Chickens, Sunshine, and a Few Feathers in My Hair

Here we go again—egg prices are flying high, and folks are starting to wonder if they should get a few hens of their own. Let me tell you something: I’ve been around chickens longer than some folks have been alive. Growing up on the farm, my mama had 500 hens. Five. Hundred. That’s a lot of feathers. We sold six or seven crates a week, each holding 30 dozen eggs. And every afternoon, my job was to go hunt down the secret nests the hens tucked away in the old sheds and bushes. I got pretty good at it, if I say so myself.

I’ve kept chickens most of my adult life, too. My kids were in 4-H—we had a poultry club called Fowl Friends, and I was the leader. My daughter Mindy even won grand champion broiler at AKSARBEN one year. You better believe that ribbon is still hanging up in the house.

If you’re thinking about starting your own little flock, bless your heart—and let me give you a few tips.

First, if you live in town, check your city’s rules. Some places don’t allow chickens, and most don’t want you waking up the neighborhood with a crowing rooster at dawn. Good news is, hens don’t need a rooster to lay eggs—only if you want baby chicks.

There are darling little coops you can get at the farm store—Bomgaars or Tractor Supply usually have some cute ones. I keep mine on the lawn in the summer. The girls chew down the grass, fertilize it naturally, and the yolks turn a beautiful golden color from all those fresh greens. When they’ve “mowed” one spot, I just move the coop over. Easy as pie. Come winter, though, I roll the coop into the garage with a tarp underneath for the droppings. Chickens aren’t messy if you stay ahead of it.

Now don’t be surprised if egg production slows in winter. A hen needs about 17-18 hours of sunshine to make an egg. You can add a little light to help, but use a good ol’ incandescent bulb—none of that fluorescent stuff. The best laying breeds in my experience? Australorp, Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red, and White Leghorn. I’ve tried those “sex links” too. They lay a lot, but mine were jumpy as heck. Nothing like opening the coop door and getting smacked in the face with feathers and a full-on panic attack.

If you start with chicks, give them time—4 to 5 months before you’ll see your first egg. And don’t forget, chickens need food and fresh water every single day. No excuses.

Out here in the country, I let mine free-range. Sure, I’ve lost a few to weasels, hawks, even a bald eagle once—but I’d rather see my girls happy, scratching in the dirt and sunbathing in the dust. That’s the chicken way. And honestly, it’s not a bad way to live—for hens or humans.

So if you’re thinking about chickens… do it. Just don’t forget to bring your sense of humor.