A backyard chicken keeper in a flannel shirt at her run fence at golden hour, mixed flock around her feet, weathered hands holding feed
Editor's Pick

The Night the Automatic Coop Door Saved My Entire Flock

I was two hours from home when my neighbor texted me a photo. Something had been working the coop latch.

An essay by Kasandra Fasnacht · 5 min read

Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

Stop losing birds at dusk
RUN-CHICKEN T50 Review: A Year of Letting It Lock Up My Coop Every Night
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

RUN-CHICKEN T50 Review: A Year of Letting It Lock Up My Coop Every Night

RUN-CHICKEN T50 vs VEVOR Auto Door: Which One Actually Keeps Predators Out?
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

RUN-CHICKEN T50 vs VEVOR Auto Door: Which One Actually Keeps Predators Out?

10 Reasons Your Backyard Flock Needs an Automatic Coop Door
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

10 Reasons Your Backyard Flock Needs an Automatic Coop Door

The Night the Automatic Coop Door Saved My Entire Flock
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

The Night the Automatic Coop Door Saved My Entire Flock

How to Predator-Proof Your Coop at Night Without Losing Sleep
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

How to Predator-Proof Your Coop at Night Without Losing Sleep

RUN-CHICKEN T50 Honest Review: Great Concept, A Few Quirks Worth Knowing
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

RUN-CHICKEN T50 Honest Review: Great Concept, A Few Quirks Worth Knowing

Waterers & Winter Care

Through the polar vortex without ice-haul mornings
Farm Innovators Heated Waterer Review: Does It Actually Stay Thawed Below Zero?
Waterers & Winter Care

Farm Innovators Heated Waterer Review: Does It Actually Stay Thawed Below Zero?

Farm Innovators vs API Heated Waterer: Which One Survives a Real Winter?
Waterers & Winter Care

Farm Innovators vs API Heated Waterer: Which One Survives a Real Winter?

10 Ways to Keep Chicken Water from Freezing This Winter
Waterers & Winter Care

10 Ways to Keep Chicken Water from Freezing This Winter

How a $57 Heated Waterer Got My Flock Through a Polar Vortex
Waterers & Winter Care

How a $57 Heated Waterer Got My Flock Through a Polar Vortex

How to Set Up a Heated Chicken Waterer for Winter (Step-by-Step)
Waterers & Winter Care

How to Set Up a Heated Chicken Waterer for Winter (Step-by-Step)

Farm Innovators Heated Waterer: The Honest Review After 3 Hard Winters
Waterers & Winter Care

Farm Innovators Heated Waterer: The Honest Review After 3 Hard Winters

Incubators & Hatching

From egg to chick without a broody hen
MATICOOPX 30-Egg Incubator Review: First Hatch, Hatch Rates, and What Surprised Me
Incubators & Hatching

MATICOOPX 30-Egg Incubator Review: First Hatch, Hatch Rates, and What Surprised Me

MATICOOPX 30-Egg Incubator vs Nurture Right 360: Which One Hatches More Chicks?
Incubators & Hatching

MATICOOPX 30-Egg Incubator vs Nurture Right 360: Which One Hatches More Chicks?

10 Mistakes First-Time Hatchers Make (And How to Fix Them Before Day 21)
Incubators & Hatching

10 Mistakes First-Time Hatchers Make (And How to Fix Them Before Day 21)

My First Hatch with the MATICOOPX: 22 Out of 28 Eggs Made It
Incubators & Hatching

My First Hatch with the MATICOOPX: 22 Out of 28 Eggs Made It

How to Hatch Eggs When None of Your Hens Will Go Broody
Incubators & Hatching

How to Hatch Eggs When None of Your Hens Will Go Broody

MATICOOPX Incubator: The Review for People Who Want to Know About the Bad Hatches Too
Incubators & Hatching

MATICOOPX Incubator: The Review for People Who Want to Know About the Bad Hatches Too

Treats & Supplements

Stronger shells, deeper yolks, happier hens
Adaman BSFL Review: Did My Hens' Eggs Actually Change After a Month on These?
Treats & Supplements

Adaman BSFL Review: Did My Hens' Eggs Actually Change After a Month on These?

