let’s begin with some Leghorn Chicken history. I thought my favorite Italian contribution to the world was pizza, or maybe pesto, that is until I found out that Leghorn chickens originated from rural Tuscany, Italy. Curious where the name “Leghorn” came from? Well, it’s just the English translation [albeit poor translation] of the word “Livorno”, which is the Tuscan sea port from which Leghorn chickens were first exported to North America in 1828.
There are almost too many Leghorn chicken colors to list. But that’s not going to stop me from trying! There’s the Black Leghorn, Blue Leghorn, Brown Leghorn, Buff Leghorn, Cuckoo Leghorn, Golden Duckwing Leghorn, Silver Duckwing Leghorn, Exchequer Leghorn, Black Mottled Leghorn, Red Mottled Leghorn, Partridge Leghorn, Pile Leghorn, and White Leghorn. The White Leghorn is the most popular and readily available of all the colors.
Leghorn Chicken Eggs Production: The White Leghorn, which is the most common, lay large, white eggs practically every day! Other color varieties aren't as prolific but still good layers. You can expect between 200 to 280 of these white eggs per year from your typical leghorn chicken.
Leghorn Chicken Behavior: Leghorn chicken egg production is impressive as far as quantity is concerned, but oddly enough, despite all the eggs they lay Leghorn chickens aren't too fond of incubating their eggy-offspring! Very few Leghorn chickens exhibit a tendency to brood. Your typical leghorn hen is a non-sitter, so you better make sure you’ve got an incubator or broody hen breed to take care of your egg incubating needs!
Whites are said to be nervous, but some say their White Leghorns have been the sweetest, most tame of all their chickens! Sometimes I do think Leghorn chickens are on a sugar rush because of how active and excitable they can be. They are just so high energy and darn curious about everything, I love it! You’ve just got to make sure these chickens’ zest for life doesn’t lead to their downfall, with a nice sized fence around your property to keep them out of trouble!
Leghorn Heat & Cold Tolerance
Heat: They tolerate heat well
Cold: They are hardy in winter, however, use petroleum jelly on their large comb to prevent frostbite
The Polish Chickens are a very special and unique breed of chicken with their huge bouffant crest of feathers and v-shaped comb. They are tame but their behavior can be a bit wacky since their crest limits their vision. When in a flock with more aggressive breeds, Polish will tend to be on the low end of the pecking order. Egg laying is varied in this breed. In short, Polish are sweet, beautiful birds and can be good layers in the backyard flock.
The color variations include Bearded: Black Crested White, White Crested Black. Bearded & Non-Bearded: Golden, Silver, White, Buff Laced.
Polish Chicken Eggs Production: Your Polish girls will lay small eggs [almost Bantam size] and you can expect 100-150 eggs per year.
Polish Chicken Behavior: Polish chickens handle confinement well. They are very docile, friendly, and quiet birds who don't typically go broody.
Polish Heat & Cold Tolerance
Heat: Does well in heat
Cold: Not cold hardy
The Ancona Chickens are another Italian export on our list of best white egg laying. Anconas originate from the city of Ancona, in a central region of Italy. The Ancona has a "mottled" color pattern of black with white spots, and both Single Comb & Rose Comb varieties are accepted by the American Poultry Association. Like other Mediterranean breeds, Anconas are closely feathered, active, good foragers, and good layers.
Ancona Chicken Eggs Production: Ancona chickens lay small white eggs. You can expect between 200 to 220 of these white eggs per year from your typical Ancona chicken.
Ancona Chicken Behavior: You may have some trouble on your hands if you have Ancona chickens in your flock. They are good at flying and are skittish. There isn’t any shortage of Ancona chicken owners with stories of their Ancona chickens flying out of chicken pens. Hope you know how to clip chicken wing feathers to prevent flight if you are thinking about adding an Ancona chicken to your flock.
Ancona Heat & Cold Tolerance
Heat: Not especially heat hardy
Cold: Extremely hardy in cold weather
The Egyptian Fayoumi Chickens hold their tails upright, nearly vertical. That paired with their long necks gives them a unique appearance. This ancient breed has its origin in the Nile Valley. They are also one of the earliest maturing chicken breeds: hens can begin laying eggs as early as 4.5 or 5 months! This breed is known to be naturally resistant to Marek's Disease and to many other illnesses.
Egyptian Fayoumi Chicken Eggs Production: Egyptian Fayoumi lay small white to cream eggs and you can expect to get about 100-150 eggs a year.
Egyptian Fayoumi Behavior: They are normally fairly nervous in temperament and can be feather pickers if they don't have enough room. They can be territorial about their favorite nesting spots, and roosters are noisy. They are also fliers, so not always the best choice for a backyard flock since they can and will clear most fences. But with plenty of room, or in a large enclosed run, they can be a good choice for a small farm, since they are good foragers, economical eaters, independent, tough, aware of their surroundings, and good at avoiding predators.
Egyptian Fayoumi Heat & Cold Tolerance
Heat: Tolerates heat well
Cold: Not cold hardy
This is one beautiful chicken breed. I mean why else are Hamburg Chickens such a popular breed for poultry shows? Fun fact, Hamburg chickens were the first poultry show chicken breed. Experts say sometime around the 1800s there were a group of unnamed people having an argument in an English pub about whose rooster was the most magnificent. How else do you settle an argument like this except to have a chicken show with the bartender as the judge? Surprise, surprise, one of the birds in the competition was a Hamburg rooster!
Hamburg Chicken Eggs Production: Hamburg chickens lay small glossy white eggs with pointy ends. Your typical Hamburg chicken will provide you with 150-200 small white eggs annually.
