The dictionary.com definition of agriculture is as follows:
noun
1. the science, art, or occupation concerned with cultivating land, raising crops, and feeding, breeding, and raising livestock; farming. 2. the production of crops, livestock, or poultry.
So it follows that if you are raising a few birds in your back yard, that means you are engaging in agriculture!
With food prices rising and no sign of a break on oil and gas prices, raising your own food makes more sense now than ever. Chickens can provide your family with fresh eggs - and fresh, naturally raised meat too, if you desire! - all for the price of a bag of layer crumbles.
But what can you do to assist with their feed bill and make them even more economical?
Saving kitchen scraps is a great way to start. Any leftover pasta, rice, beans, peas, vegetables, fruit, fish or eggs are a great supplement to your birds' diets, indeed anything that is not too spicy, sugary or salty can be added to their ration.
Also, make your chickens work for you!
When you have finished with your garden at the end of the season - or, as is the case in North Georgia and Cherokee County right now, you're turning over your garden ready for fall planting - turn your birds out in the garden. They will scratch and dig and turn the earth, and hopefully rid you of any pests that might have made your garden their home over the summer.
When you clean out the coop, collect the droppings from the floor and any soiled bedding and put it on the compst heap; it will enrich your garen in years to come.
So while the outlook for large-scale agriculture is looking less than hopeful this year, small scale back yard growing and tending is booming; try it and see how it can work for you.
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