About Me: My Journey to Raising Chickens and Learning Biosecurity

Hi there! I live on a small homestead in Massachusetts with my husband, two dogs, a cat, and of course, my flock of chickens. Life here is always an adventure! My husband collects and restores old chainsaws (yes, really!), while I stay busy raising chickens, keeping bees, and growing a variety of herbs and vegetables.

But let me tell you—my chicken-keeping journey hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. It’s been a big learning curve, filled with mistakes, heartbreak, and eventually, success.

How It All Began

I started my flock with 8 hens and 1 rooster, full of excitement and optimism. Like most new chicken keepers, I thought I had everything figured out. I believed my coop and run were predator-proof... until I discovered otherwise in the worst way possible.

One night, a raccoon found a weakness in my setup and attacked my flock. It was devastating—out of all my birds, only 1 hen survived. I was heartbroken.

Determined to give her companionship, I found a friend for my surviving hen and started over. This time, I raised chicks from Tractor Supply and even tried hatching my own eggs. It was during this process that I discovered a whole new world of chicken-keeping—rare breeds. My interest in more unique breeds began with the Deathlayer, a stunning bird with an intriguing name.

My Introduction to Biosecurity

As I started hatching eggs and connecting with fellow chicken keepers in Facebook groups, I learned something new—biosecurity. At first, it sounded overwhelming and, honestly, a little unnecessary. But when I discovered that many groups required sellers of chicks or hatching eggs to be NPIP-certified, I knew I needed to dig deeper.

The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) certification required me to create a biosecurity plan and have my flock tested. It sounded straightforward, but oh boy, was it a challenge.

I poured myself into research, scheduled testing for my flock, and created what I thought was a solid biosecurity plan. Turns out, it was all wrong! Back to the drawing board I went—more reading, more research, and finally, a biosecurity plan that worked.

From Overwhelmed to Routine

In the beginning, biosecurity felt overwhelming. Testing, planning, cleaning, and managing every tiny detail seemed like too much. But over time, I realized that good biosecurity practices quickly become second nature. Now, it’s just part of my daily routine.

While nothing can guarantee complete protection, following biosecurity best practices has made a huge difference. My flock is healthier, my risks are lower, and I feel confident knowing I’m doing everything I can to protect them.

Why I Want to Help Others

I learned the hard way—through mistakes, research, and trial and error. And while I wouldn’t trade the lessons I’ve learned, I know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be when you’re just starting out or facing challenges with your flock.

That’s why I want to help others make it easier. Whether you’re:

• Creating a comprehensive biosecurity plan to meet NPIP standards,
• Just getting started and want to protect your flock from common threats, or
• Dealing with a pathogen outbreak and need guidance on taking extra precautions,

I’m here to help. My goal is to take what I’ve learned and simplify it for others—because every flock, no matter how big or small, deserves the best care and protection possible.

Let’s Work Together to Protect Your Flock

If you’re ready to take the next step in biosecurity or just want to learn more about protecting your chickens, let’s connect! Raising chickens has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life, and I’d love to help you make it a success too. 🐔

Feel free to reach out with questions or to share your own chicken-keeping story—I’d love to hear it!