Chickens? Really? Am I crazy? Well, maybe, but the
evidence is overwhelming. On a recent
trip to a local farm supply store, I found myself surrounded by a plethora of
poultry equipment, including feeders, waterers, and “how-to” books. It was more chicken paraphernalia in one
location than I had ever encountered before.
And, last October, our wonderful employees treated Bonnie and me to a weekend getaway in
Probably
the most compelling evidence of this poultry revolution, however, has been my
brother-in-law, Gary. Having known him
for over 30 years, I can safely say, and I mean no disrespect by this, that he
is one of the least agriculturally-minded people I have ever met. Early on, Gary Gary
Two
years ago, Gary and his wife, Cindy, were stricken with “chicken fever.” They purchased seven chicks from Meyer’s
Hatchery here in Ohio
Before Gary and Cindy began their venture, I
gave them some old issues of “Backyard Poultry” and a Murray McMurray
catalogue. Many hatcheries offer nice
catalogues, but the Iowa-based Murray McMurray is the gold standard. With hundreds of pictures of birds of various
sizes, shapes, and colors, there literally is a chicken for everyone.
For
their flock, Gary and Cindy selected two Buff Orpingtons, “Jody” and “Buffy,”
two Americanas, “Nuggets” and “Matilda,” and three Welsummers, “Mary,” “Cathy,”
and “Pastey- Butt.” The last had a bit
of a diarrhea problem when she first arrived.
Fortunately, she recovered quickly, but the name stuck.
Buff
Orpingtons are large, gentle chickens that lay brown-shelled eggs. Known as a dual-purpose breed, they make a
nice stewing hen once their egg laying days are past. Since Jody and Buffy enjoy being held and
petted, that, of course, is a moot point.
The Americanas produce green eggs, making every day seem like Easter,
and the Welsummers have very attractive brown eggs with dark spots.
It
is obvious when visiting with them that Gary and Cindy really enjoy their
hens. From the quiet, contented demeanor
of those hens, I’m quite certain the feelings are mutual. The human-animal bond is not reserved solely
for the so-called companion animals.
Chickens can bond, too.
What
has triggered this revolution? The main
spark, I believe, has been the media coverage of the many E.coli and Salmonella
food contamination scares the past few years.
People now have a real desire to know the source of their food and be
assured that it is safe.
This
is also why backyard vegetable gardening has increased in popularity. And, what better complement to a garden than
chickens. Garden waste can be fed to the
hens and waste from the hens in turn can feed the garden. Composted chicken manure is one of the best
fertilizers available. Forget that old
adage “a chicken in every pot.” The new
mantra should be “six hens in every backyard.”
If
you have children, chickens are an excellent way to not only expose them to
agriculture, but also teach them the responsibility that goes with keeping and
caring for other living things. Chickens
make great 4-H projects if the kids are old enough. There really is no project that can be more
profitable than a pen of meat chickens.
The investment is small, the project lasts seven weeks, and the
financial gains can be amazing.
But,
what if you don’t live in the country? Don’t despair.
Many cities do allow the keeping of chickens. In Delphos, for example, there is no
prohibition for a family’s own use of the eggs and meat. These products cannot be sold for commercial
gain, though. Good neighbor rules also
apply---the birds cannot wander about loose, the pens must be kept clean, and
the hens humanely housed. Roosters are
not banned, per se, but their crowing must not disturb the neighbors.
So,
if you don’t already have those six hens in the backyard, I urge you to get
some. Raising chickens can be a
rewarding and nutritious experience for you and your family. Join the revolution!
Author: Dr. John Jones
Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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