We have started raising chicks here at home. They are set up in a dog crate in the garage with a heat lamp so they can stay within the 90 to 100 degree range for the next two months. Already Maud and Edith are showing distinct personalities. They will be in the crate for two months until all their feathers come through. So far there is a lot of cleaning up since they aren't quite ladylike yet in their daily routines. There are many great sites on line that teach the basics of raising ladies, but I especially like Backyard Chickens.

Some green reasons to raise ladies:
1) Fresh eggs every morning
2) Their waste matter is great for composting and the garden
3) They can trim your grass and weeds in areas that they roam
4) You can feed them scraps from meals to lower waste
5) Satisfying chores for the children