Category: Managing the Flock

Think Free-Range Is Best for Your Chickens? Think Again.

“Predators Only Come Out at Night”—It’s One of the Biggest Myths in Chicken Keeping!


There’s no disputing the benefits of free-roaming, chickens love scratching around in the dirt, hunting for bugs, and enjoying everything nature has to offer. Especially if your coop setup is small, it makes total sense that you’d want their days filled with sunshine and fresh grass. After all, most people say predators only strike at night, right? If your flock is tucked away safely in a locked coop when the sun goes down, you’d naturally think you’re giving them their best life.
The truth is, the second you open that coop door, your flock becomes a target. It’s a complete myth that predators only hunt at night. Even living in the fifth largest city in the country, I’ve lost hens in broad daylight to hawks, bobcats, and coyotes, and a few years ago, I lost an entire flock in a single afternoon. On top of wild animals, you also have to watch out for loose neighborhood dogs, which can be just as deadly. The only real way to keep your birds safe is to keep them confined in a larger, comfortable setup stocked with fresh greens, mealworms, and occasional treats.
I know you see chicken keepers all over social media with their birds frolicking in the grass, roaming free and looking happy as can be. It sounds great, but is that their actual daily reality? As someone who has kept chickens for over 20 years, I can guarantee you that anyone who lets their flock roam free has lost birds to predators at one point or another. I guess if you have 50 birds and lose six to a coyote, it’s a trade off you might accept. But what if you are like most backyard chicken keepers and have only six or seven birds total? Are you really willing to take that risk?
Now, you might be thinking, “What if I have a rooster?” Sure, a solid rooster will absolutely put his life on the line for his hens. He’ll keep a lookout, sound the alarm, and maybe even scare off a smaller hawk or a neighborhood cat. But let’s be real for a second, a rooster is still no match for a coyote, a bobcat, or a loose dog. While having a vigilant rooster on duty definitely helps their odds, relying on him as your main defense is still a huge gamble. At the end of the day, trust me when I say even the bravest rooster can’t outfight a hungry predator.

Back to HOME PAGE

The Omlet Smart Chicken Feeder. Is it Everything it Claims to Be?

Omlet Smart Feeder

Not sponsored by Omlet, I bought the feeder, and here’s my honest opinion.

Well, I did it, I bit the bullet and bought this fancy (pricey) smart feeder, hoping it would solve my feed waste problem and help keep those pesty sparrows out of my feed. They say it’s no-spill, automatically opens and closes, sends notifications right to your phone, and has a reliable app. Is it true? Yes! I’ve been using the 12 lb feeder for two weeks, and I couldn’t be happier. Setup was easy, though like any new device, taking your time to read the manual helps you fully understand its potential.
I have zero feed on the ground, which means no waste, and that means it saves money. Not to mention no dropped feed on the ground and a closed feeder at night keeps the rodents away. I set the feeder to open at dawn and close at dusk, but you can customize the schedule anytime directly from your phone. The 12 lb capacity fed my six hens for a full week—exactly as Omlet promised. Don’t have a smartphone? No problem. The feeder works right out of the box using a built-in light sensor to open and close automatically. There’s nothing to complain about, this feeder is a total win on every level.
Price: Yep, kinda spendy, $229+ shipping. Is it worth it? 100% yes.
Want to learn more? Omlet Smart Feeder

Back to HOME PAGE

The Daily Reality of Raising Backyard Chickens


The dream of collecting fresh eggs from your backyard is one of the biggest attractions of modern suburban homesteading. However, behind the dream lies the reality, keeping a small flock of four to six hens requires consistent labor, routine maintenance, and a non-negotiable commitment to cleaning. While chickens are relatively low maintenance, having a small flock demands a steady commitment and a good deal of your time.
Every morning begins with letting the flock out of the secure coop into their enclosed run. Waterers must be checked, dumped, and refilled with fresh water. Mid-day or late afternoon requires a quick trip to gather eggs before they get broken or dirty. Dusk brings the mandatory task of locking the coop door to protect the flock from predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, etc. These are non-negotiable chores every single day.
Maintaining a tidy coop is where the real effort lies. Chickens produce a surprising amount of poop. Without regular care, smells become overwhelming fast, attract flies, rodents, and can cause respiratory disease over time. Scraping manure off the roosting boards, checking nesting boxes for broken eggs, replacing soiled straw or wood shavings, and wiping down the nest boxes is a necessary part of chicken keeping. Raking the outdoor run to prevent mud buildup and turning over soil or adding fresh pine shavings keeps odor at bay, which is a weekly chore at the very least.
Whatever bedding method is used, a comprehensive scrub-down is necessary every few months. Deep cleaning involves hauling out all old bedding, scrubbing surfaces, cleaning drinkers and feeders, and adding lime to the ground to deter mites and lice.
While keeping chickens is not backbreaking work, it does require a daily commitment, regardless of rain, snow, or heat. For those willing to put in the time, the reward is a steady supply of farm fresh eggs. But there are other benefits too, chickens have distinct personalities and can be fun to watch. You may find that spending time with a flock is not about the work at all, could it be your new way to relax, unwind, and be entertained? I’m not opposed to calling chicken keeping… therapy.

Back to HOME PAGE