Whether it's the price of eggs, the bird flu, politics, or a desire to control where your food comes from, people from every walk of life are taking the chicken plunge in 2025.
Bird flu should NOT as big a problem as the fear mongers are making it. It was government practices, not the bird flu itself, which forced farmers to kill their flocks. A number of experts have suggested that it would be better to let the flock develop immunity and only destroy the sick birds.
Hey! Friend of Madison Hughes’ and love seeing your content. In my corner of Fairfax County, Va., I have to pay $435 (either one-time or yearly, not clear) for a backyard chicken permit for six hens since I have less than 2 acres. Other localities don’t charge this much. Tell your readers they might encounter these roadblocks to (legally) own backyard chickens for personal use!
My daughter in law’s brother has an agreement with a couple of places in town to take their food waste a couple of times a week. He feeds it to his chickens and hogs. It probably helps that we’re in a small farming town, but it could be worth the effort.
I trade fresh garden produce for small flock eggs. Been thinking of getting some birds myself; produce, eggs and chicken meat from your own "farm" is the best food (as are other animals like rabbits and wild game)!
I grew up on the family farm. We took care of our livestock and land because it took care of us. Mutual respect.
Great article! I couldn’t agree more! I kicked around the idea of having chickens for 10 years before I woke up one morning and said I’m doing it. The most important thing was the safety of my flock. Raising chickens is a real pleasure and highly therapeutic. Enjoy it!
Even though I won’t be having chickens, I love reading about how they have different personalities and their care. I too am an animal lover, so I can see, how one could be bonded to them. People around me have small flocks, so I buy from them and return their cartons. I hope they take as much care of their girls as you do.
I love reading about your journey. A friend has backyard chickens. Her daughter & one of the chickens loved each other. Heather pulled the chicken to school every morning in a wagon. So cute!
Our chickens don't mind the rain at all. It's a normal day for them.
They will eat most things in a vegetable garden - any leafy greens, and the leaves of many plants like beets, etc. They are also very busy little rototillers. They will dig up everything. They especially love to dig in the soft, fertile garden beds. Ours are allowed free range access to the empty garden in the winter, but have a large fenced in run in the summer - about 25x35 feet. In the summer they get all the weeds and discards. Ours like tomatoes and all the over ripe berries and fruit. They like lots of flowers like borage.
So maybe you can tell us Alexandra why the cost of chicken meat has not gone up as astronomically as have eggs? Due to sic, bird flu, we cannot eat eggs but the meat is ok??? Clearly makes no sense and we're all sick to death of the insanity.
Never use cedar chips for chicken bedding. Use pine chips instead. Several of our sweet chickens died to teach me (and you) that lesson. And know what you can safely feed your chickens and what might harm them. In addition to the links Tom Slick gives in his comment, keep this post handy:
Alexandra, I was trying to help the new chicken owners your post is aimed at, people who have less experience with chickens than you do. The "you" in my comment was intended to add to the discussion for your beginning readers, not you personally. I am sorry my comment was not clear about that.
Bird flu should NOT as big a problem as the fear mongers are making it. It was government practices, not the bird flu itself, which forced farmers to kill their flocks. A number of experts have suggested that it would be better to let the flock develop immunity and only destroy the sick birds.
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Looking forward to reading more about your chicken stories.
Many to come!
Call it the Chicken Chronicles.
Hey! Friend of Madison Hughes’ and love seeing your content. In my corner of Fairfax County, Va., I have to pay $435 (either one-time or yearly, not clear) for a backyard chicken permit for six hens since I have less than 2 acres. Other localities don’t charge this much. Tell your readers they might encounter these roadblocks to (legally) own backyard chickens for personal use!
Oh wow that’s insane - I’ve never heard of that! Good to know.
My daughter in law’s brother has an agreement with a couple of places in town to take their food waste a couple of times a week. He feeds it to his chickens and hogs. It probably helps that we’re in a small farming town, but it could be worth the effort.
That is a great idea
Even if they ask that you provide a suitable container for them it can be a win.
I’m sure that you’re already researched this, but here are a couple of places I look to from time to time.
https://backyardchickenproject.com/what-can-you-feed-chickens-100-things-on-our-list/
https://backyardchickenproject.com/what-not-to-feed-chickens/
This whole bird flu is nothing but a scam!
I trade fresh garden produce for small flock eggs. Been thinking of getting some birds myself; produce, eggs and chicken meat from your own "farm" is the best food (as are other animals like rabbits and wild game)!
I grew up on the family farm. We took care of our livestock and land because it took care of us. Mutual respect.
Now that I'm retired, that may be Career 4.0!
Great article! I couldn’t agree more! I kicked around the idea of having chickens for 10 years before I woke up one morning and said I’m doing it. The most important thing was the safety of my flock. Raising chickens is a real pleasure and highly therapeutic. Enjoy it!
Even though I won’t be having chickens, I love reading about how they have different personalities and their care. I too am an animal lover, so I can see, how one could be bonded to them. People around me have small flocks, so I buy from them and return their cartons. I hope they take as much care of their girls as you do.
It’s definitely my #1 priority to tell everyone they are very charismatic little beings that have a wide range of emotions!
Excellent!
Thank you for this awesome, useful article. I am almost there, and your articles can guide me along the way.
Aw yay that makes me happy!
This is very helpful, thank you! It’s my dream to have chickens and I want to do it the right way. Thanks for your encouragement and wisdom 🐥🐔🥰
I love reading about your journey. A friend has backyard chickens. Her daughter & one of the chickens loved each other. Heather pulled the chicken to school every morning in a wagon. So cute!
Our chickens don't mind the rain at all. It's a normal day for them.
They will eat most things in a vegetable garden - any leafy greens, and the leaves of many plants like beets, etc. They are also very busy little rototillers. They will dig up everything. They especially love to dig in the soft, fertile garden beds. Ours are allowed free range access to the empty garden in the winter, but have a large fenced in run in the summer - about 25x35 feet. In the summer they get all the weeds and discards. Ours like tomatoes and all the over ripe berries and fruit. They like lots of flowers like borage.
I would love to raise chickens. Thanks for this article and the photos.
Eggs from your own chickens is the way to go!
You really can’t go back after you experience it lol!
So maybe you can tell us Alexandra why the cost of chicken meat has not gone up as astronomically as have eggs? Due to sic, bird flu, we cannot eat eggs but the meat is ok??? Clearly makes no sense and we're all sick to death of the insanity.
I would guess it has to do with the supply chain. We probably import the chicken meat from other countries not impacted as much.
Thank you Alexandra. That's probably the only logical explanation but I think we all know this is all very sus.
Never use cedar chips for chicken bedding. Use pine chips instead. Several of our sweet chickens died to teach me (and you) that lesson. And know what you can safely feed your chickens and what might harm them. In addition to the links Tom Slick gives in his comment, keep this post handy:
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-treats/
I don't need that 'lesson.' I would never use cedar chips - I have pine and hemp bedding in the coop.
Alexandra, I was trying to help the new chicken owners your post is aimed at, people who have less experience with chickens than you do. The "you" in my comment was intended to add to the discussion for your beginning readers, not you personally. I am sorry my comment was not clear about that.