Hamburg Chicken Behavior: Being as pretty as Hamburg chickens are, I guess they can be a little bit self-centered - they don’t like incubating their egg babies at all! Hamburg hens don’t like egg sitting so you better get yourself an incubator or a hen that likes to brood! Hamburg chickens are great at flying, so you might want to be sure you have the proper fencing if you plan on adding one of these chickens to your flock!
Hamburg Heat & Cold Tolerance
Heat: Tolerates heat well
Cold: Hardy in winter
Chicken parents, now you know the 5 Best White Egg Laying Chicken Breeds. Start planning how to maybe incorporate a new chicken breed [or two] in your flock.
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
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Soooo, Treats for Chickens Dawn has presented the Top 5 Best Brown Egg Laying Chicken Breeds and Top 5 Best White Egg Laying Chicken Breeds, ahnnnd now Dawn reviewed-- what she thinks-- are the Top 5 Colorful Egg Layers!
Without further ado, Best Colorful Egg Layers …
Number five on her very official list is the...
The Cream Legbar breed of chickens is difficult to purchase in the United States. Although these chickens are rather prolific in the UK, Cream Legbars have only been recently introduced in the United States. Their genial temperament and beautiful eggs have them in high demand. If you can get your hands on Cream Legbars though, this chicken breed will make an awesome addition to your backyard flock!
Cream Legbar Chicken Eggs Colors: These chickens lay a beautiful blue egg.
Cream Legbar Chicken Behavior: The Cream Legbars prefer free ranging, but this chicken adapts well to a closed run environment. These chickens are a friendly and calm breed, and adore tagging along for chores! [At least someone enjoys doing them, right?] Cream Legbars are an active, curious breed so they will need a lot of stimulation-- especially if this chicken breed is in a closed run. [May Treats For Chickens suggest a bag of Chicken Crack and a toy? It will keep these feathered friends busy for hours! I promise.]
A quick fun fact about Cream Legbars: They are one of the few breeds you can auto-sex. Females hatch with dark and light stripes. Males hatch considerably lighter with light yellow spots on their heads.
The Favaucana Chickens are a cross between the Favorelle and the Ameraucanas. Their talent is foraging, so be sure to give Favaucana many ways to find their next meal! If you need ideas, check out this Boredom Busters post. It’s an oldie, but a goodie.
Favaucana Chicken Eggs Colors: This chicken will lay a rather unique blue-green to an olive egg!
Favaucana Chicken Behavior: Favaucanas have a generally sweet disposition and does well in colder climates. This breed doesn’t do as well in hotter climates, so make sure to keep that in mind when you go to purchase one of these beauties!
The Marans Chickens are known as “chocolate-eggers” as this chicken breed produces a beautiful dark brown, chocolate-y colored egg.
Marans Chicken Eggs Colors: Now, each variation has different shades of brown eggs. If you’d like the darkest, chocolatiest eggs, you’ll want to find either the Black Copper or Silver Cuckoo varieties.
Marans Chicken Behavior: Marans is a docile, friendly species. They do cold climates well but are more sensitive to heat. They are another active species, so they’ll need lots of items to climb and things to do!
The Light Sussex Chickens are considered to be an excellent beginner breed, so if you’re just starting out and would like to add some color variation to your egg collection, consider picking up a Light Sussex!
Light Sussex Chicken Eggs Colors: This chicken breed lays lovely pinky-cream eggs.
Light Sussex Chicken Behavior: Much like the Cream Legbar, the Light Sussex also loves to “help out” with chores. This chicken breed is very curious and loves to follow you around as you go about cleaning and feeding the rest of your flock! They are another excellent choice if you have kids as Light Sussex doesn’t mind being held and is petting-tolerant. Light Sussex are a cold-hardy species, however, they can handle the heat if they are provided plenty of shade.
Last, but not least, is the Easter Egger. Easter Eggers are not a single species, instead, they are many different hybrids between different chicken breeds.
Since Easter Eggers are a hybrid breed, they are much easier-- and cheaper-- to acquire. These chickens are often labeled as “Americanas”-- not to be confused with the Ameraucana breed-- and they make an excellent backyard chicken.
Easter Eggers Eggs Colors: Because they are hybrids between different chicken breeds, Easter Eggers can lay a multitude of colors-- however, one hen can only lay one color during her laying time. Really, it’s just an excuse to get more chickens, because you’ll want to collect all.the.colors.
Easter Eggers Chicken Behavior: Easter Eggers are not only known for their colorful eggs, they are also considered to have a “sunny, outgoing disposition.” They are human-friendly and curious-- if you have kids, they will be sure to love one another! Easter Eggers are another excellent starting breed. Since they are a hybrid breed, these chickens do well in hot or cold climates.
This is nowhere near a definitive list of all the colorful egg layers for backyard chicken parents. However, I hope this introduces you to a new chicken breed you haven’t heard of or gives you a place to start. So, you too can collect every colorful egg out there.
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
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With Easter coming up, you will see Easter egg dye kits on store shelves, with their handy little aluminum “spoons'' and hot pink and neon green dye tablets. If you hunt for Easter eggs, these bright colors help catch your eye when hidden throughout the yard, garden and tall grasses.
If you’ve ever had a lingering concern and wondered – are these dyes safe?…I have an alternative for you.
If you are looking for something more unique for this year’s Easter egg hunt or Easter brunch display please read on.
Eggshells can be dyed naturally, using ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now. I did this last year, and you can read about the process here, but this year I’ve added something new – a marbled blue made using frozen blueberries.
Dying eggs naturally using water, vinegar, fruits and vegetables creates beautiful results with many varieties. Part of the fun of dying eggs naturally is the lack of consistency – there will always be a bit of variance, making for a stunning display of colorful naturally dyed eggs when presented together. Now let’s get into it!
