More Than Just Eggs: The Many Benefits of Owning Back Yard Chickens

When organic eggs reached over $4 a dozen this winter, my husband and I decided it was time to raise some chickens as a way to contain grocery costs. We did some research as chronicled in this AC article last spring, and purchased a small flock of "just hatched" yellow chicks.

Since the goal was production, we weren't interested in raising exotic chickens or even those colorful Bantams, but choose the decidedly unglamorous Leghorns instead. Leghorn chickens (we were told) would produce between 18-20 dozen eggs a year, and three Leghorns would keep our family well supplied in farm fresh, organic eggs.

Our Leghorns probably won't start laying eggs until late August. In the meanwhile, we've discovered there are many other benefits of being a backyard chicken farmer besides those fresh eggs.

Bug control

Chickens eat a lot, and are constantly on the prowl for weeds, bugs, slugs, and other tiny critters to snack on. I've been particularly pleased at how they've manage to gobble down all the slugs and sowbugs in my vegetable garden.

Since I'm the one that feeds them, the chickens tend to follow me around the yard as I do my gardening chores. While I'm doing the pruning and the weeding, they tackle the bugs. Fortunately, chickens tend not to wander more than 150 feet from their coop which means they pretty much stay within calling distance.

Stirring up the soil

To reach the bugs and other creepy crawlers, chickens peck and scratch away at the ground. While this can make a mess out of your beds by dumping dirt on the sidewalks, it also helps to stir up the soil. Breaking up the soil with those rake like talons improves drainage and helps to mix up decaying plant matter so it can begin the process of composting.

Organic fertilizer

Many gardeners agree that composted chicken manure is a fabulous additive to both vegetable and flower beds. Since my flock is free range by day, I haven't been able to collect enough droppings to compost them yet...however, I have noticed that my flower beds are looking a little perkier than usual these days.

Attracts other birds