by Heather Nicholson of Scratch Cradle
In the green heart of central Virginia, Laura, her husband Marvin, and their son Ethan work together to care and provide for their flock, and Ethan brings their extra eggs to the local food bank. In this interview, Laura describes her experiences keeping chickens for the past two years.
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| Laura and her Ameraucana hen Annie |
How were you first introduced to poultry?
I was first introduced to poultry a couple of years ago at my son-in-law’s farm in rural central Virginia, and it was love at first sight. At the time I did not feel I had the space to raise poultry, but when we moved a couple of years ago, obtaining a few hens and rooster was one of the first additions to our new household. I can’t think of anything that we have done as a family that has meant so much to us. We have a son who has a high functioning autism and this has changed his life. Working with the poultry on a daily basis is very calming and entertaining to him as well as educational. My husband and I love watching the flock, which originally consisted of eight hens and a very protective rooster, Cletus, who keeps such a good watch that we have yet to lose a member.
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| The family’s greenhouse coop |
What breeds do you have?
We recently tripled our flock and now have six Black Copper Marans (four roos, two hens), four Delawares (one roo, three hens), and some new female chicks that include two New Hampshires, two Barred Rocks and two Tetra tints. Our former group, a Brown Leghorn rooster named Linus, one huge New Hampshire rooster named Cletus, an Australorp hen, an Ameraucauna hen, one Cinnamon queen, a Barred Rock hen, one Delaware hen, and one Brown Leghorn hen are doing just fine and thriving and are more than a little curious as to the new additions. Everyone separated but allowed to peruse around the newcomers’ pens! We just love them all!
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| Ethan packs eggs for the food bank |
What was your most memorable experience?
I think our most memorable experience to date was our first egg. Our Cinnamon Queen, Honey, was the first to have a lovely brown egg. Pearl, our Delaware hen, was the next to lay a pinkish tinged egg. Growing up in the city, neither my husband or I had ever tasted fresh eggs. We were astonished at the difference in texture and taste as compared to store bought eggs. At that point we thought that we must have been doing something right! Every day is a highlight as we take care of the flock as a family.
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| Marvin and Cletus, the NH rooster |
What has been most challenging?
I think the most challenging thing about keeping poultry is making sure that we keep everything clean. The wild birds seem to congregate around our property, and while they are lovely, I worry about their feces contaminating waterers and feeders. We have some lovely birds, including some pileated woodpeckers, cardinals and huge blue jays this time of year. We just have to make sure that they stay out of the water supply and food of our flock.
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| Marvin, builder of all coops and poultry necessities! |
What has been most rewarding?
I think that the most rewarding thing about keeping poultry is seeing my son take such an interest in the care and welfare of the hens and roosters. He genuinely loves them and I think has benefited from learning how to provide a food source for the family (eggs). We also strive to provide food for our flock and for ourselves since obtaining our poultry by growing fresh greens such as mixed salad greens, sprouting seeds in the wintertime for them and growing cabbage and other plants for them in the warmer summer months.
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| The family’s first coop which featured a pull-out poop tray designed by Marvin |
What do you consider to be the indispensable tools of the trade, and why?
The most indispensable tool of our poultry yard is ACV (apple cider vinegar)! It keeps our flock happy and healthy when added to the waterers daily.
What practices most characterize your approach to husbandry, and why?
Our approach to poultry husbandry reflects what an honor it is to be the shepherds of our flock. We truly believe it is a blessing. Our birds provide us with fresh eggs, and it is our duty to provide the best possible living experience for them while they are in our care. Cleanliness is one practice that is vital to a healthy flock. We strive to keep our coops and all equipment used for our birds as clean as possible, but without stressing our environment in doing so. Natural microbes play a huge part in this balancing act as well. Their importance should not be understated!
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| Ethan feeding the flock on a winter morning |
What advice would you give a newcomer to poultry?
Make sure that you visit a farm and/or urban setting that has poultry before you purchase your first chick. Too many people are under the impression that having or owning chickens is easy. I don’t think that the word “easy” should be used to describe taking care of any living thing. To do it right you must uphold strict biosecurity measures to protect your flock as well as maintain a feeding and watering schedule that works for the birds that you own. Educating yourself, therefore, is the best advice for a newcomer to poultry.
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| Laura also gardens and creates live wreaths and arrangements. |
Anything else you would like to share?
Thank you, Heather, for your informative incubation guide! I have read and re-read and will begin to incubate a few eggs this spring. I was a little scared at first to try this as I was worried about creating a “Frankin-chick”, but now that I have studied your guide, I feel ready to try to hatch our own! My family and I are so excited to begin this next phase in our poultry experience! Thanks again for the information that your web site has provided us as we move forward in all things poultry!!
Visit Laura and her family at The Secret Garden at www.hensandchiks.com where you can see pictures of her birds, coops and whole set up.
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