Janey Metzler interacts with her beloved hen named Sweet Cherry Pie in Aguanga. Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo
As egg prices hit record highs, backyard chicken enthusiasts in the Anza Valley are gaining popularity, offering fresh eggs at reasonable rates. With more residents considering raising their own hens, local experts share insights on chicken care, nutrition and the growing community interest in backyard farming.The history of chicken domesticationChickens have been domesticated for at least 8,000 years, with the earliest evidence dating back to 6,000 B.C. in Southeast Asia and South China. They are believed to have descended from the red junglefowl, a wild bird native to the forests of South and Southeast Asia.Archaeological findings in northern China, Thailand and the Indus Valley suggest that chickens spread westward to the Middle East, Africa and Europe before reaching the Am
