What Are You Actually Paying For? A Smarter Guide to Chicken Labels
Fresh, organic, natural, air-chilled, and free-range answer different questions. Here is how to read a chicken label and decide which claims are actually worth paying for.
The Molt: Why Are My Chickens Naked?
Feathers everywhere, fewer eggs, and chickens that suddenly hate being handled? Learn what triggers a molt, why pin feathers hurt, what balanced nutrition really means, and when feather loss may signal something more.
American Bresse vs. Orpington vs. Cornish Cross: Which Meat Chicken Is Best?
Genetics, growth rate, activity, harvest age, and post-processing rest all affect chicken meat. Here is the science behind the differences between Orpington, American Bresse, and Cornish Cross chickens.
The 2026 Poultry Nutrition Update: What Chicken and Quail Keepers Need to Know
The first major poultry nutrition update since 1994 is here. Jennifer and Carey explain what the new research means for chicken and quail feed, crude protein, amino acids, breeders, growing birds, and backyard flocks.
Does Scratch Corn Really Cool Chickens? Separating Summer Feeding Facts from Fiction
Every summer, chicken feeding myths resurface. Learn why complete nutrition matters more in hot weather and whether scratch corn really helps keep chickens cool.
Winning the War on Flies Starts Long Before You See Flies
Learn practical fly control strategies for poultry and quail keepers. Discover how moisture management, sanitation, manure handling, biological controls, and simple farm practices can dramatically reduce fly populations.
Can Raising Chickens Benefit Children with Autism? What the Research Says
Harrison's Hatchery began with a simple incubator and a family's desire to create a meaningful future for their autistic son. In this episode, Lori Pinetta shares how poultry became a mission of purpose, community, and education while discussing Hy-Line Brown pullets, rooster rehoming, and building a successful poultry business.
The Bloom, Dry Hatching, and Why Marans Eggs Are So Hard to Candle
The bloom is an egg's natural protective coating, but many breeders don't realize how important it is to hatchability. In this article, we'll explore how the bloom affects moisture loss, why dry hatching works for many incubators, and why dark Marans eggs can be challenging to candle during incubation.
Focus Keywords
egg bloom
dry hatching
Marans eggs
hatching Marans eggs
incubating Marans eggs
egg cuticle
hatchability
chicken egg incubation
candling Marans eggs
hatching egg bloom
Breeding for Egg Color
Blue eggs, olive eggs, mint eggs, and deep green shades all come from specific genetic combinations. Learn how Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers are bred to create colorful egg baskets and why no two hens are exactly alike.
Heritage Chickens, Modern Broilers, and the Lost Middle Ground of Poultry Flavor
Why does heritage chicken taste richer than store-bought chicken? This article explores the science behind muscle fibers, connective tissue, pasture raising, broth quality, and the unique middle ground occupied by Bresse poultry.
Silkie Chickens: A Genetic Outlier in Poultry
Silkie chickens are more than just a fluffy novelty. This guide breaks down their history, standard colors, and real-world traits so you can decide if they belong in your breeding program or backyard flock.
Not All Eggs Are Created Equal: Egg Selection for Hatching
Selecting eggs for incubating is an important task for success
The 10 Biggest Mistakes New Chicken Owners Make (and How to Avoid Them)
New to chickens? Learn the 10 biggest mistakes beginners make—and how to avoid them with simple systems that improve flock health, egg production, and daily management.