Photo by Magdalena Otterstedt on unsplash.com

Fun and Fairly Easy - 

I say “fairly” easy because everything is relative. For me, the convenience of having eggs at home far outweighs the time driving to the four corners of my home state to find the best eggs from chickens raised with the highest standards. Or, heaven forbid, to be without eggs because of a high demand or low production from the local dairy farm.

There is some work involved. After the initial set up of the fenced-in area, coop and all your feeding and watering supplies, daily maintenance is required. Chickens need fresh water, fresh air, grit (which is stored in their gizzards to help grind up food) and plenty of food—chicken feed and scraps from your kitchen. Count on giving your girls attention at least twice a day. The girls need to be let out in the morning and then put in for the night so they don’t get eaten by predators. Don’t forget, dusk is when predators are most active. A little alarm clock rings each evening to remind me when to bring in my girls since it is a busy part of the day in my house.

Watching our chickens maneuver and contort their feathered figures in funny ways when dusting themselves has become a favorite pastime. Besides being fun to watch, name, and chase around, chickens make amusing noises. Our pack leader has this crazy “bakawwww” she makes every time we approach, as though she is introducing our presence. Overall, the girls are pretty quiet, which is good news for those of you who have close neighbors. Roosters make most of the noise, but they do not have to reside in your flock unless you want fertilized eggs and be able to raise your own little “peeps.”

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