Net-Zero Hero: Michelle Hernandez
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by celebrating chickens as zero waste heroes!
Meet Michelle Hernandez, Co-Founder of Austin’s Funky Chicken Coop Tour®. When Michelle first started raising chickens, she didn’t realize it would be a gateway to a zero-waste lifestyle. While raising and caring for her birds, her perspective on waste shifted as she realized all the great things her chickens could do — turn compost for her garden, gobble up food scraps from her kitchen, and even “make” breakfast! Since then, Michelle has sought to share what she’s learned about chickens and currently teaches free chicken-keeping classes.
We spoke with Michelle about her commitment to Net-Zero, what her toughest challenges have been, and what advice she has for others.
What inspired you to take action?
I wanted to have a small flock to have fresh eggs. You can’t go much more local than your backyard for a meal.
How did you do it?
After doing some upfront research, I started with a small coop and flock. I quickly found that chickens are quite entertaining. I had no idea that there are nearly as many chicken breeds as there are dog breeds! I wanted to share what I had learned, so I helped found the Funky Chicken Coop Tour, and then served as Organizer for the Austin and Central Texas Backyard Poultry Meetup. I am now also an instructor for the free Austin Resource Recovery Chicken Keeping classes. So, I guess chickens continue to play a part in my life.
What's been the toughest part?
Chickens are great backyard pets. However, they are prey and, as such, need good protection from predators. The designing of a great coop setup can be fun, but it’s sad to hear when someone loses a pet to predators.
Have there been any unexpected benefits?
When I started raising chickens over a decade ago, I didn’t realize they were a gateway to more sustainable living practices. I found that these birds are pets with benefits. The average American throws a half-pound of food waste into the garbage daily. Chickens gave me a new perspective on that “waste.” Instead of throwing it away, I divert scraps to extra chicken feed (not all comes from a bag), which in turn makes more fresh eggs!
There are so many wonderful things about chickens. They use their keen daytime eyesight to find and consume bugs. Their powerful claws are wonderful at scratching and aerating soils, which is especially helpful in Central Texas. Their deposits of black gold go into a compost pile, which they can scratch and turn for me. This creates rich nutrients for the garden. Plus, none of my other pets make me breakfast, lunch, or dinner with delicious eggs!
Another uneggspected (...get the yolk?) benefit is that chickens build community. People of differing political, religious, or other viewpoints have no trouble “speaking chicken” to each other. Share eggs with your new neighbors and make a friend!
What advice do you have for others?
Do some homework upfront to see if chickens are a good fit for you. Make sure your property restrictions allow you to raise chickens. Go to Austin’s Funky Chicken Coop Tour to get a preview, join an active online or in-person chicken community, or volunteer to help a neighbor or your community garden with chicken care. If you live in an apartment, don’t be discouraged. Austin has five community gardens that have chickens on site.
To learn more about Austin's net-zero goal and the actions you can take to support a greener community, view the Austin Climate Equity Plan.
Share your Net-Zero contributions with us on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook, and use #NetZeroHero. If you know a Net-Zero Hero (or heroes!) who should be recognized for their efforts, send your nomination to climate@austintexas.gov.