Salsa, Guac, Hummus Oh My! | The Perfect Springtime Trifecta

The following blog post Salsa, Guac, Hummus Oh My! | The Perfect Springtime Trifecta was originally seen on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Looking for some poolside chip-and-dip recipes that will spruce up your spring/summer? These new twists on classic favorites like salsa, guac, hummus are guaranteed to bring a fresh perspective to some traditional sides that will surely keep you snacking happy! They’re simple to make, easy to serve, and will pair perfectly with your chips of choice. This trio of treats can be served altogether, or you might just choose to feature your favorite dish. Either way, get ready for your spring/summer snacking to be transformed!

Salsa, Guac, Hummus Oh My!

Summer Salsa:

Forget chunks of tomatoes and watery residue that comes from the canned stuff. Instead, opt for a healthier (and sweeter!) alternative to a salsa dip. You will need the following ingredients to make this masterpiece:

• 2 cans of sweet white corn
• 1 can of black beans
• 1/2 of a chopped red onion
• 1 chopped red pepper
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of rice wine vinegar
• A pinch of salt

To create, you will combine all of the vegetables and the sugar into a large mixing bowl. Just add the rice wine vinegar to the mix, give it a good stir, and add your dash of salt to season. Waiting for the next step? That’s it! It’s really and truly as easy as that to make your fresh new summer salsa! Your prep time clocks in just under 5 minutes, so if you’re needing to whip something up in a flash, you’ve got the perfect new recipe to try. Pair it with your favorite chips and a glass of white wine, and your taste buds will sing!

Berry Different Guacamole:

This next one will make you believe in the age-old saying “opposites attract!” It might sound crazy, but what is the summer for if not trying something new? This sweet and spicy take on a traditional guacamole spread will surely leave you and your guests wanting more. For the Berry Different Guacamole, you will need:

• 2 avocadoes
• 1 tablespoon of lime juice
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of honey (yes, really!)
• 1/3 cup diced red onion
• 1 minced jalapeno
• 1/2 cup diced strawberries
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 3 oz goat cheese
• Dash of salt for taste

Directions:

1. First, remove the avocadoes from their skins and chop them up on a cutting board.

2. Place the slices in a large bowl and mash with the back end of a spoon to create your spread.

3. Next, you’ll throw in the juices: add the lime juice, lemon juice, and honey to the bowl. Go ahead and sprinkle some salt in the mix as well.

4. You will stir in these ingredients, or you might decide to continue mashing with the spoon if you prefer a creamier spread.

5. Now it’s time for the fruit and veg. Fold your onion, jalapeno, strawberries, and blueberries into the mix, stirring to ensure that they are evenly dispersed.

6. Grab your goat cheese next and crumble it in, saving a little bit extra for a decorative topping.

7. Add a couple of extra blueberries on top of the cheese, along with a lime wedge for a flawless finish!

This dish goes great with pita chips and sangria, or any other fruit-infused beverage. Guaranteed once you try it, you’ll never go back to store-bought guacamole ever again!

Silky Smooth Summer Hummus:

Your favorite healthy snack is about to get even healthier (and more colorful!) Continuing with our fruity theme, you’ll be dying to get your hands on these ingredients and whip up this light and fresh spread: as soon as you read on!

Hummus ingredients:

• 1 can of garbanzo beans, dried and peeled
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 2-3 small cloves of chopped garlic
• 3-4 teaspoons of kosher salt

Ingredients for toppings:

• 1/2 cup chickpeas
• 1 sliced or chopped cucumber
• 1/2 avocado, cubed
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cubed
• 1/4 thinly sliced red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives
• Lemon wedges
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Directions:

1. The first step is to blend the chickpeas inside a food processor for approximately one minute, or until the mixture forms into powdery-looking clumps. Make sure to scrape the sides and re-blend in order to make the most of the mixture.

2. Next, add the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and run the food processor until you’ve got a smooth blend.

3. While the processor is still running, drizzle in some water until you see that the mixture is gaining a smooth, light, and creamy-looking texture. This might be a good time to take a pause and try a sample of your creation; from here, add extra seasonings if needed, then top it off with one final blend to ensure you’ve got the silky-smooth mixture you’re needing.

