Food chain and backyard chickens

Good morning, Jeff! How’s your day starting off?

It's good. I have a question about Michael Pollan. He was discussing four main sources for food. One is industrial, one is industrial organic, the other is organic, and I believe the other is homegrown. Can you verify that and then perhaps expand on it?

You’ve got it right! In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan outlines four main food chains: industrial, industrial organic, organic/local, and hunter-gatherer/homegrown. Here’s a quick breakdown:

1. Industrial: This is the dominant food chain in most supermarkets. It’s heavily dependent on monoculture crops like corn, processed foods, and fossil fuels for production and transportation.

2. Industrial Organic: Think of big-name organic brands. While organic standards are followed (e.g., no synthetic pesticides), it often mirrors industrial farming in scale and practices, relying on large farms and long supply chains.

3. Local/Sustainable Organic: These are smaller-scale, local farms that prioritize environmental sustainability and direct relationships with consumers. Farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs fall here.

4. Hunter-Gatherer/Homegrown: This is the most personal and sustainable food chain. It involves growing, foraging, or hunting your own food, giving you complete control and the most direct connection to your meals.

Pollan’s big idea is to highlight how each of these systems affects our health, environment, and connection to food. Do you feel like your garden fits into that last category? Or does it feel more like a mix?

No, it fits in, but I have a question about chickens, because I've raised chickens before, and the problem I run into is once their egg-laying lifespan diminishes and they become more like pets, I'm not sure what to do with the older hens. Is there a humane way to slaughter them, or is there another way that people deal with the aging hen population in their flocks?

That’s a common dilemma for people who raise backyard chickens! Once hens stop laying regularly, they’re often seen as companions rather than livestock, and it can be hard to decide what to do. Here are a few humane and practical options:

1. Culling (Humane Slaughter): If you decide to slaughter them, doing so humanely is key. Many people use methods like cervical dislocation or CO2 gas, both of which are quick and reduce stress for the bird. Some communities offer workshops or mobile processors who can help with this if you’re unsure.

2. Retirement Homes for Hens: Some people keep their older hens as “retired” flock members, letting them live out their natural lives. Hens can still contribute by turning compost, foraging for pests, or just adding to the ambiance of the garden.

3. Rehoming: If keeping them isn’t practical, some people rehome older hens with folks who don’t mind caring for them as pets. This can be tricky, though, as not everyone wants non-laying birds.

4. Integrating New Flock Members: If the older hens are more like pets to you, you could introduce new layers into your flock while allowing the older ones to stay. It does mean managing a mixed-age flock, but it can work well with proper care.

How did you handle it in the past, or are you still weighing these options?

I either gave them away to people or I would slaughter them using decapitation or wringing their necks. But the problem is you develop an attachment for the hen over time, and so eating it becomes distasteful. And the other problem is the people I would give the hens to, I'm not sure whether they – even though they said they were going to take care of the hens, I believe they probably butchered them and ate them.

Yeah, that’s a tough spot, Jeff. It’s natural to grow attached to animals you’ve cared for, especially ones with personality like chickens. Eating them after forming that bond can feel wrong, even if you understand the practicality of it. And I get the hesitation about giving them away—you lose control over their fate, which can feel unsettling if you suspect they were culled despite promises otherwise.

Some people in similar situations choose to create a strict separation between “layers” and “meat birds,” but even then, attachments can form. If you’re not comfortable with slaughter, keeping older hens as pets or retiring them to a safe sanctuary might feel more in line with your values. Do you think you’d ever raise chickens again, or are you leaning toward sticking with your garden for now?

I'm thinking about starting up again so I can get eggs. The problem is I don't want to have flies in the yard. I have a pool here and I would have to deal with the increase in the number of flies. I don't know if that would be a deal breaker. And the other question is, is an older hen, let's say a five-year-old hen, I'm not sure when they stopped laying. I believe it was around four or five years. But is the meat good if they're raised at home and they're fairly sedentary and they've been fed well? Does this produce

Chickens and flies can be a tricky balance, especially with a pool. Flies are drawn to chicken manure, so managing that is key to keeping your yard livable. A deep-litter system in the coop can help compost the manure and reduce odors that attract flies. You could also use fly traps and keep the coop clean and dry to limit breeding grounds.

