RSM has a Vertplanter 2.0 to review with you! This is an indoor, tabletop vertical planter made out of manufactured terra cotta. Get RSM’s honest opinion as well as stats, instructions, and a video tour. Enjoy and happy planting!
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Hi! I am Sarah, the Real Simple Mama, and I’ve been a chicken tender for six years now. (No this isn’t the beginning of a Chicken Addicts Anonymous meeting!) I’m actually to here to talk about how to buy a coop kit for your flock.
My family and I got chickens six years ago in a semi urban Texas neighborhood; while we’ve moved quite a few times in this six years, we’ve almost always had a “coop kit.” I define this as a coop that comes in a box with instructions, pre-measured materials, and a plan. You’re paying for the convenience and the work it took for someone to design and package a coop – just build the kit and you’re ready for chickens!
But coop kits are sometimes less-than-easy to shop for, and I’ve had my share of bad experiences. Read on for all of my recommendations – what to look for in a coop kit for backyard chickens!
And hey for your shopping convenience, click on the free downloadable printable towards the end – it’s a short-and-sweet copy of my list so you can take it with you when you go to buy your own coop kit! Plus check out the video tour on YouTube, linked at the very bottom of this article.
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Chickens can really be the most wonderful pets. They have a fantastic and individual personality, they’re absolutely beautiful, they’re hilarious and sweet and even feed your family! But what happens if the flock harmony turns into a disaster? Get my tips here for how to stop bullying in backyard chicken flocks so that everyone is safe, happy, and healthy.
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Let’s get right to it: Chickens are dirty. They dig around in the dirt all day and with that comes a certain amount of, well, mess. So bumblefoot happens. It’s sometimes possible to have a non-invasive bumblefoot treatment where you don’t have to cut into your chicken’s foot but can heal the bumblefoot with soaking and topical medications. Read on, and know that I’m here to help!
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The pandemic has certainly required parents to get creative when it comes to fun, affordable, stay-at-home projects to do with the family. We found one that’s fun, easy, and beautiful – painting rocks! Get our tips on how to paint rocks for outside fun, making them bright and weatherproof.
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The winter season is kinda lame. To be honest, I call it the “Season of Waiting” because that’s largely what we do: we wait. Wait for the plants to come alive again, wait for animals to wake up and be active… and if you’re a chicken tender, you’re probably also waiting for eggs! Here’s my winter checklist for backyard chickens (and chicken chores) so that you can be ahead of the game when the weather warms up again.
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Well, there you go. You’re here because you’re looking to cool down your chicken coop, right? Especially at night when everyone is roosting with their feathery body heat? Or maybe when they’re laying eggs for your family in a sweltering box? Have no fear, we’ve done the work and put together how to do a solar fan build for your chicken coop… and why you should, too.
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We made a backyard pond! It’s been a great project for our little nature-loving family, especially during the shelter-in-place period. It’s an affordable and fun way to add some interest to your yard, and to attract more wildlife. But how do you get started? Check out my review and project build here, including a video tour!
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Also add links for food and treats
If you have chickens, you need a chicken journal. I’m a firm believer that you should get a central place to keep all of your flock-related data, expenses, and observations. So I’m here to advocate for chicken journals everywhere, and how to set one up! Hey I’ll even include a free PDF Table of Contents and a video demo!
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We have backyard chickens and they’re in a run, or yard, within our backyard. While we don’t anticipate having any crazy predators come through our little San Antonio suburban neighborhood, it’s always a good idea to install bird netting for your chicken run. In this article I’ll break down what bird netting is, why you want to use it, and how we did our install. Enjoy our article and the demo build video at the end!
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