4. To finish up, pour the hummus from the blender into a serving bowl and add the toppings listed under the “Toppings” section: you can try your hand at some decorative arrangements, or just mix them all together.

5. Drizzle the top with olive oil and spread some pita chips around the sides of the serving platter, and you’re set to serve – enjoy!

These new summer twists on old snack spreads not only offer healthy additives and pops of color, they are certain to be the talk of your event with their fresh new perspective! Prep time for all of these recipes stays right under 15 minutes, so if you’re needing to whip up a quick mix for some hungry guests, or if you’re just wanting to indulge in your own succulent snack, you won’t have to wait ages to try your creation! Happy eating! We know you’ll enjoy!

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Risk Of Nuclear War Growing, ‘Accidents Inevitable’ – New UN Report

Risk Of Nuclear War Growing, ‘Accidents Inevitable’ – New UN Report was first published on Total Survival

Image source: Pixabay.com

The risk of an accidental nuclear war is increasing and likely to grow in the years ahead. That’s the conclusion of Understanding Nuclear Weapons, a new report from the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNDIR).

“The complexity of interactions in the tightly coupled systems linked to the management and operation of nuclear stockpiles make accidents inevitable,” the report states.

A simple sensor malfunction or computer glitch can trigger the launch or detonation of nuclear weapons, the report says. The danger from nuclear weapons is increasing for a wide variety of reasons, some of which have little to do with politics.

The UNDIR experts believe the danger of an accidental nuclear war is greater than at any time since the end of the Cold War in 1991 — and that the danger will continue growing. Understanding Nuclear Weapons provides several reasons to be concerned about accidental nuclear war.

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“The threat of a nuclear weapon detonation event in 2017 is arguably at its highest in the 26 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union,” the report stated.

A few of the scenarios that make accidental nuclear war possible include:

• Lack of training on the part of nations, such North Korea, that have little expertise in controlling nuclear weapons.
• Over-reliance on automated command and control systems, which make it faster and easier to launch a nuke.
• Removal of human judgement from the decision-making process. During the Cold War, several accidental missile launches were avoided when military officers realized something was wrong and refused to push the button.
• Stolen nuclear weapons from terrorists.
• Cyberattacks and hacking of nuclear weapons.
• The malfunctioning of old nuclear weapons.

President Trump has ordered a massive review of all US nuclear weapons. The review is designed to see how America’s nuclear arsenal can be modernized.

“All the nuclear-armed States have extensive nuclear modernization programs underway and appear to plan to retain large nuclear arsenals for the indefinite future,” UNDIR concluded.

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3 Medicinal Mushrooms Anyone Can Find

3 Medicinal Mushrooms Anyone Can Find See more on: Total Survival

Poplar Mushrooms. Image source: Flickr / Wendell Smith / Creative Commons

An old Croatian proverb went like this: “All mushrooms are edible, some only once.” The meaning: Yes, many mushrooms are delicious and nutritious, but many also are quite poisonous.

If you are not an experienced and competent collector and cannot positively identify look-alike species, I strongly suggest purchasing a field guide that will help you with this, and consider asking a veteran mushroom hunter to help.

Still, the world has 38,000 different species of mushrooms that hold medicinal qualities.

Yep, 38,000.

Researchers have found their compounds potentially effective against all sorts of maladies — from chronic fatigue syndrome to cancer. In the environmental arena, researchers are studying them for their ability to absorb toxic substances.

Many mushrooms also happen to be really delicious.

Here are just three that you are likely to find on your property and some of the information you can use to determine their use in your personal life.

1. Hiratake (Oyster Mushroom)

(Pleurotus Ostreatus)

Where it is grown: Grows wildly in temperate and sub-tropical forests and is responsible for the decomposition of deciduous trees like the beech.

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Medicinal properties: The Hiratake mushroom contains statins that are known to lower the bad type of cholesterol, LDL. The statin compounds are present in the fruited body as well as the mycelium network of the mushroom.

Cultivating: Can be done simply and inexpensively by inoculating a medium of brown rice and then harvesting the fruit bodies or mycelium. Asian countries cultivate it primarily by putting layers of hay into plastic bags, the mushroom spores being placed in between the layers.

Table fare: The oyster mushroom is a common companion in Asian and Indian dishes and makes a good addition to various soups and stews.

