A New Love for Chickens

     It was about ten years ago when I asked my dear husband the one question that started it all:  "Why don't we raise some chickens?" 

     "Chickens?!" he answered.  "They're a lot of work.  You have to keep them warm in the Winter; they need decent shelter and have to be fed and watered every day.  Besides, we have a lot of predators around here which would mean extra protection for them.  I don't think having chickens is a good idea."

     The conversation ended there for a time.  But, I just couldn't get the idea out of my head.

     I was born in New Jersey and lived there until I was twelve.  And living across the river from Philly meant city and suburbian life; no farms or farm animals close by.  When I was twelve, my life changed for the better; we moved to North Dakota and I got the farm bug.  I just loved the fresh air, the wide open spaces and the farm life!  I fell in love!  I saw all kinds of farm animals on a daily basis, but, strangely enough, I don't recall ever seeing chickens!! 

     One of our neighbors raised pheasants to release into the wild for hunting purposes and that's the closest I got to seeing any kind of farm-raised birds.  I remember spending time in the pheasant barn (he had about 500 pheasant chicks at a time) handling the chicks and just observing them in general.