Backcountry Greenwich is known for its lush landscapes, sprawling estates, and peaceful, rural charm. But did you know that more and more residents are embracing a return to nature by raising backyard chickens? Whether you’re looking to enjoy fresh eggs every morning or want to connect with a more sustainable lifestyle, keeping chickens can be a rewarding experience.
Two of our very own RHA members were kind enough to share their tales of raising chickens in the Backcountry. Thank you, Kim Conte and Hunter Ryan, for sharing your “eggciting” chicken-keeping experiences with us!
Why would one want to keep chickens? According to Kim and Hunter, it’s fun! They are lovely pets with their own personalities. They eat your kitchen scraps and pesky bugs! And, of course, hens lay eggs. With the price of eggs at the grocery store spiking in the recent past, some people feel it would make sense to consider producing your own eggs at home. Lest you think chicken-keeping will be a financial windfall, be forewarned this is not a breakeven endeavor. It’s an investment, a lifestyle, a hobby. “Have you ever read The $64 Tomato by William Alexander? Well, it’s kind of true with chickens, too,” says Kim. Lately, however, egg prices are starting to come down.
According to Hunter, hens are most productive when they are young and there is abundant sunlight. In Kim’s experience, “Some breeds lay daily, but most breeds lay 3-4 times per week. They start laying around 5-6 months of age and taper down from there.” Kim has been raising chicks since 2011. She does not sell her eggs, but when she has a surplus of eggs, many friends will happily take them off her hands! Because who doesn’t love fresh eggs? Kim has some hens that lay eggs with colored shells: green, blue, brown, white, and pinkish color.
It is not necessary to have a rooster for hens to produce eggs, but Kim has a “bantam” rooster with beautiful iridescent plumage. He’s much smaller than an average-sized rooster. He’s much more manageable because of his smaller size. The roosters can be aggressive if they aren’t handled much as chicks. “Roosters are VERY beautiful,” says Kim, “with gorgeous feathers that can look hand painted. Very pretty to look at. They keep an eye out for predators for the ‘girls’, and are quite protective of them, sounding the alarm if something comes around.” Hunter has 14 chickens though he does not have a rooster.
Kim built her coop but notes there are many places (Amish country!) that sell prefabricated coops that can be delivered ready to go. Setting up the coop properly from the beginning makes caring for the chickens much easier. Kim has an automatic door that opens early in the morning and lets the chicks out and into their attached pen. Her chicks put themselves back into the coop just before dusk, and the door auto shuts. Her chick feeder holds 40 pellets. It has a weighted pedal that the chickens stand on, causing the lid to open and allowing them to feed. The lid shuts when they are done, keeping mice and other critters out of their food. Hunter leaves food and water for his chicks, which is enough for them for a week.
Hunter happily shared that his children love to take care of the chickens and spend countless hours visiting them and treating them like family. Kim’s grandchildren love her chickens, too, and enjoy collecting the eggs. They have become experts in their own right, helping to raise her chickens over the years.
If you are interested in finding out more about this rewarding hobby, a great resource is, “The Chicken Chick.” She’s a wealth of knowledge and knows everything about keeping chickens. Check out her website HERE!
