Raising Chickens – Small Flock Style

{Today’s post on the awesomeness of raising chickens is from my friend Jeremy Porter. Jeremy is a professional chicken consultant as part of the amazing group Cluck! and also lends his hand to one of my favorite non-profits—Seedleaf. For his full bio, visit our team page. Read on!}

Chicken-keeping has been a part of life for humans since these fancy feathered fowl were domesticated at least 7,000 years ago. Although much of the knowledge of chicken-keeping has lapsed at least a generation or two for many Americans, the popularity of having a small flock is gaining a resurgence. Throughout the next several posts, we will be sharing some of the why’s and how-to’s of small flock chicken-keeping.

So let’s start at the beginning: Which came first? The chicken or the egg…oh wait, we don’t need to go back that far. Let’s just ask, “Why keep chickens?”

Home-grown goodness

Many folks are choosing to raise chickens in order to be more closely connected to their food sources and the natural rhythms they inhabit. However, they also discover that these birds quickly cultivate an affection as keepers enjoy their distinct personalities and entertaining social behaviors. In addition, if just looking at the numbers, we see that eggs from hens raised on pasture have a lot more to offer than eggs from conventionally raised hens:

• 1/3 less cholesterol
• 1/4 less saturated fat
• 2/3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene

Similarly, raising chickens for meat allows a further connection to and knowledge of our food sources. Since reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I’ve been able to approach the harvest of a home-raised hen with more gentleness, humility, and respect. Knowing that I am giving my life to this animal (my affection, sweat, and money) so that it might give its life to me makes me aware of the gift of life and what is required for me to eat.

While there are plenty of winsome reasons to keep chickens, some motivation also comes from the, at times, tenuous relationship between consumers, the poultry industry, and the government’s regulation of it.

As Pets and for Show

Keeping chickens as pets, raising them for 4-H and FFA programs, and placing them in other show competitions are other reasons why folks might keep a small flock. The annual Kentucky State Fair has just about every breed imaginable on display, so even if you don’t enter a bird, its a great way to see the fun, friendly, and even a little freakish breeds of chickens kept throughout the state.

The chicken coop at Fourth Street Farm in Lexington

All of these reasons include the capacity for chicken-keeping to help children and adults alike to develop a connection with nature and a sense of responsibility for another living being. Also, chicken manure serves as a wonderful addition to compost, which is great for any garden!

So, do you keep a small flock of chickens? What are your reasons? Are there reasons we didn’t mention above? Are you hesitant about raising birds? If so, what makes you hesitant? Do share your thoughts!