Open Sky Poultry

  If you raise backyard chickens, you know that coop cleaning can sometimes feel like a chore. But with a simple tool like a droppings board, cleaning your chicken coop becomes quick, easy, and surprisingly satisfying! What Is a Droppings Board? A droppings board is a flat, removable board installed just under your hens’ roost bars inside the coop. As chickens roost at night, their droppings fall onto the board instead of scattering across bedding or the coop floor. This keeps the bedding cleaner and makes waste cleanup a snap. My Experience: 10 Birds, 5 Days of Droppings, Cleaned in Minutes With my 10 hens, I let the droppings board collect about 5 days’ worth of waste before cleaning. Instead of spending hours deep cleaning bedding, I simply:  Open the access door to my coop Scraped the poop off into my compost bucket Gave the board a quick dusting of the odor control powder The whole process took less than 5 minutes — a huge time saver that keeps my coop cleaner a...

  If you’re raising backyard chickens, you’ve probably heard of a chicken tractor — a movable coop that lets your birds forage fresh grass daily while staying protected. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a fancy setup or a big budget to build one. In fact, the best chicken tractors are the ones that keep things simple.  Function Over Frills At its core, a chicken tractor has three basic jobs: Keep your chickens in Keep predators out Hold up to the weather That’s it. Sure, you can add wheels, nesting boxes, or even solar-powered doors later on. But if you’re just getting started, all you need is a sturdy frame, secure wire mesh, and a simple tarp or roof for shelter.  Why a Tractor Works Unlike a fixed coop, a chicken tractor can be moved daily or weekly to fresh pasture. That means your flock gets access to bugs, grass, and soil — which boosts their health and improves the quality of their eggs or meat. It also keeps the ground from getting overused or messy. Plus,...

There’s something deeply satisfying about sitting down to a meal you’ve raised with your own hands. When that meal includes a bird from your own backyard, the experience goes beyond taste — it becomes a reflection of care, connection, and health. Here’s why raising your own chickens for meat isn’t just about self-sufficiency — it’s about doing better for your body, your mind, and your food. 1.  Clean Meat, Fewer Unknowns Store-bought chicken often travels hundreds of miles, passing through processors, packaging plants, and cold storage. Along the way, it may be treated with preservatives or chlorine rinses to meet industry standards. When you raise your own birds, you know exactly what went into them — and what didn’t. No antibiotics, no questionable additives, and no mystery. Just real, clean protein. 2.   Better Fat Profile and Nutrient Density Chickens raised on pasture( see rotational grazing ), with access to sunlight and natural foraging, tend to have more balan...

  How Long Should You Rest Fresh Chicken Before Freezing?   A common tip you’ll hear in the poultry world is to let freshly processed whole chickens rest in the fridge for 24 hours before freezing. But is that really necessary? At Open Sky Poultry, we've found that 8 hours of chilling works just fine — and our birds taste great.   💡 Why 24 Hours Is Often Suggested:   • Muscle relaxation (rigor mortis): Right after slaughter, muscles stiffen. Freezing during this phase can make the meat tough.   • Moisture redistribution: Resting allows fluids to settle, leading to juicier meat.   • Cooling safety: A longer rest helps ensure the bird fully reaches safe temperatures below 40°F.   🔍 Why Your 8-Hour Method Still Works:   • Proper cooling: If birds are chilled fast (ice bath or walk-in cooler), rigor resolves quickly.   • Breed matters: Fast-growing breeds like Cornish Cross are tender to begin with.   • Younger birds: These pass throug...