Sustainable Backyard Egg Production from a 9 Year Old's Perspective

View the project final report

Commodities

• Animal Products: eggs

Practices

• Animal Production: animal protection and health, housing

The purpose of this project is to explore the sustainability of raising laying hens in my backyard. For the last several years we have raised laying hens in a moveable A-frame. Through this project I want to improve on housing - making it habitable for four seasons and easier to move. I also want to demonstrate that even my 9-year-old sister is able to manage this enterprise, giving her this learning experience as well. Then we want to share this experience and show how it is healthful, profitable, and environmentally friendly.

We are always looking for opportunities to eat nutritious and healthful foods, at an affordable cost, and with no negative environmental effects. With the help of SARE I plan to bring this applied technology to my community of Perry and to demonstrate that even youths can contribute to sustainable agriculture in their own backyard.

Goals

• Explore how to sustainably raise laying hens in a way simple enought for a nine year old to manage.
• Share the research with other local students and donate books to our school libraries.
• Demonstrate that even youths can do sustainable agriculture in their backyards.
• Show how raising laying hens can be profitable, healthful, and environmentally friendly.