Grave Matters
Grave Matters follows families who found in “green” burial a more natural, more economic, and ultimately more meaningful alternative to the tired and toxic send-off offered at the local funeral parlor.
Eschewing chemical embalming and fancy caskets, elaborate and costly funerals, they have embraced a range of natural options, new and old, that are redefining a [...]
A Chicken In Every Cul de Sac
A depressed economy makes people take a second look at being more self sufficient. An easy way to do this is to grow your own food, and chickens fit in nicely with this theme. First of all, chickens are great for backyard ecology. If you’re looking for ways to ditch pesticides and chemical fertilizers, plant your vegetable garden right next to the chicken coop. Chickens will eat insects and produce some nice fertilizer.
Have you seen the price of organic eggs? If you kept two chickens in your backyard, the ladies will probably supply you with more eggs than you can eat on a regular basis. Most people immediately think it would be out of the question to raise chickens because of the noise a rooster would make. Actually, you don’t even need a rooster. Hens will produce eggs without his help.
I’m sure you’ve seen the reports that show the horrific conditions some commercial chickens live under. Often they are cramped into cages so small they never get to spread their wings. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Chickens are actually very easy to raise and don’t require much equipment. You can build your own coop or easily convert a dog house into a chicken coop. Your choice of breed will depend on whether you want chickens for meat, eggs, or both. Once you decide to raise chickens, there will be a few decisions to be made–
• Hen house options
• How to move young birds to a yard
• Brooder preparation
• Unpacking mail order chicks
• Choosing chicks for a backyard flock
• Treating chick health problems
• Flock and parasite management
• How to spot diseases
• Grooming chickens for show
• Basic butchering
If you’ve never had home grown eggs you’re in for a treat. Home grown eggs taste much better because you control what the birds eat. You won’t believe the difference in taste. You’ll also notice the yolks are not yellow, but golden. Check with your homeowner’s association though, before making a purchase. You may find that you enjoy raising chickens enough to show them.
Resources: A Self Sufficient Life
Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards
What about you? What do you think?
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You also have to check with your town to make sure it’s legal and to find out about any restrictions. However, more cities are allowing chicken raising these days, due to the green economy.
A Mama’s Rants last blog post..Win $100 of Cleaning supplies from Weiman and Libman
ReplyGood to know. Thanks!
ReplyI used to raise chickens and really enjoyed it. Most of the year you’ll get an egg a day from every hen so don’t get too many unless you want to give eggs away to friends and family.
Check with your local feed store for free chicks. They usually give them away in the early spring.
Kens last blog post..Build Strength To Build Muscle
ReplyI had chickens for years when we lived in South Dakota. Don’t keep roosters in town, as they start crowing at the very first HINT of sunrise (usually about 4AM). I know this from experience!
Also hens will lay an egg a day until they moult in the fall or winter. They’ll start laying again as the days get longer in January. But usually older hens slow down on the egg-laying, so you’ll only get an egg every two or three days. We always started with new chicks every year, and butchered the old hens when they moulted and quit laying. They make the best chicken soup!
Chickens will eat your table scraps (along with chicken feed) and give back to you in the form of eggs and meat. They’re handy to have around!
ReplySome counties and some cities, don’t care what you have. Some neighbors out here have horses,llamas, turkeys, chickens, geese, donkeys, and peacocks. Peacocks are the best way to get every neighbor to hate you. Are they edible ?
ReplyMy biggest concern in raising chickens free in my yard were: the cats who injured my chicken and the crows who liked the eggs very much.
ReplySince I build the chicken coop I got read of the problem.
Gila @ Chicken Coops Today´s last blog ..About Us
I could never raise chickens… too messy and quite annoying.
Reply-Jack
Twitter: WorkinOnMe
said-
It’s hard to think of an animals spending its life suffering only to be slaughtered. I’ve taken to eating free range chickens. At least they enjoy life a bit before going to the gallows.
ReplyAnnaly´s last blog ..What I Learned When I Killed a Chicken
I agree with Toto, that’d be way too messy. If I was patient though, i’d do it and make some delicious omelets.
ReplyIt seems like our whole road is building coops and rasing chickens. It is very absorbing and great fun
ReplyHarry@Chicken Coop Cody´s last blog ..Plans to build a shed – For Men Only
I don’t raise chickens for butchering (Im vegetarian), and since these are the only eggs I eat as I know the chickens are treated humanely, having a quality chicken house is a primary concern. The bigger the better in my opinion!
And you’re right about them supplying more eggs than most people need – many people make the mistake of getting too many chickens when the average family only needs 2 or 3 to supply their eggs needs!
ReplySteve @ Easy Chicken Coops´s last blog ..Free Plans for Chicken Coops
They’ll start laying again as the days get longer in January. But usually older hens slow down on the egg-laying, so you’ll only get an egg every two or three days. thanks..
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