WHITEWATER, Wis. — Jameson Beckard, a southern Wisconsin poultry, dairy and pork producer, practices what she preaches when it comes to self-sustainability. The 2008 University of Illinois graduate, her husband and two elementary school-aged children live within a thriving rural community of “homesteaders,” or those committed to a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. 

According to Wikipedia, homesteading is characterized by “subsistence agriculture, home preservation of food, and may also involve the small-scale production of textiles, clothing, and craft work for household use or sale.” The definition aptly describes the Beckard family, who together raise pork, beef and offer meat and layer chickens for sale on their small farm, which is located off of Route 43 between Beloit and Milwaukee.

Beckard defies the stereotypical image of the classic homesteader. A blogger who is active on social media and the Internet, the Rockton, Illinois, native routinely shares news from the Beckard Family Farm, along with production advice and, as was the case with a recent Facebook post, an occasional warning:

“I write this not to try to scare people or drum up business as I have no extra chicks, meat or eggs right now but friends we are entering interesting times. I had heard hatcheries are selling out of egg laying breeds already which I anticipated with the price of eggs, but hatcheries are now booking way out on meat bird chicks,” Beckard, who is well known for her prized “J.B. Black Label Silkies” show birds, commented. 

“I will hopefully have eggs and meat to offer this year and I am working on getting chicks on the ground. I will also be offering processing classes this year to try to buffer against demand. If you have any questions on how to work toward self-sustainability please reach out. I hate to say but I think we are bracing for some very interesting times with our food supply.”

Reached by Farm World, Beckard doubled down on her message that consumers should prepare for a continuation of high egg and poultry prices at the retail level.

“Diesel (fuel) prices have not come down to a sustaining level for farmers and truckers. I just don’t see how farmers and truckers can continue to sustain long-term with diesel prices the way they are. With the fertilizer shortage, prices were sky high. We’ve already seen empty shelves and shortages at the stores,” said Beckard, adding that consumers are currently upset about the price of eggs. 

“It all loops back to trucking and what farmers are facing, including labor shortages. People don’t want to work in the packing plants anymore. It’s triangular between the packing plant, the truck drivers it takes to get from the plant to the store, and the farmers. Everyone is facing difficulties that ultimately point down to the consumer.”

Clouding the issue is a current shortage of egg-laying poultry breeds available to independent poultry producers such as the Beckards, who supplement their meat, egg and poultry business with a small AI breeding operation. The layer shortage, primarily a result of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), will ultimately cause prices to go even higher, Jameson predicted. 

“I think what people are doing is they are looking at egg prices and if they have any ability, they are going to try to do this on their own — and I don’t blame them,” she said. 

Although she is willing to help novice backyard poultry producers to get started, Beckard is reluctant to encourage those who have no experience with chickens to rush right in. Start-up costs for a “backyard” chicken coop, chicks, feed and other necessary items can make the cost of a dozen eggs at the supermarket seem puny, in comparison. 

This is where the “homesteading way” can come in handy, Beckard explained. “Things can be done through bartering with your connections, and that’s the situation I am in. I bartered to build my last coop,” she said. 

“But if you had to go to Menards to buy everything, between coop and wire you’re probably looking at around $500-$1,000. You’re going to need 20 plain-Jane, standard layers, and if you can find them you’re looking at around $100 in chicks. You’re going to feed them all for 4 to 6 months before they begin laying, and each bird will go through around 50 pounds of feed per month. That’s another $100 in feed, and you’re going to need to get some dishes, so another $50 for feeders and waterers.”

Most importantly, would-be homesteaders will need to equip themselves with the necessary education to responsibly manage their backyard flocks. “They need to keep the birds healthy and safe, and know how to prevent loss to disease and predators. It can be all for nothing without the proper education,” said Beckard, who recommends area Extension offices and Facebook farmsteading groups to help novices gain knowledge of poultry and egg care. 

Beckard, a former social worker, also wants to warn would-be producers that raising backyard chickens -- and homesteading -- is hard work that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

“I have worked harder any day here than I ever did in the office,” she said.   

Jameson Beckard of Beckard Family Farm can be reached with questions about homesteading, raising your own egg-laying chickens and other poultry-related questions via email at jsugh85@outlook.com.