As we continue to develop a sustainable lifestyle out in the woods, miles from any kind of town, having some chickens around has been sounding more and more appealing. Chickens could help us with many things; eggs and meat to feed us and our dog, and to sell; feathers for tying fishing flies for sale; manure for the garden, orchard, and pasture; garden bed tilling; fly population control; and understanding of and appreciation for life. In return we can give them protection from predators (except for the humane kind); sustainable population control; well balanced, natural diet; warm, dry, draft-free, super-spacious coop; varies, interesting, fenced outdoor landscape to explore; about 3/4 of an acre of pasture to forage, with possible excursions to other parts of the land; care for illness; and lots of love.

The basic idea is to give the chickens a mobile coop which can be moved between the garden and the chicken yard, depending on the season and how worn out the ground in the yard is. The coop and the yard will be in a corner of a 3/4 acre, fenced-in pasture, eventually being protected by dogs and accompanying sheep or goats. During the daylight hours, the birds will spend most of their time in the general pasture. Read the rest of this entry »