Weird but true: Aside from being able to decompose trees, this particular species of mushroom can purportedly decompose disposable diapers and absorb petrochemicals and PCBs.

Its usefulness in waste and toxin remediation is currently being researched by several organizations. Dried, it also makes a high R-value insulator for the homestead.

2. Chestnut Mushroom (Poplar Mushroom)

(Agrocybe Aegerita)

Where it is grown: This mushroom grows naturally all over the world wherever deciduous trees are found. It is particularly fond of Poplars, where it causes holes in the tree, hence the name “Poplar mushroom.”

Medicinal properties: The mushroom contains compounds that are scavengers of free radicals. There also have been studies linking the mushroom’s active compounds to a slowing down of osteoporosis advancement.

Cultivating: Inoculating hardwood chips, sawdust or hardwood logs with the spores. It is known to be one of the easiest mushrooms to cultivate commercially.

Table fare: This mushroom is both meaty and delicious — raw or cooked. But as part of a genus that contains more than 100 different species, some quite poisonous, it is best left to an experienced collector who can differentiate it from its more unpleasant relatives. Having said that, it has a strong, earthy flavor and makes a tremendous contribution to the flavor of sauces, stews and casseroles.

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Weird but true: The ancient Greeks collected these mushrooms and believed that they “popped” out as a result of lightning strikes. Many morel hunters hold this very same superstition.

Morel. Image source: Flickr / Creative Commons

3. Morel Mushroom

(Morchella Esculenta)

Where it is grown: It is commonly found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Pakistan and China.

Medicinal properties: Particularly high in iron and B-complex vitamins, it is a wonderful addition to the medicine cabinet. This mushroom is also known for its immune-boosting properties.

Cultivating: Although several attempts have been made to commercially grown these ghosts of the woods, none has been successful. Best case is to scatter the trimmings from wild harvested mushrooms in your nearby wooded area and hope for some volunteers. This is usually quite sporadic and takes years to establish.

Table fare: The morel is the most highly prized of all mushrooms for its deeply earthy, meaty flavor. The French cherish its flavors and feature it in many highly refined dishes. For the rest of the world, they are delicious cut in half, dredged in flour, and sautéed in butter until crispy. Delicious!

Weird but true: The morel took center stage for many mushroom conspiracy theorists. An entrepreneur and mycologist was once purported to have found a way to commercially cultivate the mushroom in large scale. Just as he was about to sell his method to a popular pizza chain (of all things), he mysteriously died, prompting many to believe that he was murdered in an attempt to keep his secret from becoming public.

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Trump Warns Of ‘Major, Major Conflict’ With North Korea; Navy Official Says Hawaii Could Be Hit

The blog post Trump Warns Of ‘Major, Major Conflict’ With North Korea; Navy Official Says Hawaii Could Be Hit was originally published to http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

President Trump on Thursday did not back away from threatening military action against North Korea, just one day after a top Navy admiral said Hawaii was within reach of the rogue nation’s missiles.

“There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely,” Trump told Reuters. “… We’d love to solve things diplomatically, but it’s very difficult.”

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson mirrored those comments Friday , saying that “failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences.”

“The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and it’s only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the U.S. mainland,” Tillerson said.

He added: “All options for responding to future provocations must remain on the table. Diplomatic and financial leverage or power will be backed up by willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action, if necessary.”

On Wednesday, Navy Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. told a Congressional committee that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un “is clearly in a position to threaten Hawaii today, in my opinion.”

Harris is the head of the U.S. Pacific Command or PACOM, the military organization responsible for defending Hawaii.

Harris acknowledged that antimissile defenses may not be able to stop an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from North Korea, Hawaii News Now reported.

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“We have ‘x’ number of interceptors that can shoot down ‘y’ number of targets,” Harris testified. “If the opposition fired ‘y plus one,’ then that’s at least one that would get through.”

He added, “I believe that our ballistic missile architecture is sufficient to protect Hawaii today.”

Crisis ‘Is Real – The Worst I’ve Seen’

Still, the crisis on the Korean peninsula “is real—the worst I’ve seen,” Harris said.

“There is some doubt within the intelligence community whether Kim Jong-un has that capability today or whether he will soon, but I have to assume he has it, the capability is real, and that he’s moving towards it.”