Gather your hard-boiled eggs, containers to dye them in, [I suggest glass ] and a bottle of white vinegar. Each dye will require 1 tablespoon of vinegar per cup of water. Vinegar helps to drop the Ph of the liquid so that the natural color will bind to the eggshells. You will also need oil such as olive or canola and a paper towel to complete the finishing touches.
Once all your eggs are naturally dyed and dried, you will notice that the color is matte with little or no shine. Here’s where the oil and paper towel comes in. Place a small amount of oil on the paper towel and then gently dab each egg. This will make the shells shiny and cause each color to pop. Once the eggs are oiled, they’re ready to be put on display – or hidden away for young hunters to find them.
Natural egg dying is a fun project the whole family can be involved in. Since you choose the vegetables, you can ensure your dyes are organic. You can compost the leftover boiled vegetable bits and make the process waste-free. It is a beautiful alternative to store-bought dyes, and the result is a rainbow that is different every time.
I had a lot of fun with this project and I hope you try it too! All the best, Sonia! PS: that's Betsey up there with the basket of colored eggs.
-Sonia, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
:::::::::::THEN::::::::::::
********copy and paste sample letter below**************
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Boardjanice@lindmarine.com
Members of the Board
1515 Clay St., Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612
Chair McGrath and Members of the Board:
I have reviewed and support approval of the Tentative Order for Lind Tug and Barge Oyster Shell Mining in South San Francisco Bay and would like to offer the following comments in support of adoption of the Order, in support of the project in general and for the overall health of my beloved backyard flock.
[Include a few sentences about your own experience with the Oyster Shell shortage here, then remove this instruction]
Oyster shell is especially beneficial as a calcium source in poultry diets. Several scientific studies referenced in the analysis indicate that calcium derived from oyster shell has been found to be a superior nutrient and mineral source when compared to inorganic limestone and other sources.
And, while limestone grit may be a secondary solution; most pet chickens turn their beaks up at the alternative and simply won’t eat it leaving their health and productivity in jeopardy. Calcium depleted laying hens, in general, are prone to laying thin shelled eggs causing breakage during laying, leading to infections and ultimately death.
It is my understanding that during the permitting process over the last few years, Lind Tug and Barge has adopted a number of operating procedures and measures to protect the water, biological and air resources of the San Francisco Bay including:
Limitations on pumping and priming of dredge equipment, and installation of positive barrier fish screens to avoid entrainment of fish;
I am pleased to see that in addition to requiring these measures, the Tentative Order requires monitoring and study of water quality to ensure that mining activities do not degrade the overall water quality of the San Francisco Bay and requires a study to help determine if oyster shell mining is having any impacts on the erosion of nearby shell hash shorelines.
As a backyard pet chicken owner, I want to thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project and the Tentative Order.
I strongly support the project as proposed, and respectfully urge the Regional Board to adopt the Tentative Order. My chickens and I thank you immensely.
Respectfully,
[your name here]
:::::::Remember, the deadline is Monday, March 7th at 5pm, PST::::::::::: ahnnd, please know that I know this is a lot to ask bhut please know that I really, really appreciate your efforts!
🧡
]]>Here's the situation: Oyster Shell dredging in the San Francisco Bay is up for public comment [and hopefully approval], and the Vice President of Lind Tug and Marine [our beloved oyster shell gurus] is asking for us to speak our voice.
::::::::UPDATE LETTER FROM LIND MARINE BELOW:::::::::::
To Our Valued Oyster Shell Customers:
Thank you for being loyal customers of Lind Marine’s oyster shell products. We regret any inconvenience that the interruption in supply of oyster shell may have caused, and appreciate your patience as we near the end of the permitting process to continue to mine the oyster shell that is the basic resource that makes up our shell products.
Lind Marine’s affiliated company, Lind Tug and Barge, is pleased to report continued progress with the approvals necessary to mine oyster shell – the Biological Opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service was issued in November 2021. The next permit in line is issued by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board). The draft permit has just been released by the Regional Board for public comment and is calendared for hearing by the Regional Board on April 13. The next permit in the chain following the Regional Board is issued by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and is currently scheduled to be heard by the Commission on April 21. Once these permits are in place, the US Army Corps of Engineers can issue the federal permit, and mining should begin again in May.
We respectfully request your assistance in the final process. The voices of the agricultural and pharmaceutical communities that utilize this unique resource are critical to underscore the importance of continuing the more than 100-year legacy of harvesting oyster shell. Your comments supporting our project submitted via letter or verbally at the permit hearings are critical in communicating the need for this resource. The Public Notice which includes links to the draft permit and instructions on providing comments can be found at the following link:
The public comment period on this permit ends at 5:00 p.m. on March 7.
We have attached a sample letter you can edit and use to communicate your support. Please copy us on any supporting comments that you provide.
We appreciate your understanding, patience and support. The Lind family and Lind family of employees appreciate any support you can lend – we are in this together. If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact Bill Butler, our Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at bill@lindmarine.com. We look forward to continuing to partner with you in providing healthy products for our agricultural and pharmaceutical communities. Thank you!
Sincerely,
William H. Butler
Vice President - Regulatory Affairs
Lind Marine Incorporated on behalf of Lind Tug and Barge
🧡
]]>
The TFC team and I put together a coop cleaning playlist for you. It's a collection of upbeat tunes for your February coop cleaning endeavors of 2022.
There's a wide selection of generations here, some major throwbacks, a few newly released and there's bound to be at least one that is going to thrill you [and be stuck in your head allll day].
The theme for February is, of course, love. We even found a song that honored National Poop Day that we chicken-keepers, naturally, celebrated on the Monday following the Super Bowl Sunday- February 7th.
