The most common misconception I hear about chickens is “Do chickens lay eggs without a rooster?” The rest follows the common flimflammery that I hear about chickens and general assumptions that are just not true. Anyone Who has had chickens before I’m sure will be familiar. So don’t worry it’s not an uncommon thought at all.

A rooster will affect your flock of chickens by giving you “fertilized eggs”. So unless you have a Rooster you won’t be able to hatch any eggs you get from chickens. This way if you live somewhere that doesn’t allow you to own a rooster, there is nothing to fear, you can still have a backyard flock if you want to raise your own chickens for eggs. You will just need to get your chicks from somewhere other than your flock.

Chickens can eat all sorts of food scraps, fruits, and vegetables. That’s the way they have been fed for thousands of years. Modern chickens get the luxury of a more standardized feed that anyone can get at their local feed stores. This is something I will write about in-depth in another article.

I don’t think Roosters are Mean, they are supposed to defend their ladies. If they weren’t acknowledging you as a potential threat they aren’t doing their job. However, there are also very friendly roosters as well. No matter what happens around them, you are their best buddy (Maybe because you give them head scratches and treats). My rooster peach comes up to me and dances for me and requests the head scratches and a good ole pick-up and cuddle. Which is why he never ended up in the pot.

Nope! The only difference is the color we see. Colors can range anywhere from a dark chocolatey brown to a white, and anywhere from a pastel blue to a deep army green. This all depends on the genetics to determine the colors they lay. Marans are well known for their Chocolate brown eggs, and Easter eggers are well known for their colorful blue/green eggs. The nutrients are dependent on the chicken’s diet, health and happiness. Because most production hens lay white or brown eggs (In the United States), the blue seems to be more likely to come from a backyard chicken keeper. However, they do look super pretty with a variety that’s for sure!

There is no need to worry, Most chicken diseases stick to them only. there are some things you can get from your chickens though. if you’re not familiar with bumble foot that is just when a chicken gets a staff infection, which can be transmitted to humans. Salmonella is not too much of a problem in backyard flocks vs large-scale chicken facilities, however, you should always be safe and wash your hands after general chicken. Plus if you’re anything like me, you will probably want to because they will get you dirty from jumping on you anyway.

They also fight diseases and infections by keeping clean by dust bathing. you can see my article here on the ones I set up for my chickens.

Common Chicken Terminology Simplified.

“Straight Run”- This could mean you get a girl or a boy, the gender has not been revealed on this chick

“Cockerel”- This is a male chick, he will crow once he’s older.

“Pullet”- This is a female chick she will give you eggs once she grows up.

“Brooder”- A place you keep your chicks in until they get big enough to go outside.

“Coop”- I hope you know what this is, but it’s the shelter for your chickens

“Flock”- A group of chickens that are kept together.

“Pecking order”- This is the hierarchy of chickens. Who’s the boss, and the boss’s boss.

“Roo”- Abbreviation for a Rooster. A male Chicken.