Big question, why did all of you new chicken owners get chickens?

[Camshaft]

I hunt and fish so it's natural to me to have my own chickens for fresh eggs. I know what the chickens are eating so I know what goes into making up the egg. You can't get fresher food than that. Nice to have something alive walking round the land and it's good for us to take care of animals. Keeps us down to earth.

 

[Aria]

We had a small empty Barn. We raised Call Ducks. One night "something" arrived and all
our Ducks were gone.

Our friend who has chickens was so wonderful. She said you can't have an empty Barn.
She shared her hatch with us.

We LOVE our Chickens. Love the eggs. And love to watch them. They are a joy and they
know how to go to the barn for the evening. Aria

 

[dan_grow]

i got my chickens because it reminds me of being back home in Africa and that no mater where i go i can still have something close to me from home.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

We started because my sister mentioned for a couple of years that she wanted hens for eggs. Being that she lives next door, we decided we did too. But the whole process of actually acquiring chickens and building a coop for her and I was slow and my husband and I finally decided that we just wouldn't get any. And then my sister presented us with two astralorp chicks. We had NO idea what we were doing. But within a week we were building a coop. Within a month we had happy chickens in our coop and run, and within 6 months we were incubating. I find myself looking forward to feeding and watering, I occasionally discover I am sitting in the coop in 40 degree temps, I am addicted!

 

[Moabite]

Why? Because I'm disturbed by people's ignorance about where food comes from. As a parent, it is my job to teach my kids how to acquire and process food. There are no short-cuts to making good nutrition. If after they know why foods processed with hydrogenated foods last longer, then I wont mind as much if they choose to eat that.

My 13 yr old stepson will swill a quart a 2% homogenized, pasteurized milk for a light snack (

). I think that if he likes milk, he should try it raw. But he hasn't had the experience of raising cattle, milking cows, separating cream, churning butter, making yogurt or cheese. He has utmost trust in the food industry. He doesn't understand what hot dogs really are either. I love sausage, waste not want not, but shoveling in various disguarded animal parts into a processor, bleaching and cooking into homogenized substance with artificial flavoring and high fructose corn syrup isn't food in my book.

I started teaching him to cook a few years ago and that has helped a lot. He will turn his nose up at bleached, enriched flour and he understands that MSG is not an ingredient that you can use to brag about your cooking with. Teaching him to cook with a loving intent is the hardest part.

 

[Tanichca]

Well my first birds were given to me by a guy who had a crush on my sister, absolutely free (and they were worth about $70 each) And after that i pretty much went to craigslist for any birds i needed.

 

[HorizonSon]

Quote:
You pretty much said it yourself. Plus; with all this manipulated and unnatural vegetarian feed out there and the harsh living conditions, the quality of eggs and chicken meat have reached new lows!... Ours free-range and have/will aid in lowering our food budget as well.

 

[Sweet Violet]

Well here's my story...

Last winter I was gearing up to buy a Kookaburra this spring. I accepted the fact and responsibility of feeding it live mice, buying special food for the exotic and was drawing up plans for an extensive flight cage. Was doing all sorts of research.

Somehow I accidently ended up on a few websites for exotic chickens. Started doing more research and stumbled onto this forum. Then the light bulb went on over my head! Why not own colorful, exotic chickens that would give me eggs to eat in exchange for the joy and pleasure I would get from raising them.

I love my chickens, cochins and silkies and would sit and watch them for hours if I could. (actually I do)

Naomi

 

[grandmas Nest]

My DH and I decided to get a few chickens for the eggs and meat. Plus we have 8 grandkids who we thought would enjoy helping get the eggs when they were around. I wish I could free range them. Everytime Iam around chickens just free ranging I love it. But alas I live in town and there is too many dogs running around the neighborhood. If I could afford it I would totally fence our property in as we have 14 acres. Plus with the econemy the way it is it seemed like a really good idea. I only have 10 that I bought as pullets, 6 are laying, other 4 not yet. I was planning on starting with chicks in the spring but once coop was done I just couldn't wait. But I keep looking at different ones I want. So I figure I can get 5 more this spring as chicks and as I have to cull I will start with 10 more. I love to sit and watch them stratch up everything I throw in thier run. And the grandkids are all the time bring stuff to give them.

 

[NewToFarming]

I really just fell into getting chickens this past year. I had the opportunity to move on this farm this spring and the people that had lived here before apparently had left their chickens and a beagle. I had to work on the place about a month before moving in and took care of the dog and chickens. Their rooster was gorgeous (now I know it was a brown leghorn roo) I would feed and water both the dog & the chickens when I came to work on the house. About 2 weeks into it, they must have came and got the dog and a week later the chickens were gone. (both were left here a month before I started on the house)!
So, I decided to get my own little chicks and found this site to learn before getting them. I purchased 25 from MPC and then found the silkies & Orps on this site! I also had the intention of having my own eggs and not contributing to the big commercial egg producers and to be more self sufficient.
I have since fallen in love with these little guys! I never dreamed how cool chickens really were!!! They each have their own personalities and I find it so relaxing to be able to just watch them do their little chicken stuff!

I am now hatching my own and have learned alot in these few short months!