Embracing the Absurdity of Chicken Rearing
In the world of chicken rearing, every misadventure holds a valuable lesson waiting to be learned. From unexpected challenges to comical mishaps, the journey of raising chickens is filled with moments of absurdity and enlightenment. Here, I’ll dive into the wisdom gained from my misadventures and the lessons they’ve taught me about resilience, resourcefulness, and the joys of chicken rearing.
- The Great Escape:
- Whether it’s a crafty raccoon or a curious pet dog, predators are always on the prowl for an easy meal. The Great Escape teaches us the importance of fortifying our coops and runs to keep our feathered friends safe and sound.
- Lesson Learned: Secure Your Coop
- The Mystery of the Missing Eggs:
- When your hens start laying eggs in the most unexpected places – from under the porch to inside the compost bin – it’s time to reevaluate your nesting box situation. The Mystery of the Missing Eggs reminds us that providing comfortable, inviting nesting boxes is key to encouraging proper egg-laying behavior.
- Lesson Learned: Eggcellent Nesting Boxes
- The Zen of Chicken Watching:
- There’s something inherently calming and meditative about watching chickens go about their daily routines – scratching in the dirt, basking in the sun, and chasing after imaginary bugs.
- Lesson Learned: Slow down to embrace the present moment.
- The Language of Clucks and Cackles:
- While we may never fully understand the intricacies of chicken communication, there’s a beauty and charm to the language of clucks and cackles that transcends words.
- Lesson Learned: listen and find joy in the simple things.
- The Magic of Fresh Eggs:
- There’s nothing quite like gathering fresh eggs from the nesting boxes each morning – the warm, earthy smell, the vibrant colors, the promise of nourishment and sustenance.
- Lesson Learned: Resourcefulness in farm-fresh food and the joy of knowing exactly where our food comes from.
In the end, embracing the absurdity of chicken rearing is about more than just overcoming challenges and learning valuable lessons – it’s about finding beauty, wonder, and joy in the everyday moments shared with our feathered friends.
yArdHouse 
Love the idea of zenful chicken watching! How many do you suggest I start with? And which coop is best for a beginner?
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Absolutely, Talula! It’s crucial to check with your local city ordinances on the number of chickens allowed, as these rules can vary greatly from city to city. For instance, here in Goshen, Indiana, our city code permits no more than 6 hens, and no roosters. When starting out, many new chicken enthusiasts, myself included, get swept up by the ultra-cute coops available online at dirt-cheap prices—only to find they literally dissolve into dirt within about two years. Plus, keeping chickens involves a lot of cleanup work, and those small “starter” coops tend to have tiny spaces that are an absolute pain to clean. That’s why I have to give YardHouse a shoutout for the “best coop for beginners.” In my opinion, it’s the only coop you’ll ever need, and your future chicken-keeping self will thank you for investing in a YardHouse Original! Thanks for following along and let us know what you choose!
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