My chickens freedom is important to me. I know that sounds crazy but it truly really is. The idea of free ranging my chickens and allowing them to peck at bugs, scratch up dirt, go for walks makes me happy.
I especially love it when I'm out in my garden watering my plants that I have entertainment to watch. There is always a little squabble going on or the ducks are in their pool playing in it just makes the world feel right. Being with my chickens has been an enjoyable time for me.
But it wasn't always like that. You see where I have my chickens is right next to my garden and we had a little battle of the wills over it. At first I thought maybe there is so much greenery for them to munch they will leave the garden alone. The joke was on me when one morning I came outside to find ALL my lettuce munched down to their stalks, the peppers leaves all chewed off and there was nothing left of my Kale. At first I wanted to get mad but then I stopped myself and decided I'm not going to get mad I'm going to get even. I decided I would take their munching spots back and put it behind a wire fence. I put chicken wire all around my beds and I won the battle. I betcha their was some squawking going on behind my back.
This summer I got to watch eggs hatch into chicks and my chicks grow into chickens. My kids got to experience the whole life cycle and each one of the chickens got a name. Its been an amazing time minus the garden glitch. One of the things I truly am enjoying that by free ranging my chickens they are becoming very personable almost like pets. I suck at being a farmer because I have a feeling none of these chickens will ever be on my supper table unless they are invited into the house and given their very own seat.
I am so glad that I gave up my suburban life and became a homesteader so I too can experience the many wonders of life on a farm. Would love to hear from others who enjoy their chickens as much as I do.
