Spring is around the corner, at least, that is what I keep telling myself. With this thought, I cannot help but have fond memories of my grandfather’s farm and sawmill, where he had all sorts of livestock. My pap had cows, pigs, goats, sheep, and chickens. Where I grew up was simple and rural, and the farm had a lot of woods mixed with fields to walk through and lose yourself in nature. Back in my childhood days, us kids loved to be outside, and were hard to find, except at supper time. I had a lot of fun with all of the animals, petting them and even walking the goats and sheep around as my own pets, all with country names, of course. But when it came to the chickens, I was fascinated with them…. watching them pick around the grounds, listen to their coos, and gathering the daily eggs that were laid. How was it possible for these little beings to lay such big, perfect eggs, that were so tough on the outside, yet oh so very fragile. These fond memories always bring a broad smile to my face, and a warmth to my
heart, and I am grateful that I was able to grow up in this “middle of nowhere”, stunningly beautiful part of the country.
This got me thinking……wouldn’t it would be fun and economical to have our own backyard chickens! Believe it or not, you can order your chicks from websites designated for backyard chicken owners. My, how times have changed. In late April, 8 baby chicks will be delivered to be raised and nurtured by me. There is a lot to learn, from brooding them to having the proper equipment and feeders in the chicken coop. When the idea struck me, I was amazed at how many magazines, websites, facebook pages, books, and u-tube videos I found. The practice of raising backyard chicks has really grown in popularity, even in urban areas. You don’t need a farm with tons of acreage, but a space large enough for the chickens to walk around in. Most educational information out there will tell you exactly how much space is recommended for each chicken. Needless to say, I am excited about the arrival of our new babies and look forward to many new happy memories with them.