Tips [and experiences] on tackling the muck and smell read on the following posts:
9 Quick Reasons to Use Diatomaceous Earth with Backyard Chickens
My Chickens Pooping In Their Nest Boxes + Why?
How I Clean My Coop + Nesting Boxes
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
2021 was year of substantial growth for us as a company. It was hard and fast and reminds me of going down an old metal slide on the big kids playground.
You know that one.
It's tall and sort of rickety. Some days the metal is hot AF and you burn the back of your legs. But on cold mornings after slipping on down you look like you've wet your pants from the mist you've collected from the damp metal along the way.
You've been there, right?
But here's the thing: regardless of the time of day, you always skid right off the end and smash your rump [or fling forward and scrape your exposed knees]. Every time.
But, it's breathtaking, and you want to improve [and reduce that slam/skinning at the bottom] so you keep on doing it. And, that was our 2021.
I'm proud to say that as a collective team we've gotten damn good on the proverbial slide and without this teamwork and the folks in the photo above: I would have personally walked away to hang on the monkey bars.
And so, instead, I live to tell about it, and am going to start with the story of our packaging since I'm assuming that if you are reading this; you've held a bag of Treats for Chickens product in your hand at one time or another.
In mid 2020, yes, I'm throwing it whay, way back, I started the journey into what I could do to improve our toxic footprint here on Earth. [don't panic; all packaging is approved for human grade ingredients!]
At the time the simplest solution was to change the material our bags are printed on. Working with our printer we came up with a solution and immediately changed the protocol. Every bag that was sent to be created would now be "made with up to 23% post-consumer waste".
This process was not as "simple" as it sounds, there was endless back and forth, our costs increased between .25-.50 cents per bag and although we were making an improvement - it didn't seem like that much was being accomplished.
And, this is why: although our bags now contain up to 23% post-consumer waste they still end up in the damn landfill - ugh. One giant step toward a goal and, and we roll back down. Talk about baby steps.
Throughout 2021 we put efforts into compostable packaging. Can you imagine? How absolutely rad would that be? Our printer thought they were close to making it a reality but sadly somewhere right around October, 2021 they pulled the plug and told us not until 2023, or later.
The good news: the team here at TFC is relentless.
Relentless like the critter that continues to dig that hole under your coop fencing.
Relentless like the pesky hawk that you've seen circling your coop or so astutely propped on a fence post - just staring.
Relentless and determined; we are on a mission to decrease our toxic footprint when it comes to the packaging that holds the products you purchase, the gigantic shrink wrap we wrap our pallets with, how we dispose of the plastic sacks that literal hundreds of thousands of pounds of ingredients come to us enclosed in.
We don't know what is going to come of this in the end. Will our packaging be a cardboard box? Maybe a compostable bag inside? Perhaps a cylindrical container [ I have to share that the sheer storage space needed for this type of vessel is monumental btw].
Anyway, I thought it important to let you know that we are making an effort in this department.
Next up: Workspace. It's not new-news that the real estate market in California is over-priced. And, that holds true here in beautiful Sonoma County, gateway the wine country and the rugged coastline. It's where I call home, it's where we've been headquartered for a very.long time and I'm here to tell you it's a pricey place to live; and for the time being we are staying.
In May of 2021 I was going to move us into a pristine, new workspace across town. It was the only one available at just over 5,000 sq. feet. The longer negotiations went on, the clearer it became that our type of business was not suitable for the space.
We'd need to schedule and plan for when we'd use our noisier equipment. The delivery trucks were, perhaps, going to be a noise issue as well and more than anything the situation and energy around the whole dang thing felt reminiscent of a well-intentioned blind date that I needed to excuse myself from and go to a friends house, cry and eat cupcakes.
And, so I did.
It was odd though. There were so many delays, on both sides, preventing the signing and moving-in. I'm going to assume that my Granny was meddling because the whole thing was a dumpster fire, shit show - she was up there in the sky working some magik. Or maybe it was Dell. Either way I'm grateful.
Right before I was due to be signing the contract I rescinded my interest and walked away going home and sleeping the first full night in weeks.
With the new-news and realizing we were staying put, and not moving into a big, spacious super-complex, we put our heads together to make use of what we have in the fullest capacity we can.
And, so, we:
I'm telling you - teamwork is where it's at. I'm so grateful.
Okay, now on to a compilation of nitty-gritty numbers and percentages regarding our growth, where the money goes and the top blogs for 2021.
Some other things I'm proud to share publicly:
This has been a long read, has it not? Whew.
Thank you for being a loyal customer, many of you friends, and for taking the journey of backyard chicken keeping with me. It's an honor to make products for your flock and I don't take that lightly.
Wising you and yours all the health and happiness in 2022!
- Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
📷: Sonia, Diego, Jocoya, Lori, Dawn + Charlie
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
Number one. It’s summer. Temperatures are warmer. Standing water is going to get gunky and gross.
If your water fountain is not already sparkling clean, free of grime, slime, and there’s not a single tinge of green that can be seen with your eagle eye…then you’re good as gold.
Fret not, pop a cold one, put your feet up and skip onto Number Two below.
Bhuut if you’re one of those 8 out of 10 people [that I recently reached out to who “thought” or does “think” that their fountain is a crystal clean vortx of sanitary pleasure].....and however upon closer inspection realized there’s no way they would drink out of it and it’s actually not that splendid.....then read on.
Right Now Solution:
Scrubby scrub, rinse, refill and add water protector to your poultry fountain[s] for a boost of enzyme health.
Water Protector is no-funny-business, no egg withdrawal, no food coloring, no flavors. Truly natural enzymes that act as a bonus for water hydration, improves their gut health and with that improved gut health you get chicken poops that smell less like something that was buried and unearthed ….and and and all those enzymes pull double-duty and keep your fountain cleaner longer.
