So We Got Chickens… Again

From the Desk of Mr. Real Frugalist

Let me take you back. About twenty five years ago, my dad and I had a dream: fresh eggs, backyard chickens, and a coop that would put HGTV to shame. We built it ourselves—with enthusiasm, minimal planning, and the structural integrity of a late-night Home Depot run. And for a while, it worked.

Fast forward a decade and a half: the coop was sagging, the roof was questionable, and the chickens looked like they were living in a fixer-upper episode gone wrong. It was time.

Round Two: Cluckingham Palace 2.0

This time, my wife and I decided to do it “the right way.” We bought actual plans. We even read them. Mostly. And there was one tiny argument about the way the roof was designed. (Not to worry, we always disagree when doing DIY!)

The timing, however, was less than ideal. It was the summer right before she finally got her dodgy hip replaced. Now, most folks would take that as a sign to rest and relax. But not my wife. She’s a determined, stubborn force of nature. She could only work a few hours at a time, but by sheer willpower (and a lot of limping), she helped get that new coop built—board by board, chicken by chicken.

And I have to say: this new coop? It’s a beauty. Roomy, secure, well-ventilated, and strong enough to survive a windstorm and a judgmental chicken stare. We did an outside run too because we live in the country and every known chicken loving animal would come have a nice little snack if we let them.

The Flock That Binds

These days, the chickens are mostly my project, but I’ve turned it into a full-family affair.

My grandson is on egg duty. Every afternoon, I hand him the bowl and send him off like a tiny farmer on a mission. I’m not sure he takes it very seriously as I’ve found he comes back with an empty bowl. Turned out he was scared half to death of a hornets nest. My wife vanquished that for him (we honestly do call her the bee slayer, no kidding).

My daughter helps me get the girls settled in at night. She’s got a way with them and they listen to her better than they listen to me. Go figure.

And giving the chickens treats? That’s everybody’s favorite. Scraps from the kitchen, watermelon rinds, leftover rice—they come running like feathery little vacuum cleaners with legs. It’s a riot. And honestly? It brings us all together.

The Real Frugalist Side of Things

Sure, building a new coop took some money, time, and more ibuprofen than I care to admit. But the eggs are amazing, the fertilizer’s free, and the joy it brings—watching my grandson learn a bit of responsibility , seeing my wife out there with a bucket of scraps like the neighborhood chicken whisperer, it’s worth every nail and sore muscle.

Are chickens technically frugal? That depends how you measure it. If you’re looking at just dollars and cents, maybe not at first. But if you’re talking about value food, family time, lessons in responsibility, and a bunch of clucking comic relief—they’re priceless. They do eat a lot of the stuff that gets left in the frig so I feel it’s not wasted. And these eggs are better then anything we’ve ever had from the store. Plus I know just what they are eating.

So Should 

You

 Get Chickens?

Only if:

• You enjoy building projects that evolve into full-scale construction sites
• You don’t mind having chickens judge your fashion choices while you do yard work
• You have a family that can be roped into egg runs and bedtime chicken herding
• You like eggs so fresh they’re still warm

If that sounds like your kind of chaos, welcome to the flock. I’ll tell you what, this year when prices went through the roof for eggs I felt I was sitting on a little cold mine.

Our new flock (ten teenage Rhode Island Reds) will be put in the chicken house in a few days. It’s been scrubbed clean. We had three chickens from our old flock and gave those girls away. Merging two flocks together is more drama then this man wanted to deal with. It wil be a few months until they begin to lay and then we’ll be in for it. Ten eggs a day…..better watch out for the Cooking with Eggs cook book from Mrs. Frugalist! We might have to eat them daily.

Mr. Real Frugalist, Coop Engineer and Chicken Concierge

From (Mrs. Real Frugalist):

For the record, yes, I helped build that coop with a bum hip, a hammer, and a lot of coffee. I might’ve muttered some things under my breath, but it got done. And watching my grandson collect eggs and my granddaugher fall in love with the baby chicks makes every sore muscle worth it.