Our first
batch of Cornish Cross is
getting close to their “retirement” age.



They do seem interested in
the pasture. We open a door and give them the option of staying in or
going out, but they don’t seem to forage much at all. I have yet to see
one scratch at the ground, which in my mind would be the best technique
for finding bugs.



We like the idea of eating a
chicken who lives more naturally, which is why we started experimenting
with chicken
pastures. I suspect the
benefit of these chickens will only be slightly better than a store
bought bird. Stay tuned for another update where we’ll post about the
taste test.

I’m thrilled to announce that Thrifty Chicken Breeds: Efficient Producers of Eggs and Meat on the Homestead is now available on Amazon for 99 cents!  This new installment in the Permaculture Chicken
series delves into my experiences selecting chickens that pay for
themselves on the homestead rather than costing an arm and a leg while
providing little return on your investment.

If you’re a member of Amazon Prime, you can borrow Thrifty Chicken Breeds
for free, and if you purchase a copy you can lend it to a friend —
how’s that for making your dollar stretch even further?  Also, if
you’re not familiar with Amazon ebooks, you can read them on any device
using these free apps.



Alternatively, if you don’t mind wading, you can read most of my data on chicken-breed trials of the last five years online here.  Thanks for reading!  And be sure to comment with your own thoughts about homestead-worthy chickens — we’re always looking for an even better bird.