You'll be happy to know that water protector can be used in metal and plastic fountains too.
Number Two. Don't freak out bhuut your chickens have a booty full of lice and probably mites too. They’ve got junk in the trunk. Insect freeloaders. The second thing you can do 'right now" is the equivalent of a spa. Chicken style.
Right Now Solution: And now it’s bathing time. You also get two-for-one in tips with this one. Read on.
Bring in the poultry protector. I recommend a bucket or two, or maybe a deep dish pan or a Rubbermaid or large Tupperware container.
Set up a workstation for your bathing beauties. Maybe a table or a bench? It’s best if you can use warm water as it’ll be less shocking to your hands and your sweet little birds bodies.
There’s no need to rinse.
Next, you want to allow them to air dry. [I think it goes without saying that it’s best to start this in the early morning so they are fully dry halfway through the day.]
I think it also goes without saying that they’re probably going to be thinking that you’re a real big jerk for doing this but hey - 4H kids do this every year before the fair and their birds even get pedicures.
Pro Tip: Depending on how many birds you have you’ll need to change the water every 2 to 3 birds, per treatment. Otherwise, you’re moving bugs from chicken-to-chicken and the water gets pretty gross.
Here’s your bonus: because you pretty much horrified them with the bath it’s unlikely they’ll be willing to let you pick them up so this next Right Now tip is for roosting time.
What you’re going to want to do is:
Fluff those butts with diatomaceous earth. You can do this by hand, using your actual hand or use our handy little dispenser that you see below.
When using the dispenser...... fill it with diatomaceous earth, flip it upside down and squeeeeze: poof!
You'll want to give each chicken direct application right into his or her nether regions.
Pro tip: Dust their butts once a week for a month. Write it on your calendar. I can almost guarantee egg laying will increase as all there freeloading lice and mites die off.
Number Three. This one requires minimal input from you and is about as far on the opposite spectrum as you can get from bathing your birds. It’s an easy one and the results are long-term.
Here's what you need to do: I want you to think about the locations where your flock likes to spend their time. Where do they go for their scratching, pecking: doing their chicken things.
For me it’s around the potted plants in the run, under sage, rosemary and lavender bushes, near the water fountain and predominately all of the shady places. And of course: at the gate-waiting for me to give them treats.
You’ll need a bag of cluck'n sea kelp. To toss out all the granular sprinkles on.the.ground. Yep, toss it around all those places they go and do their things.
And now and once you’ve done this, each day forward for several weeks they’ll be doing their "thing" and eating the kelp along with the dirt, pebbles, leaves, bugs and other weird materials they deem suitable.
What’s the big deal + benefit?
Amen-now, get to sprinkling.
Number Four.
Time. You can absolutely improve your flocks health right now by spending more time with them. Kids, people, animals - we ALL benefit from more time with the ones we love and adore.
So here’s what I know:
Our chickens are resourceful and very curious characters and when given a little time and stimulation you'll will boost their vigor, energy and you will definitely stave off boredom, that leads to picking and bullying.
Wishing you all the best in health + happiness.
]]>
What in the hell? Are we having a shortage - ?
Yes, yes indeed! The Great Oyster Shell Shortage of 2020 has runneth right on into June of 2021. Ahnnd, it sucks.
Here's the situation:
Lind Marine operates out here on the West Coast and they've been doing so for, oh....let's say....a tiny bit of time. To be specific, 100 years or so. They've got it down and they do it better than anyone else [my opinion of course]. We get our oyster shell in bulk from Lind Marine. Or at least, we usto.
When you open a bag of oyster shell from Treats for Chickens you get a true, real, very-stinky bag of slivered oyster shells. Real.Oyster.Shells. Not that tumbled rock crap you see in other manufacturers bags. I mean, what is that stuff? Well, to be honest, I know what it is. It's tumbled and it's a good source of calcium but it's not what I'm accustomed to. How about you?
OK, so moving forward, here's what you want to know about The Great Oyster Shell Shortage of 2020-21: Lind Marine is having one hellofatime getting all their renewal permits for dredging and I'm assuming it's been a real struggle because they haven't been able to produce this product in months. And, when I say months I mean one-long-time because this shortage started in mid- 2020 when the rest of the world was also facing a shit ton of challenges with Covid-19.
Don't freak out but as of the writing of this we have 2 bags of oyster shell in inventory to sell to you. We intend to bag up more which will add a final 10 bags and then That.Is.It. Okay, now you can get a little twitchy but no freaking out allowed.
Our Pullet Together blend is scheduled to get some of the tumbled calcium in it's formula because that is what the whole.entire.agriculture industry is doing and has been doing for.....you got it....months. Like seven or eight of them there months. I'm not much for going with "trends" but I'm going with the flow on this one.
In a moment of wtf's and needing to control and predict my wtf's I thought I would go straight to the horses mouth and find out what.the.F. is really, really, going on.... and so I sent this message to Lind Marine:
Thank you for your email - we are currently out of product and unable to dredge oyster shell as we work on renewing our dredging permit with the state of CA.
Here is a recent update:
Customer Communication – May 27, 2021
To Our Valued Oyster Shell Customers:
Thank you for being loyal customers of Lind Marine’s oyster shell products. We regret any inconvenience that our interruption in supply of oyster shell may have caused.
Lind Marine’s affiliated company, Lind Tug and Barge, is continuing to work on renewing permits to dredge the oyster shell that is the basic resource that makes up our shell products. As you can imagine, this is a complex and arduous regulatory process that involves several State and Federal agencies. Our efforts the past few months have resulted in clarity of the required path to completion, and we continue to make progress on that path, but the process is taking longer than anticipated to navigate.
