Gone to the Birds

Ah, spring! There’s nothing like taking that first cup of coffee outside into the dewy morn and reveling in the spirited songs of the birds, the low hoot of an owl, and the brightness of daffodils and tulips to make you long for….chickens!
Yup…it must be spring – I’ve got chickens on the brain – again!

Please note – I am NOT a country gal. I grew up in mainstream suburbia with the requisite dogs, cats, hamsters and occasional turtle or snake (THAT one didn’t stay for long!). But my dreams were filled with visions of horses and goats and alpacas and chickens.

About five years ago we moved from a bustling suburb of DC to a country town on MD’s Eastern Shore – with an entire 1/3 of an acre to call our own. We signed several papers regarding our – and our neighbors – “right to farm”. Wisely, with three children aged five and younger and two dogs, I suspected I had all the livestock I could handle!

But the days continue to pass. The children are older, and actually help out around the house. The two dogs have been joined by three cats (country – old house – mice!) and although we’ve seen snakes in and around our home – we haven’t named them! My middle child is as animal crazy as my younger self and dreams of horses and goats and chickens – and more horses!

I’ve been considering adding a small flock of laying hens to our backyard for several years now – but was told I was nuts. This year the husband and kids have agreed it’s a great idea AND I’ve found three other intellectually challenged womyn who have agreed to split an order of chickens with me! The minimum order from most hatcheries is 15-25 – and that sounds like a LOT of chicken poop! Four to six seems MUCH more doable.

But…there’s SO much to consider:

Breeds:
The tiny bantam breeds are adorable – and MUCH easier to handle. Many of the standard breeds are now available in the miniature version. However – the eggs are tinier, needing 3-4 eggs to replace 2 standard eggs AND they are only sold straight run (male & female mixed together). I really have no use for roosters. I want eggs, I’m not willing to cull the males to my freezer, and I’m pretty sure my neighbors wouldn’t be very excited about several crowing roosters. So…no bantams for now.

The choice of breeds for standard sized chickens is overwhelming. Do you want chocolate brown eggs? Go for the Maran, a breed developed in France in the mid 1800’s. Light blue or green eggs? You want the Araucana, a spirited, comical bird named from the Indian tribe of Chile where they were first discovered. The Speckled Sussex lays warm brown eggs and is known for being gentle with children (my daughter has named her still imaginary Sussex, Brownie).
The prolific layers are the Leghorn (remember the cartoon, Foghorn Leghorn?) for white eggs and Rhode Island Reds for brown eggs. Because they lay the most eggs, they are found in most of the commercial chicken houses. Many backyard poultry folks prefer to shelter the heritage breeds rather than the commercial choices.

I’m attempting to find the right combination of egg-laying ability and personality to stock my backyard flock. Many breeds are skittish or aggressive – and I want these critters to follow my kids around when given the opportunity!

This leads to Chicken Coop Design issues:

Forget the old stationary chicken coop with the tall fencing and the permanently bare ground! Today’s backyard farmers are all about the chicken tractor – a movable chicken coop and run. By relocating the run every few days (depending on the number of birds) your birds keep your lawn picked free of bugs and weeds, and add their nitrogen rich “compost” to your lawn! Best of all, your yard doesn’t get trampled into dirt! The designs for these chicken tractors are as varied as the chickens they contain. Larger farms may use an actual tractor to haul them around, but the backyard farmer usually can roll his smaller contraption without too much hassle. Most designs include an attached run which may be completely enclosed, totally protecting your birds from predators. A friend uses a movable electric fence around her small coop, which effectively keeps all land predators at bay, although her birds are still at risk to airborne attacks. (she doesn’t want to end up with a flock of geriatric non-laying pets, so the process of natural elimination works for her!)

Did you catch the part about chickens eating bugs? I’m really looking forward to that part, particularly mosquito-eating chickens! (wonder if that’s a separate breed???). I hate mosquitoes. Unfortunately – they LOVE me. I must taste like chicken.

And…if my future chickens do NOT eliminate the mosquito problem…

Apparently Native Americans would coat their bodies with bear grease – which would insulate them against harsh weather AND protect them from mosquitoes! I’m a little low on bear grease – but I have some Crisco in the back of a cabinet – and I’m NOT afraid to try it!

Namaste.