“It’s nothing less than magical”: How chickens changed my life

Meet Vivian, the first chicken keeper in our new series “How chickens changed my life”. Vivian and her husband always dreamed about keeping chickens and at the end of 2024 timings aligned and they decided to take the leap. From getting better sleep to becoming physically healthier, see how Vivian’s life has been transformed by her chickens or as she would say “it’s nothing less than magical”.

After saying goodbye to their beloved Labrador Lucy in 2023, Vivian and her husband found healing in tending to chickens. “I’d been dreaming about keeping chickens for years,” Vivian says, and when she revisited the idea with her husband at the end of 2024, he was ready too.

Vivian explained that having chickens changed how they move through a day. “My daily routine has changed more than I expected,” Vivian notes.“I used to miss early flights because I wouldn’t hear the alarm. Now I wake with the sun to care for the flock, and I tuck them in at dusk.” The result is a fresh sense of time and better sleep.

Health followed the new rhythm. “Since bringing chickens into our lives, I have become physically much healthier,” she says, adding that chores keep her active, outdoor time increases, and herb-picking for the flock is meditative.

A moment with her favourite chicken Norah Jones deepened Vivian’s view of animals: “There was a moment with her that shifted how I perceive the world. The hen rested on my forearm, eyes closed, a quiet sign of love and trust.”

The flock built community online and offline. Vivian runs @soulbeautifulbirds alongside her fruit-growing @contadinak and connected with others who share the passion. That network helped them rescue two roosters and a hen for a forever home.

Vivian’s practical tip for newcomers: plan the basics. “We underestimated the time projects would take,” she says, “always make sure you have the foundations established before bringing chickens home.”

We’ll be back with more ‘how chickens changed my life’ interviews in the coming weeks, so watch this space.

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