Our Chickens: From Backyard Flock to Farm Staple

It's hard to imagine the farm without our chickens. In many ways, they've been at the center of this entire journey and started long before we ever dreamed of running a farm.

Where It All Began

We first started keeping chickens about a decade ago with a small backyard flock. At the time, they were much more pets than livestock. It was just a few hens happily scratching around the yard, producing enough eggs for breakfast and the occasional baking project. We made plenty of beginner mistakes, learned as we went, and slowly grew more comfortable caring for them.

I had wanted to keep chickens for as far back as I could remember. Back when I used to go to my best friend's house in first grade and feed his chickens and collect eggs, I wanted to have some at my own home. But, chickens are a lot of work (even if they don't seem that way to a 6 year old) and so my parents said "no." But, eventually, my wife and I owned our own home and it was time.

We purchased six ISA Brown hen chicks and the next year, we purchased six more (though a wider variety of breeds). We saw the benefits to chickens in controlling pest populations, the downsides to our planted gardens (chickens will eat half of every ripe tomato given the chance), and the troubles with keeping predators away. We saw the warmth of a broody hen trying to hatch eggs and the viciousness of the pecking order as chickens pulled each others' feathers out. Before long, we couldn't imagine "not" having chickens. They became a part of our life.

Eggs, the Pandemic, and Community Support

By the time the COVID-19 lockdowns began in 2020, we found our egg production quickly outpaced what we could reasonably eat ourselves. With so many folks in the community struggling to find basic groceries, we decided to give the surplus away to anyone who needed them.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many people were grateful to have fresh eggs during an uncertain time. Of course, a few folks did take advantage -- showing up and taking all of the eggs at once, leaving nothing for others -- but that didn't discourage us. The important thing was that people were being fed and food was not going to waste.

Looking to the Future

As time went on, we started to wonder: could we take this a little further? Could we grow our flock and provide more local food to our community, not just during emergencies but year-round? And could we build it sustainably in a way that would help offset the cost of feed?

When the opportunity came to purchase an old farm property in Lovell, we saw a chance to put those questions into action. We've been slowly working to restore the infrastructure ever since, with chickens remaining a core part of the operation.

Today, the flock provides a reliable, near year-round source of fresh eggs (with the exception of the winter "dearth," when shorter days and molting cause production to drop). When supply exceeds demand, we continue donating surplus eggs to the local food pantries. It's better to have them eaten than wasted, and a small way we can support food security in our own backyard.

Growing the Flock

This year, we wanted to plan ahead and keep egg production strong through the winter. We ordered about two dozen pullets for a May delivery, hoping they'd mature in time to lay during the winter months when production typically drops.

However, as many chicken keepers know, this spring brought some new challenges. The avian flu struck early in the year, resulting in widespread culling of large industrial flocks. While our flock remained healthy and unaffected, the crisis led to chick shortages at many major hatcheries. Hatcheries faced both increased biosecurity demands and growing backyard interest from people looking to raise their own chickens.

To ensure we wouldn't come up short, we sourced another two dozen chicks from a local agricultural supply store (Paris Farmer's Union), just in case our original order was delayed or cancelled. As a result, we now have a healthy group of young birds that should begin laying by this fall or winter. We also now have the largest flock we've ever managed.

It's also extremely gratifying to see our toddler son show a great interest in the chickens. They may be his favorite animal (more so than the dogs or cats). It's been a great learning experience for him and for me, as we explore nto just the chickens and eggs, but what it means to be "gentle" and to take responsibility in caring for others.

Looking Ahead

Heading into fall and winter, we expect egg production to increase substantially. While feed costs remain high, and raising livestock always carries other expenses, we hope to continue selling to both our regular customers and new customers who value local, farm-fresh eggs. And as always, any surplus will find its way to the food pantry to help our neighbors.

As small farmers, these kinds of decisions are constant. Balancing growth, community service, and long-term sustainability is always part of the work, but we remain committed to doing what we can to provide real, local food for the people around us.

We hope to be able to provide eggs and more for many years to come.