10 Joys of Keeping Backyard Chickens.

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I’m almost about 10 years deep into my backyard chicken hobby and have loved it every step of the way. From ordering chicks, getting the coops set up, watching them grow, and collecting eggs, keeping backyard chickens has been one of the highlights of my life. Chickens are animals that require little but give back much in return. In this article, I will highlight the 10 joys I have experienced as a backyard chicken keeper.

1. They are always happy to see me
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No matter how bad my day has been at work or otherwise, my girls are always happy to see me. In the mornings when I enter the backyard opening the coops for the day they are thrilled at my presence. They cluck with joy as I prepare their food and water and clean their coops. They are genuinely happy to see me. After a long day at work or just a bad day in general, I can always go to the backyard and find happiness on their faces. They flock, running sometimes flying in from the far ends of the yard thrilled to see me. Their joy in response to my presence lifts my spirits and in return brings joy to my day.

2. Companions in the backyard.
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Dogs come to mind for most people when thinking about backyard companions. But chickens can be a companion like a family dog. For example, Tilling Day is a flock affair! Tilling up the garden for the upcoming garden season is a big deal. They follow in the path of the tiller gobbling up all the worms that were unearthed, all the while further assisting me in turning the soil over. It’s not just gardening that attracts the flock's attention, the girls are always eager to be involved in whatever I am doing. Anything from painting coops to mowing the yard attracts all kinds of “hen help". Chickens are very curious creatures; they want in on everything that I am doing. Sometimes they get rewarded with a big juicy worm while gardening and other times it's dust bathing in the potting soil bag or eating fresh grass clippings. Either way, no matter what I am doing, I often have a flock of curious girls wanting in on whatever is going on.

3. Collecting Farm Fresh Eggs daily.
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There is nothing quite like collecting farm fresh eggs from the backyard. After eating organic pasture-raised farm fresh eggs it's hard to go back to store-bought. The feeling of finding an egg or more in the nesting box never gets old. Chickens are the pet that makes you breakfast. There is a pure and simple joy that connects one to the days of old while collecting eggs from the coops.

4. Observing the complex social structure of the flock.
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Chickens are very highly socially organized creatures contrary to what many people think. A flock of chickens is organized into a hierarchy, each member knowing his or her place. The term “pecking order” is derived from this complex social system of chickens and for good reason. At the top of the pecking order is typically the alpha rooster, under him will be the other roosters in the flock. The roosters determine who is the alpha by competing for the position. Following the roosters will be the alpha hen, this is the hen that has earned her right to be at the top of the order directly under the rooster. The alpha hen is bossy regarding the other hens in the flock. As for the rest of the members, position is established by literally “pecking” another hen on the back indicating that the pecker is above the pecked. This behavior flows from the alpha hen to the bottom of the order. Each chicken pecks someone else on the back indicating their position in the order.

Once the pecking order is established, all activities of the flock revolve around the order. Simple things as the order in which the flock exits the coop in the morning and the order in which they return. Watching this animal behavior in my flock is very interesting. More importantly, the pecking order is always changing. If a member of the flock is sick and needs to be separated for treatment, in the absence of the member the flock order will adjust. The same is true for when a member dies. In the case of a death of a member, the order will usually take on an extreme adjustment. For example, when our rooster Roy died the flock was suddenly without its top member, a rooster. The remaining hens in the flock had to decide who would take his place at the top of the pecking order, claiming the position of the alpha hen. For several days the flock worked through this decision and finally agree on who would be the head honcho. As a backyard keeper, this behavior is very interesting to observe. Furthermore, it brings home the literal interpretation and understanding of the term “pecking order”.

5. Watching a mother hen raise her young.
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Let’s be honest, baby chicks are adorable. Whether they be wild birds or domestic, chicks are just about as adorable as a baby animal can get. What’s even better is having the opportunity to watch them grow. This is one of the simple joys of owning backyard chickens. I have several times throughout the years allowed a broody hen to incubate a small clutch of eggs. Every time it is an adventure and a pleasure to watch the process from egg to chick. This spring I allowed a broody Silkie to sit on a clutch of 7 eggs.

After anticipatingly waiting the predetermined 21-23 days for the eggs to incubate, they one by one started to hatch. Over 3 days, every egg hatched into a beautiful healthy chick. The joy of watching this cycle of life is indeed an honor. Over the next several months the mother hen will teach her little ones how to be chickens. Such things as what to eat and not eat, how to dust bathe, where to find water, and where to roost at night.

If you are lucky enough to be in the position to observe this cycle of life in person, it is indeed an educational and humbling experience. There is so much that we can learn from a mother hen and chickens in general. Chickens are amazing teachers, all that is needed is a willing soul to watch and listen.



