As more and more of us look for ways to be more sustainable, there are several ways you can reduce the food waste you put in our household bins. Many of us already use compost or worm farms at home but keeping chickens is an idea that’s becoming increasingly popular.

If you’re thinking of welcoming feathered friends into your life, here’s how they can not only improve your green credentials but make life happier:

Hoe good is this?

Chickens are natural gardeners, using their feet to dig and scratch in search of grubs, worms and bugs. Let your girls loose in the garden or on a raised bed and they’ll turn over the soil, aerating the organic matter and getting it ready for you to plant.

Fowl fertiliser

Chickens poop up to 50 times a day, delivering an on-tap source of organic, bacteria-free, nutrient-rich and natural fertiliser that’s great for plants and grass. It also wipes out the need for chemical fertilisers that can runoff into waterways and the ocean, so a win for all.

Eggseptional eco creds

Compared to factory farming, keeping chickens is more planet friendly plus you get to enjoy delicious fresh free-range eggs without leaving home. You’ll also help reduce the environmental costs of manufactured feed, chemicals, transport and other resources used in industrial production.

Bio recyclers

An average adult chook can munch through 2 to 3 kgs of your veggie and fruit scraps each week, helping you divert about 100kgs of food waste per bird from landfill each year. And anything left after the chickens have finished, is perfect for your compost. 

Pppppeck up the pests

Chickens are a great all-natural pest control with a voracious appetite for insects, slugs, snails and beetles; great news for your garden and avoids you having to use pesticides and chemicals that damage the environment. Food scraps and feed can attract rats however, so keep things tidy and secure to avoid unwanted vermin.

Teach others about sustainability

Introducing a flock of feathered friends is a simple and fun way to teach children about the environment and living sustainably. Get them involved in egg collecting or feeding them food scraps - valuable lessons that stick with them for life.

Easy as

A coop will keep them safe and contained, they’ll put themselves to bed each night and if you’re away for a short period of time, they’re happy to forage for themselves if you leave plenty of food and water. But chickens aren’t suitable for every property; to avoid any noise and hygiene problems that might impact your neighbours, be sure to know the guidelines.

Watch this video to learn how easy it is to keep backyard chickens.

And for more ways to reduce your food waste, visit our website.