Observing, Adapting, and Rewilding in Arizona
Bringing a flock of hens home seemed simple at first, just a few eggs, I thought. But they brought lessons I never imagined. I make my way to the coop each day at sunrise, the hens clucking away and breaking the morning quiet. It may be hard to imagine, but the smell of dry, gritty earth and sun-baked foliage is something you learn to find beauty in over time.
Keeping chickens here feels like a kind of rewilding, not of wilderness, but of care and diligent attention. In a place where water and shade are precious, you begin to see how every living thing adapts. The hens move with quiet wisdom, digging into the cool earth or finding shelter beneath sparse desert trees and makeshift shade cloths.
Eggs of all colors and sizes are gathered each day. They follow the natural rhythm of my flock, arriving whenever, rather than on a schedule. That kind of cycle feels sacred, a small, circular rebellion against the idea that everything must be constant and controlled.
When the monsoon season arrives, I welcome the brief shift in temperatures and the distinctive smell of rain on the crispy creosote bushes. Somehow, the smell of rain on the wet city streets feels strangely comforting. As thunder rolls and the wind violently picks up, the desert becomes a conversation again, one of long-awaited change. The flock huddles down when harsh weather threatens, quietly finding shelter until it passes. Winter, by contrast, is mild and comfortable, offering the flock a much needed reprieve. There were moments when the heat left me exhausted, and the needs of my flock felt greater than what I could give. Yet in facing those moments, I uncovered a resilience I never expected to find.
Rewilding doesn’t always mean returning to forests or rivers. Sometimes it’s about remembering how to live in the place you already are. Even a small desert chicken farm can provide that sense of reconnection, where a flock of hens teaches you to observe, adapt, and find grace—even in a climate that is not always kind.
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 