in Featured World News 6 Lessons From A Once-Reluctant Backyard Chicken Farmer
Robert Busek
Two years ago, I gave in to my wife’s passion for backyard eggs. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Back in 2011, my wife became a stay-at-home mom to prepare for our three adopted kids to come home. That’s when it all started.
Amid the seemingly endless paperwork required for an international adoption of a sibling group, I noticed she was “nesting” in more ways than one. She started watching Alaska: The Last Frontier, a show about a homesteading family on Discovery. Her Pinterest board and Google search results exploded with gardening tips, sourdough recipes, and pages about home canning.
Then one day, she looked at me and said, “Honey, can we get some chickens?”
My answer was a resounding “no.” As a child of Bergen County, New Jersey (think the opening montage to The Sopranos), the closest I ever got to farm life was visiting the small zoo at Van Saun Park with my grandfather. There was no way I was going to become a suburban farmer, no matter how much I enjoy making frittatas on the weekends.
Nevertheless, she persisted. Over the years, it became a running joke between us and our growing family. Chicken-related pins and Facebook links showed up regularly in my email inbox. She served me my morning coffee in a thrifted mug with a rooster on it. Even moving in with my elderly in-laws (the least farmer-esque people I know) did not dim her hopes.
Then two years ago, our grape-nutty state legislature started enforcing a 2020 law requiring that all eggs sold in Colorado be raised “cage-free,” thereby increasing prices for what used to be a cheap source of protein. My wife renewed the pressure with support from her mother. Like a good husband and son-in-law, I caved, big time.
Since then, we’ve been the proud owners of a small flock of chickens. Like with most surprises, the learning curve has been steep but rewarding. For those of you considering taking this step in the wake of recent egg prices, I offer these six lessons.
1. Their Coop Matters
Once your new flock gets past the “so cute and fluffy” stage, they are going to need a place to live and work, which means a backyard coop. There are many options available for purchase and even more plans available online for those who have the time and inclination. Whatever option you choose, don’t skimp.
One of the selling points my wife used in her argument was that we could easily and cheaply house our chickens by adapting a child’s outdoor wooden playhouse purchased from Amazon for about 100 bucks. When I finally got around to making the required modifications (full disclosure: I had to be nagged), the chickens moved in, and all seemed well.
Three months later, we realized nine chickens put a lot more wear and tear on a playhouse than even the most rambunctious toddler. In particular, the cheap plywood floor rotted away under the weight of its inhabitants and their poop despite our liberal use of Walmart peel-and-stick linoleum tiles.
We ended up purchasing a larger coop and run from a company in Utah. This summer, we plan to upgrade again by putting in a concrete pad and adapting a 10-by-12-foot gazebo. My wife says this will be their “forever coop.” I’m not sure I believe her.