Chicken Chatter Blog with Lacey Vilhauer

Lacey Vilhauer Chicken Chatter As a farmer’s daughter, an agricultural journalist and someone who currently lives on a farm, I love that chickens—just like the eggs they produce—are serving as a binder to bridge the gap between agriculturists and consumers several generations removed from the farm. This inspired me to start a chicken blog called Chicken Chatter, to discuss various fowl topics, including some of my own experiences with a flock of 11 birds and insights from others involved with the backyard bird pastime.

They really are incredible animals and after several years of consistently owning chickens, I can’t see my life without them. If you love chickens or want to learn more about them, follow Chicken Chatter on www.hpj.com for new installments each month and let’s talk chickens together.

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].

How to introduce new hens to a backyard flock

How to introduce new hens to a backyard flock

Ask my husband what stresses me out, and he’ll say, “worrying about pets,” and introducing new hens to my chicken coop is no exception. Selecting new birds is always exciting, but transporting and int…

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Keepin’ your eggs fresh in cold weather: Beat the winter freeze

Keepin’ your eggs fresh in cold weather: Beat the winter freeze

When the temps drop, it ain’t just your chickens feelin’ the chill—your fresh eggs can freeze up fast, too! Frozen eggs can crack,…
Did you winterize your Eglu?

Did you winterize your Eglu?

A product review by HPJ’s Alissa Weece For those of you with the Omlet Eglu coops, it’s no secret that these things are built t…
Keepin’ your chickens safe: Simple tips for beatin’ frostbite on combs

Keepin’ your chickens safe: Simple tips for beatin’ frostbite on combs

When winter rolls in, frostbite can be a real headache for chicken keepers—especially on those tender combs. Since combs stick out…
Zoetis receives OK for conditional license for bird flu vaccine

Zoetis receives OK for conditional license for bird flu vaccine

Zoetis, Parsippany, New Jersey, announced Feb. 14 the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics has issued …
New strain of bird flu detected in California

New strain of bird flu detected in California

The World Organization for Animal Health said in a Jan. 27 notification that the H5N9 strain of avian bird flu has been detected f…
Bird flu detected in Nebraska backyard flock

Bird flu detected in Nebraska backyard flock

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Ins…
Rollins confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Rollins confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

On Feb. 13, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Brooke Rollins as the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under the Donald Trump admin…
How to introduce new hens to a backyard flock

How to introduce new hens to a backyard flock

Ask my husband what stresses me out, and he’ll say, “worrying about pets,” and introducing new hens to my chicken coop is no excep…
Avian flu case detected in Nebraska flock

Avian flu case detected in Nebraska flock

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Serv…
Rollins advanced to a Senate vote for secretary of agriculture 

Rollins advanced to a Senate vote for secretary of agriculture 

After a unanimous vote from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Feb. 3, Brooke Rollins is on her w…
Wing prices take flight ahead of Super Bowl LIX

Wing prices take flight ahead of Super Bowl LIX

Americans expected to consume 1.47 billion wings The price of a Super Bowl staple – chicken wings – is expected to rise slightl…
Egg prices continue to climb

Egg prices continue to climb

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI, continue to drive egg prices to record highs across the U.S., said Texas A&a…
Agriculture’s balance sheet in 2025 

Agriculture’s balance sheet in 2025 

(Photo by Tom Fisk via Pexels.) You can see it on the faces of many farmers in America right now: stress; fear of the future; r…
How to turn your dog into a chicken protector

How to turn your dog into a chicken protector

Nothing makes me fear for my backyard birds more than the sight or signs of predators around my chicken coop. I’ve had plenty of e…
6 wintertime treats to boost your chicken’s diet

6 wintertime treats to boost your chicken’s diet

High-protein snacks: Throw in some mealworms, black oil sunflower seeds, or even scrambled eggs to give ’em the extra energy they …
9 tips on keeping chickens healthy in snow

9 tips on keeping chickens healthy in snow

Create a dry, comfy coop: Make sure your chickens have a dry place to hunker down, free from cold winds and snow. A snug, insulate…
Avian flu discovered in Iowa flock

Avian flu discovered in Iowa flock

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspectio…
OSU Extension backyard chickens online course

OSU Extension backyard chickens online course

Interested in raising backyard chickens? Looking to expand your current backyard operation? Enroll in the OSU Extension Backyard C…
Experts predict poultry and egg market prices for 2025 and beyond 

Experts predict poultry and egg market prices for 2025 and beyond 

Since the deadly United States outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in February 2022, the poultry industry has been chall…
KDA warns poultry owners of HPAI risk

KDA warns poultry owners of HPAI risk

The annual increase in migratory bird activity brings with it the risk of a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which…
Operation Ostrich: Raising one heck of a drumstick

Operation Ostrich: Raising one heck of a drumstick

Maine pine needles yield valuable Tamiflu material

Maine pine needles yield valuable Tamiflu material

Waging war on cedar trees

Waging war on cedar trees

Birds need our help in winter

Birds need our help in winter

Iowa State University avian influenza in small birds and rodents

Iowa State University avian influenza in small birds and rodents

Poultry feed efficiency research has implications for human health

Poultry feed efficiency research has implications for human health

A New Year’s resolution for soil and business

A New Year’s resolution for soil and business

Goshen County 4-H educator honored for innovative programming

Goshen County 4-H educator honored for innovative programming

How to manage agricultural land to benefit wildlife

How to manage agricultural land to benefit wildlife

EPA says glyphosate is unlikely carcinogenic

EPA says glyphosate is unlikely carcinogenic

ICAC: Global cotton consumption to increase

ICAC: Global cotton consumption to increase

Evanston hosting Wyoming-Utah Ag Days on Jan. 23-24

Evanston hosting Wyoming-Utah Ag Days on Jan. 23-24

Raising peacocks and game birds

Raising peacocks and game birds

Raising turkeys

Raising turkeys

Raising ducks and geese

Raising ducks and geese

Pueblo Eagle Days festival happening Feb. 3-4

Pueblo Eagle Days festival happening Feb. 3-4

Earl Hafner of Panora to receive 2018 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical Farmers of Iowa

Earl Hafner of Panora to receive 2018 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical Farmers of Iowa

Local FFA chapter does their part to train future agriculturalists

Local FFA chapter does their part to train future agriculturalists

Texas Native Seeds project expanding to meet demand ecosystem restoration

Texas Native Seeds project expanding to meet demand ecosystem restoration

Government in shutdown mode, Perdue outlines USDA services while ag reacts

Government in shutdown mode, Perdue outlines USDA services while ag reacts