Hi! My name is Annie, and I’d love to share a bit about myself, my family, and how we got into raising backyard chickens. My husband and I have been married for 19 years, and we have three amazing kids. I still remember the overwhelming joy of becoming a mother for the first time. With each child, I felt that fierce love, wanting them to experience all that life has to offer.
Why We Decided to Raise Chickens
Now, with three kids, our life is busy but filled with love and laughter. As my husband and I have gotten older, we’ve become more mindful of what we put into our bodies—and our kids’ bodies too. But don’t get me wrong, we still love our treats!
This growing interest in healthier living sparked the idea to add chickens to our family. We’ve always had a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, birds and even a lizard. At one point, we also raised goats, ducks and rabbits, and we even ran an Organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for a couple of years. Let me tell you, that was a LOT of work! These days, we just garden for fun.
Our Experience Raising Chickens
Over the years, we’ve had all kinds of chickens, but my current flock is my favorite! My ten “girls” have truly become part of the family. Watching them grow has been such a joy, and the farm-fresh eggs are an incredible bonus!
We got our flock in October, which isn’t the usual time to buy baby chicks where we live in Minnesota. But with the proper setup, our girls have thrived and adjusted well to their new environment.
Concerns Before Raising Chickens
If you’re considering raising backyard chickens, you might have some of the same questions I had before diving in. At first, I wasn’t sure I could handle taking care of another living thing (I mean, our kids were all close in age!). Plus, I worried about:
The environment and potential predators
How much to feed them
Whether they would come back to the coop every night on their own
How to care for chickens in the winter
And of course… do we really need a rooster?
Raising Chickens Isn’t as Hard as You Think
Despite my initial concerns, raising chickens has been a wonderful experience! They are fun, social and quickly become part of the family. I’ve found that spending time in the coop is one of the best parts of my day!
If you’re on the fence about getting chickens, know that it’s not as difficult as it seems. Plus, the rewards—like fresh eggs and adorable feathered friends—make it all worthwhile.
Join Me on This Chicken-Raising Journey
Whether you’re a seasoned chicken keeper or just starting out, I’m excited to share this journey with you! I talk about all things chickens, from daily care to fun facts. While I’m not a professional, I’m just a regular mom who happens to love her flock. And whenever a tough question comes up, I have access to some incredible experts at Strong Animals to help us out.
Raising chickens has enhanced my life in ways I never imagined—and I’m sure it will do the same for you.
Until next time,
–The Wing Lady