Living Lessons: The Art of Integrating Chicken Keeping and Gardening into Homeschooling for a Sustainable Life
In this journey, we integrate chicken keeping and gardening into our homeschooling practices as foundational experiences that shape our children’s understanding of the world. It's a story of connection—to the cycles of life, to the earth, and to the values that guide our relationship to the natural world. We transform everyday activities into rich learning opportunities, engaging directly with nature.
Embark on a journey that celebrates the deep connection between people and the environment, where hands-on experiences with nature and its inhabitants shape our understanding of sustainability, empathy, and responsibility. Follow along as we witness the ever-changing backyard ecosystem, offering endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. From the intricate life cycles of plants to the fascinating social dynamics of our feathered friends, these experiences ignite curiosity and instill a profound sense of interconnectedness with the natural world.
In our homeschooling approach, we don't just teach practical skills like gardening and animal care – we impart essential life lessons about birth, growth, loss, and renewal. Our children learn not only academically but also emotionally and ethically, preparing them to navigate the world with compassion and mindfulness.
This lifestyle isn't just theoretical – it's hands-on, providing tangible knowledge rooted in living in harmony with nature. It's an immersive education that blurs the boundaries between traditional subjects and the rhythms of the natural world.
Join us as we delve into the vibrant educational tapestry that unfolds when we open our doors to the backyard, welcoming the teachings of the natural world into our homes and hearts. By integrating chicken keeping and gardening into our homeschooling practices, we're not just nurturing a garden or tending to a flock – we're cultivating a way of life that honors the interconnectedness of all living beings. And it all begins with selecting the perfect companions for our backyard ecosystem.
Choosing the Right Companions: An Introduction to Chicken Keeping
Embarking on the practical first step of this journey, we turn our attention to the heart of chicken keeping—the chickens themselves. Not all chickens are created equal. The breed you choose for your backyard flock plays a crucial role in your journey as a chicken keeper. It’s not just about the eggs; it’s about finding chickens that fit your environment, lifestyle, and the purpose behind raising them. Whether you’re looking for meat, eggs, or companionship, each breed brings its unique characteristics to the flock.
If variety in your egg basket excites you, like it did for us, breeds like Ameraucanas, known for their beautiful blue eggs, and Olive Eggers, a mixed breed that produces olive-green eggs, might be the perfect fit. We’ve also enjoyed the rich, dark brown eggs from Cuckoo Marans, adding a spectrum of colors to our collection. These breeds not only provide a daily treasure hunt but also add a dash of color to your kitchen.
For those seeking feathered friends, look no further than the Buff Orpingtons. Their docile and sweet nature makes them perfect companions for families and those new to chicken keeping. They’re like the gentle giants of the chicken world, always ready for a cuddle.
For a bit of fun and laughter in your backyard, Polish chickens, with their distinctive “floppy mop” of feathers atop their heads, bring a unique personality to the flock. Despite being a bit flighty and challenging to catch, their comedic appearance and antics can light up any day.
When choosing breeds, consider your climate and the chicken’s comfort. We’ve opted for breeds that fare well without excessive combs and with feathers on their legs, making them more adaptable to our cold environment. The larger breed, Brahmas, for example, with their leg feathers, and small combs are a great choice for colder climates. Plus, they have great personalities; I almost always nickname them Brahma-Mamas.
Life as the Teacher and the Chicken Coop:
While it’s often thought that larger breeds require more space, the truth is, all chickens thrive when they have ample room to roam, forage, and express their natural behaviors. When planning your coop and run, ensure you account for the space each bird will need to live a happy, healthy life.
Embarking on the adventure of building a chicken coop while simultaneously caring for baby chicks taught me a valuable lesson: the old adage “build the coop first” cannot be overstated. My journey into chicken keeping began with an ambitious project and a garage-turned-temporary-chicken-home. As the chicks quickly outgrew their temporary abode, I learned firsthand that chickens grow much faster than coops get built, leading to a summer spent with our feathery friends in the garage. The aftermath? A thorough cleaning was needed to tackle the pervasive dust that had settled on, well, everything.
Building a coop became my passion project, especially during my young son’s afternoon naps. Instead of catching up on much-needed rest, I poured my energy into constructing a safe haven for our growing flock. This time became a cherished, if somewhat chaotic, part of my life. However, if I could do it all over again, I might have built the coop first and enjoyed some afternoon naps with my son. Yet, the experience of raising chicks alongside my young son was irreplaceable, providing him with invaluable early life experiences and a bunch of fluffy playmates.
Living in an area frequented by bears meant that the coop had to be more fortress than shelter. I constructed a sturdy structure, roughly eight feet by eight feet, with ample room to stand and move inside. Ventilation was a key consideration, achieved through a combination of back vents and open eaves to ensure airflow while maintaining security.
