Who would have conceive that one of the biggest stories in the early-2023 news oscillation would be egg monetary value ? But here we are , mid - February of a young twelvemonth , and my news provender is satisfy with tale about , of all thing , ball .
How much are grocery computer memory ballock today?Why are testis so expensive veracious now?Is everybody going to go raising their own backyard chickens?But is it deserving it to raise your own chickens for eggs ?
Then there are all those#eggdealer viral videos . …
Of course , we here atHobby FarmsandChickenscan’t help but smile a footling when we interpret these story . We have , after all , been chatting about chickens since long before egg turned into a high - end merchandise .
But as I sit here listening to one of our Australorps sing a garish - and - proud ballock song from the backyard coop , it ’s the question of value that sticks with me — isit deserving it to rear your own poulet for eggs ? I ’m not going to crunch the numbers to fact - check influential news vent , though , before answering “ yes . ” I ’ve kept chickens for well over a decade , and Iknowthat a flock of chickens , no matter the size , can be a pretty cent to keep .
Rather , I require to offer four reasons backyard chickens are completely deserving it … that have nothing to do with exorbitant bollock prices at the grocery .
Food Security
turn out Joni Mitchel was right — you do n’t know what you ’ve receive ’ til it ’s gone , and in early 2023 , that statement is extra dependable for eggs .
Eggs are a staple foodstuff , packed with vitamins and nutrients for a healthy , hearty meal . And when it come to flexibility , you ’ll be severely pressed to find a more various ingredient . Scrambled , fry , poach , in an omelette , quiche , sandwich or burrito … you’re able to always make a luscious repast out of eggs .
And until recently orchis have been dependably budget - well-disposed .
But when prices for a grocery - entrepot dozen put some harm on your wallet ( and adjectives like “ John Milton Cage Jr. - free ” and “ pasture ” carry threat of failure ) or empty shelves pass on your pushcart sans a unmarried nut , there ’s a deep satisfaction in get it on your noblewoman are hard at employment take in breakfast out back .
While some people go for somewhat extreme opinions about the land of our food supply mountain chain , you do n’t require to stay quick for doomsday to find a little more secure when collecting egg from the coop . Growing or conjure your own food just feel good .
Companionship
Chickens are fun . certainly , they ’ll compass treacherous muddle all over your yard , guttle your well - looking Lycopersicon esculentum and squawk loudly at the land site of every squirrel . But watching a flock of chickens can also bestow a sight of delight into an otherwise hum - tympan day .
And beyond do put-on worthy for a spell of what my wife and I call “ chicken TV , ” chickens canmake excellent fellow traveller . Every bit the attentive pet as a family pawl , a regularly mesh volaille will bond with its custodian , and some people even bask training their birds to do cool tricks !
Customizable Nutrition
Yes , we already covered how eggs are nutrition powerhouses . But beyond the basic food useable in poulet egg , get up your own birds ply legion benefits for customizing your egg enjoyment .
Of course , the most obvious welfare is freshness , as food market - depot eggs can endure recollective transport times before they hit the shelves . A backyard nut , however , can be enjoyed at its top freshness .
Does freshness topic , though ? Anyone who ’s ever cracked a just - collected testis and insure that large , circular yolk , then enjoyed a meal from the just - laid stunner can state you that , yes … insolence affair .
There are other ways to customise your eggs , too , ground on what food you provide your hens . Organic and/or non - GMO is as easy as buying the right provender . Some feeds include lifelike additive for a richer - slanted egg yolk , and we ’ve even heard of peoplegiving chickens peppers to turn the vitellus flushed ! I personally care my egg as heart - goodly as potential , so I give my hens a product with extra Omega-3 .
And of course , when you raise your own chickens , cage - free is almost always a pass on and pastured is as easy as afford the chicken coop threshold .
Projects
at long last , continue chicken requires some upkeep — and that stand for you’re able to always find a project to do to make your hens ’ live a little good . At the very least , you ’ll need toclean the coopregularly to protect your chickens ’ health ( a nice way to enjoy an audiobook on a cheery day ) .
But you ’ll also haveplenty of chicken coop improvementsto stave off sedentation . Make achicken dainty dispenser ? Rethink yourdoors and gate ? Start anherb garden for your hensto dine on ? There ’s never a intellect to be bored when you keep poulet !
