Of all the menagerie, the chickens are the ones I’m most likely to scrimp time on. They’re just so easy going, tending them can be squashed into two minutes: chuck them a handful of wheat, grab the eggs, push the feed down in the feeder, check the water. Job’s a good’un.
Of all the menagerie, the chickens are also the most constant return on investment for the Homestead. Eggs and meat are the obvious forms, but it’s their role in Homestead Compost Concoction that has really been noticeable of late.
My humble composting set up ain’t fancy. It starts with a haphazard pile of everything from vacuum bag detritus to vegetable scraps and hidden-nest eggs. Then it’s over to the chickos with their scrtich-scratch agitation action.. All I need do is shovel the contents from bin to bin on a fairly regular basis.
Another bucket ready for the garden, and a little TLC lavished on the girls to say thanks.
Union Homestead 
The usefulness of hens is recognised in many parts of the world where local food production is par for the course. When I kept hens on my previous property in the eastern burbs of Melbourne, I not only enjoyed the eggs but also the comforting sounds they made as they free ranged around the back yard.
You’re so right about their sounds!!
They are little-to-no-fuss animals. That’s a very good thing.
It is!