All in Pastured Poultry

Bringing the Homesteading Lifestyle to the Suburbs with Chickens

Bringing the Homesteading Lifestyle to the Suburbs with Chickens

Shari Bryant
Pastured Poultry

Have you ever dreamed of living the homesteading life but felt tied to your suburban home?

You’re not alone.

Many families are yearning for a closer connection to nature and a more sustainable lifestyle without uprooting their lives.

The good news?

You can achieve a taste of rural living—right in your backyard—by raising chickens.

The Suburban Homesteading Experience

Backyard chickens offer the perfect blend of rural charm and practicality.

With just a small coop and some outdoor space, you can transform your suburban yard into a miniature homestead.

Hens bring life and activity to your property, creating a connection to nature that’s hard to replicate with other pets.

Caring for chickens encourages a slower pace and a focus on simple, meaningful tasks.

It’s a lifestyle shift that can help you feel grounded, even in the hustle and bustle of suburban life.

Low-Maintenance Pets with Benefits

Think of chickens as the ultimate multitaskers.

Not only are they entertaining and easy to care for, but they also produce delicious, nutrient-rich eggs.

Unlike traditional pets, chickens actively contribute to your household by providing food, reducing food waste through their love of scraps, ridding your yard of pests, and even fertilizing your garden with their droppings.

For families with kids, chickens are a fantastic alternative to dogs or cats.

They’re low-maintenance, full of personality, and provide endless entertainment.

Watching your flock roam and interact is a relaxing and rewarding way to spend time outdoors.

Connecting to Nature

Raising chickens helps families reconnect with the natural world.

From the joy of gathering fresh eggs to the simple pleasure of watching hens scratch in the dirt, these experiences remind us of the beauty and simplicity of rural life.

It’s a chance to slow down, savor the moment, and share in the rhythms of nature.

Foxfire Farm Makes It Easy

At Foxfire Farm, we’re here to help you bring the homesteading dream to life.

Our started pullets make it easy to begin your backyard chicken journey with healthy, well-socialized hens ready to lay eggs within weeks.

Don’t let your suburban address hold you back from the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of.

Learn how raising chickens can bring a touch of rural charm to your backyard and help you embrace a more sustainable, fulfilling way of life.

Ensuring Food Security and Quality with Backyard Chickens

Ensuring Food Security and Quality with Backyard Chickens

Shari Bryant
Pastured Poultry

In recent years, families across the country have faced growing concerns about food security.

From supply chain disruptions to soaring grocery prices, these challenges have many of us rethinking how we source fresh, high-quality food for our loved ones.

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by empty egg shelves or the skyrocketing costs of pastured, organic or non-GMO options, you’re not alone.

Fortunately, there’s a practical and rewarding solution: raising backyard chickens.

There is a need for a dependable source of fresh eggs without sacrificing quality or breaking the bank.

Owning backyard chickens can help busy families take control of their food supply while embracing a more sustainable lifestyle.

The Growing Need for Food Security

In 2025, food supply chain disruptions are more than a theoretical concern; they’re a reality.

Whether caused by labor shortages, transportation issues, or unpredictable weather, these disruptions often hit basic staples like eggs the hardest.

For families who prioritize organic or pasture-raised options, availability can be even more limited.

Backyard chickens offer a reliable alternative, ensuring a steady supply of fresh, nutrient-dense eggs right in your backyard.

By having your own backyard flock of started pullets, you can skip the uncertainty and mess of raising chicks and enjoy eggs within weeks of bringing your hens home.

Rising Grocery Costs: Why Self-Production Makes Sense

Have you noticed how much pastured, non-GMO, or organic eggs cost lately?

The price tag can make anyone reconsider their weekly grocery list.

Organic and pasture-raised eggs often cost two or three times as much as conventional options.

For families aiming to eat clean and support ethical farming practices, this expense adds up quickly.

By investing in backyard chickens, you’re not just saving money; you’re gaining control over how your eggs are produced.

Feed your chickens organic or non-GMO feed, give them room to roam, and enjoy premium-quality eggs for a fraction of the store-bought cost.

Beginning with a flock of started pullets takes the guesswork out of the equation, so you can start benefiting from your flock sooner.

Getting Started is Easier Than You Think

Raising backyard chickens doesn’t require a large farm or endless free time.

With a small coop, a bit of outdoor space, and proper care, your flock will flourish.

Plus, the rewards go beyond fresh eggs—you’ll gain a deeper connection to your food, your environment, and your family’s health.

