The notion of sustainable living is catching on and many people are going beyond the tomato pot on the patio! Despite zoning regulations and city council grumblings, American people throughout the country and into the suburbs, from Boston to Minneapolis and far beyond the midwest, are stretching their arms, using their muscles, testing their freedom and independence, and discovering that chickens make great pets. They're easy to care for and, added benefit, they lay eggs! The craze is spreading so much that Chickiwiki is looking for contributing writers to keep up with demand. Check them out at http://raisingchickens.wetpaint.com/.
When I think of this, I am reminded of Foghorn Leghorn, that big lovable barnyard rooster of the cartoon era of days gone by. Not so, this new breed of farmers. The ones who want eggs can't get eggs from a rooster, and a rooster can upset the eggbasket in more ways than one! Instead, some are turning their backyards into a chicken run. That shed in the backyard may actually be a chicken coop. And an extra bathtub may be where they incubate their chicks!
Largely, this suburban farming is in response to the light shed on egg production by humane societies and chicken rescuers. Ironically, some chicken rescue farms become overloaded in autumn when people realize that chickens may not be that easy to care for and they have no way to protect their laying hens or banty rooster during the cold winter months.
I thought my husband had had enough of both eggs and chickens, having grown up on a 2500-chicken farm, where hens had reign over a full barn with a small barnlot to roam, minus good old Foghorn. No, just recently my husband decided a couple of dozen laying hens would take care of our growing family. He is now turning the farm back to the chickens, nonprofit this time. He's resurrected the old farming how-to books and compared them with the new-fangled internet sites that talk about chickens as pets, complete with names and accessories, and will soon be ready to start up his "chicken farm".
Whether you've had chickens or an anecdote, please share with me and my other readers.
I remember when I'd spend the night at Bobbi Groves' house. They had a bunch of chickens and we'd go get the eggs. Just yesterday, someone was telling me how good fresh eggs are. I don't think I could personally handle chickens. But, I'd like to try some fresh eggs.
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