JEFFERSON, Ga. — Fraser Reade has taken on the goal of raising backyard chickens in the most natural way possible, along with a few alternative methods to nutrition.
Three years ago, when Anna and Fraser Reade moved into their home in Jefferson, Ga., they had plans for what they wanted for the future of the piece of land they now sit on.
“We planned this all–out years ago, but it takes time and funds to make it a reality,” Fraser Reade said. “Thankfully we are now at the point where it is all coming together.”
With this goal in mind, the Reade’s set out to raise their chickens in the most “clean” and natural way possible. However, that doesn’t always come with cost savings.
“When we started this, cost savings wasn’t the goal for us,” Reade added. “We wanted to provide ourselves with natural, nutritious eggs and that is what we are doing.”
As avian influenza sweeps across the nation, even backyard chicken owners are taking preventative measures to protect their birds. Reade utilizes automatic feeders and limits personal contact with the birds, a small yet effective way to help reduce the likelihood of transmission.
Another method that has intrigued Reade is what is called “Korean Natural Farming” (KNF), which is an organic farming method that utilizes microorganisms to create fertile soil and in turn, healthier plants. KNF is rather self–sustaining and relies heavily on recycled farm waste and other local resources. One such idea could even help feed last longer.
“The idea is to feed brown rice to the chicks which helps elongate their digestive tract and helps the food to stay in their system longer,” Reade noted. “In the end it could lead to a cost savings, because your feed would be stretched further.”
The Reade family’s chickens are just a small portion of the more than 85 million backyard birds in the United States. According to the National Library of Medicine, “This figure rivals the populations of cats and dogs.” In addition to the rising costs of eggs, and purchasing limits from grocery stores, families may be flocking to the farm store for their next backyard addition.
