Storms can be severe during this time of year; it is essential to prepare your home as well as your chickens for the likelihood that you will be the brunt of foul weather.  Here are some tips to get your flock ready.

Preparation

If you have forewarning of a storm, it's a good idea to unplug anything in your coop.  Lightening may create a power surge that can damage appliances. Ensure your coop is secure; make sure the roof and sides are sturdy and close windows and doors. Remove or tie down loose objects that may become a projectile by storm winds.  If your chickens are free-ranging, gather them up into your chicken yard, so they have an opportunity to seek shelter quickly if they choose.  Chickens do well protecting themselves in a storm, as long as they have the choices for sheltering. You can close them up in the coop if you prefer; make sure they have food and water available.

Bringing Them Inside

Some pending storms are so threatening that you want to bring your chickens inside until it passes.  A hard floor, such as concrete or tile, is best. A garage or laundry room is a perfect location.  Lay down a tarp and place their food and water in the area.  Ensure that the area is secure, with the doors and windows closed; nervous chickens may panic, which will make a flighty flock.  Once settled, leave them alone; they will be fine until it's time to get them back outside.

After the Storm

Once the storm passes, check your coop and the chicken yard.  Also, check that the flock is unharmed.  Chickens are not bothered by the rain, so it's okay if they are wet.  Have supplies on-hand to make any quick repairs, including a hammer, nails, and a tarp.  If there is damage, tidy up and make any immediate repairs.  Return your flock to your coop, if you've relocated them.  Always make sure you have plenty of food on hand; roads may be washed out, making it difficult to get supplies.  If you have puddles, cover them with sand or straw to avoid breeding bacteria.  Keep your coop clean, particularly during periods of wet weather, to prevent an infestation of mites or other insects.

Storms are stressful; with a little preparation and a plan for after the storm, your flock will remain safe and secure.  They depend on you to keep them safe!  And, it is also always a great idea to treat your flock with PopWorms! treats after the storm is over!
 

We've all heard the phrases, "Don't be such a chicken," or, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg," but have you ever stopped to wonder why?  There are hundreds of references to chickens that people use every day, and some may not even realize it.  
Here's a look at our favorite chicken idioms and where they came from: 

Your handwriting is chicken scratch
People often use this idiom to describe someone's messy or illegible handwriting. This phrase stems from the idea that the handwriting looks like the tracks chickens leave in the dirt. 

Run like a chicken with its head cut off
This phrase is typically used when someone or something is running around hastily. Think about what your mom looks like right before company comes over. This phrase, however, comes with a more morbid meaning. When a chicken's head is cut off, it sends triggers through the chicken's nerve endings, causing it to flap and move around for a few seconds. 

Fox in the henhouse
Used to mimic what a fox looks like when it's prowling for a meal in the chicken coop, this phrase is often used to describe a person with bad intentions or someone who is trying to take advantage of a situation. 

Don't count your chickens before they hatch
This idiom reminds people to not count on plans that may not happen. For example, just because a chicken has six eggs, it doesn't mean all six will hatch and become chicks. 

Hen party
A hen party is often used to describe a bachelorette party, or simply a large group of women. This is because hens are typically separated from roosters to avoid fertilization of eggs. 

You're no spring chicken
This is phrase is often used jokingly to imply that someone is old. Chicks are often hatched in the spring, meaning they are at the youngest point in their lives. 

Don't put all your eggs in one basket
This idiom is warning a person not to risk everything on the hope that one venture will succeed. Although the origin of this particular idiom remains unclear, many think it refers to the trouble that could come if you put a full day's harvest in one basket and then drop it. 

You eat like a bird
You eat like a bird is often said to someone who is eating very little at the dinner table. This is because chickens eat small amounts at one  time. 

Fly the coop
Synonymous with "leave the nest," fly the coop is used to refer to someone who is leaving their home. This term comes from mysterious chickens who try to escape their home on the farm. 

Pecking order
Like with most animals, larger chickens often get the most food at feeding time. This phrase is often used to describe the way people are ranked in relation to each other. 

If those idioms got you thinking about your feathered friends, check out these treats that will make any of them cluck with happiness.