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After much research and discussion, we decided to try our hand at raising some chickens. I could go on about the difference in the egg quality from store bought to your own raised versions however that is only a by-product of the original intention which was to have a decent garden.


We wanted to put a garden in however between building a house, moving, and the addition of our second son, there was little time to play in the dirt this spring. So I resolved to start preparing an area which would work for us next spring. While doing some light reading, I stumbled on an article about raising chickens in a fenced in area that was basically split in half. Chickens ran around on one side while you plant your garden on the other. In the fall, you move the chickens into the garden area for cleanup detail and begin prepping the soil where the chickens had been for next years garden. As you can imagine, the ground receives a nice saturation of fertilizer via chicken waste. I won't really go into much more detail however you can view the article here.


So I've read and read and read and read about raising chickens (which by the way is a great sleeping pill in the evening and late night). I had spent plenty of time around horses and cows as I was growing up however never really had any experience with chickens. Fortunately, 3 of my 5 neighbors and several people at work currently have chickens. Additionally, there is a vast well of information on the net on how to take an egg and make it a chicken the correct way.


We ordered 26 random chicks from Murray McMurray. (I should add here that I ordered them while my wife lay sleeping and having no clue what I was enlisting our family for. She knew I was going to get a few chickens but when I told her I ordered 26 her eyes flew wide open. God bless her for putting up with my crazy ideas!) Specifically, we ordered the "Special Assorted Bargain" which I thought would be the most fun. There are some really crazy looking chickens out there! Most of my neighbors and friends have the common Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, and Leghorns. I can always fall back on them if I need to have some more incubated which is a nice insurance policy. We ordered them last Thursday and they arrived this morning. We lost one during transit however the rest of them seem to be doing very well.


The next venture is to build a chicken coop on the old harverstore base behind our house in addition to the fencing which will keep them in and predators out. I'll update as need be but for now, here are a couple images and a link to more.


I'm sure there are simpler ways to develop land for a garden however this way seems to be the most fun!