by Judy Carrier

Created on: December 03, 2009

Let's Raise Chickens!

Once I made the decision to retire from the federal workforce after 32 years of service, on the heels of that decision came the desire to change the way my husband and I lived on our little four acre plot of land. Suddenly my mind began churning out a flurry of projects. I would bake our own bread, can our own vegetables, grow strawberries, and raise chickens. I would save so much money and have so much to do that I couldn't possibly become one of those retired people that spend their hours watching soap operas, or playing online games. I would be an active retired person!

Almost immediately I realized that I couldn't do all these projects at once so I began to narrow my list down. I no longer had to live according to the timetable that came with holding down a job. I could do what I want, when I want. What a refreshing concept! So, my first project since it was the one that would require the greatest start up costs would be to raise chickens. I researched some of the websites, and there were many. Since my mother had raised chickens when I was little I knew a little bit, though as a child my involvement included feeding them and maybe chasing them. I really didn't know what they needed to be happy chickens and I knew even less about their development. So after a little research on housing and feeding the little birds, my daughter and I ventured off to the local feed mill in early spring and I bought my first little flock. Now until you have looked into the tiny eyes of these little puffballs you do not know the meaning of the word cute! There they were all huddled up in the corner of the box, a fluffy little mass of yellow and brown and black. The storeowner said that some of them were only hours old which only enhanced their cuteness. We picked out a few of the yellow ones, a few of the reddish ones, and a few of the brown and yellow spotted ones. After adding a feeder and a waterer and a heat lamp and a bottle of supplements that would "provide the necessary amino acids for proper development", I walked out of the store with 10 little chicks in a cardboard box and a receipt for slightly less than $75. My mind was dreaming of the dozens of eggs and the happy little chickens that would sit on my lap and let me rub their little heads while giving me adoring little looks with their beady little eyes.

We got them home and for the next several weeks I would spend no small amount of my day feeding and watering them and making sure they were

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next Page >>