When I was a kid my parents would buy free range chicken and DUCK eggs. One time my Mom cracked an egg open and there was a half grown bird in it. To this day I still don't like eggs!

I think the interest in raising chickens is two-fold. One because of all the hormones and additives and two, because of the interest in self-sustainability. I'd love a big garden in my yard to grow my own food should there be an economic problem or whatever in this country. I would need to move to a farm or at least a larger lot without deed restrictions if this became a strong inner drive. Right now, I'm happy to go to the Brownwood Farmers Market.

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Most of us Retirees pay somebody to mow our yards while we golf for exercise. I am making a wild guess that somebody will raise the chickens and after our golf game we will drive our cart to Publix or Farmers Market for a couple dozen of eggs.

For those who are interested, there is an organic farm in Pedro on CR 42 on the right side just before the blinker light at the intersection of CR 42 and CR 475. There is a sign by their driveway. And contrary to the general rule that organic food costs more, the prices there are roughly comparable to those at Publix—and the produce is fabulous! (If there's something you want that they grow but that isn't in the farm stand, they'll go out and pick/cut it for you!) They also sell organic eggs, free of "hormones" and "additives," though they sell out quickly the days that they have them. These folks are a pleasure to deal with!

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My son and his 3 kids out in California built a chicken coop with a fenced yard attached and had 16 hens. They enjoyed the fresh eggs immensely.
But after he lost a few of the smaller chickens to a couple of large hawks, he bought 2 huge turkeys to wander around and protect the chickens.

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Sorry, no chickens at the organic farm.... However, there is a place nearby (not sure exactly where) that sells organic meat; maybe they sell chickens. Came across them when Wildwood had the farmers' market, so maybe they're in the Brownwood market.

Their eggs are wonderful; there really IS a huge difference! However, keep in mind that they don't always have them, as they get them from elsewhere.