Chickens!

raro · July 2010

Have you ever done something that was so absolutely off-the-wall crazy that everyone around you thinks you're nuts? I've been radically changing my diet after reading the "Anticancer" book. I already ate whole grains and not a lot of junk food, but I took a good look at where my meat and dairy were coming from, and I didn't like it. I want more control over the foods I eat. I have done veggie gardening as much as my suburban home will allow, and I don't use any pesticides or fertilizer, etc. But what to do about protein?

Well, I got this idea in my head that my backyard would be perfect for raising a couple of chickens. Everyone was aghast at the idea ("Do you know how much chickens smell?" "Chickens are full of diseases!" "Think of the noise!") Well, I figured I had a nice, lattice-enclosed area under my porch, a high fence around my yard, and the yard leads out to a forested area. You DON'T need a rooster for eggs. So I looked up the local ordinances and can find nothing on livestock or pets except for dogs and cats. I did research on places like backyardchickens.com (yeah, there is such a place, go figure!). And last week I went and bought 5 chickens.

I've never dealt with birds in my life. But these girls are so docile, so quiet, so sweet! My whole family is enchanted with them. My son built a bird coop out of scrap lumber, which is cleaned out daily. I get fresh eggs every single day (usually 3 or 4). I lined the bird coop with newspapers which I change each day. The poop on the lawn makes great fertilizer. So far I haven't even seen flies!

My extended family and friends all think I'm nuts. When my brother asked about disease, I responded, "And what, I'm so disease free myself?!" They can go on all they want about my supposed insanity, but this is MY life, not theirs, that is on the line. And wow, are eggs from grass-fed, organic chickens SO much better! I wish I could share them with you all.

I'm hoping you all, who understand organic and natural things, won't tell me I'm crazy. Right?!?! Please?!?

Shrek4 · July 2010

No, you are not crazy. We have talked about this too, it will have to wait for a while though - the city I'm living in has strict ordinances about raising livestock (noen allowed within city limits). I don't want only chicken, but ducks and geese too, and a few sheep and goats (with a llama to guard them of course). But that won't happen within two years.

Are you feeding them grain too? They need grain as well, just make sure you get them organic. Corn combined with grass-feed gives and exquisite taste to the eggs. Also, I'm not sure I would use newspaper - I know I will go with a concreted floor and sand or sawdust.

As long as you maintain their coop clean, and check them all the time for chiggers and lice - you should be fine.

ruthbru · July 2010

This is just me, but don't think I could kill and eat an animal that I knew personally.......

in_cognito · July 2010

Ruthbru - I think she meant that she is getting the chickens for the sole purpose of having fresh eggs. At least that's what I hope she meant Surprised

My best friend has 5 chickens in her backyard - they are still little, but should be dropping eggs soon!

raro · July 2010

I probably could do it if I had to, but I wanted them primarily for the eggs.

Yes, Day, I feed them organic grain. The only reason I use newspaper is for when they are in the coop at night, so I can easily clean the poop. They're out of the coop during the day, in the under-deck area, which has a mix of concrete, grass, dirt, and a corner where I threw some straw, where they lay their eggs.

Anonymous · July 2010

I'm so jealous! Chickens are all the rage here - very chic. I went on a coop tour last weekend. I have quite a few friends who started raising chickens for eggs last year, and all of them still love it. They all have said what you do - not nearly as much work as they thought. One friend is attracting rats, but I don't know how secure her chicken wire on the coop is - the others haven't had that issue that they know of. None of them have had to kill the chickens for meat - just eating the organic eggs.

My neighborhood does not allow chickens (C C& R's) but they are considering revising it to included chickens as so many people want them!

Thanks for sharing

Claire_in_Seattle · July 2010

Your chickens will also eat the pests that attack your veggies, so another major benefit. HUNDREDS of chickens smell, but two don't. Wonderful to get your family involved.

Plus the wonderful eggs. You have to have noticed the great yellow yolks. And they are FRESH and sweet-tasting. I spent a small fortune on organic, free range eggs while on chemo as they were one of my main sources of protein.

My cousin wrote the cult book "Raising Poultry the Modern Way" back in the day when it was considered really odd to do something like this. Fortunately, we are more enlightened about these things now.

Enjoy your "girls".

As for your brother....I would also get one of the breed of chicken that lays green eggs and make him a special present of a dozen of them. Then watch his face.

ruthbru · July 2010

OH, EGGS....whew.......my parents once brought us baby chickens for Easter and we raised them as pets; when they grew up they told us the chickens went to live on a farm, later I found out that they were butchered and we had, indeed, eaten them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still have nightmares and feel like a cannibal.....poor Rocky (my Rhode Island Red)!!! Cry

raro · July 2010

Oh, that's so sad! I have an 8-year-old and couldn't imagine making him eat "his" chicken. He named it Pickle, after our cat Pickles who died a year ago. I've heard of families doing that, but to me it's just cruel. My son was 6 months old when my husband died, so he is very familiar with death and the cycle of life, but that would really traumatize him.

