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Flock
Browse 13 in-depth Flock guides from Chicken Keeper Guide. Our editorial team researches and writes each one to give you clear, practical answers, current as of September 2026. The newest are shown first.
Chicken Dust Bathing: Why Birds Need It and How to Help
My first spring with chickens, I stood at the coop window watching my hens throw dirt all over themselves and …
12 Hens Per Rooster: The Ideal Flock Ratio Explained
Most people guess too low. The number that actually surprises new chicken keepers: a single rooster can …
Why Chickens Peck Each Other and How to Stop It
Most people assume pecking is a behavior problem. I thought that too, for my first couple of years. I watched …
Keeping Chickens Cool in Summer Heat: 7 Essential Strategies
Hundred-and-three degrees in the shade, and I lost my first Delaware hen on a Tuesday afternoon in late July. …
7 Ways to Keep Chickens Warm and Healthy All Winter
Three winters ago, a neighbor texted me a photo of her coop at 6 a.m. She had six Rhode Island Reds and one …
Why Chickens Eat Their Own Eggs and How to Stop It
Egg eating happens fast. One day your girls are laying beautifully, and then you reach into the nesting box …
How Long Do Backyard Chickens Really Live?
My first flock of Black Australorps came from a local feed store in the spring of 2016, and I fully expected …
Can You Keep A Rooster? Know Your Local Laws
My neighbor got a rooster by accident in 2021. Ordered a straight-run batch of Buff Orpingtons from Meyer …
How To Safely Introduce New Chicks To Your Flock
Most people get the introduction wrong before the chicks even arrive. They read “keep them separate for …
Why Your Backyard Chickens Turn Aggressive
Someone in a Facebook group I follow posted a photo last week of her arm with three long scratches on it, and …
Why Roosters Matter In Your Backyard Flock
Nobody warns you about the noise at 3 a.m. Not the hatchery website. Not the cheerful Facebook group. Not even …
How To Introduce New Chickens To Your Flock
You did everything right. You quarantined your new birds for the full 30 days, watched them closely for signs …
Why Your Chickens Fight For Pecking Order
You walked out to the coop one morning and found one of your hens huddled in the corner, feathers missing from …