At this point, it appears that it will be about September of this year to get through the permitting process. We are doing everything we can to minimize this time.
Importantly, we remain absolutely confident that our final permits will be renewed, and continue the more than 100 year legacy of harvesting oyster shell for the agricultural and pharmaceutical communities. We have successfully navigated several of the necessary permits already, as we work to secure the final few.
We appreciate your understanding and patience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Again, thank you for your business, and we look forward to continuing to partner with you providing healthy products for our agricultural and pharmaceutical communities.
Lind Marine, Inc.
Did you catch that? Oh my gosh all those inspections and inspectors and policy and rules and oh nooooooo!
Look again! Four paragraphs from the bottom. The words: S.E.P.T.E.M.B.E.R.
Hang tight folks. It's going to be a few more months of this here backyard-chicken-oyster-shell-shortage but we'll prevail and we'll get through it and we'll rejoice every time we open a real, true and stinky bag of oyster shells from here on out. And, that makes me happy.
Wishing you all the best in health + happiness!
6.10.2021 Update: we have zero oyster shell in our inventory. Oyster shell has been removed from Subscribe + Save orders and added to a list to be notified when it's back in stock.
8.12.2021: Update: click here for the most recent update.
Click here and add your email to the list to be notified when it's back in stock!
🧡
It's a bit of a challenge to know where to start on the topic of the Not Moving but I want to share how bananas it's been.
Most importantly I'm going to start with a Thank You. Because of you, my beloved Treats for Chickens customers...we needed to move into a larger space. Much larger.
I thought we had our "space" situation solved when we took occupancy of an additional unit in our current complex in November of 2020. [thankfully the landlord still thinks I'm a great human despite learning I was raising 25 baby chicks upstairs in the office [his office] right around the same time.....lol]. Anyways, it quickly became apparent that two spaces was not enough to hold pallets of raw ingredients, finished/case boxed products and our online and distributor shipping departments.
Ahnnnd, this is where I thank you, again. Orders for products continue to flow in and we continue to seek out ingredients and packaging and case boxes - ordering them as fast as we can find them because after all, it's still Covid and there's been quite an impact on logistics. Supply and demand I'm looking at you!
For instance: certified organic Chamomile has been unavailable since late winter of 2020. It's nearly June 2021. Not a single flower or bud available in the quantity we need. Sure we can buy it 25 lbs at a time bhut that's not economical for the many hundreds of pounds we need to make Nesting Box Blend, Molt Mender, New Chicks in Town, Healthy Hen Wellness - so we've had to ration these items in terms of sales. But this is a topic for another blog post, another day.
Onward: so here's the thing: I've been working toward finding one large space for us to operate out of since we added our second space in November, 2020. We took occupancy into our second space [two doors down] and by February 2021 [four months!] were at max capacity again. Again, thanks to orders and our fabulous chicken loving customers.
Because we buy everything in pallets: ingredients, packaging, shipping boxes - and we have A.LOT of ingredients. In order to make chicken crack we need the space to effectively house a minimum of eight pallets [it's an 8 ingredient product] That's just for Chicken Crack. So, space gets gobbled up damn fast. We get vertical with our pallet racks but most pallets come to us weighing 2,000 lbs and while the shelving is rated for it...and can handle the weight - it's just a lot.
So, I started the time critical search for 5,000 sq. feet in Sonoma County. I found one that was 5k and one that was 8k. That's it. This real estate market is absurd. And, even though we are dealing with the back lash of Covid office abandonment and restaurant closures......manufacturing space is sparse. As in there was 1 suitable place to lease in a county with a population of 500k people. One.Space. #challengeaccepted
Next up: moving a Certified Organic operation is not just a pack-up-and relocate process either. It took 6 weeks to get the paperwork sorted out and approved to move. [Our certifies are experiencing staff shortages, childcare issues, covid restrictions too.] That's the shortest version of what took place in those six weeks btw. And, we had to agree to not make any product in our new location until we could be inspected .....which could take weeks? How many weeks....? Well, we were planning on 6 weeks.
How do you stay in business when you can not make product for 6 weeks you might be asking yourself? Well you make it in advance, in the location you don't have room to even create the normal production schedule you are on to begin with.......and that is driving the need to move in the first place. Did you follow that? Like, wtf? Right? We are really out of room now.
I should say that my team has been splendid and so generous and patient with all this and I consider myself very fortunate. In spite of our own staffing shortages these folks have doubled up on manufacturing and production, walking between pallets of finished case boxes to get from one room to another with little human space. Occasionally climbing over a pallet to get to another pallet to grab an otherwise lighter item needed at the moment.
As a company my team and I are still full steam ahead preparing for our partnership with Chewy.com, re-structuring on Amazon, planning to launch feed [which will take a huge amount of square feet btw], scouring the world, literally, for ingredients to keep our products in production and available for you. Challenged on the daily with shortages, inbound shipping delays and over charges, the cost of all.the.things increasing in the name of Covid while also taking two and three times as long to arrive. I mean, seriously.
You have felt some of this on your end when trying to get things done at home or work too, yes?
I don't know exactly the time or place or the specific thought that changed the whole trajectory but there were sleepless nights, long walks [and short runs] along the Petaluma waterfront [aka slue] and a pretty intense spreadsheet - plus a shit ton of intuition. But I didn't know it was intuition until.....
So.much.anxiety! I thought it might be anxiety but now...so much later I am certain it was intuition. According to Melissa Urban, Whole30 Melissa Urban, anxiety chatters away incessantly and intuition just lands and, then, there is space for decisions to be made. And, that my friend is what happened.
