Fluff, Feathers, and Learning to Fly: Thoughts on Being a Chicken Lady

Did I choose this life, or did this life choose me?

A few months ago, I did not want chickens. It wasn’t even a thought in my busy brain. I can’t even be sure when the switch flipped. I only know that I began the year researching everything I could about chickens — from the benefits of having egg-laying hens to how to properly take care of them. I had the space. I even had the time. I couldn’t think of a single good reason not to invest in baby chicks.

Yes, it would be work. But I love animals. I like the idea of having hens who lay eggs for my family. I’ve dipped a toe into homesteading, and I like it. It might add to my responsibilities, but it also gives me more living creatures to love.

If you’ve thought about getting chickens but hesitated before doing so, it’s understandable. It’s a big responsibility. I’ll share my experiences in hopes it helps with the decision-making process.

Research and Preparation

I started with a lot of research. I began following chicken accounts on social media. I read as much about the different breeds and their traits as I could. I knew I needed breeds that were quiet because I live in a neighborhood. While I’m in the rural South in an area known for agriculture, I do want to make sure that I’m considering others with my choices. I also wanted breeds that were kid-friendly as I’m a single parent. Most of all, I wanted ones that generally get along with other chickens.

I did all the things I had read about to prepare. I set up a brooder using a puppy pen with a top that zipped up. I opted for puppy pads and pine shavings for the bedding. I ordered baby chick-sized waterers and feeders. I ordered starter feed, treats, and a kit that would allow me to grow sprouts for my chickens. I placed my order for baby chicks and anxiously waited for them to arrive. I gave them names while I waited.

Chicken Lady Initiation

My first 24 hours of being a chicken lady was a rollercoaster. One died in transit. Four others followed soon after despite the fact that I used all the first aid I had researched to try to help them survive. I spent the weekend deliriously happy with my sweet, soft, fluffy baby chicks and then grieving the loss of over half of them. It was a tough initiation to being a Chicken Lady.

I’m over three weeks into this life. My only regret is not placing my original order for chicks with a different company. I was lucky to find a few more at local hardware stores to add to my brood.

I like being a chicken mama. Their needs are fairly straightforward. I make sure they always have food and water available. I regularly clean out their little coop to keep it clean and fresh, and I spend time socializing with them.

Chicken Lady Benefits

The last part is fun. Because I want to be able to handle them as they grow up, I’ve spent time with them. I pick them up, hold them, and talk to them. I call them by their names. Now, when I walk into the room, they come running to see if it’s time for treats or just time to hang out and play. I have a few chickens that are always the first to greet me with one in particular who always wants to be picked up before the others. That’s Sophia, one of my sweet Golden Girls.

Even though they haven’t been here a month yet, I’ve watched them change. I go into their room every day to check on them. I’ve learned which health warning signs to watch out for, but I also just like visiting them to see which ones have new feathers. They went from little furry balls of fluff to nearly fully feathered birds quickly. While they’re entering that awkward teenage stage already, they are no less delightful than their fluffy earlier selves. They’ve even started to fly. I know they could literally fly the coop, but instead, they only fly up when I come to visit them.

I’m still weeks away from them going outside and into their outdoor coop with its attached and covered run to protect from predators. I’m weeks away from my little chicks becoming egg-laying hens. But even though I’m only at the beginning of this chicken adventure, I love it.

The Downside of Chickens

Sure, there are downsides. After potty training two children and a dog plus scooping litter boxes for two cats, I can’t get excited about cleaning out chicken poop. It’s not my favorite part of the job, but I like knowing that they have a clean, healthy environment. I’ve made it part of my routine, and it’s not that big of a deal now that I’m used to it.

While the chicken lady's life can involve early mornings, I’ve already found a life hack for that. I’ve invested in oversized feeders and waterers, and I have installed automatic coop doors that will open and close each day. Not only does this make my life easier, but if I ever have to engage a pet sitter when I travel, it’ll make their life easier, too.

The loss is likely the hardest part of owning pets of any kind. I cried when I lost 5 of the chicks on that first day. I didn’t have to know them well to love them. I know that loss will never get easier. But every time they get excited when they see me, I know it’s worth it.

If I’m honest, I haven’t been able to eat chicken since I started caring for them. This isn’t true of all chicken owners, of course, but I’ve found a plant-based substitute that works for me. We’re excited about the fresh eggs that will come during the summer, and because nearly every breed of chicken I have has a heavy egg layer, I know we’ll have more than enough for my family. I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to eating chicken, but even if I don’t, it’s okay.

Thoughts from a New Chicken Lady

I never planned on being the type of homesteader who had chickens. I was always more focused on gardening and growing vegetables, herbs, and fruit. But then, I wanted chickens. Even I can’t explain it. Then, I decided to grow mushrooms. And bake bread.

I’m a single parent. I’m a writer who has to hustle to make ends meet. This life is more work, but it makes me feel more self-sufficient, too. I can grow some of my own food. I can raise chickens for their eggs. I turned my property into a literal wildlife habitat with bird feeders, a bird house, a bat house, a home for cutter bees, and a frog hotel. I can model a sustainable lifestyle for my children and teach them how to care for living creatures.

I never expected to become a chicken lady. I look back and feel grateful that I didn’t dismiss the idea because it didn’t fit into the life I was planning. I’m glad I opened myself up to a bigger idea of what my life could be if I let it. I didn’t want this, and then I did. I didn’t know I would love raising chickens, but I do.