I’m Dave. This site is about chickens, and I like them a lot. They are, as I have said before, givers.
Where It Started
I was born on a farm in upstate New York. A typical dairy operation of its time, with cows, pigs, chickens, and a horse named Golden Girl. My parents sold it when I was very young, but the farm left something behind in me that never quite went away.
Years later, a friend and I picked up a few baby chicks, mostly for fun and a few eggs. We gave most of them away. What I remember most from that first year is the wait for the first eggs to come in, and then the daily routine of checking the boxes. Every morning felt a little like a treasure hunt. It still does.
My Current Flock
I keep a small mixed flock: Rhode Island Reds, Light Brahmas, Araucanas, and Easter Eggers, plus a bantam that occasionally contributes a tiny white egg to the collection. On a good day I get brown, blue, and green eggs out of the same box.
My girls free-range during the day, and I feed them organic pellets. I don’t mind the extra cost. I like my birds, and I think it shows in the eggs.
Why This Site Exists
When I started incubating eggs, I ran into questions I could not answer quickly. Incubation temperature, humidity levels, brooder setup, breed selection. The information was out there, but scattered across a dozen different sources, none of them particularly straightforward.
I’m a doer by nature. I prefer to find the answer and get on with it. So I figured there were others like me, people starting out with chickens who just wanted a direct, no-frills resource that answered the most common questions without making them dig for it.
That is what Chickenmethod.com is. It is written from real experience, not theory. If I have kept a breed, used a piece of equipment, tried a method, or made a mistake, you will find it here.
What You Will Find Here
The site covers the full range of backyard chicken keeping: getting started with baby chicks, choosing the right breeds, incubation and brooding, feeding, flock health, coops and equipment, and yes, what to do when a hen eventually stops laying. There are also product reviews based on things I have actually used, not just looked up.
If you are just getting started, the best place to begin is the breeds comparison article or the beginner’s guide to egg incubators. If you have a specific question, use the search bar or browse by category.
My Blog
I use WordPress for my blog, and my hosting is with Bluehost. I recommend Bluehost if you want to start blogging while having a small budget. I’ll gladly help you get set up.
Get In Touch
If you have a question or want to reach me directly, you can email me at dave@chickenmethod.com. I read everything and respond when I can.
All the best,
Dave
Chickenmethod.com
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