Maybe it was the gnarly long term lease I was about to sign on the ass end of a pandemic. Mind you, everyone else is trying to get out of their lease.... Maybe it was that in February the economy looked different than it was looking on May 3rd or 6th or was it May 11th? I don't know. Everything just felt different. Like opposing forces.
And, so to wrap this up:
I pulled the plug on the move and backed out of my lease before I signed it [can I get a hallelujah?]. Chewy will start a little later. Amazon is plugging right along, feed is happening - still [so be on the lookout for the announcement on that one!] and my ever so wonderful landlord, we call him Sid, has agreed to let me know when one of his 90+ units in "forklift driving distance" becomes available for us to lease, month-to-month.
I'm working on what the next seven months will look like for Treats for Chickens and its taking longer than I want. It comes as no surprise that anxiety continues to chatter away about all the what if's and you shouldaah's relating to the pandemic and what it means to continue to scale a business, in a pandemic, while keeping customers happy and chickens healthy. But I'm here for it and again, I've got the dream team with a bonus of customers that are kind and patient and at the end of the day...my chickens love me for my treats [they are very transparent about their loyalty to the treats].
Now on to your happy and healthy chickens: here at Treats for Chickens we are over stocked with whaay to much product and YOU reap the benefits. Please enjoy the 15% off sale. It runs until Thursday, May 27, 2021. Use coupon code StayinPut during checkout. PS: sale does not apply to Subscribe and Save orders.
To health + happiness and many, many thanks!
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
Coloring eggs with the family is a fond childhood memory of mine. When Easter was on its way I knew that soon I would be spending the Friday before at my Grandmother’s house, enjoying her home-made deviled eggs and dyeing hard boiled ones to hide and then find after church was out on Sunday.
I won’t be congregating this coming Easter Sunday - most services are still on hold due to Covid-19 concerns, and these days my springtime celebrations begin earlier anyway, on the equinox.
This past spring equinox I decided to try something new and dye eggs naturally using only edible ingredients. It has been years since I – or my mother, whose chickens supplied the eggs and whose kitchen I turned into an experimental laboratory – had dyed eggs.
We didn’t even have any of those old wire spoons that come with the kits you get at the grocery store anymore. In the end we didn't need them, however. Any slotted spoon, like the type for serving peas or pasta, works just fine.
I’ll cut to the chase – the results were amazing. The eggs tuned out better than either of us expected, and so of course, I had to share!
Vibrant, variant colors! Oh, happy spring! And all achieved with a few simple kitchen ingredients: eggs dyed with water and vinegar, purple cabbage, the skins of red and yellow onions, turmeric powder, and some cheap red wine.
The process of dyeing is essentially the same for each color, the one exception being the mottled brown eggs.
Making the Dye
To create the same dyes that I made you will need the following:
I made two cups of dye per color from this.
A note about onion skins: Sometimes its difficult to tell where an onion’s “skin” ends and the actual onion begins. I just peeled until my onions were shiny, and that worked out for me.
Red (burnt orange, really): You will need about a cup of skins per egg and you want them packed in. I found that the mesh bundle of red onions provided the right amount for the two eggs I wanted to dye.
Place the onion skins in a pot on the stove. I used two cups worth of onion skins and then put two cups of water in over the top. I left it uncovered and brought it up to a boil, then down to a simmer and left it there until the water had become super dark. I then strained the onion skins away and let the water cool in the refrigerator.
Once the container it was in was cool to the touch (it doesn’t have to be cold, lukewarm is fine) I added in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar per cup of fluid. Voila, natural dye!
Orange: The same process as Red, but with yellow onion skins.
Yellow: Turmeric powder was used to make these bright yellow eggs. Turmeric does a good job of staining anything it touches, and eggshells are no exception. I put two tablespoons of turmeric powder into two cups of water and brought it to a boil. I became impatient waiting for it to fully cook down, so when I took it off to cool there was still turmeric sludge at the bottom.
This sludge creates a deeper shade of yellow, more like goldenrod or bright orange. Since I had one egg sitting on top of the other, the egg on top turned out more of a bright yellow and the egg on bottom that was sitting half in the sludge turned out blotched with deep goldenrod.
I like this artistic touch, but if you want more uniformity in your coloring you can wait until the turmeric is fully cooked down and no more sludge remains.
The next part is the same as before. Wait for the water to cool, add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar per cup of water, and your dye is ready.
For Blue: Purple cabbage is the secret to the stunning blue hues on naturally dyed eggs. I used half a head of purple cabbage, chopped. (It doesn’t have to be coleslaw thin; the chopping is mostly to make it fit in the pot better) I then covered it with the two cups of water, brought it to a boil and then down to a simmer.
Simmer it for however long it takes for your water to look deep purple, almost black. Strain the cabbage, let the purple water cool down, and add one tablespoon of white vinegar per cup of water.
And there are your dyes!
Dyeing the Eggs
To dye the eggs all you need is patience and space in your refrigerator.
There are two ways you can go about the dyeing process: You can Set & Forget, or you can Dip & Dry.
The Set & Forget process is what I did. Each egg went into a cup of dye in the refrigerator, and it sat there overnight. The result was mottled, deep hues that were quirky, with a light ring on each egg wherever it was touching the glass. This doesn’t bother me, as they usually sit on the “ring” end anyway and hide it. If you want more uniformity, there is another dye process you can try.
Dip & Dry goes as follows: Place your eggs in their dye in the fridge, but every four hours take them out with as little handling as possible using a slotted spoon. Set them somewhere, like an egg carton, to dry off. Then, place them back in the dye for another four hours. The more times out, dried, and then back in they go, the more uniform the overall coloring will be.
