I asked Bill years ago if we could get some chickens and he always said no, but after chatting with some backyard chicken farming friends of ours, he relented. And thus began my journey to becoming a backyard chicken farmer.

We picked out our coop and started researching the breeds we would get. Who knew that there were chickens that are cold or heat tolerant? I bet you didn’t know that there are breeds of chickens that are considered more suburban birds because they tend to make less noise…I sure didn’t. We also needed to research what the rules were in our township. 

I placed the order in early December of 2017…Yes, I ordered my chickens from the internet. Who knew?!? 

My girls were hatched on my thirteenth anniversary (2/12/18) and shipped overnight to my local post office. I was learning something new at every turn of this adventure and I was educating others along the way, like everyone who happened to be in the post office when I picked up a box of chirping birds.

They made their home in a 50 gallon tote, which they quickly grew out of. Since we got them in the dead of winter, they needed to stay inside for the first few months. They stayed in my kitchen! 

I pretty much gave up on the mess quickly. Even having them living in a giant box, the dust and feathers that they sent into the air was INSANE! At one point we gave up on the kitchen table and started eating all our meals at the island. 

Finally they were big enough and it was warm enough for them to go outside. I spent the next three days scrubbing the first floor of the house. 

We’re a little more than a year into the adventure of being backyard chicken farmers and I have to say it’s been a great experience.

My plan is to break out different bits and pieces of backyard chicken farming to share with you. Do you have any questions? Is there anything you’d love to know about having your own flock of birds? Drop me a line!

It was about a year ago that the wheels were set in motion that would take be back to full time, outside of the house employement. I had been working as support staff at the funeral home since the fall of 2016 and seemingly out of nowhere I was tapped for an office manager position.

I started training last May and that’s when the fun started. By July I was up to full time hours and trying to figure out how to balance working and being a mom and wife.

By October I was on my own in the office, the training wheels were off and that’s when I saw just how big of an adjustment this was going to be.

Bill travels…A LOT.

Juggling working all day, getting the kids fed and through homework and to and from karate can be a daunting task when he’s away. There are many nights as I crawl into bed that I think of my single mother friends, the ones who live life this way everyday. I often wonder how they do it? Where to the find the strength?

I’ve had to get a little better at managing my time. I’ve had to lean on Bill (when he’s home) and the boys a little more to keep the house running. Sometimes it doesn’t all get done and I’ve had to learn to let it go.

I’m really enjoying the extra income. I also enjoy having a reason to leave the house everyday. I’ve gone from jeans and a T-shirt everyday to a nice, business casual woredrobe.

Things that I’ve found difficult?

Grocery shopping! I hate shopping of any kind on the weekend. I miss the days of having the stores mostly to myself, no lines, no cart road rage.

I miss hanging with Bill and running his errands with him.

Giving up the freedom to pick up and go whenever has been one of the bigger adjustments. I need to work a certain number of hours a week and I need to request time off. No more spur of the moment trips for me.

All in all it’s been positive change for me and I look forward to many, many years here at my desk.

Are you a full time working mom? I want to hear from you! What is your best tip for keeping the work/life balance?