Yeah, Claire, I have definitely noticed the almost-orange yolks. I thought something was wrong at first!

I think if I can just get the routine down pat and don't make an issue of it, and then once in a while present family members with a few eggs, maybe they'll come to see that this isn't something I will tire of any time soon. I mean, how many people get to go on egg hunts every day?! :-)

Claire_in_Seattle · July 2010

You might want to start with making a cake out of your fresh eggs. Warning: your "white cake" will look yellow from the egg yolks as well. You will also taste a major difference.

When they ask for your secret ingredient, you can say "my fresh eggs".

Or you can whip up a batch of "clean out the fridge" quiche. I used an elderly leftover pie crust, cream, baby spinach, and some cheese that was headed south for the last batch of mine. Plus amazing eggs.

Same explanation as to "why so good".

gfbaker · July 2010

My neighbor has chickens and we really can't hear them at all, and my DH's coworker has chickens which we get some eggs from time to time. They are quite good. I would consider keeping them secure from other animals, I don't know where you live but I'm in the burbs and there are coyotes around.Check your towns laws, there are usually ones about how many you can keep and rules about what you can do with them (like make eggs but not consume the actual chickens). It sounds like a great idea, I wish you much sucess!

flash · July 2010

Sorry, I used to raise chickens so I can't quite appreciate your enthusiasm. However, I can give you some advice. The entire US has free aggie service. If you look up in your phone book, under the Agricultural Service, there should be an office somewhere in your vicinity which can give you tips and tricks for keeping chickens. Yes, you do have to be very diligent about lice. One thing they love that is healthy for them: marigold petals. another thing they should be getting is free access to calcium such as ground oyster shell. I hope things work out for you and your chickens.

CrunchyPoodleMama · July 2010

AWESOME!!! I've been researching this for months and would LOVE to get 4-6 hens for eggs. I've even picked out where in the back yard their house and "yard" would be... the problem is that I have clients coming to my home (I'm a photographer) and I'm not sure how well that would go over with my high-end clientele...!!

So for now, I've found two local farms where I've met the farmer AND then hens, and am happy with how much pasture they get to run around on every day. The eggs are truly DELICIOUS... when I first started eating pastured eggs, I couldn't believe how good they tasted and I was addicted to eating 2-3 eggs every morning, sometimes more! Now I eat maybe one a day on average... I figure my body got whatever nutrients it was craving from them, so I'm not craving them so crazily.

You're definitely not the only one making MAJOR changes like this!! I don't even buy food in the grocery store any more (except for this wonderful little organic grocery/health food store that sells only local, organic, in-season produce, grass-fed animal products, etc.). I go to the farm and buy it right from the farmer!

I agree btw about not being able to eat any animal that you raised... I have immense respect for my grass-fed beef farmer, who adores his steers, names them, plays with them, and just gives them such a good life. I asked him how he is able to love them so much, knowing their fate, and the farmer's wife said that was the hardest thing at first, but they just know the deal going into it, and are determined to love them and give them the best life possible while they have them. I still couldn't do it, never in a million years, but I'm thankful that someone can!

A friend of mine had four hens and said they were like children to her. They would come running when they saw her for cuddles and cheek-petting. A coyote got to one and she said she cried and they had a funeral... there's no way they could eat her. (It made me determined to have coyote-proof fencing when I have chickens someday!) It just seems so amazing to me to be able to keep animals who give so much back (not just eggs, but love, and nutrient-rich fertilizing poop too!!).

One question, do the hens lay their eggs in the coop? Did you build little nesting boxes or anything? I'd LOVE to see photos if you have them!!!

raro · July 2010

For their nesting boxes, I used a Rubbermaid container with a lid that I put some straw in. It's on a shelf in the coop (sorry, I don't have any photos) and they go there in the morning and usually lay an egg there before I shoo them out into the yard. I set the rest of the bale of straw outside next to the house...big mistake! I had no idea chickens loved straw so much. Now it's in a nice, comfy pile with 2 or 3 hen-shaped indentations in it. That's where they lay their eggs during the day. It's not in a box or anything, but they love it.

Flash, I am wondering if you aren't enthusiastic because you raised a bunch of chickens. What I mean is, people either think I'm nuts because they know nothing about it, or else they have grown up on a farm where there were dozens of chickens. I only have five, and have no desire to have more than that. With five, I can keep them much cleaner. My sister in law used to spend summers with her grandparents and they had dozens of hens, so she expected a huge smell, but so far it's been kept at a minumum.

dharmamama · July 2010

I heartily laughed when I read this post! I went out and bought 2 chicks 3 weeks after I was diagnosed with a brain met and had a craniotomy. they have provided so much healing for me and my family. In a few more months, maybe some eggs as well

Chickens!

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