When you start getting eggs from chickens, use your waterering can and water the egg above the shipping box. The egg will turn into a block. Pick it up and you'll get an egg. (Repeat as many times as you want)
This cheat will allow you to purchase an adult cow from the Animal Shop in the village.
After you purchase the cow and name it, make sure that its name starts with a symbol (any symbol will work). When you go back to your farm, the cow will be an adult. You can start milking it right away and you'll get medium milk from it.
When you trade chickens with a friend, you have a 1 in 64 chance of getting a golden chicken back. A golden chicken is rare, as it lays golden eggs.
The starting character of your first name determines which Fall and Winter crops you will be able to grow.
If the first character of your name is an uppercase letter, you will be able to grow Eggplant in the Fall and Carrots in the Winter.
If the first character of your name is a lowercase letter, you will be able to grow Peanuts in the Fall and Broccoli in the Winter.
If the first character of your name is a symbol, you will be able to grow all four crops.