For lighter colors simply pull your eggs from their dyebath sooner rather than later. Less time gives you lighter hues. For greens, place turmeric dyed eggs in a cabbage dye bath.
To shine or not to shine: Synthetic dyes often give eggs a glossy look. This can be achieved on natural dyed eggs by giving them a gentle polish with either olive oil or canola oil after they have dried off.
In the end I opted to polish them and went for a glossy look. It helps them catch sunlight well, which may be important if you plan on hiding them in a grassy field for little ones to find. And with that, there you have it - stunningly colored, naturally dyed hard-boiled eggs.
Now you may be wondering... what about those mottled brown ones? Grab your corkscrews – here’s where the wine comes in.
Each egg here went through the same process all at once and sat in the same dyebath for the same amount of time. The wildly different results are part of what makes this process so fun.
These eggs went into a pot raw and then were boiled in red wine instead of water. Use anything cheap – I had a horrible bottle of 2016 merlot I sacrificed for this purpose. Bacteria will turn opened wine into vinegar, so if you popped a bottle about a week ago and didn’t finish it this is a creative use for it before it goes down the drain.
Once the eggs are boiled, turn the heat off. Leave the eggs in the wine bath as it cools and eave them there overnight on the counter, not in the refrigerator. Check on them in the morning and see your results.
You can’t polish these ones as their color is sitting on top of the shell more than leeched into it. You will also notice that if you turn them in the light they are covered in tiny crystals.
What your eggs turn out to look like in the end probably has a lot of factors that I don’t understand, but they will absolutely look really cool. With their earthen tones, they make great culinary art pieces for any time of year.
And there you have it. Go forth and experiment! The results will be stunning no matter what.
BEFORE:
Blessed Ostara, Happy Spring Equinox, and Easter Blessings to you all.
-Sonia, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
Got something to cluck about? Have other suggestions? Questions?
It’s February and this note is well overdue, like 30+ days past my usual “hello new year” ramblings.
I trust this reading finds you cruising along doing all.the.things ahnnd nothing simultaneously - pandemic style.
Historically I’ve taken a break in early November to recount the previous 10 or so months and to see what I can do to wrap up the remaining 5 to 8 weeks successfully.
I purposely go to a warm, sunny and sandy location south of the border. It’s just what I do. Plus, the vitamin Sea clears my head , makes me happy too.
However, in keeping with the chaos of Covid, that didn’t happen.
At least not like usual. But it did happen the second week in January, 2021 in a clean but dark hotel room, just a few skips down the road from Treats for Chickens - and the sky cold-rained for 4 days straight. Not ideal but I’m not complaining.
During this jaunt I discovered that, in one of the most challenging business years I’ve encountered, I coincidentally accomplished more “I want-too’s” and “need-too’s” than I was aware.
Some sorta boring stuff that really gets me jazzed:
What’s new for 2021:
Well, I’ve been talking about feed since August and I’m sure I sound like a fly trapped on that sticky fly paper but it’s almost done. Almost.
Here’s a sneak peek of the big ole' feed bag:
Moving forward, this year as a company we are focusing on spending time getting it right and growing sustainably. Because, last year, while we managed to stay in business, stay safe and healthy ...we were in a constant hurry, free falling and basically winging-it.
There’s a few things that we won’t be doing - stay tuned for those - and more things we will be doing to enhance our overall mission of health and happiness for the modern backyard chicken.
We’ll be partnering with more retailers to ensure our products are more visible and available too.
Connecting with you in meaningful ways is a big one that I’ve been working on too.
Cant talk about the rest yet as it’ll spoil the fun.
And with that - thank you for your loyalty and love!
- Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
2020 has been a doozie of a year and we needed a fun exercise for our holiday par-tay. I cancelled food and the merry part but I'm thankful I found just the perfect activity. We were able to stay socially distant, use the other side of our brains and make something pretty. Take a peek below:
Dennis came early and set up tables, barrels and all the supplies.
Let the mess and creativity begin! So.Much.Fun! Big thanks to Seed & Gather for the fabulous DIY wreath kits! There's lots to choose from. And, it's not too late to grab one or three before the holidays as thoughtful, long lasting gifts!
- Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡]]>
If you don’t follow Treats for Chickens on Instagram (which you should @treats4chickens) you haven’t heard the exciting news: we have baby chicks! They are the cutest little balls of fluff I have ever seen. Don’t worry, I’ll include many, many photos.
I thought that it would be a wonderful idea to give how-tos, tips, and advice on raising up baby chicks aka Beginners Guide to Raising Baby Chicks.
Before your chicks even arrive, you’ll want to collect all needed supplies and set up the brooder.
Necessary supplies:
Like many young animals, chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature. It is super important to set up the brooder before the chicks arrive. They will be chilly from spending the journey with only each other for warmth, so be sure to set up the heat lamp before they arrive. The heat lamp should be set to heat to 95°F (35°C). You may want to grab a thermometer so you can track the temperature within the brooder.
Brooder at Treats for Chickens
Heater
Chicks also need a specific feeder-- see below. Make sure to fill up the feeder before your baby chicks arrive! They will be hungry. Chicks cannot eat the same pellets as full-grown hens can. So you’ll need to start them on crumble. Crumble is finally ground pellets and perfect for teeny tiny little beaks!
MOST IMPORTANT: You’ll also want to set up a water dish for the baby chicks. However, they won’t know what to do with it-- water, it’s new -- so you’ll have to gently pick up each chick and dip their beak into the water-- we’ll explain more on that in the next part.
Next we’ll explain what to do when your chicks arrive! But until then, read Treats for Chickens' Getting Started with Baby Chicks: Q&A blog.
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens 🧡
Let's keep your flock happy + healthy!
-Dawn, Treats for Chickens
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