Fresh food takes a new turn

January 4, 3:16 PMDenver Low Carb ExaminerLinda Duffy

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You can't get eggs any fresher than right from the chicken

The core of low carbohydrate eating is fresh, wholesome food. From meat, vegetables, and dairy to low-sugar fruits, the less processing the better. Low carb dieters often become proponents of farmer's markets, small cattle ranches producing grass-fed beef, or, if space allows, become gardeners and grow whatever tasty foods they can. While this may seem radical in our fast-food, pre-packaged world, this can just be the beginning.

One of the handiest, most nutritious, low-carb foods available is the egg. With prices of organic, free-range eggs around $5/dozen, it makes perfect sense for people who like to go right to the farmer for cauliflower and pumpkins to go right to the source for fresh eggs...the chickens in their own back yard.

Wendy, a poster on a popular forum for chicken enthusiasts, BackYardChickens.com, had very good reason to start her own egg production. "My Husband and I went on the Atkin's diet in 04 and found ourselves eating a lot of eggs. We decided to buy 2 or 3 chickens to keep up with the demand. As it turned out, there was a 6 bird minimum order......so we began our backyard flock with 6. I had no idea how much better fresh eggs were going to be...It's really wonderful to get fresh eggs every day."

Wendy has lost 30# on a low carbohydrate, egg-rich diet. Her husband has lost 60#

Aside from the fantastic taste of fresh eggs, having your own chickens gives you the opportunity to control your chicken's diet and effect the nutrition content of those eggs. Omega-3 eggs in the grocery can cost twice as much as plain eggs. You also know your eggs are coming from well cared for, happy, healthy chickens instead of chickens who were kept in a cage, debeaked, and never allowed to see the sun.

Chickens are also very economical and, aside from some commercial feed, are more than happy to eat bugs, weeds, and help you dispose of your kitchen scraps. A typical suburban back yard can easily accommodate a couple of hens, keeping you and your family in fresh, affordable eggs with no need to drive to the store. 

Wendy's daughter with her favorite hen.

Before you rush out and buy yourself some chickens, you need to check and see if it is legal to keep them in your yard. In the city of Denver, the law currently requires a permit to have poultry and charges $55 to get that permit. Fort Collins, however, recently passed a law allowing a small number of hens to be kept, but no roosters due to noise issues. In Colorado Springs, it is legal to have up to 10 chickens (again, no roosters). There are currently battles in cities across America about whether or not chickens belong in the city. Members of Back Yard Chickens would enthusiastically say yes and actively promote a chicken in every yard, but you need to check local laws before you start bringing anything home from a poultry show. (more) (more)

When considering my own flock after my family went through a case of eggs in less than two weeks, instead of chickens, I looked in to ducks. Ducks have a huge appetite for slugs, something my garden has in abundance. The fact that several breeds also lay eggs just as well as chickens sold me on the idea. It took some time to convince my husband, but in the end he caved. We are now the proud owners of 4 adult ducks. They aren't laying yet, but they are just getting settled in to their new home. Egg laying also depends on daylight and that is a little in short supply in January. My females should be laying by March.

My new backyard critters: Chrissy, Jack and Janet. (Not pictured: Lana)