Coming Together Through Chickens

In researching “our little hobby”, it’s become clear to me that over the last few years there has been a huge resurrection of families keeping “backyard flocks” of chickens.  The growth and interest is phenomenal and online communities such as backyardchickens.com, which has grown its membership to 145,000+ members in just a few years of operation, and facebook groups such as “Chicken Scratch” are sprouting up regularly and growing into new online communities of support and assistance.  These communities not only tie people together on a larger scale creating strong bonds, friendships, and support nets between people all over the world, but have also become the “breeding ground” for innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Although I think it’s awesome that we can make a few bucks here and there selling surplus eggs, hatching eggs, and chicks to offset our feed costs, this is not what im writing about today.  What im writing about is this whole new niche industry of businesses and online stores, aimed at supporting the urban flock owner, are opening, it seems like daily, and growing in support of our hobby.  The best part about our little “micro economy” is that most of the supplies and accessories being developed and sold to this growing market are American made products most of which are handmade by local craftsmen and small business owners: An unemployed engineer in Ohio was recently featured in a CNN story where he has been able to design and build small chicken coops “full time” and is able to generate income for his family doing so; A man in Indiana makes and sells electric chicken coop doors with timers for people with busy lives; and an ever increasing number of craftsmen and craftswomen across the country are making chicken related crafts, jewelry, egg carton labels,  diapers (some people like to bring their chickens into the house from time to time), and hen saddles (for breeders to protect their hens) and selling them within our community. Small businesses have been able to thrive. Randall Burkey Company is a family run business and they are able to provide everything for chickens and baby chicks.  Even reputable “seasoned” hatcheries that previously only dealt with commercial buyers are now serving the public and almost all of them currently have backlogged orders which is amazing given the economic news we read and hear day in and day out.  

Now, I’m not by any means saying this industry is “Americas road to recovery”, but in an otherwise oppressed economy, this movement is a small but growing “success” story which warms my heart and is something, I for one, am proud to be a part of and I think you should be to.  We have “accidently” figured out how to bond together and utilize our passion to do what it would seem our politicians can’t figure out.  It is so awesome to see so many entrepreneurs build their businesses thru the online communities without the need for brick and mortar outlets or even paid advertising thanks to all of the loyalty within our community.  So, the next time you order something from within the community or refer a newbie to our supplier friends, know that you are making a difference and give yourself a big “pat on the back”!  

Through chickens and other animals, we have created a way to help each other. A community that will stay strong because its members care about one another. Some may just come in and comment but others stick around and become part of our chicken family.

  

Written By Marc and Jessica Belanger