Chicken Politics

2 weeks ago, I couldn’t sleep. This rarely happens after a hard day of manual labor but there I was was counting down the hours until dawn. Why this much excitement you ask? Well, we were expecting 26 day old laying hens in the mail. When the friendly mail clerk called to tell us that the chickens had arrived we rushed out the door in our pjs barely remembering shoes. I think I actually skipped to the car.

Incorporating livestock into farm has always been part of our plan. I believe it diversifies not only the income sources but also raises morale in difficult working conditions. After a long day of tilling or planting, sitting around the kiddie pool watching the chickens play keep away with pieces of bedding definitely lifts our spirits.

Despite never having raised chickens or received animals by mail, they are all thriving. Matt constructed a small roost for them which they love sleeping on. We have started taking them outside on warm days. They seem a little shell-shocked at the sunlight. This week we have begun feeding treats in addition to the organic chick starter. They weren’t as keen as we are about our salad greens, iffy on plain organic yogurt, but they absolutely loved the red wrigglers from our compost pile. We had a great time watching them figure out they were food!

The break from our usual farm routine to include feeding, watering, and playing with our chickens has been much needed. People have been surprised that we actually “play” or socialize with the ladies. However, I think this is an important part of getting closer to our food. I don’t know if it is enough to simply raise chickens in humane conditions. I think it is vital to understand their social behavior and then come to terms with eating meat. Maybe that makes you a vegetarian, maybe it makes you a more conscious human being. All I know is I sure enjoy cuddling a quarter pound fur & feather ball with my eyes wide open about the reality of my food.

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