Ready to take the first step toward food security and sustainable living?

Visit Foxfire Farm to learn more about our started pullets and how they can transform your backyard into a source of nourishment and joy.

By choosing to raise backyard chickens, you’re joining a growing community of families committed to healthier food and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Homage to the Working Dogs

Homage to the Working Dogs

Shari Bryant
Pastured Poultry, Education

One of the things you ask me most often is how we are able to keep our pastured chickens safe from predators.

When folks think of getting a flock of their own, they have visions of happy hens frolicking and free-ranging around their garden.

But so frequently, people come to us to purchase our started pullets because their entire flock has just been wiped out.

Around here, we are blessed with flourishing wildlife, but that doesn't always translate to safe pastured chickens.

We have foxes, racoons, possums, skunks, weasels, hawks, owls, and coyotes, among other predators - everything likes chicken!

Yet we all know how exceptionally important it is to have our chickens on grass and receiving the benefit of the varied diet provided by the greenery and bugs, as well as the exercise and fresh air.

How to Turn One Whole Chicken Into 3 Meals

How to Turn One Whole Chicken Into 3 Meals

Shari Bryant
Pastured Poultry, How-To, Recipes

Once I finally overcame my mental roadblock around cooking a whole, ENTIRE chicken, a new world opened up to me - literally! I discovered the convenience of always having roasted chicken meat on-hand and available for any recipe I wanted to cook (it also lends itself to quick snacking with two boys in the house!)

After making my initial recipe (usually a simple, but DELICIOUS, 4-ingredient roast chicken), I pick the rest of the meat from the bones and have fresh, roasted chicken available for salads, sandwiches, or a casserole. I then put the carcass into my Insta-Pot and make bone broth or soup and feed our family for most of the week using ONE, single chicken. How amazing is that?!

Here is how I do it:

Pasture-Raised Food vs. Factory/Feed Lot

Pasture-Raised Food vs. Factory/Feed Lot

Shari Bryant
Education, Pastured Pork, Pastured Poultry

At this stage in my life, I sit at the intersection of self-transformation and environmental activism, and it occurs to me that the bridge is FOOD.

So many folks I know are on some spectrum of illness: on-going auto-immune issues, skin issues, mental health issues, cancer, IBS, reproductive issues, struggles with weight, resistance to antibiotics, super bugs, etc. When we look at these issues, the first response seems to always be pharmaceuticals. Take this drug to address this issue, and then take this one to combat the side effects of the first.

As we are getting sicker, this country is also losing small, family farms right and left. Between 2017 and 2022, the United States lost 140,000 farms. 140,000 farms lost in five years. Meanwhile, as your neighborhood farmer goes out of business and is forced to sell to yet another developer, just 4 companies in the U.S. produce over 60% of its chicken each year.

How to Combat the Doubling Cost of Groceries Over the Past 4 Years

How to Combat the Doubling Cost of Groceries Over the Past 4 Years

Shari Bryant
Education, How-To, Pastured Pork, Pastured Poultry

If you’re anything like me, you have felt the impact of inflation in recent years.

The cost of EVERYTHING has risen, but perhaps none more dramatically than the price of groceries.

While I knew this to be true, I was incredibly shocked to learn just how much grocery prices have risen upon seeing the following post on Facebook (note: this is not a political post, nor an endorsement of this creator or her platform, but simply a reference to the grocery experiment she discusses):

How to Cut Up a Whole Chicken

How to Cut Up a Whole Chicken

Shari Bryant
How-To, Pastured Poultry

A lot of folks have asked what to make with a whole chicken, and while I am a big proponent of using the whole animal - and I have sent out many whole chicken recipes - I understand that for many recipes, you may only want certain cuts of chicken. However, it can be more economical to purchase a chicken whole, so it is always good to know how to cut one up to get the part that you wish to use and save the remaining parts for another time.

The two most crucial components to cutting up a whole chicken are a sharpened knife and a cut glove. A close third is your drink of choice - in my case, a vodka tonic! ha!

I always start with the wings, followed by the rear quarters, the breasts, and finally, the tenders. I know for many, cutting up a whole chicken can seem intimidating. It was for me initially, as well, but I am here to tell you if I can do it, so can you!

Our self-serve, on-farm store is fully stocked with both whole and parted broiler chickens, as well as whole, pastured turkey and eggs, so don’t forget to stop by and stock your freezer.

Pour yourself a beverage, grab your chicken, a cutting board, knife, and cut glove, and give it a go! Let me know if you tried this and how it turned out!