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By Jessica Balok
couple of years ago, my oldest son started asking if we could get chickens. Honestly, I was less than enthusiastic. As all good parents do, I started out by saying no and then let my son systematically wear me down until I acquiesced. I dragged my feet for about a year, but in the end, I just didn’t have a good reason to not give it a try. Soon we found ourselves knee deep in a new project… converting an old outbuilding into a chicken coop. My type A personality drove us to crazy lengths to protect our soon to be chickens. The great horned owls that live in our cottonwoods were staring me down. Up went the chicken wire “lid” on the run. We buried the perimeter fencing 12 inches. Predator guard solar LED blinking red lights were installed. I sure did spend a lot of time obsessing about predator proofing the chicken run and how to design the roosts and nesting boxes for someone who didn’t even want chickens. I started pouring over breeds. This is when the chicken sickness really started to overtake me. Should we get funny looking chickens, irresistible mini-versions (bantams), friendly chickens, or egg laying machines? Ever since Martha Stuart sported her multicolored egg basket and Jennifer Garner posed for a paparazzi picture while taking her chicken on a stroll through town, there is no shortage of
chicken information for the budding chicken enthusiast (or addict). After way too much research, we went with my brother-in-law’s advice and placed our order of day old, pullet (girl) Brahmas. They are known as the gentle giants of the chicken world. Calm and friendly with unique feathered feet, they are good egg layers of large brown eggs and tolerate cold weather well. We set up the brooder in the garage, where the chicks could spend their first 8 weeks until they had enough feathers to leave their incubated environment. Nicole called from Navajo Feed to tell me that the chicks had arrived, and when my son and I picked them up, we couldn’t resist taking home an extra Easter Egger that would grow up to lay the prettiest speckled green eggs. I was anxious to get them home. It seemed to me a medical miracle that newborn chicks can survive being shipped with no food or water. This stage took more effort than I had expected. These adorable little fluffballs were constantly knocking over or pooping in their water. After a couple of months, we were all ready to transfer them to their outside digs and have our garage back. At this point we have had the girls for a year and a half. We all love having them and the fresh eggs that they provide, and the work has tapered off to a minimum. Of all our outside animals/livestock, the chickens are the easiest to care for. They are over the moon if my husband throws a bale of
oat hay in their run. It provides hours of entertainment as they jump on top of it, grab a blade of hay and shake it until an oat seed falls out that they can eat. I don’t know if there is any science behind it, but the eggs do seem to taste better than store bought. Crème Brûlée made from our fresh eggs has to be one of my favorite desserts to make (and to eat!). I must admit that I’ve done an about face when it comes to having chickens. This is one of those times that I am grateful for (not frustrated by) my son’s persistence. Now I’m the one saying that we should get more. The chicken craze doesn’t seem to be slowing down, for me or any of the friends and family that have started their own backyard flock. One of the best things about having chickens is that you can adapt it to whatever your space and imagination allow. Most city ordinances allow a few chickens in your backyard (as long as you don’t have a rooster). I have a nephew who lives in San Francisco that has two chickens (one named Extra Crispy and the other Original Recipe). He does take them on walks, sadly not with Jennifer Garner. Whether you have a flock of 30 free range chickens, a couple in your backyard, or something in between like we do, having chickens is great. It’s truly eggcellent (sorry, couldn’t resist)! April 2019 17
