Alice in Dairyland, Halei Heinzel, poses with her hen Bonita.
In the early 1900’s, chicken was primarily served for special occasions and eggs were a luxury, so, with the exception of a few rural family farms, households didn’t keep them around. World War I changed this when Uncle Sam himself expected Americans to “…Keep Hens and Raise Chickens” to reduce food shortages across the world. There was even a “Rechickenize France!” campaign started by the Daughters of the American Revolution after France ran out of fresh food during the conflict.
This trend of individual households keeping chickens and other poultry continued through World War II. However, once victory gardens were no longer promoted by the U.S. government to keep up food supply, backyard flocks started to decline. Around this same time, production capabilities improved and chickens could be raised in large numbers, reducing the cost of purchasing the items from the grocery store.
Little by little, however, the trend of backyard flocks is inching back into our lives, including poultry besides chicken like turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants, guinea hens, pigeons or quail! These birds aren’t just found in backyard flocks today, but can be 4-H projects, an additional source of income for a hobby farm, or raised commercially across our state. Chickens are still Wisconsin’s most popular type of poultry to raise; as of January 1, 2023, Wisconsin was home to nearly 7,000 layers and more than 57,000 broilers in yards and on farms of all sizes.
Chickens were the first FFA project I had in high school! I started with a managerial project: two chickens that lived in a friend’s coop that I showed at the county fair. By the next year I had expanded to 12 chickens that I raised in my own backyard, five of which I took to the fair that summer. Once I aged out of showing I continued expanding my flock, adding more chickens and additional species like ducks, turkeys, quail, and geese. I have since reduced my flock to just three hens– Bonita, Rex, and Jewel– whom I visit as much as I can between my travels as Alice.
Poultry don’t require excessive inputs or equipment, making them a nice entry point into raising livestock. Consider these key elements from University of Wisconsin-Extension if you’re considering getting your own flock.
- Is your desired bird a good fit for your environment and your lifestyle?
- Does your municipality allow your desired species? Some may not allow any while others have limits on numbers, species, sex, and shelter requirements. Check with your municipality ordinances.
- Do you have enough space? Each species has its own requirements so some may be a better fit for your situation.
- Consider how your animals’ needs will be met when/if you travel.
- Do you have other pets that may not interact well with the birds?
- All poultry need a clean, dry, adequately ventilated, draft-free environment, likely with the need for supplemental heat if over-wintering. This should protect them from potential predators and the elements.
- Feeding and watering systems should be easy to clean and large enough to accommodate your flock. Feed is the most expensive part of raising poultry.
Each species of poultry does have its own set of specific requirements to keep them healthy and happy. Once you’ve determined which species you’re considering, your local UW-Extension office and the Wisconsin Poultry and Egg Industries Association can be helpful resources. If you’re not ready to raise your own or you don’t have the space, you can find locally raised chickens and eggs through the Something Special from Wisconsin program at www.SomethingSpecialWI.com.
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