However, our bear-proofing measures were put to the test more than once. Bears attempted to dismantle the coop, from pulling off back panels to breaking through windows. After several repairs and enhancements, including inner nails for added defense and double-latched doors bearing the scars of bear claws, our coop stood strong. An additional layer of protection came in the form of bear spray, strategically placed within reach from my bedroom window, allowing me to deter nighttime visitors from a safe distance.
Inside the coop, the focus turned to comfort and functionality. Nesting boxes filled with straw provided a cozy spot for egg laying, while varying heights of roosting bars accommodated the flock’s pecking order and sleeping preferences. These features not only cater to the chickens’ natural behaviors but also facilitate easier management and care.
For coop cleanliness, we employ the deep litter method, especially suitable for colder climates. By layering fresh hay over accumulated bedding, we not only keep the coop clean but also generate heat through the composting process below. This method requires careful management to avoid humidity buildup, which can increase the risk of frostbite on combs and wattles in cold weather. Regularly adding layers straw helps maintain the right balance, keeping the coop warm and dry. While this method has worked well for us in Colorado’s dry climate, it’s important to consider local conditions, as humidity levels can vary significantly by region.
Fortifying the Outdoor Run: A Sanctuary for Flock and Farmer Alike
In addition to the coop itself, the outdoor run is a pivotal element of our chickens’ habitat, providing them with the freedom to roam and enjoy the sunlight in safety. Our run extends about 10 to 12 feet by 8 feet, offering ample space for the chickens to engage in their natural behaviors. Recognizing the threats posed by predators not just on land but also from the sky, overtime we’ve encased the entire area with wire fencing and covered the top with rope, then wire fencing to prevent aerial attacks.
But our fortification efforts didn’t stop there. Aware that predators can be as industrious as they are hungry, we took additional measures to secure the perimeter. By digging down around two to three feet beneath the fencing and placing logs in these trenches, we’ve created a barrier that discourages digging attempts by any would-be intruders. This added layer of protection ensures that our chickens can enjoy their outdoor time without the risk of unexpected guests.
This fortress-like approach to their outdoor run complements the security measures of the coop, providing a comprehensive defense strategy that keeps our feathered friends safe while allowing them the pleasures of the outdoors. But it may not be necessary for you if you live in a more urban environment. It's important to consider your backyard and build or purchase a coop best suited to your unique environment.
Beyond the basic necessities of safety and space, creating an outdoor run that caters to the natural behaviors and needs of chickens enriches their environment and promotes their well-being. An essential feature we’ve incorporated is a designated dust bath area. Chickens instinctively take dust baths to maintain feather health and protect against parasites. Providing a space where they can indulge in this behavior is vital for their grooming rituals and overall happiness.
Sunlight and shade play crucial roles in their daily life as well. Ensuring the run offers both sunny spots for the colder months and shaded areas for the heat of summer allows the chickens to regulate their body temperature and enjoy the outdoors year-round. Additionally, installing roosting bars outside gives them a vantage point to observe their surroundings and a change of scenery from their indoor roosts. While our chickens don’t typically forage in the run, introducing items like seed blocks or calcium supplements can add variety to their diet and cater to their nutritional needs, especially for laying hens.
Our run, slightly inclined, allows for drainage, which is crucial for avoiding excessively muddy conditions that can lead to health issues for the chickens, such as foot ailments. Strategically placed roosting bars offer refuge from the wet ground, ensuring they can keep their feet dry and healthy. This setup reflects the natural behavior of birds to roost and takes care of their wellbeing even during the muddiest seasons.
We allow them to roam more freely when we’re home, taking advantage of the wider range to exhibit their natural foraging behaviors. As dusk approaches, most of our chickens naturally return to the safety of their coop, although sometimes it becomes a family activity to guide them back. This ritual reinforces the coop as a safe haven, a lesson that is crucial for their survival, especially in areas with more natural predators, (some) dogs included.
Daily Care Tips: Nourishing and Protecting Your Flock
Ensuring your chickens have consistent access to both food and water is fundamental to their well-being. We prefer using Purina brand chicken feed, which offers a balanced diet designed specifically for chickens. This quality feed forms the backbone of their nutrition. (I receive no reimbursement for this recommendation)
In addition to regular feed, allowing chickens to naturally forage when they’re out and about enriches their diet and can even subtly influence the flavor of their eggs. For instance, herbs like dill, when consumed by the chickens, can impart a distinctive taste to the eggs. The addition of garden, kitchen and grocery excess (as shown in the picture above) to their diet is also nutritionally beneficial and often results in a cacophony of happy chicken sounds.
