I watch our chickens-three cross bred Americana Browns-for at least ten minutes a day. I think they are fascinating to observe, and so do thousands of people around the internet! In fact some chicken fans let you follow their chickens by putting a webcam in the coop with them! ( watch )
Such entertainment, and at hardly any expense!. (I built the coop the chickens live in with pvc piping and mesh wire that altogether cost $25). We feed them all the left over greens we have from our kitchen plus feed pellets from the feed store-it takes them two weeks to eat $4 of that.
Yesterday we opened up the coop door and the three of them spent the entire day out rambling happily around our yard. At dusk they returned to the coop without any direction from us and there settled down for a quiet night.
Our chickens are not laying eggs yet, but who cares- their engaging, friendly and entertaining behavior is ample reward for having them around. Jim Shupe, who donated the chickens to Home Grown Food Network, and an expert breeder, predicts that our particular cross breed of Americana Browns will be laying eggs next month. I can hardly wait!
Peter Naughton, Manager, Home-Grown Food Network
Filed under: Flower Power 2009, Renewal, YAWNS
