Raising chickens and living simply

It’s the new millennial’s dream: raising chickens and living simply. But this is more than just a passing trend — it’s a generation getting back to the basics after decades of life-changing events and experiences. The simple art of homesteading brings everything into perspective, and encourages a calm, intentional approach to everyday life. So, if you’re thinking about trying your hand at homesteading, even in an urban setting, here’s some inspiration to get started.

How to make a home a homestead

The term “homestead” has taken on new meaning in recent years. Traditionally, a homestead was an ancestral home, or a tract of land of a certain size that occupants agreed to occupy for at least 5 years. Homesteads are now what people think of as self-sufficient households — ranging from off-the-grid living, to simply growing food or keeping a small flock of chickens. The main idea of a modern day homestead is to live more sustainably and simply. And thanks to modern chicken setups, any home can be a homestead.

Living simply starts with chickens

Most families have pets, but not all pets can help create a homestead. Chickens are unique in their ability to supply eggs for your family while also providing grounding and educational companionship. Gardening can be an enjoyable pastime, but plants don’t have personalities like hens do. And you may feed your sourdough starter, but it won’t come racing toward you at mealtimes the way your flock will. Chickens have a charm unique to themselves, as well as several practical benefits to a homestead.

Chicken eggs: the homestead superfood

It’s no secret that chicken eggs are a superfood. In fact, they’re an excellent source of protein, and contain most of the essential vitamins and minerals that the human body needs. And with most laying breeds of chickens producing 200+ eggs per year, your family can benefit from fresh, nutritious eggs on a daily basis.

If you have a rooster as part of your flock, your children — and yourself — can enjoy the fascinating process of incubating and hatching fertilized eggs. Chicken eggs hatch after 21 days in the incubator, and chicks can be integrated into your flock to bolster your numbers. Hatching chicks is an invaluable way to learn life lessons and glimpse into the wonder and beauty of new life.

Gathering eggs is another daily activity that the entire family can take part in. Heading to your chicken coop in the afternoon to collect fresh eggs is a simple pleasure with rewarding results. There’s nothing quite like collecting an egg from the nesting box while it’s still warm to add to your family’s supply. Add some chickens that lay colored eggs to your flock, and enjoy a gorgeous assortment of hues that rival an Easter basket.

Hens help in the garden

Chickens make excellent pest control for your yard or garden. Use chicken fencing or a chicken tractor to keep your prized produce out of sampling range, while still allowing your flock to patrol the borders of your plants. Chickens eat a variety of common garden pests, including:

Grubs
Beetles
Ants
Scorpions
Spiders
Snails and slugs

Save what you clean out of the coop for your compost pile — your flock’s nitrogen-rich droppings make excellent fertilizer once composted. And, when you allow your hens access to the compost pile, they’ll scratch through and turn the contents for you in search of insects, saving you the trouble.

Flocks make fantastic friends

As any chicken keeper will tell you, there are few things more grounding and relaxing than watching your flock peck the ground, especially on a warm spring day. Hens will happily chase insects, scratch the earth in search of fresh offerings, and chatter at each other as they settle in for a dust bath or stretch out for a luxurious nap in the sunshine. Bring them fresh greens or other chicken-safe treats from the kitchen, and you’ll soon be surrounded by an enthusiastic audience.

Chickens are flock animals, and thrive in the company of others, but many chickens also form strong bonds with their keepers. Take your favorite book outside and sit with your flock for the ultimate way to unwind. Some hens may even join you on your lap, while others may be content to tend to the ground beneath your feet. Either way, they’ll be happy for your company while you soak in their soothing presence.

Start living the simple life

Whether you’re aiming to start a completely self-sufficient homestead, or just looking to bring some wholesome, simplicity to your daily life, chickens are the perfect way to start. Being outside while caring for your chickens brings a mindfulness that’s hard to replicate outside of tending to animals — especially when chicken chores are an anticipated activity. Setting up your flock with the right essentials will help simplify your routine and their care, making each day a therapeutic experience. For a satisfyingly simple routine, choose:

A plastic chicken coop that’s easy to clean, giving you the thrill of a job well done without monumental effort.
Secure chicken runs or chicken fencing to keep your flock where you need them and away from where you don’t.
An automatic chicken coop door for smart, stress-free chicken keeping.

With the right setup, you won’t have to worry about your flock falling prey to chicken predators, or spend more time maintaining their coop than with your hens.

Omlet and your flock

Our chicken keeping essentials may be state-of-the-art, but they’ve been designed to bring everything back to the basics of solid, quality chicken coops and secure chicken runs for a lifetime of use and performance. Add a Smart Autodoor for simplified routines and schedules, all while staying connected to your flock. Now’s the time: bake the sourdough, sprout the seeds, and get the chickens — and rediscover life the simpler way.