Howie Carr Producer Taylor Cormier Raising Chickens in Acushnet

Many of us are searching for ways to save money in the face of sharply rising prices at the grocery store and elsewhere. It's tough out there, especially for young families.

Former WBSM News Director Taylor Cormier, now Executive Producer of the Howie Carr Show (heard weekdays on WBSM), and his wife Jessica are raising chickens at their home in Acushnet.

"We originally got chickens to defray the cost of eggs, which was about $7 a dozen in early 2023," Cormier said. "I quickly discovered that the cost of materials for building enclosures and supplying food and bedding would never be recouped."

Cormier said Jessica "really wanted the chickens for the fresh eggs and the educational aspect for our kids."

The Cormiers have two young children, Harrison and Lily.

The Cormiers started last spring with three Isa Brown and three Black Sex-Link chickens. All are "good layers," according to Cormier. He said the Sex-Links "have a bit of an attitude at times."

The family has increased the flock by adding six Isa Brown chicks and a Golden Wyandotte rooster.

"On a great day, we'll get one egg per chicken," Cormier said. "Every now and then, we get an overachiever chicken who gives us a second egg that day, but that's rare."

"We're not at the point of selling or giving away excess eggs yet," he said. Jessica "typically uses them all for breakfast or baking."

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Harrison "has loved the chickens from the start." He helped build the chicken coop and "helps mom with the chicken chores," including feeding them. Lily likes to watch the chickens from her high chair near the kitchen window.

Cormier said he built the chicken coop with predators in mind.

"We have a completely fenced-in yard, so I wasn't too concerned with coyotes," he said.

The coop is also "completely contained and covered with hardware cloth." Cormier buried large rocks underneath the run "to discourage foxes or fisher cats from digging their way in."

Cormier built the coop under large low-hanging trees to "make it more difficult for hawks to swoop in."

The Cormiers "toyed with the idea of pygmy goats" but decided that "chickens and children are enough for us to deal with right now."

Cormier credits Jessica with "all of the homework."

"She just found schematics for me so I could build the coop. She did the rest," he said.