“Kim Jong-un is making progress and all nations need to take this seriously because their missiles point in all directions. If left unchecked, they will match the capability of his hostile rhetoric.”

Hawaii state legislators are taking Harris’ statements seriously. The Public Safety Committee of the Hawaii State House passed a resolution ordering officials to update plans for coping with a nuclear attack.

The committee wants Cold War-era fallout shelters reopened and stocked with new supplies, Hawaii News Now reported. Legislators also want a nuclear attack response plan that was written in 1985 updated.

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‘Doomsday Data Vault’ Opens In Norway; Will Help Rebuild Society Post-Apocalypse

The following article ‘Doomsday Data Vault’ Opens In Norway; Will Help Rebuild Society Post-Apocalypse was first published to http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

Image source: Flickr / Creative Commons

The ultimate survival resource is now open for business on a remote Norwegian island.

Svalbard, Norway – already home to the Global Seed Vault – is now home to the Arctic World Archive, which is being billed as the keeper of information to rebuild civilization following a societal-ending apocalypse.

The vault located in an abandoned coalmine on the island of Svalbard is designed to be the ultimate data storage solution, The Verge reported. Data will be recorded on special film that can last as long as 1,000 years and stored 984 feet (300 meters) underground. The film is expected to last that long because of the extreme cold on the island, which is 1,172 miles north of Oslo.

“Located in a disaster-proof vault, the information is kept in permafrost conditions far away from political and physical instabilities in the rest of the world,” a brochure for the archive reads. “The Arctic World Archive is for any country, authority, organization, company or individual in need of ultra-secure storage of their valuable information with guaranteed access in the future.”

It is a first for the world.

Data Is Recorded Using QR Codes

“No energy is needed whatsoever to maintain these temperatures,” said Rune Bjerkestrand, the founder of Piqi, the company that is recording the data. “Deep in the permafrost it’s minus 5, minus 10 degrees [Celsius], and it’s also quite a dry area. So cold and dry: it’s perfect for the long-term storage of film.”

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The data is recorded via QR (Quick Read) codes, Bjerkestrand explained. QR Codes can be read by smart phones.

“Film is an optical medium, so what we do is, we take files of any kind of data — documents, PDFs, JPGs, TIFFs — and we convert that into big, high-density QR codes,” Bjerkestrand said. “Our QR codes are massive, and very high resolution; we use greyscale to get more data into every code. And in this way we convert a visual storage medium, film, into a digital one.”

The archive is a for-profit venture of Piqi and Norway’s national mining company, SNSK. The first customers were the directors of the national archives of Brazil and Mexico, ABC reported. The Brazilians deposited copies of their constitution and an edict from the Emperor of Brazil abolishing slavery in their country. The Mexicans left a copy of their declaration of independence from Spain.

The purpose of the archive is to protect “the globe’s most valuable data from future catastrophes, war and cyberattack as well as future technological obsolescence,” Bjerkestrand said.

‘What Happens in Wars …’

Another purpose is to keep the data of large corporations safe in case of a catastrophe.

“Historically what happens in wars — in the early stages of wars — is that archives are destroyed,” Bjerkestrand said. “So to have an archive which is protected, in a remote place which is regulated by international treaties, gives it that extra security that things cannot be manipulated or attacked.”

Svalbard, the home of the Global Seed Vault, cannot be used for military purposes because of international treaties. Despite that, getting data to and from the Artic World Archive is easy.

Digital data can be sent there via an optic Internet connection from the mainland, Bjerkestrand said.

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6 Ways to Use Garlic in the Garden

6 Ways to Use Garlic in the Garden Find more on: http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

This post is for the garlic lovers – or those who aren't sure if they like garlic but do like to use natural and organic practices in their gardens. It turns out that this fragrant bulb is good for more than just cooking, and can be a real helpmate around the yard and garden. So – without further ado – 5 Ways to Use Garlic in the Garden and Yard.

#1 – Use Garlic to Protect Fruit Trees

Garlic planted at the base of fruit trees makes a great partner in your permaculture guild. Garlic and other alliums such as chives and onions have flowers that attract a variety of beneficial insects. Their strong scent also deters browsers, and may be effective as a peach borer deterrent.

