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Every commercial poultry farmer, hobby farmer or urban backyard farmer who keep a few chickens is aware that a pecking order exists in every flock, but how can young chicks fit into that hierarchy? Understanding the pecking order of chickens can help you add chicks to your flock without creating social problems for all the birds. About the Pecking Order The pecking order is the rank of individual birds within your unique flock, with stronger, more dominant birds occupying higher ranks while weaker, more submissive birds are lower in the pecking order. Birds higher in the pecking order generally eat...

Quite often, your soil can be either too hard or wet in the spring to even consider trying to plant. Eventually you’ll be able to plant something, but when? Here’s an excellent suggestion to figure out if your soil is ready to be worked:Just a few stepsIf you step onto your soil and your feet don’t sink in at all, the ground is likely too hard for you to plant in. You also don’t want to step into it and have water rush up to your shoes.Time for the squeeze testGrab a handful of soil and squeeze it in your...

Whether you have just a few chickens or a large, widely varied flock, a happy, healthy flock will be better socialized and will be more productive layers. Fortunately, happy and healthy go together and it is easy to keep chickens in superb condition with just a few easy steps. Provide Appropriate SpaceChickens need adequate space both in the coop and in an outdoor run to be happy and healthy. The space should include plenty of roosting perches as well as shelter from winter winds and shade from summer sun as needed. An overcrowded space will be messier and can lead...

With the official first day of spring at hand, March is an exciting month in the garden. While it is important not to rush into gardening too early and put tender seeds or seedlings at risk, it is also important not to miss these first days of warming temperatures, fertile soil and abundant rains. While the exact dates of each task will vary depending on where exactly your garden is and what its needs are, all gardeners should be considering these tasks throughout March. Pruning Evergreens and Removing WrapsIn early March as melting begins, burlap wraps or ties that have...

A horse's teeth change throughout its life and proper dental care is essential for your horse to be comfortable feeding, grazing and carrying a bit. But what types of problems can develop, and how should they be taken care of? Does Your Horse Have Tooth Problems? A horse has from 36-44 teeth, and those teeth wear down as the horse grazes and eats. Because our horses have different diets that are often softer than the fodder their wild ancestors and cousins consume, however, the wear on their teeth may be uneven or slow, and different dental problems can occur. Your...