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

[CopperCT]

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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!!!

Me too. Two large veggie gardens, fruit trees and bushes, learned to can, dehydrate and preserve and stocking extra food and supplies. This year we raised 7 BSL and 4 light brahmas for eggs and meat. For me it's about being more self-sufficient and able to provide fresh healthy food for my family. We live in a town that does not allow anything with hooves in my zone but someday hope to move to the country so we can add goats. If the bad times never come there's no downside to learning to grow and preserve your own food.

I raised chickens as a kid and had my own small egg business delivering fresh eggs to nearbys families and always remember that experience fondly. I'm greatly enjoying have chickens once again. I expect I will be expanding the flock with some new chicks in the spring.

This is a really interesting thread...I've really enjoyed it. Thanks for starting it.

 

[Kaceyx73]

I grew up with a grandfather that raised chickens, mostly in cages for eggs. Of course in years gone by it was a yard full of chickens. My parents both grew up with chickens and gardening. A couple of years ago it hit me. Impulsively, I started a garden at my parents place. Weeks later we found out dad was dying. He had that glow before he passed that a wayward son finally started taking after him. As I watched, for the last 5 years, our nation and people slowly eating ourselves away with no intention of correcting it, I started thinking about small livestock to add to the garden.

As one of those crazy survivalist/ prepper type people I am glad to see so many people from all walks of life and politically persuasions coming together and doing what people do... getting on with the business of life. Yeah, our founders were right. Man can rule himself more effectively than others can rule him. It may have taken time, but I think we are all waking up.

 

[savingdogs]

Many of you on this thread would feel at home at our sister site, Sufficient Self. Becoming more self-sufficient, for whatever reason, is a good way to combat the feeling that the world is going to hell in a handbasket quickly.

Chickens are a great start!

 

[Heckel's Hens]

I've started my flock for several reasons, but they are overall just another transition from city to country life.

We have a little patch of land out in an Agricultural zone outside of a major city. We've renovation a 1953 home, regraded an acre that was supposed to be a "yard", etc, etc. We have 2 young boys who love living out here where it is safe to play "in the road" and the neighbors will help you more than your own family.

My husband raised livestock, but I have no clue. I am relying on research and help fromhim and neighbors. I have wanted chickens since we moved in 20 months ago, but we've had a ton of other work to do first! Now I have 15 pullets and some roos, all almost 6 weeks old.

I'm hoping to have a range of egg colors, just for the fun of it!

A lot of my friends want home grown eggs, but live in the city, so I'm sure I'll sell a few of the extra dozens.

 

[Ema]

I grew up on a farm, and at 12 my dad moved us to a big city, no farm animals allowed. :-( so 15 years later I still hated the city. I found a farm and I knew sooner or later the farm animals would be showing up. I want to live off my land as much as I can, raise my own food and try to be as self sufficient as I can be. Make my own products which I may in turn sell at the farmers market or place a cart at the end of the rd by the highway. I started with chickens, and this spring I am expanding to include a large vegie patch and a few more animals that will provide for this family while living or having lived a very good life.

Ema

 

[porterborn]

I got my first chicken by accident. November in Minnesota. I was driving along, in the city, and a chicken ran into the road. It was well below zero with dangerous windchills that day. My sister and I caught the chicken and tried to figure out where it belonged. We found a dead one (frozen) nearby. We rang doorbells, called shelters, and found out how difficult it is to place a chicken. Someone told me to eat it (I'm vegan). So I decided to keep her. Since then I've gotten 2 more and absolutely love these birds. They are laying eggs, entertaining my daughter, and making me smile. My husband... not so happy. He's had to build, then remodel, a coop. He had to give up his heated garage to the chickens until the coop was ready and on a couple of extremely cold nights since then. He's hauled feed, grit, scratch, etc. and made room in his life and our yard for animals he really doesn't care for. He also dealt with animal control and neighbors to apply for a permit from the city. But he loves me, so all is well

 

[PiratePrincess]

I have every confidence the world will muddle on just fine, as will our country. There will surely be some stumbles, always are, but neither America or the world is going anywhere anytime soon.

Since I clearly don't believe the sky is falling why did I get my chickens? Because they are so cute and the idea of going out to the coop to see if there are any eggs waiting for me just delights me. It's like searching for buried treasure every morning! Too cool for school.

 

[SuziQ991]

My reason is very different from everyone else. You see I didn't like birds of any kind. Never did. I am a mammal person Lol.

On June 14, 2007, my 21 year old son was killed in an automobile accident. I was/am devastated. I do not work and I was going crazy with all the time on my hands to just think and think. I decided to do some volunteer work and since I love animals, I volunteered at the wildlife rehab clinic among others.

I drove to one of our release sites and they had chickens running around everywhere. They also had turkeys and peafowl but the chickens just caught my attention.

Well that day I decided I needed chickens. And within a few months I had convinced my DH to build me a coop.

This is my second year with chickens and really they pretty much saved my life. I spend hours in the run with them. It is so peaceful watching them. And we all know the time it takes to care for them. They keep me pretty busy and gives me something to do. Something to take care of again.

Horses have always been my passion and I have been blessed to have mine. I still love them dearly and spend time with them also. But I always go to the chickens first!

 

[savingdogs]

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[Myabcs3]

We got chickens because of my sons - one wanted desperately to be in 4H and "raise something"; the other two wanted to build something. So when the three minds got together, they started building a chicken coop in the backyard out of their old playset. Sometimes, you have to just let the wind blow you and see where it goes. Well, in a month, we were picking up 8 that turned into 16 baby chicks from TSC. Then after meeting the wonderful chicken world in the midwest, this blossomed into many more from area breeders. I wouldn't go back. Chickens have given my family another activity together - tending to them, watching them, building structures - it has been loaded with teachable moments and just great family fun. Now, we all have our favorite breeds and love the daily fresh eggs. Don't see us ever going back.