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

[Azriel]

We had chickens when I was a young child and I always liked feeding them and gathering the eggs. Then I grew up and life got in the way. Fast forward 40 odd years and I own a ranch in MT, and I start thinking back on how much I liked chickens. Another year goes by and one of the Vets in the clinic I work at sells her hobby farm and has 3 GSL she is giving away, as much as I say I don't have a place for them, they come home with me. Then I see an ad for BOs, I always wanted BOs, so I buy 5 and also 3 more GSL. Then an ad for 5 BAs, free!, well they come home with me to. I love my girls and my very nice big black roo. I love watching them chase grasshoppers, beg for treats, chase the cats, and all the fun things chickens do, I love the roos cockadoodle doo, and they lay great eggs. They pay for their feed with egg sales, and some day I may have some meat chickens also. I feel that if you can raise at least so of your own food your a head of the game.

 

[CluckCluck18]

I always wanted chickens. I'm in my 50's now and working on my "Bucket List" Saw a report on the local news and didn't realize I could have them where I lived. Then found a farm less than a 1/4 of a mile from my home that sold chicks. A handy friend where I work said, " I'll build you a chicken coop" and we were off to the races. It's been a trial....chicks with cocci in the first 24 hours and then I raised 5 out of 7 roosters in my first batch and couldn't keep them. That was so hard for me but finally have 6 hens, only 2 laying with the other 4 getting close. I knew I would love it but it has been 1,000 times better than I thought and I think the experience has changed me somehow...it's just great, every bit of it!

 

[PepsNick]

I'm not a new chicken owner, but three years ago I got my first batch from my feed store, because I was inspired by a book called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbra Kingsolver.

 

[Kathleen1115]

I started wanting them after I "won" 6 dozen backyard eggs in a silent auction at our local community garden fundraiser. They were so much better than store-bought eggs. Then I discovered a neighbor who had a flock and bought eggs from her. The community garden also sponsors a coop tour and has a program called City Chicks, and the more I learned the more I wanted a back yard flock. And it just progressed from there. We moved to a new house that had a yard big enough to accomodate a coop, met some friends who were willing to share chicken maintenance and co-parent the flock (we're out of town on weekends pretty regularly), and then in August, a local farmers market had a fundraiser where they gave away chicks and we just jumped in. Now we're just starting to get eggs and I'm so glad we got into this venture. What I wasn't expecting was how enjoyable the chickens themselves are -- I completely agree with the people who say that their chickens are relaxing. Their individual personalities are very amusing, the work involved in caring for them is distracting but not overwhelming or particularly difficult, and they're much less expensive than our other pets!

 

[Judy]

Meat and eggs, entertainment, the pleasure of having moved to the country and able to have livestock and such, a productive hobby, a little closer to self sufficient/feeling a little closer to the land are just some of the reasons. Some are and have been pets. Haven't been faced with eating a pet yet, but the day is coming, not worried about it, they are also livestock and it's the only sensible thing to do with most of the roosters IMO. I hatch under broodies, and don't own or want an incubator.

 

[forrestacres]

On Mother's Day last year, my son and husband gave me 8 chicks to fill my empty nest because our son was going off to college in the fall. We love to just sit and watch our ladies. It is so relaxing. We have two Adirondack chairs in the yard near our coop that we sit in and enjoy interacting and watching our ladies.

 

[dwdoc]

For me it was about the egg. I pride myself on being an amateur chef; the best ingredients make the best foods.

A couple of years ago my son brought home freshly laid eggs from a local farm; they were great.

Then, in December I was at a farm with my wife and the lady there had a coop with several birds and it was then I decided to take the leap.

Within days I drew up some plans for a basic coop, obtained some scrap lumber, purchased some shed paneling and chicken wire and I was off and running.

The day the coop was finished my wife pick me up two BR pullets from a local breeder. Unfortunately, they did not work out but that is for another topic page.

 

[dlee]

My wife & I are getting ready for hard times, they are coming !, We are eating fresh eggs, canning meat & vegies now. We moved from Houston to Lufkin 2 yrs. ago, bought 2 young mules & I have them saddle broke & trying to train them to pull a wagon & plow. We are on 8 acres with 2 large gardens, pasture & 48 mixed chickens w/4 roosters, we also have 4 silkies as they make great incubatores & mothers. That way we don't have to hatch new ones ourselves. getting about 1 doz. eggs per day ( January ) should get more this summer. We have at least 1 year food supply now ( canned vegies & chicken ) & will be canning more all this coming summer. Also we have a rabbit hutch w/10 spaces, no rabbits yet but will get some this spring. Our son & daughter & 6 grand children live near us so we are preparing enough for them too. We advise everyone to get ready for VERY HARD TIMES.

 

[marcumbackyardfarms]

We got our first 6 last year at TSC in March. They were have a half price sell towards the end of March. We bought ours for $1 a piece. We live in the country so to speak and since we have 6 kids. We thought it would be something they all would enjoy and learn from. My wife and I especially have learned a lot since then and found out we love having them more than some of the kids do. We love getting our own eggs. Now we have ducks and chickens. At the moment our best days are getting 8 chicken eggs and 1 duck egg. We plan on selling eggs at the local farmers market this year to help pay for feed cost. Our chickens free range so they usually don't need much in spring, summer and fall. I do believe in something since joining this website though....chicken math. It will get to you, lol.

 

[trunkman]

Quote:
Welcome to BYC! I for one is getting ready for hard times too, chickens for meat and eggs, building gardens and buying seeds, learning how to prune fruit trees and bushes, bought the best pressure canner money can buy, stocking up on canning jars and lids, hundreds of them, canning meat and meals, bought and incubator to keep my flock fresh, stocking up on food, about 6 months worth so far. I'm right with you!!!