WHY KEEP CHICKENS?
The Romans used chicken behaviour to divine the future, especially during war time (lively chickens meant good news; sluggish chickens didn’t get a second gig). African tribes revered them as symbols of nurture and fertility. The Victorians bred them specifically for their plumage and colour.
Chickens were also prized by the Europeans settling in Australia, as they provided much needed protein in the form of eggs and meat – and they required much less food and land than other farmed animals.
The backyard chook was a fixture of the Aussie household until urbanisation and industrial food production, which really took off in the 1950s. Chickens then mostly disappeared into commercial barns, other than in the country where the need for self-sufficiency remained.
So why is there so much interest in backyard chickens again? Reversing the trend of half a century of de-chooking our suburbs, the last decade has seen a re-emergence of the backyard hen-house across Australia. People are rediscovering the benefits and the beauty of these fantastic birds, which go well beyond fresh eggs. Read on!
TO SHARE AN EXPERIENCE OF NATURE WITH YOUR FAMILY
One of the best things about keeping chickens is that kids love it! It’s a fantastic way for them (and you) to learn about caring for animals, how food is produced, and the cycles of life and death in nature. It’s also an opportunity for them to experience something that their grandparents, and perhaps their parents, grew up with.
AS PART OF AN URBAN SELF-SUFFICIENT ECOSYSTEM
Who would have thought that this ancient practice could help solve one of modern society’s biggest problems?
Growing your own fresh produce is a fantastic way to make your household more sustainable, and backyard chooks are a great place to start. In addition to their eggs, your flock will also offer their services in helping to control bugs and other pests, as well as providing a regular supply of natural fertilizer for home-grown food crops.
