column and photos by Bryan Potts

I just started my flock back in March. If you told me five years ago that I’d be raising chickens, I’d have thought you had completely lost your mind. But every year, I saw more and more backyard flocks, and I began thinking: “Why not me? That looks fun!”

My wife and I had talked about getting chickens the previous summer as we were moving into a house that came with 6 acres of land. A lot of people tried to talk me out of it. They argued that I could go to the grocery store and get eggs for 89 cents. What they didn’t know? It was never just about getting eggs.

I have always been an animal lover, and I viewed chickens then as I do now: as pets and members of my family. Eggs would just be an added bonus. My wife thought getting some now would be a good idea, too, because I was home on medical leave from work and feeling quite depressed.