It’s an elation I will try my best to convey to those of you who may never have had the joy of raising chickens and getting those small oval sunny delights!
It seems such a simple thing, really.
A single egg?? Whats the big deal? I can buy a dozen and a half of those for five bucks at the store. Easy peasy, no hassle.
Well, having raised all nine of my chickens by hand from hatchling to hen, I can tell you egg production does not happen overnight. It is a dedication and a total labor of love. Yet I find it’s worth the wait. It takes roughly five months worth of TLC to reach the pinnacle stage in a chicken’s life where it switches from freeloader, to homestead contributor. That’s a long time!
It could be argued that chickens contribute more than just eggs to a homestead or farm and earn their keep in other ways. Curbing the bug population, trimming the weeds and fertilizing the lawn, but at the end of the day, it’s not a really a whole lot, just some small bonuses. I’ve never once heard of someone getting a flock of chickens to maintain the nitrogen levels in their yard for gardening. Just doesn’t equate. Buy it at the store!
However, knowing that almost everyday you will have at least one egg to eat, or in my case eight, it’s a sense of leveling up the homestead from just fruit and vegetable nutrients to protein and fats. A huge step up in self sustainability without resorting to hunting or eating bugs.
Owning chickens is a whole different game. It’s not just about supplying a demand but maintaining a personal supply.
Yet it goes one step further into self sustainability knowing that worst case scenario I have eight whole chickens to eat, or trade. Add in the bonus of owning a rooster, and I can sell fertilized eggs or breed more chickens. It’s really such a huge leap forward in food security.
Plus, it’s a fun family adventure!!
So, go get you some chickens. Now!
Artful Homemaker 