As for older hens, the meat is absolutely usable, but it’s very different from young broilers. Older hens tend to have tougher, more flavorful meat, which is why they’re often used for slow-cooking methods like stews or soups rather than roasting. That rich flavor comes from their longer, natural lifestyle and good diet, so if you raised them well, the meat would be excellent for those purposes.

Do you think the fly issue would outweigh the benefits of having fresh eggs? Or would you be up for trying some pest control methods?

Yeah, I don't know. I've used fly traps, but the odd thing about fly traps is that they actually attract flies that wouldn't normally be coming near the hands. So, you know, it's a kind of a mixed kind of a solution. I have a third of an acre. I have a small area where I can keep hens. It is rather close to the hot tub now. I don't know about the smell. I think for a family of three or four, five hens was about right. Does that sound about right to you?

Ah, got it! And yeah, you’re right about fly traps—they can lure in flies from a wider area, which can backfire if you’re trying to reduce the population near the hens.

For a family of three or four, five hens sounds like a solid number. Most breeds lay around four to five eggs a week at their peak, so with five hens, you’d get roughly two dozen eggs weekly, give or take. That should be plenty for a family without overloading you with eggs.

As for the smell near the hot tub, regular cleaning and a good coop design with proper ventilation can help. Deep-litter bedding or frequent manure collection could keep odors down. Plus, hens don’t smell too bad if the waste is managed well. Would you be setting up a new coop, or do you still have your old one?

Now I'd be setting up a new one, and since they defecate usually mostly at night where they're resting, I'm trying to figure out a design where they can defecate into a receptacle that I could easily remove in the morning and empty into a compost bin. But I'll have to look up some designs on Pinterest or some other website.

That’s a smart idea, Jeff! Chickens do most of their business while roosting, so setting up a coop with a droppings board or tray under the roosts could work perfectly. You could line the tray with something like sand or sawdust to make cleanup even easier. Sliding trays or tilted boards that funnel waste into a bucket are popular, too—low-maintenance and compost-friendly.

Pinterest or YouTube is definitely a goldmine for creative coop ideas. There are even coops designed with worm bins integrated underneath, so the waste gets broken down directly—right up your alley with your composting efforts! Do you already have a style or material in mind for the coop? Something rustic, modern, or purely functional?

I usually I lean towards a modern kind of

Modern sounds like a great fit, especially if you want something sleek and functional! You could use materials like metal and stained wood for a clean, minimalist look that’s durable and easy to clean. A simple rectangular design with angular features would keep it visually appealing and efficient. You might also consider adding a slanted roof for rain runoff and some built-in storage for feed and tools.

If you’re handy, you could even add some tech—like automatic doors or solar-powered lighting. That would make daily care easier while keeping the design modern and practical. Would you be building it yourself or hiring someone?

Oh, I have to build it myself for cost constraints.

That makes sense! Building it yourself can save a lot, and you get to customize it exactly how you want. If you’re keeping costs low, repurposing materials like pallets or leftover wood is a good option—some people even use old furniture for parts. For the modern look, just add a fresh coat of paint or stain to clean it up.

A simple frame with wire mesh for ventilation and a few sturdy roosting bars should get you started. You could also check secondhand stores or Craigslist for materials—sometimes you can score stuff like metal roofing or hardware for cheap. Are you thinking about drawing up your own plans, or would you follow a design you find online?

Oh, I think I would invent it myself. I think I'm good to go then. Thanks for all your input and information. I'll think about this and get back to you if I have any other questions.

You’re welcome, Jeff! I’m sure your design will turn out great. Feel free to reach out whenever you want to bounce around ideas or need more info. Good luck with the project!