Keeping chickens at your home can of course, provide a steady supply of eggs. But there are also many sustainability and gardening benefits to chicken tending.
The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Sustainability Division works with local businesses and organizations to offer sustainable solutions. Among these organizations is Second-Hen’d, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping chickens and teaching people the sustainable benefits of chicken tending.
Erica Camp, founder of Second-Hen’d, partners with the Garden to host classes highlighting the environmental issue of “spent hens” and basics of caring for chickens.
Who Is Second-Hen’d?
Second-Hen’d is a local non-profit in St. Louis with a mission of finding loving, forever homes for ex-commercial, egg-laying chickens.
Born to an immigrant father, Erica Camp grew up on a family farm in the country of Colombia. Tasked with daily chores of caring for their many animals, she quickly fell in love with chickens, specifically a bird she named Chiquita.
Chiquita was purchased at a local market for food, but Camp ultimately learned that “livestock” can hold far more value than simply being a one-time food source. In adulthood, Camp found that chickens could, in fact, be therapeutic, inspiring her to found Second-Hen’d.
Chickens can live 10+ years according to Camp. For much of this time hens will continue to lay eggs, as well as offer numerous other sustainable benefits throughout their lifespan.
Sustainable benefits of chicken tending
Fertilizer and food waste management
Chickens can convert food scraps, bugs, and yard waste into organic fertilizer.
Camp says that with just a single chicken, you can fertilize 50 sq. ft. per month, debug 120 sq. ft. a week, and produce enough fertilizer each month to make 1 cubic yd. of compost from leaves.
“Let the chickens work your compost piles and garden beds,” Camp says. “They’re great tillers (and poopers) who will get everything ready for you just in time for planting.”
The Kemper Center for Home Gardening suggests adding the chicken manure to your compost or aging it before adding it your garden bed.
“Recommendations vary, but manure should be broken down enough to apply to plants without burning the roots after composting for 6-12 weeks,” said Justine Kandra, horticulturist. “Turning the pile once a week is recommended.”
Multiple uses for eggs, eggshells
Along with fertilizer, chickens also convert waste into the energy needed to lay eggs. These eggs are not only a good source of protein for those eating them, but can also be added to garden beds and compost piles instead of landfills.
And if you don’t have a garden or compost pile, Camp says there is another sustainable way to reuse your shells.
“You can always feed the shells back to your chickens instead,” Camp says. “Doing so will help restore any calcium depletion from laying eggs.”
Other benefits of chicken tending
Along with environmental benefits, Camp says chicken tending can have economic benefits.
A solid, predator-proof set-up for your chickens may require some extra cost initially. But the added fertilizer and steady supply of eggs in your backyard can ultimately help save money.
“Even if you’re plant-based and don’t eat eggs, you can gift them to family/friends, giving your loved ones and your garden the sustainable benefits,” Camp says. “This allows your friends and family to access eggs from a local, sustainable and ethical source.”
Is chicken tending right for you?
Chicken tending, while offering many benefits, also comes with commitment and may not be the best fit for everyone.
Rules and regulations
First and foremost, Camp suggests you get well acquainted with your local regulations. Regulations can be on a state, city, or even a homeowners’ association level.
One perk of adopting “spent” hens is that you will never have to worry about having a rooster, which many towns and cities do not permit. “Spent” hens will always be female chickens previously used for commercial egg farming.
Up Front Cost
Making sure you have a solid set up before your chickens arrive is key for chicken tending.
If you are handy and thrifty, getting started and maintaining can be very low-cost. But if you’re not very handy and choose to go an easier route of putting together a coop and run that comes mostly pre-made, things can add up quickly.
Bird flu Prevention
Chicken tending has gained popularity in part because of fears of Avian Flu from commercial eggs. Camp suggests that those raising chickens at home follow strict biosecurity practices to prevent an outbreak.
These precautions include using special cleaners, footwear, and clothing, and rigorous maintenance of the chickens’ areas, and quarantining all new chickens.
Those who keep chickens at home should follow the CDC’s Avian Flu guidelines for backyard flock owners.
Camp also says buyers should be wary of purchasing “spent hens” for a lower price on Craigslist, as it is difficult to properly vet the care of the animals and ensure they have been properly quarantined.
vet costs
Camp says those who decide chickens are a good fit should treat them as they would any other pets and provide them with access to a veterinarian.
With chickens living up to 10 years, regular care should be an expected cost for anyone raising chickens at home.
Ultimately, if chicken tending isn’t for you, Camp says the next best thing is to buy eggs from your friends and family or at your local farmers market and ask the vendors about their animal care.
How to learn more about chicken tending
Camp offers regular classes through the Missouri Botanical Garden. During the classes, you can learn more about the work Second-Hen’d does to help “spent” hens, where to ethically get chickens for your home, what supplies you’ll need, and to get answers to all your chicken-related questions.
Jessika Eidson | Public Information Officer
Thanks to Erica Camp for lending her expertise and images for this blog.
Leave a Reply