Frequently Asked Questions

The word "coop" simply refers to the structure that your chickens live in. A run refers to the enclosed part of the chickens' area that is outside, ideally with access to pasture. In hot dry areas, sometimes coops are three-sided, with the fourth wall made of welded wire for security against predators. The "missing" wall provides extra ventilation and makes sure the coop doesn't get too hot inside. In cold areas, they can be quite small. A coop can be a purpose-built structure or a converted shed or building, made of wood, plastic, adobe, etc. They can be large or...

Wattles are the red flaps of tissue that hang down beneath a chicken's throat. Wattles can be large or small, or mostly nonexistent. Bearded birds, for example, have very small wattles hidden in the fluff of their faces. Wattles are thought to be there as one of the ways that chickens can help cool themselves down and regulate their body temperatures. Note: "Wattles" - what she flutters when she Talks, and "waddles" - what she Does when she walks! A chicken's earlobes are generally smaller and further back along the sides of his or her head.

A Poultry Show or exhibition is very much like a dog show. Breeders and fanciers, and sometimes 4-Hers, bring their best chickens to show them at the exhibition and have them judged according to "breed standards," in other words by what the American Poultry Association (APA) says the ideal bird of that breed is like. (Did you know that a lot of the photos you see on our website come from special breeding lines at poultry shows?)  APA breed standards outline what color feathers, legs, skin, earlobes and so on the ideal bird should have. It also points out if...

"Pecking order" is the social hierarchy of the chicken flock. Those at the top of the pecking order get the best nesting spots and roosting spots, for instance... and those at the bottom get what's left. Small flock with plenty of space This arrangement works out well so long as there is plenty of space on roosts, in nests, and plenty of food and water for everyone. If there is not enough, then the girls at the low end get picked on, and may not be getting enough to eat and drink. Always make sure your chickens have more than...

A setter is a hen who will hatch her eggs. A non-setter is a hen who will not hatch eggs. The vast majority of chicken breeds will occasionally go "broody," meaning they will set their eggs and try to hatch them. However, a "setter" usually refers to a breed (or a specific hen) that frequently goes broody. Orpingtons and cochins are setters, for instance. Buff Orpington Hen Some high production breeds like Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns seldom if ever go broody and want to set eggs. Those are non-setters. Which is best just depends on your perspective. If you...

A nest box is an enclosed area meant to give chickens a place they feel comfortable laying their eggs.Chickens generally prefer darkened, cozy places where they feel safe. We say "generally," here, because new layers may not understand what their instincts are telling them to do. Many lay an egg or two on the floor. Some feel like they need to find a spot outside the coop to lay (such as under your porch!), and so on. It may take some time and effort to "teach" them to lay in the coop. And some may always prefer to lay in...

A Showgirl is a type of chicken that combines the features of two of the weirdest-looking chicken breeds, Silkies and Turkens! Silkies are small chickens whose feathers lack the barbicels that hold them into a feather shape, so they look (and feel) like they're covered with fur rather than feathers. Silkies also have black skin, a dark beak and eyes, a dark purple (mulberry) comb and turquoise earlobes. Turkens, or naked necks, are regular large fowl chickens that don't have any feathers on their necks, so they bear a passing resemblance to small turkeys. Showgirls look as if they combine...

A waterer is simply the vessel or system you use to provide water for your birds. Waterers may be basic and made from plastic or metal. Here is our best-selling chick waterer. They may be designed for use with nipples or cups. Waterers designed to accommodate bucket heaters are very handy if your temps regularly drop below zero. For that matter, a waterer could be a large bowl or dish---but we don't recommend that, really. In general, you want a chicken's waterer to be difficult to topple over, and designed to keep scratched up bedding out of the water so...