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

[trunkman]

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Sorry about your loss!

I'm glad you found something you enjoy and occupies your mind and time, God bless you!

 

[Shy1]

i've always had them around and i enjoy their behaviors and watching them about the yard throughout the day. i also enjoy my ducks as well, i love watching them swim in their kiddie pool, you can just hear how happy they are to swim!

 

[trunkman]

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[8ROYALS]

Finally moved to a place to have them...and always did growing up. So once I had the 3 acres It was just natural...

 

[grammyjladr]

It was hubby's idea, I fought it but finally gave in. I warned him I'd make pets of them and not to even consider eating them. I also said he'd be buying 25 little wheel chairs when they reached their senior years. But he said go ahead. Now we both find huggin on them enjoyable and relaxing. Yes they are alot of work and so far we figure the coup(s) houses(3) feeders etc and food means the eggs are costing about $125 a dozen right now. Not exacly cost effective yet. Hopefully it will eventually even out. Cost of the grandkids loving them? Priceless.

 

[SugarDuck]

Because we have 6 kids and we wanted them to learn some respect, work ethic and a love for animals. This has not only been a good thing for our kids but a good thing for us parents as well. Not to mention great having all of the eggs.

 

[GeeJay]

We just got our first 25 broilers, so I am a newbie! But mostly have them for providing good meat for the family. We also are hatching quail, with some success (9 live hatches out of 40 eggs, 60 to go and they are still laying!). Having trouble keeping the humidity up in the brooder, so changed to hatching in the incubator - which limits the space for more eggs, but think it will get more results. The Quail are for training the pointers (1 English, 1 German Shorthair)... but now are just part of the gang!

trying to get ourselves more self sufficient, so next spring We will be building a coop for layers. The rest of this year is getting the greenhouse, and hopefully a hoophouse, up for the veggies

 

[Travilah]

To eat STINK BUGS!!!

The eggs and the entertainment the hens provide is a delightful bonus!

 

[kara_leigh]

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Ditto. We moved to the country, so we have a lot of land for them to free range, and we want to be more self sufficient by growing our own food.

 

[anthrochick]

I am an anthropologist and I specialize in studying human-animal relationships. So I was especially interested when I started hearing about backyard chickens. I am also a gardener and aspiring urban farmer, so chickens filled a niche. I live on a very large lot in a quiet small town and felt like we had plenty of room for a small flock.

Only problem was... I've never been a bird person. Last summer I went to the county fair and spent a lot of time looking at the chickens and wondering what it would be like to live with them. Wasn't sure. They aren't so fun to watch when they're in a cage!

Now we have 7 week old pullets and the whole family loves them, especially our two Dominiques. Very therapeutic. I have a lot of troubles at work and there is nothing that lifts my spirits more than hangin' with my peeps.