#2 – Use Garlic as a Companion Plant in the Garden

From Carrots Love Tomatoes, Louise Riotte recommends teaming up your garlic with your roses and your tomatoes to keep pests at bay. She also recommends avoiding interplanting garlic with peas and beans, because alliums may slow down the growth of the legumes, but I have grown them as next door neighbors in the garden with no problems.

#3 – Use Garlic as a Fungicide

If you spot gray or white powdery spots on your plants, odds are you're dealing with some sort of mildew or fungus. To make a simple garlic fungicide, puree 5-10 garlic cloves with a pint of water in a blender, let steep for an hour, strain, and spray on plants. Garlic can also be used as an insecticide, so watch out for beneficial insects while spraying.

#4 – Use Garlic for Controlling Late Blight

Late blight is caused by the fungus-like oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans. It was responsible for the Irish potato famine, and has decimated tomato and potato crops in different areas in recent years. We were hit with it here late in 2010. It turns potato tubers into black mush, and makes plant foliage look like it was killed by frost. Tomatoes get brown lesions and then rot. Late blight spreads the fastest in warm (60-80°F, 15.5-26.7°C), wet weather.

Typical practices to control and eliminate late blight include planting certified disease free plant starts, destroying infected plants and tubers, and treating with fungicides during the growing season. Cornell University's Fact Sheet on Late Blight of Tomatoes and Potatoes goes into more detail on identification and treatment. In the article, “Management of Late Blight with Alternative Products“, where they look at plant extracts for treating late blight, they state that:

“One of the most effective was extract of garlic gloves, which at 1 or 2% completely inhibited zoospore formation (Cao and van Bruggen 2001; Wang et al. 2001) and colony growth of P. infestans (Cao and van Bruggen 2001).”

So, even though late blight is not a fungus, it's close enough that fungicides can knock it back. I couldn't find specific dosing instructions, but the Cornell site recommends frequent, lighter applications during the growing season for general fungicides where late blight is a concern. Either the water based formula above or the oil based formula below should be effective.

Photo Courtesy of Sleepy Hollow Farm CSA

#5 – Use Garlic for Pest Control – Insects and Rabbits

As mentioned above, garlic can be used as an insecticide to control a number of different insects. For pest control, use an oil base so that it sticks better to the problem bugs.

Garlic Pest Control Recipe

Ingredients

• 3-4 ounces of chopped garlic bulbs
• 2 tablespoons mineral oil or olive oil
• 1 pint of water
• 1 teaspoon fish emulsion

Directions

Soak chopped garlic bulbs in oil for a day or so. Strain. Dissolve fish emulsion in water. Add oil to fish emulsion/water mix. Stir well. Store in a glass container. (It will react with metal and plastic.) To use, dilute one part solution to 20 parts water and spray directly on insect pests.

This spray may also help keep bunnies at bay if sprayed on greens that they are munching. Bunnies generally don't care for strongly scented herbs or fish emulsion.

#6 – Use Garlic for Mosquito Control

There are now a number of garlic based oils that can be sprayed outside to keep mosquitoes at bay, such as Garlic Barrier and Mosquito Barrier. In Carrots Love Tomatoes, the author states that, “A garlic-based oil sprayed on breeding ponds showed a 100 percent kill of mosquito larvae in a University of California experiment.

Note: The experiments seem to indicate best mosquito control with the garlic oil is applied to water surfaces or outside surfaces – not so much when applied to humans or eaten. That said, I know my friends who were big time garlic eaters seemed to get bit less – but it could be coincidence. Experiments also indicate that perfume wearers do attract more mosquitoes, so keep that in mind when enjoying time outside in mosquito season.

And that's a wrap! If you have any other ways to use garlicky goodness in the garden or yard, let me know.

You may also enjoy:

• How to Grow Garlic – From Planting to Harvest
• Natural Pest Control in the Garden
• Cheesy Garlic Zucchini Bread

Share, Pin or Like to help get the word out about this smelly “garden tool”.

<br /><br /><br />Originally published in 2015, updated in 2017.

The post 6 Ways to Use Garlic in the Garden appeared first on Common Sense Homesteading.

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Raising Chicks On The Homestead | Springtime Farming

The following blog post Raising Chicks On The Homestead | Springtime Farming See more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

There are a number of reasons why raising chicks can be a highly rewarding experience. Whether you’re drawn to their bright, quirky personalities that make them ideal for a pet, or if you’re more interested in creating a sustainable source of nutrition for yourself, raising chicks is a simple and easy process that can fit into any type of lifestyle.

