My Backyard Chicken Journey: Growing My Flock with Brown Dekalbs and Black Australorps

Raising chickens has become one of the most rewarding parts of my daily life. Right now, I have a small but growing flock in our backyard.

I started from scratch, buying them while they were still chicks.

Today, my oldest batch—three Brown Dekalb hens and one rooster—are already five months old.

They’re lively, strong, and full of energy.

Alongside them, I have two Black Australorp chicks who are about two months old, and another five Brown Dekalb chicks who are also about a month old. It makes me happy to see all of them alive and growing well.

Taking care of chickens doesn’t have to be expensive, especially if you’re practical and resourceful. I feed them commercial chicken feed for their daily nutrition, but I also mix in leftover food from our meals to avoid waste and save on feed costs.

It’s all about balance and making the most of what’s available.

One of the ways I save money is by using alternative feeds. I regularly give them leaves from plants like ipil-ipil, kangkong (water spinach), and banana.

I simply toss the banana or kangkong leaves into their area and let them peck away happily. The ipil-ipil leaves are also easy to gather and a great source of protein for the chickens.

On days when I have extra time, I collect weeds and grass from around our yard and let the chickens forage. It gives them variety in their diet, keeps them active, and makes use of what would otherwise be waste.

My goal is to slowly expand the flock, breed them, and have them lay eggs for our own household consumption.

Eggs have become so expensive in the market, and raising our own supply at home just makes sense.

Plus, the quality of homegrown eggs is far better—they’re fresher, tastier, and you know exactly what went into raising the chickens.

One thing I’ve learned through this experience is that chickens, like any living creature, can get sick too. At one point, some of my chickens caught colds.

Thankfully, I was able to treat them naturally using oregano leaves.

I crush the leaves a bit and mix them into their drinking water or food. It works well. At other times, I use garlic, which also helps strengthen their immune system. These natural remedies are effective and safe, especially when you’re raising chickens without access to expensive medicines.

I’m also considering raising native chickens in the future because they tend to be more resistant to diseases.

But for now, I’ll focus on the flock I have.

Watching them grow every day, hearing their sounds in the morning, and seeing their healthy feathers shine in the sun—it’s a source of joy and a way to destress from life’s demands.

If you also raise chickens, I’m sure you understand the happiness it brings. This isn’t just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle.

While others are busy online, we’re offline, doing something real, something fulfilling. There’s just something special about raising animals that depend on you—and seeing them thrive because of your care.