Category: chickens

The Joys and Perils of Raising Chickens

I’ve raised a lot of chickens. Probably hundreds. For eggs, not meat. I give them the best lives I can, including a generous retirement plan when they reach a certain age, with free room and board, yet they rarely arrive at those emerald pastures. Precious few have lived long enough to die in their sleep….


White Striping Disease Found in More Than 90 Percent of US Store-Brand Chickens, Study Finds

More than 90 percent of U.S. store-brand chickens have the muscle disease known as “white striping,” according to findings released on Monday by The Humane League. White striping disease is a muscle myopathy that occurs when chickens are bred for rapid growth. The stripes appear on the chickens when they are unable to keep up with…


How to Dye Easter Eggs, Naturally

The egg came first; let’s just get that out of the way. For millions of years before humans domesticated the feathered lizards known today as “chickens,” countless generations of amphibia and reptiles, including dinosaurs, were laying eggs. The egg is an amazing system for nurturing young beings that’s just plain awe-inspiring to contemplate. It’s also…