It happened. We got our first egg! This marks the beginning of new daily farm chores, a possible return on investment, and an interest in “egg”-centric recipes. Yay!
I realize this is just an egg to everyone, but us. To us this egg represents the blood, sweat, and tears invested in our tiny flock. Its witnessing the process of life. Its being responsible for life outside of ourselves. Its welcoming us into the world of farming. It is the prize earned from the investment made. Its the promise of whats to come as time continues to march on. Yes, its just an egg. But its our first egg ever and we are so proud!
The move
The story of this egg began in August of this year. We had just moved to our new home in June, leaving the suburban sprawl of Baton Rouge behind, and began life in a slightly more rural area just outside of the city. This transition was more than just a change of scenery; it was a shift towards a lifestyle that felt more in tune with nature. We still live in a neighborhood, but the lots are much larger and spread apart, allowing for a greater sense of privacy and space. The air feels fresher, the sounds of nature more pronounced, and there is a sense of freedom that comes with having fewer restrictions on what you can do on your property. Instead of being surrounded by more homes and smaller lawns, we are now greeted by sprawling fields and the occasional glimpse of wildlife, fostering a deeper connection to our surroundings and inspiring new adventures every day.
Leaving our old home was bittersweet to say the least. We had raised our kids in that house, fostered strong friendships with our neighbors, lived around the corner from my aging parents, paid down a mortgage that I never thought we’d be able to afford, and lived through some of the most memorable times in our lives.
It was our covid bubble, a sanctuary during those uncertain times when everything felt chaotic. It was our first investment in a home together, a symbol of our love and commitment. This house was our kids’ childhood home, where they will always remember experiencing the “firsts” in life, like riding a bike without training wheels, playing outside until dusk, walking to the park with friends, popping fireworks in the street on the 4th of July, or hosting an annual NYE party in the front yard for all the kids on the block, where laughter echoed late into the night.
We did trick-or-treat there, dressed in costumes as we navigated the neighborhood with excitement and anticipation, the kids got their first big kid beds there, a milestone that marked their transition from toddlers to little ones, they rode their bikes to their grandparents’ house, a cherished 10-minute ride filled with joy, and we lived within 5 minutes of our favorite restaurant and movie theater, places we frequented for family outings and date nights.
This house was not just a structure; it was our home, a place filled with love, laughter, and countless memories, where every corner held a story. We loved it like it was the 5th member of the family, nurturing it as we nurtured our relationships within its walls. Leaving it, along with the wonderful neighbors who became like family, was truly hard. I also never, ever pictured myself living out in the country. I’m a city girl, after all, with a need to be social and we took a gamble, trading it all to live our next chapter out in the country.
Making the dream a reality
Living in a city definitely has its advantages and conveniences. I truly love being able to pop into a store or restaurant within 10 minutes, or be at some of the events in town like concerts, comedy tours, and festivals. The cultural vibrancy and the sheer variety of activities cater to diverse interests, making city life exciting and dynamic. However, with that comes restrictions on things like pets and development even when it’s your own property, which can sometimes feel stifling.
Out in the rural area we moved to, we have space and freedom to do things we’d previously only dreamed about, such as farming, having larger outdoor gatherings, and embracing a more tranquil lifestyle. One of the most frequently discussed dreams was one about raising chickens, a venture that not only brings fresh eggs but also a sense of responsibility and connection to nature, allowing us to enjoy the simple pleasures of life in ways we had longed for amidst the hustle and bustle of city living.
I’m not sure where the desire to raise chickens came from. Jeremy and I both commented over the years that we’d like to try it one day, but due to the restrictions of our old neighborhood, with its strict zoning laws and lack of available space, it was never an option, so we just treated it like a passing thought that floated in and out of our conversations. We often envisioned how rewarding it would be to have fresh eggs every morning and the joy of watching them roam freely in a small backyard coop. Once we moved to a more spacious area with ample land and supportive regulations, I think the passing thought really amplified for Jeremy; he suddenly saw the potential in our new surroundings and decided to give it wings, so to speak, diving headfirst into research about chicken breeds, nesting boxes, and the best feeding practices, excitedly sharing his newfound knowledge with me as we began to turn this dream into a tangible reality.
This new house had all the elements to make the decision easy. There was an old wooden playhouse, neatly crafted and full of character, the former owner built for his daughter, and it sat on the edge of the concrete surround of the pool. This could be repurposed as a coop, and moved to a more appropriate part of the yard. On one side of the backyard, there was a gated-off dog run, that included a couple of shady trees offering solace from the sun, plenty of lush grass for playtime, and a pretty weeping bush that chickens could nibble at, providing a purposeful use of an area we would otherwise not use.
Moreover, the allure of having chickens in the backyard was further enhanced by the absence of restrictions disallowing them, and with plenty of space between neighbors, it created a sense of privacy and suitability, ensuring that we really had no excuses left not to embrace this dream of a more fulfilling, pastoral lifestyle.
Within two months of moving into the new house, with boxes still unpacked and some remodeling still not complete, we expanded our hearts and welcomed 11 lively little chicks, each one bursting with curiosity and a zest for life. I wouldn’t say it was on a whim; after all, we had contemplated the joys and responsibilities of raising chickens, but we certainly weren’t fully prepared. At that point, we didn’t have the coop rehabbed or moved for them to live in eventually, nor did we have a proper, cozy place for them to stay inside while they were still babies. This lack of preparation created a sense of urgency, prompting us to dive in quickly and make arrangements on the fly, but sometimes urgency is the perfect motivator. That was definitely true for this situation. I did not want chickens living in the house long term!
There’s a lot that happened between bringing the chicks home and getting our first egg, but that is detail we will share in another post. For purposes of this post, approximately 4.5 months after bringing home the flock, we are officially producing eggs! What a feeling!
This first egg is just the beginning. We will now be learning the next phase of chicken husbandry, and navigating the balance of what to keep, what to sell, what to incubate, and what to donate. We will continue to focus on being responsible with the lives we’ve welcomed here, and giving them the best possible life we can. We will expand our flock soon and look forward to whatever this new phase brings. We are eggers now!
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