By WILLIAM NEUMAN Published: August 3, 2009 As Americans struggle through a dismal recession, many are trying to safeguard themselves from what they fear will be even worse times ahead. They eat out less often. They take vacations closer to home. They put off buying new cars. Skip to next paragraph Enlarge This Image Chang W. Lee/The New York Times Declan Walsh spent about $300 to build a coop and a fenced-in chicken run to raise broiler hens. Enlarge This Image R