I’ve got quite a bucket list of “things” I want to do.  

• Vertical gardening – I’m still old school horizontal.
• DIY kefir {you’d think for someone who DIYs yogurt each week, this would be a no-brainer}.
• Go to Italy. Tuscany, if we’re splitting hairs. A girl can dream, no?
• Learn how to knit.
• Raise a flock of backyard chickens.

Ever since I became a total food snob enlightened a few years back, fresh eggies and where I source them has become a major priority. After all, they are quite possibly one of nature’s most perfect foods. For a control freak such as yours truly, raising backyard chickens is a natural fit. Let me break it down for you.

The 9 benefits of raising backyard chickens 

1. Fresh eggs

This one goes without saying {Captain Obvious reporting for duty!}. Access to fresh eggs is a real foodie’s dream.  Fresh, pastured eggs {as opposed to conventional, even “cage-free” or “organic” store bought eggs are nutritionally light years ahead of their counterparts.  They have a higher quality cholesterol than conventionally produced commercial eggs, a quarter less saturated fat, two-thirds more vitamin A, twice the omega-3 fatty acids, three times the vitamin E, six times more vitamin D, and seven times more beta-carotene. Notice the yolk color of a store-bought egg versus its pastured counterpart. The latter is a brilliant hue of deep yellow or orange, which is the direct result of its superior vitamin D content {because those happy hens are frolicking in the sun}.

Don’t believe me? Check this out.

The yolk on the top comes from happy, backyard hens and the one on the bottom, from {unhappy} conventionally-raised hens. Which one would you rather eat?

2. You are what you eat…eats

Whatever you feed your chickens, eventually gets repurposed into their eggs. All your leftover veggies and fruits, the grasses and weeds, the quality of their feed, and even bugs contribute to the nutritional content of their yolk. This means choosing organic, non-GMO scraps and feed at all times. Unless your local farmer is explicit in his or her “food rules”, you can’t assume that GMOs are not lurking.

Why are GMOs bad? So glad you asked. Read this, pick your jaw up off the floor, and then mosey on back. I’ll be waiting. 

3. Teaching your family where food comes from

I venture to say that most children – including many of us growing up – share the mental model that food comes from the store. Having backyard chickens gives children the opportunity to experience the entire lifespan of an egg, from the awesomeness of being laid to noshing at the breakfast table. It’s a fantastic lesson in respecting animals that provide us with food. 

4. {Relatively} easy to care for

Once your flock is established, backyard chickens require relatively minimal care. Like other pets, chickens need food, clean shelter, and exercise. That’s about it. 

5. Natural {and non-toxic} insecticide and weed killer

Chickens live for bug hunting, dining on grasshoppers, ticks, termites, caterpillars, worms, slugs, fly eggs and pupae, beetles, weevils, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, and snails. More than likely, if you call it a “pest”, your hen will call it “lunch”. They enjoy these bugs with a side of greens {a.k.a., weeds}. They are very balanced eaters. 

This eliminates the need for toxic bug killers, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. It’s a total 2-fer.

6. F*R*E*E fertilizer 

To make great compost, you need nitrogen, and as luck would have it, chicken poop is full of this “must have” in every garden! 

7. Fun and kid-friendly

Just like other pets {and people}, each hen will have her own personality and quirky traits. Some are quiet and some are chatty. They also make great companions for your kiddos. 

8. Teach responsibility

Whether its gathering the eggs or cleaning out the hen house, there’s work to do everyday with chickens. Making sure they are fed, watered, and tucked in at night are important tasks that must be done to keep our backyard flock healthy and safe. These are BRILLIANT tasks to delegate to your child labor workforce. 

9. Reduce waste

Within reason {no junk food and other foods that might be harmful to them – read more here}, hens can eat just about anything leftover. Got fruit and veggie scraps? Leftover fish? Last night’s spaghetti? Give it to your hens.  

Are ya sold yet?

As with most things awesome, there are usually drawbacks. This is no exception, but the cons are pretty limited, considering you get fresh eggs every day. A few include:

1. They cost money to maintain
2. They can be noisy
3. Your town or city may not allow them {check your local ordinance laws}
4. If you travel, they still need to be cared for {like any other pet}
5. Hens live upwards of 12-13 years, but only lay eggs for about 2-3 years

Not too shabby, right?

Ready to channel your inner homesteader and get crackin’ on raising your flock of chickens? I’ve got your back.

As luck would have it, my girls Tamara and Kelly, the brains and beauties behind the popular blog, “Oh Lardy!”, just released their first book, “Oh Lardy’s Guide to Keeping Backyard Chickens”. It is AWESOME and chock full of practical, useful, and valuable information when it comes to taking the plunge.

In this book, you will learn:

• The benefits of keeping backyard chickens
• How to get your backyard flock started with chicks
• How to feed and care for your chickens
• How to save money by fermenting chicken feed {even chickens are fermenting junkies!}
• How to plan your brooder and your chicken coop
• How to take care of chickens in a variety of climates
• How to care for sick chickens
• And LOTS more!

It’s a great, easy read that literally feels like you’re conversing over a cup of {organic, fair trade Swiss water decaf} coffee with these ladies. I love those kinds of books, don’t you? 

I mean, sure, you could get all of this information from the almighty Google, gathering bits and pieces of useful tips and tricks from a variety of sources over the course of days, weeks, or months, but who the hell has time for that? Not this busy mama. “Oh Lardy’s Guide to Keeping Backyard Chickens” is your one-stop-shop to create the backyard chicken experience of your homesteading dreams. It’s got it all {and then some}. Get it now, you won’t regret it. 

Still not sure?

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW Oh Lardy’s Guide to Keeping Backyard Chickens!

I’m now one step closer to crossing becoming one of those “crazy chicken ladies” off my bucket list {a badge I will wear proud}. I like crossing things off my list. 

Grab it here.

Do you have backyard chickens? What’s your favorite part about owning them? Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear!

 

Image courtesy of Will Merydith