6. The joy of watching a rooster care for his flock.
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Roosters are often unfairly stigmatized as being fearsome, bloodthirsty mean, nasty aggressive birds. While they do have a job to do and take it very seriously, they are amazing and gentle creatures. I love roosters, I currently have 15 and value every one of them. Roosters, although not necessarily to keep backyard chickens are a bonus.

You see, when raised right, roosters are an asset to a flock of chickens. They perform many husbandry duties taking care of all the hens in the flock. If a flock has more than one rooster (such as mine does), they will divide the flock into groups each rooster taking care of a section of the hens.

They are much more than just merely protectors for the hens, they serve the flock in ways beyond this. For example, a rooster will hunt for his girls. He will actively look for food, things such as a big bug, juicy worm, or vegetation for them to eat. Once he finds something of value, he will call his girls over to eat it. He will only eat what is left, he is self-sacrificing looking out for the welfare of his hens. It’s as if by evolutionary design he knows the girls need the extra nutrition for the procreation of the flock (laying eggs). As the girls eat what he has found he will keep watch, sounding the alarm if there is a threat and if needed sacrificing himself for the safety of the hens. I have witnessed this firsthand with my Buff Orpington Rooster, Roy. One afternoon while out in the backyard he sounded the alarm, I heard his cry from the house and rushed to the backyard in time to see a hawk fly away. All the girls were safe under a large tree, Roy on the other hand was injured. Luckily, he recovered from the hawk-inflicted injuries and lived for several more years. I learned on this day the true value of a rooster.

A rooster will serve the flock in another way as well. He will lead the girls to the coop when it is time to roost, help raise young, break up any squabbles among the hens, and of course mate with the hens to propagate the flock. All these things and more make roosters a very valuable asset to the flock. As a backyard chicken keeper, I have peace of mind knowing that when I'm not around the guys are on duty. It gives me great joy to hear my roosters crow in the morning and watch them interact with the flock.

7. Beauty a flock of chickens brings to my property.
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There is just something soothing about a flock of chickens happily hunting and pecking on a lush green lawn. Their feathers contrast with the surrounding greenery like little yard ornaments. Chickens when they free-range it's a very welcoming sight, watching them as they search for delicacies to dine on. I allow my flock to free range in the backyard only confining them to their pens during periods of inclement weather. I love to go to the backyard and see my flock busy at work, ridding my yard and gardens of all available bugs and pets. My evenings are usually spent sitting and watching them as they go about their business, taking in the ascetic pleasure they bring to my property. They are beautiful, the different breeds together in the yard add diverse contrast to the evening setting. One of the joys of owning backyard chickens is simply sitting and appreciating the beauty they add to my homestead.

8. Observing the diversity of their personalities.

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Many people think that chickens are void of any personality or individual characteristics. This is so far from the truth. Chickens are social creatures, and with that comes distinct personalities. They all have preferences for nesting boxes for which to lay their eggs. Some are more outgoing while others are more reserved choosing to reside on the sidelines. Some want to be held while other prefer to be appreciated from afar.

Chickens are very complex creatures with individual personalities to match. I have a few girls that love the camera and will pose at any chance they get. Two of my flock hams are above Aphrodite (White Crested Polish) and Miss Sweet Pea (Buff Orpington). These two girls are the standouts among all the flock members. They love attention and will do just about anything to get it.

Chickens are much like dogs in the fact that they love to interact with their caretakers Some members may be more upfront with human interaction while others more distant, but all my girls at one level or another want to feel appreciated. It was not until I had chickens that I realized how much of an individual they are. It's these characteristics that make them easy to identify and name. People often ask me if all my girls have names. Yes, all 50+ of my chickens have names and often are assigned names based on their personality traits. It’s not as hard as you would think to name 50 or so birds and not get them confused. They make it rather easy to keep all their identities straight. This brings me to my next point.

9. Constant comedy in the backyard.
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Chickens are constant comedy! They are the funniest animals that I own. Whether it be something funny that an individual does or something that the whole flock does, chickens are the comedians of the barnyard. One of the funniest interactions that my flock engages in is something I call “the chicken-keep-away game”. When a hen finds something like a juicy bug or worm, she will announce to the whole flock with glee that she has found a prize. With the object in her beak, she will run around the yard while the others chase her to get a piece of her prize. Depending on how large the trophy is, this could go on for quite some time. Changing beaks several times till finally someone eats the morsel or loses it. It’s about as close as a flock of chickens can get to a game of touch football.