Regular health checks are crucial for early detection of any issues. Observing changes in behavior or appearance, such as droopiness or lack of energy, can indicate health problems. Engaging with online communities, such as Facebook groups dedicated to chicken care, can provide valuable support and advice. Remember, chickens are resilient creatures with a strong will to survive, often bouncing back with proper care and attention.
In essence, successful chicken keeping hinges on a balance of proper nutrition, vigilant health checks, and effective coop management. Each aspect, from diet to housing, plays a role in creating a thriving environment for your flock.
Composting with Chickens:
The journey of keeping chickens extends far beyond the joy of feathered friends & fresh eggs; it’s a pathway to a thrivable, sustainable lifestyle that connects us more deeply with the cycles of nature. Our daily practices with our flock not only enhance their lives but also improve our garden and reduce household waste, embodying a holistic approach to sustainability.
Our kitchen compost bin is a treasure trove for the chickens, contributing to their diet with scraps they adore, particularly vibrant fruits and pumpkin seeds. Not everything in the compost is chicken cuisine, but what they don’t eat enriches the soil, turning waste into valuable compost. This cycle of feeding and composting creates a rich ecosystem in our backyard, directly benefiting our garden. The addition of straw, especially in the transitional seasons, helps manage moisture and maintain the balance of the composting process.
By integrating chickens into our waste management strategy, our household waste is significantly reduced, and what remains is less odorous. This practice not only benefits our immediate soil and reduces landfill contributions but also fosters a deeper connection with the earth. The cycle of food consumption, waste composting, and garden fertilization becomes a tangible experience of sustainability, emphasizing the importance of conscious consumption and waste management.
By embracing these thrivability tips, we weave the practice of keeping chickens into the fabric of a sustainable lifestyle, enhancing our garden, reducing waste, and fostering a deeper ecological consciousness. It’s a rewarding cycle that connects us more intimately with the natural world, our food sources, and the joys of chicken keeping.
The Garden as a Classroom:
One of the most tangible benefits of keeping chickens is the direct contribution to our gardening efforts. Each year, as we clean out the coop, the accumulated bedding and manure, while rich in nitrogen and considered “hot,” becomes the foundation for a new garden bed or a compost pile that needs to season. This process requires patience, as it takes time for this potent mixture to transform into nutrient-rich soil safe for plants.
The practice of letting the compost sit, sometimes turned but often left to its own devices, is a testament to the slow magic of decomposition. Over time, what was once bedding and waste becomes dark, fertile earth ready to support new life. Each year, this cycle allows us to enhance our existing garden beds and establish new ones, which may rest for a year before being planted. This method not only enriches the soil but also diversifies our garden landscape.
Our homestead evolves with our interests, and recently, our vegetable gardens are transitioning into dahlia beds. This shift underscores the versatility and adaptability of gardening, even in the challenging conditions of Colorado at 7,500 feet. The integration of chicken-derived compost into our gardens supports this transition, providing the necessary nutrients for plants to thrive.
The transformation of our chicken coop’s contents into nutrient-rich soil for our gardens each year is a practical application of sustainability principles. This process, while requiring patience, offers a tangible demonstration of decomposition and soil fertility that enhances both our garden’s productivity and our children’s understanding of ecological cycles. As our homestead evolves, transitioning from vegetable to dahlia gardens, we continue to explore the adaptability and resilience of nature, providing a dynamic backdrop for our homeschooling curriculum.
Conclusion: Cultivating a Thrivable Future
Integrating the daily rhythms of chicken keeping and gardening into homeschooling—or indeed, into any aspect of day-to-day life—transcends the mere acquisition of knowledge. It cultivates a way of living that deeply respects and joyfully celebrates the natural world around us. This approach offers a holistic education, enriching not just children but individuals of all ages, teaching us not only academic lessons but also imparting emotional and ethical wisdom. It roots us in the realities of life, emphasizing the critical importance of sustainability and our connection to the earth.
For us, while chicken keeping is intricately tied to homeschooling our children and embarking on a journey of unschooling ourselves, the essence of this lifestyle holds profound benefits for anyone seeking a deeper bond with the land. It’s a call to embrace the cycles of life that govern our world, to nurture a sense of connection to our environment, and to foster a community that values sustainability, resilience, and the sheer joy of watching life flourish.
So, whether you’re educating children, enriching your own life, or simply yearning for a closer connection to the earth beneath your feet, the journey of living alongside chickens and tending to a garden offers invaluable lessons. It teaches us about interdependence, the beauty of growth, and the cycles of nature that sustain us all. It’s a reminder that, in every effort to care for a piece of land, no matter how small, we’re also caring for ourselves and nurturing a future where both the planet and its people thrive.
