How Do You Raise Your Flock?

Reader Contribution by Farm Aid And Homegrown.Org

Instead of a carton of marshmallow Peeps, my siblings and I were given a flock of newly-hatched New Hampshire Red chicks for Easter. Unfortunately for me, my shoebox apartment has no room to raise my hen, so I continue to pay for my local, organic eggs, while my parents play surrogates to Henny-Penny in my absence, keeping me abreast of her every development.

Even though I have had many flocks of chickens nesting in the coop in our backyard since I was a child, I have a newfound sense of propriety over Henny and her sisters.   Perhaps raising this flock from hatchlings to hens has instilled in me a motherly instinct that has lain dormant with the other birds. Or maybe it’s the current backyard chicken movement that has me so keen on keeping my own flock. In any case, I am excited for all of the frittatas, omelets, and meringues that these fresh eggs will provide, and the joy that these hens are bringing to my family.

My family has definitely spoiled these eggs rotten. The hens and roosters we raised as kids typically kept to themselves in the yard, and we merrily collected the eggs in the mornings. Our chickens were not pets.  But this flock is something special. They have enjoyed roosting next to our air ducts for warmth, being watched over by our lab, Mick, and being doted on with attention and affection as they have grown.

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