Did you know that in some states grocery stores can keep eggs in storage for up to four months? That most commercial egg "factories" house more than a million birds per farm? You can imagine what kind of chicken life that is, and frankly, I also wonder about eating those eggs. Safe, we're told, but nothing compares to the taste, healthfulness and just plain fun of eating eggs from your own chickens.

When I first prepared to get our girls, I was really nervous about the whole thing. Boy, was I worrying for nothing. The hardest part about having chickens is getting ready to have chickens. Once you assemble the basics, though, you'll spend less than five minutes twice a day on them - gathering eggs, filling dishes and water.

You can feed a family of four with as few as 3 chickens. Check your zoning regulations, of course, but having a few chickens in the backyard is very little work, and I promise you won't annoy the neighbors. That's because you only keep hens, not roosters. A little convent of hens is very quiet and industrious, and you'll get around 1.5 dozen eggs per week from 3 chickens. (Never get just one hen - she'll get lonely!). I suggest having about half a dozen, since sometimes you get a poor layer or one will come up missing (watch those neighborhood pets!).

First, some things to know - you can't do this if your zoning prohibits it, but if it doesn't expressly forbid chickens, go for it. Also, if you have prize flower beds or vegetable gardens, buy some inexpensive chickenwire fencing to keep them out. They like to scratch in the dirt searching for seeds and bugs. Finally, be sure your yard is enclosed, because the girls like to roam and don't respect property lines. One note about gardens - in winter months, you may want to let your chickies roam the beds on warm days - free fertilizer. I have extensive perennial beds and about 25 chickens and mine roam freely most of the time. I put them in a fenced area for a few weeks each spring until the hostas get good sized, though!

Getting Chickens
There are a number of places to get chickens. You may have a farmers' market in your area and can ask there. Call a local 4-H leader for ideas. Veterinarians usually know all the local farmers, who might part with a few for $2-5. You want pullets, which are 15-20 weeks old, because they lay eggs when they are around 20 weeks of age.

For the most fun, go online and look up "chicken hatcheries" and you can see what's in your area. Actually, you

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