A wholesome flock update is giving homesteading fans a peek at the quieter side of raising chickens for eggs: broody hens, carefully tended nests, and a tiny mother hen showing off her adorable chicks.
Here's what to know
The update appeared in a Reddit post, where the poster said the birds belong to a 50-hen flock used for egg sales.
One image showed a dwarf-breed hen with her chicks, and two others focused on broody hens — chickens that pause laying to incubate — with one covering seven eggs and the other 13.
The flock was considerably larger than the average backyard setup. While many households keep just a few hens for personal use, a 50-hen flock suggests a more serious operation that can help support egg sales.
More background
Broody hens are a natural part of raising chickens.
Chickens can provide delicious fresh eggs, manure that some gardeners use for composting, and a way to turn certain food scraps into something useful.
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At the same time, keeping hens is not a low-effort path to cheaper groceries. Feed, housing, predator protection, and daily care all require time and money.
What can be done?
A handful of hens is much easier to manage than dozens, and it gives beginners a chance to learn about feeding, cleaning, egg collection, and common behaviors such as broodiness.
Local rules can shape whether keeping chickens is even an option. Some cities and suburbs allow backyard chickens, while others limit flock size or require specific coop placement.
It's important to have a coop that is resistant to predators that prey on chickens or their eggs, and to have reliable access to water and a cleaning plan.
For people who do not want to raise chickens themselves, supporting local egg sellers can still offer some of the same benefits. Buying from small producers can be a great way to support local businesses while giving shoppers a closer connection to how their food is raised.
The original poster summed up the flock update simply: "Right now, I have two broody hens one is sitting on 7 eggs and the other on 13 and one of the photos shows a dwarf breed of chicken who is a mother hen with her chicks!"
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