Are you a propagator, preservationist, or a "crusader"?

[88Haywood88]

When approching the idea of keeping chickens, which mindset do you subscribe to the most? Choose ONE.

-Are you mostly about bringing as many chickens into the world as possible... do you play the numbers game?

-Are you concerned with the preservation of an individual breed(s)?

-Do you raise chickens because you think it's important to provide local food and help the environment?

I'm a propagator. I play the numbers game... I want to bring as many chickens into the world as possible. So what are you?

 

[Heathercp]

I wouldn't classify myself as a "crusader", but I wanted to have chickens so that I could get a bit more control over where my food comes from. Now I no longer have to support the giant chicken farms when I buy eggs for my family. Even though I always bought the eggs that said "free range, organic, cage free,...", I really never believed that the chickens were being raised humanely. All those words don't necessarily mean anything. I feel great now when I walk through my grocery store knowing I never have to buy eggs.

 

[australorpchick]

I'm a propagator/crusader. I enjoy supporting other people's chicken addictions and I also like knowing where my eggs come from. If I have to pick only one, I'm leaning more to the propagator-side.

 

[BeccaOH]

I guess I'm both a preservationist and crusader.

I'm very interested in heritage breeds that are endangered. I'm trying to focus my future breeding groups on the ones that most need preserved.

I started into chickens because of food safety and wanting to do more on my land toward self-sufficiency. Love the joy of having fresh eggs in my backyard.

But if you saw my 3 incubators and broody hen, you could say I'm a propagator.

 

[Katy]

I'd like to think I'm a preservationist.....helping to keep a couple of breeds going to the APA standard.

 

[Uzuri]

I'm a lunatic, which isn't an option, but none of the rest really fit XD I just got 'em because I like eggs and thought it would be fun.

 

[dwegg]

I am a crusader... free the caged chickens of the world..rights for animals everywhere!!!!

 

[easttxchick]

Wow, what an interesting question. I believe I fall into the crusader/preservationist category. No more store bought eggs for me-the conditions make me sad for the hens. I also raise some birds listed on the critical/endangered list so that folks in the future will know how wonderful these birds are!

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Yes, very hard to fit into any one category. Maybe we don't need categories?

I want to preserve breeds that have utility and aesthetic qualities. These are not conducive to mass-production, but are valuable to small scale operations and it would be bad to lose the useful genetic diversity.

I want to raise more of my own food, but I fully realize that my chickens are not covering their own costs currently (constantly looking for ways to improve that situation).

I believe there probably can be TOO MANY CHICKENS so I am not a propagator I guess. But I do like being able to find room for one more pretty/useful breed...

You do not have a category for people who are very competitive and raising and showing birds is a way to feel a sense of acheivement (competitors). Or a category for those who simply love the personality and antics of poultry (pet-owners). Or geneticists who want to see if they can breed a purple or green or differently feathered/skinned bird just to show what can be done with careful breeding and selection (adventurers?) Or those who are trying to pass the addiction to other folk (chicken-pusher?) Or just addicted to chicks (fuzzy-butt-itis?)

Truly there are as many reasons to keep chickens as there are people who raise them.

 

[PunkinPeep]

While i like having natural eggs, and i abhor the conditions of factory egg layers, and i love the preservation of heritage breeds, i got into chickens with more of a "self-sufficiency" (though i don't really like that term) goal. I just don't want to have to depend on the "system" to provide my food. Also, the more i get into it, the more i like it, and the more i can see how i might be able to make more money if i propagate chickens.

Plus, this is FUN.