WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL SANDS
Keeping a flock of backyard chickens continues to grow in popularity in Maine. Chickens have always been popular in our state, but they became a national trend during the COVID pandemic. Since then, what started as a trend has turned into something more important as egg prices continue to fluctuate. However, many people who keep backyard chickens will be the first to say that if you are keeping a flock only for the eggs, you will be eating very expensive eggs.
Fortunately, chickens are valuable for more than just their eggs. Whether you are considering a backyard flock or just getting started with a few hens, you might be surprised at how beneficial your chickens can be for the environment.
Chickens convert food waste into nutritious food.
One of the biggest benefits of backyard chickens is that they convert food waste from your home into fresh eggs. Chickens are omnivores and can eat nearly all the foods that humans can. The food scraps that would have been put into the waste bin can help feed the flock. Chickens cannot eat moldy or spoiled food, of course, but they are fantastic for gobbling up last night’s leftovers that may otherwise sit in the refrigerator, go bad, and end up in the trash. According to a 2021 study from the United Nations, 17% of all the food we grow is wasted. Growing food requires a lot of resources, so backyard chickens making good use of your food waste are helpful to the environment.
Chickens provide natural pest control, helping you avoid harmful chemical pesticides.
Chickens are great foragers. They scratch, dig, and eat bugs and grubs, providing important natural pest control for your property. Chickens can even help prepare your garden for planting in the spring by eating pests and scratching the soil. Once your garden is planted, chickens may nibble on your crops just like pests do; however, before and after planting each year, they’re great for keeping unwanted pests in check.
A well-managed backyard flock is much more efficient than the industrial egg system.
Though it’s meant to boost efficiency, the industrial process is often much less efficient than people think. Backyard chickens are much more efficient and better for the environment than the commercial industry. Eggs reach the table without needing shipping, refrigeration, and transportation. Food transportation is a big part of global emissions, so eating local is an important way to cut down on those emissions. What could be more local than your own backyard? Moreover, chickens at commercial farms are kept for only a short period, but hens can lay eggs for years longer. Commercial egg operations do not take advantage of what a hen can really do.
Chickens provide valuable fertilizer for your garden.
As the price of food continues to rise, more people are planting some kind of vegetable garden in their yard or in raised beds, but fertilizer is also expensive. This is where chickens really shine. Compared with other manures, chicken poop has higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It must be composted to be safe, but chicken poop makes prized fertilizer. If you have your own backyard flock, you have access to free fertilizer for your gardens.
In conclusion, a backyard flock is full of benefits. Homegrown, fresh eggs are delicious and healthy, and chickens can bring a lot of joy. Backyard chickens can also have a positive impact on the environment around your home as well as the planet.
If you’ve been considering backyard chickens but thought the only perk was fresh eggs, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension explains the many environmental and practical benefits of a backyard flock, and offers guidance on managing them well.
You can get started at extension.umaine.edu/livestock/poultry/backyard-chickens