Cool Gardens

Butterflies, bees, and chickens. Backyard spaces with magical habitats.

- Kae M. Petrin

CHICKEN DELIGHT

At first, keeping chickens seemed “like a dream” to Jessie Mueller. She’d seen friends’ chickens but didn’t know much about the realities of keeping the birds: “It starts out with these cute pictures—and then it turns into something that’s really real.” After more research, Mueller realized that chickens could actually benefit her family.

Fresh eggs are the obvious advantage, but Mueller also loves “the day-to-day of caring for them—getting up in the morning, going outside, being a part of the elements.” She also finds chicken clucks soothing, even meditative. “It’s getting you out of your air-conditioned home and being a part of the start of the day,” she says of her new avocation.

Mueller reports that the family’s three chickens have unexpectedly become companions. “I’ve been most surprised by how bonded they are to us,” she says.

Owning chickens has also brought her children more in touch with how food is made. “You get so detached from the food-to-plate pipeline. The farms are out there, and we’re in the city, and you just go to the grocery store to get fed,” Mueller says. “Food is real, and it’s hard to create. It’s work.”

To get started, the family bought their chickens, supplies, and an A-frame coop from The Easy Chicken.

“If you’re starting out, try to get some chickens or chicks that do well in the cold, that are good egg layers,” Mueller recommends. She found that feeding table scraps prevented her birds from becoming picky eaters. Besides reducing food waste, she says, “It’s great because you’re literally putting your dinner outside, they’re eating it, and you’re getting eggs.”