| There are many reasons why people raise chicken. | | | | in layers that produce eggs that are less nutritious |
| After all, people have been raising chicken since 5400 | | | | than those produced by chickens allowed to roam |
| BC. The domestication of the chicken has largely | | | | around a barn, scratch and search for their own |
| evolved into a major food production undertaking for | | | | food, and live in natural, open environment. |
| human consumption. Today, there are more | | | | Eggs of backyard, free range chicken are naturally |
| domesticated chickens in farm houses than there are | | | | more nutritious and more flavorful than commercial |
| wild fowl in forests across the world. | | | | eggs produced by chickens perpetually in a state of |
| And why would you and I want to raise chicken? | | | | confinement. |
| I have my own reasons, and you probably have | | | | Raising backyard chicken teaches children about |
| yours, too. For me, I just want to go back to the old | | | | responsibility and origins of their food. |
| charm of the countryside after spending sometime in | | | | Chicken droppings can enrich the quality of soil in your |
| the city. I want to enjoy the smell of natural flowers, | | | | backyard. They can be a source of cheaper, |
| feel the caress of fresh air, climb mountains, wade | | | | healthier, natural fertilizer for your garden, |
| through rivers, and feel free and refreshed in the | | | | When foraging for food around your backyard, |
| midst of it all. Perhaps, there is an anthropological | | | | chickens serve as natural pest deterrent |
| explanation to this. I believe there is a natural | | | | These are just a few advantages. There are more |
| yearning in all of us to be in the midst of nature and | | | | benefits, but there is just not enough space to |
| our natural sources of food. | | | | include them here. For one, tending chickens is not as |
| But, of course, I also need to continue working to | | | | demanding as taking care of dogs or other household |
| have something to feed my family - and I think | | | | animals. Chickens do not need to be bathed or taken |
| poultry-raising is not such a bad idea. Aside from | | | | for a walk, unlike your favorite Labrador or German |
| getting a steady source of income from chicken | | | | Shepherd. They just need to be fed and given fresh |
| eggs and meat, I can also have a steady supply of | | | | water like all natural pets. Of course, you need to |
| fresh chicken and eggs for my family's consumption. | | | | keep the coop clean and the chickens inspected |
| With the price of organic eggs in groceries hitting $4 | | | | regularly to ensure that they are healthy. |
| a dozen, raising chicken in your own backyard is | | | | You can involve your kids in these activities, including |
| certainly a most welcome idea. | | | | picking up eggs on a daily basis. As a child, I |
| Let me give you a rundown of the other benefits of | | | | remember watching a mother hen lay her egg each |
| raising chicken in your own backyard: | | | | day. My brother and I had to wake up very early in |
| Eggs from free range chickens are healthier and | | | | the morning to watch this daily ritual. It's a memory I |
| more ideal for human consumption. Commercially | | | | totally enjoyed recalling to my kids even before we |
| farmed chicken are fed an unnatural diet, mostly | | | | decided to move to this farmhouse. My brother and I |
| chemically produced feeds that are meant to | | | | continue to relish the memory to this day. |
| produce more eggs quickly and cheaply. This results | | | | |