BSFL vs Dried Mealworms for Chickens: Which Treat Actually Does More?
Treats & Supplements

BSFL vs Dried Mealworms for Chickens: Which Treat Actually Does More?

10 Reasons to Feed Your Flock Black Soldier Fly Larvae
Treats & Supplements

10 Reasons to Feed Your Flock Black Soldier Fly Larvae

My Hens Were Laying Tissue-Paper Shells Until I Tried BSFL
Treats & Supplements

My Hens Were Laying Tissue-Paper Shells Until I Tried BSFL

How to Get Darker, Richer Egg Yolks from Your Backyard Flock
Treats & Supplements

How to Get Darker, Richer Egg Yolks from Your Backyard Flock

Adaman BSFL Honest Review: Great Treat, But Hens Can Get Addicted
Treats & Supplements

Adaman BSFL Honest Review: Great Treat, But Hens Can Get Addicted

Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

Goodbye floor eggs, hello clean nests
Precision Pet Nesting Pads Review: Do They Actually Keep Eggs Cleaner?
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

Precision Pet Nesting Pads Review: Do They Actually Keep Eggs Cleaner?

Nesting Pads vs Pine Shavings in the Nesting Box: What's Worth the Switch?
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

Nesting Pads vs Pine Shavings in the Nesting Box: What's Worth the Switch?

10 Ways to Get Cleaner Eggs from Your Nesting Boxes
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

10 Ways to Get Cleaner Eggs from Your Nesting Boxes

My Hens Kept Laying on the Floor Until I Fixed the Nesting Boxes
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

My Hens Kept Laying on the Floor Until I Fixed the Nesting Boxes

How to Set Up Nesting Boxes Your Hens Will Actually Use
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

How to Set Up Nesting Boxes Your Hens Will Actually Use

Precision Pet Nesting Pads Honest Review: What I Wish the Listing Told Me
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

Precision Pet Nesting Pads Honest Review: What I Wish the Listing Told Me

All Reviews

Long-term, hands-on, honest
RUN-CHICKEN T50 Review: A Year of Letting It Lock Up My Coop Every Night
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

RUN-CHICKEN T50 Review: A Year of Letting It Lock Up My Coop Every Night

RUN-CHICKEN T50 Honest Review: Great Concept, A Few Quirks Worth Knowing
Coops, Doors & Predator Protection

RUN-CHICKEN T50 Honest Review: Great Concept, A Few Quirks Worth Knowing

Farm Innovators Heated Waterer Review: Does It Actually Stay Thawed Below Zero?
Waterers & Winter Care

Farm Innovators Heated Waterer Review: Does It Actually Stay Thawed Below Zero?

Farm Innovators Heated Waterer: The Honest Review After 3 Hard Winters
Waterers & Winter Care

Farm Innovators Heated Waterer: The Honest Review After 3 Hard Winters

MATICOOPX 30-Egg Incubator Review: First Hatch, Hatch Rates, and What Surprised Me
Incubators & Hatching

MATICOOPX 30-Egg Incubator Review: First Hatch, Hatch Rates, and What Surprised Me

MATICOOPX Incubator: The Review for People Who Want to Know About the Bad Hatches Too
Incubators & Hatching

MATICOOPX Incubator: The Review for People Who Want to Know About the Bad Hatches Too

Adaman BSFL Review: Did My Hens' Eggs Actually Change After a Month on These?
Treats & Supplements

Adaman BSFL Review: Did My Hens' Eggs Actually Change After a Month on These?

Adaman BSFL Honest Review: Great Treat, But Hens Can Get Addicted
Treats & Supplements

Adaman BSFL Honest Review: Great Treat, But Hens Can Get Addicted

Precision Pet Nesting Pads Review: Do They Actually Keep Eggs Cleaner?
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

Precision Pet Nesting Pads Review: Do They Actually Keep Eggs Cleaner?

Precision Pet Nesting Pads Honest Review: What I Wish the Listing Told Me
Nesting Boxes & Clean Eggs

Precision Pet Nesting Pads Honest Review: What I Wish the Listing Told Me

Coop notes, sent Sundays with coffee

One thoughtful read every Sunday morning. Plant-rooted, grounded, no hype. Unsubscribe in one click.