Eggstravaganza: A 4-part Series on Raising Chickens for Eggs

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The minute you crack open a homegrown egg from a hen that's been able to eat grass and seeds and bugs, you'll never settle for pale, tasteless factory-farm eggs again. Homegrown eggs are more colorful and flavorful, and they're more nutritious: richer in beta-carotene, vitamin E, folic acid and vitamin B-12. Contrary to conventional thinking, a recent major study found that eating eggs was not associated with an increased risk of heart disease. In the sample of 118,000 people, those who ate five to six eggs per week actually had a lower risk of heart disease than those who ate less than one egg per week.

And when you're in charge of your own chickens, you can be assured that the eggs you raise are free of synthetic hormones and other controversial drugs often used to produce commercial eggs.

Backyard Breeds 

The best chicken breeds for backyard egg production are elegant heritage breeds, which are threatened with extinction as commercial egg producers rely entirely on only a few intensely bred strains. You can do your part in preserving these endangered breeds and enjoy farm-fresh eggs, even if you have just a small yard. These traditional egg-laying specialists are smaller than dual-purpose (meat and eggs) breeds, and they have retained their natural instinct for foraging, making them well-suited for our portable mini-coop. See also: Incredible Homestead Chickens 

Mother Earth's Mini-coop Plan 

Chickens are every bit as entertaining to watch and easy to keep as dogs or cats. Our mini-coop keeps the birds safe and allows you to easily move their pen around so they can feed throughout your yard and garden. And if your yard is fenced or your neighbors don't mind, you can let your hens roam outside the coop during the day, and they will naturally return to the coop to roost every evening. You also can train them to return to the coop during the day by putting grain or their favorite food scraps in the coop. See also: Coops & Cages