Raising Chicks On The Homestead

Baby chicks can be purchased and raised from any stage of development. There are three main options in this sense:

1. The first is to buy the chicks at one day old from a hatchery.

Most farm suppliers will sell baby chicks along with regular animal feed, and they are typically cheaply priced – most farmers will charge between $3-5 per chick. Keep in mind that most farms will do orders for chicks at a maximum of two times per year, so the period of waiting time is something to consider if you are wanting to go this route to acquire your chicks.

2. Another option is to purchase some ready-to-lay pullets at 20 weeks old, just when they are about to start the laying process.

This option is, of course, more expensive than buying the day-old chicks, but it is a much more pragmatic choice if you are needing your eggs quite quickly. Like the day-old chicks, the ready-to-lays can be purchased from a farm supplier at a hatchery.

3. The final option, while sometimes hard to come by, is to purchase a mature laying hen.

This might require that you know someone with a flock who is trying to sell older hens; otherwise, the first two options might be a more sensible choice to begin the process of raising your chicks.

Benefits:

One of the many positive benefits of raising chicks is that they do not require much maintenance, constant monitoring or intense care. Buy the basics for your chicks first, which include chick starter, clean water, and a draft-free brooder pen complete with a brooder lamp that will monitor the interior temperature of your chicks’ home.

The temperature of the brooder will need to start off at 90-95 degrees for the first week of the chicks’ life. A thermometer is helpful to monitor the correct temperature, but you might also observe the chicks’ behavior to ensure that the interior is of the correct warmth. Chicks in a too-hot environment will pant or huddle in corners of the brooder that are farthest away from the light; chicks that are too cold will be clustered underneath the brooder lamp in an attempt to gain some warmth.

The size of the brooder that you select will depend on the number of chicks you are planning to purchase and raise. A general rule of thumb is to allow 2.5 square feet per chick, but the more room possible, the better. The brooder should also start off to be raised 2 inches off of the ground. Once the chicks reach approximately one month, the brooder needs to raised to 4 inches in order to encourage the chicks to start their own roosting process.

It is necessary to keep an eye on how the chicks feather out; once they begin and fully feather, you should reduce the interior temperature by 5 degrees per week until they reach 6 weeks old. At this time, chick feed will also need to be swapped for grower mash. Always make sure that the chicks have plenty of fresh water at all times.

Growth:

You will be amazed at how quickly your chicks feather out and grow! In just a week, you will notice a stunning transformation where small babies comprised mostly of chick fuzz will grow almost full wings with the beginnings of crests and tail feathers.

It is important that the chicks have a comfortable environment while they are being raised. To do this, spread pine shavings across the floor of their pen along with layers of newspaper to create a cushion for the chicks. Sprinkle plenty of chick feed on the ground for them to eat at their leisure. Make sure to change out the newspaper at least once a day, otherwise the chicks will be walking on an unclean floor.

Cleanliness:

Cleanliness is of high importance when raising your chicks. The babies are prone to contracting an illness called coccidiosis that arises from walking through and tracking their own excrement in a particularly damp environment. One other important requirement to note is that the brooder lamp should contain a red light bulb as opposed to a white. Using red light will ensure that the chicks do not peck at each other, as it conceals any potential injuries that the chicks might have. If the other chicks see an injured peer, they will have no problem pecking and potentially causing further harm, or even potential death, to the wounded.

In Conclusion:

Raising baby chicks will increase your healthy lifestyle in a number of ways that you might not have even considered. You will have direct control over what type of product you are consuming, whether you are just enjoying the fresh eggs that your chicks will one day provide, or if you are planning to use their meat once they are raised in full. Baby chicks will also eat your table scraps and convert them into organic fertilizer that will ensure your plants will thrive and grow.

Additionally, you will be surprised at the cutback of insects you find in your yard – the chicks will eat those pesky pests which will allow you to enjoy more days outside to spend time with your chicks. They are cheaply bought, easy to raise, and do not require an extreme amount of attention, making baby chicks an ideal option for either a family pet or an addition to a sustainable way of living. Happy raising!

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