Keeping Chickens
Of my 30 years spent in Noto, the past ten have been accompanied by chickens. When it comes to the Satoyama lifestyle, the benefits of keeping chickens are substantial. The negative factors, and there are quite a few, simply must be endured. Day-old chicks delivered overnight are adorable. Picking them up entails a long early morning drive to and from Takaoka which is in the neighboring prefecture of Toyama. The chirping chorus on the return ride is loud enough to drown out any music on the radio.
Nap-time in the nursery
Trying to keep the chicks well-fed, watered and happy using only the best ingredients available, can be trying. I can't claim to feed them 100% organic, but their grain is GMO free and as close to organic as possible. My ultimate goal is to be able to grow 100% of their feed myself.
It is a long five or six months before the hens start laying eggs, but I can say that it is worth all the trouble in order to have delicious fresh eggs available on hand on a daily basis along with an occasional coq-au-vin for dinner.
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