When he would no longer find work as a welder, Lawrence Rigby did not sit idly by but got up and did what he knew to bring a dollar in the home.

The 40-year-old is from Canvas City, Wismar, Linden and he picked up where his mother left off following her demise, rearing chickens.

He took control of the chicken rearing business in his backyard with four pens that house 1,000 chicks.

The father of two told the Pepperpot Magazine that he came from humble beginnings and he knows the value of things so he is doing his part to give back to society by selling his neighbours plucked chickens at wholesale prices.

“Since I know myself growing up, my mom always had a small chicken business so I learned from her how to take care of the baby chicks until they attain the age of six weeks old then you can pluck them to sell,” he said.

Rigby doesn’t have to go anywhere to sell his plucked chickens because the people in the village supports him and they buy bulk chickens for an unbeatable price.

So with a ready-made market, the poultry farmer told the Pepperpot Magazine that life is good because he turned what would have been ‘dead end’ for him when his welding career came to a halt and started his own small business.

Rigby reported that rearing chickens is a full-time job because the chicken pens needs to be cleaned and fresh shavings needs to be added often since it is a residential area and he doesn’t want the place to have an odour of chicken dung.

“The hardest part of rearing chickens is changing the water and feeding the birds plus spraying the pens for bacteria and odours,” he said.

Souring feed and shavings also takes time and when he has to get baby chicks he would commute to the city at a reputable hatchery in Middle Street to buy 1,000 to rear every six weeks.

Having lived all his life in Canvas City Village, Rigby is familiar with everybody and it is a nice neighbourhood because the people live neighbourly and they relate to each other and have that bond and unity unlike any other.

“Being humble and simple is the way to go around here and we get along with everybody simply because we talk to each other about things and we resolve issues quickly without any conflicts,” he said.

Rigby added that living in Canvas City for 40 years he doesn’t see it any other way than giving back to his community which is most fitting.

“When you have, you must give, to be blessed because we need each other to survive and that’s how people should live,” he said.

Rigby stated that he used to reside in his mother’s house which is located in the same yard and he was able to construct his own house and moved out.

Part of his chicken business is at his sister’s place right in Linden and they have their own understanding as family because he doesn’t want to crowd his chickens in one place.

He explained that the downside of the poultry business is when it rains too much because the chickens would get cramps and cold, and some would die. On other occasions, animals in the community would also get loose and break in his pens and eat his chickens.

But he would work things out with the owners and resolve matters swiftly in their own way.

Rigby added that living peacefully is all about being humble and understanding and things will be good wherever you live.

The poultry farmer stated that having a small business, no matter how small it is a blessing because working with yourself is convenient despite the challenges but it is a sure dollar at the end of the day even if the returns are not forthcoming right away.