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Another funny chicken oddity is the Polish chicken. Pictured above are two White Crested Polishes, Aphrodite and Apollo. Out of all the breeds I have, this breed holds the crown for comedy. Due to their crests, their vision is limited unable to see what is above them. For this reason, everything spooks them. Simple things in their environment can get a rise out of them. They tend to be flighty and high-strung for this reason. They are a curious breed getting themselves into trouble by not being able to see well enough to get themselves out. They often call out for other flock members to rescue them from their predicament. Typically, one of the roosters will come to their rescue if I am not there to lend a hand. I have 13 polishes in my flock of various colors all of them possess this particular niche for comedy. They are one of my favorite breeds to keep. They require special care but are worth the trouble.

10. A connection to the past: A lesson in simplicity
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There is just something about keeping backyard chickens that brings us back to our roots. Times of old, days gone by when just about everyone had a flock of chickens to supply eggs for the family. A time when gardening was not just a hobby but a way of survival. A time when your land was how you ate, and your animals were how you survived. Getting out of bed, putting on my boots, and heading out to the backyard to open the coops after the night brings nostalgia. Cleaning the coops and collecting the day's eggs has a feeling of purpose and self-sufficiency many seek today. In a world where we can buy everything we need at the store, being able to supply our food has a purity that money cannot buy. Knowing that I am eating an organic product supplied by animals that are well cared for brings happiness to my soul.

In our business, it’s nice to come home and watch my girls as they forage in the backyard. To be able to escape the chaos of life and just simply be. Chickens are simple creatures; they don’t ask for much but give back much in return. They are content just to be able to hunt and peck their way through life. They don’t worry about much but instead are just happy to be given this day. It’s a lesson in simplicity that I think we all need. For this lesson and more I am ever grateful for my chickens. My chickens give back to me in many ways, but one of the best things they give is a lesson in keeping it simple, a lesson in simplicity.

Thanks for reading!

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About author
Kuntry Klucker
Hi, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Noelle Moser (a.k.a. Kuntry Klucker), I have activly kept chickens for 10+ years. I currently have and maintain 7 coops and about 50 or so ladies and gents well, according to chicken math anyway. I have several breeds including Orphington, Australorps, Silkies, Polishes, Cochins, and Easter Eggers. I love the farm/country life and my "Backyard Divas".

I am a published author. I have published a book, my work and pictures have also been featured in several periodicals. In addition to my activity here on BYC, I actively maintain a blog dedicated to the joy's of keeping backyard chickens

Welcome to the Coop! Pleased to meet you and thanks for reading!

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This article is great! really amusing! :)
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Kuntry Klucker
Kuntry Klucker
Thanks, I am glad that you enjoyed my work.
Your writing style is amazing!
Kuntry Klucker
Kuntry Klucker
Thank you so much. I am glad that you find my writing style unique. I like to write as if I am in the middle of a discussion with someone. It flows well, reads like a story book and invites my readers to joint the discussion.
Fantastic read!!! I find myself spending more and more time with our flock! I know I could sit and watch them all day long! Something about them that just put my heart and soul at peace!
Kuntry Klucker
Kuntry Klucker
There is something about keeping chickens that brings us back to our roots. Days gone by when life was a lot simplier and less hectic. It’s this kind of simplicity that draws many to the hobby of keeping backyard chickens. It soothes the soul and brings so much peace to the keeper as they watch and interact with their flocks. I know for me, my flock are my happy pills. Bad day, not problem, go to the backayrd and sit with the girls, after a few minutes I feel much better.

Comments

Our new girls (7) are
Settling well in their new home. We got Hy-Line brown hens and they began laying the day we brought them home!
Noce brown eggs, M-L in size. We will have their run ready probably tomorrow and are
Excited to see them checking it out! We are both excited for our new
Family additions. Thinking to finish filling the house with a rooster to complete the group. I SO enjoyed your story. They don’t
Seem to know what to do with the cabbage I hung in their
Oop
 

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Our new girls (7) are
Settling well in their new home. We got Hy-Line brown hens and they began laying the day we brought them home!
Noce brown eggs, M-L in size. We will have their run ready probably tomorrow and are
Excited to see them checking it out! We are both excited for our new
Family additions. Thinking to finish filling the house with a rooster to complete the group. I SO enjoyed your story. They don’t
Seem to know what to do with the cabbage I hung in their
Oop
My chickens took a couple of days to figure out what to do with the cabbage we gave them, then totally devoured it!
 
This was a lovely article and so true! We have buff orpingtons, so that was especially interesting to hear about Roy and his heroics! Hope my 2 roosters will turn out as brave - they are only 12 weeks old and still trying to decide which one is the toughest! Thank you!
 

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