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

[harveyhorses]

What is CSA?
I got ours because I think happy hens make better eggs. O.K. so I want to get away from comercail food
in getneral, and Ihad this old dog pen staring me in the face, so I did a little research and decided I owuld try to find some buff Orps. They were so cute and fluffy, and now they are large and fluffy butted. They do me so much good, just being hens. Who knew they were so full of personality?

 

[ohjennran]

we thought it would be great for the kids (5 &3) to experience chickens, to take care of them and to have the fresh eggs. We just bought our 2 little chicks a few weeks ago, and they are awesome. Im not sure we have the guts to raise chickens for meat as of now but I'm hoping our egg adventure will be great for our family
CSA- community supported ag.
for the person who asked what it is.

 

[Pele]

It's hard to say what really first made me take the plunge into chicken ownership. I think it started when I tried some eggs from my friend's chickens, and found how how much better they taste than storebought eggs.

A couple of years after that, I did some research on commercial egg production, and was deeply deeply horrified at what I found: Debeaked birds crowded into cages they can't even turn around in. Limbs rotting off from gangrene brought on by getting legs stuck in the wire cages. Animals being fed only the bare minimum to stay alive, just to keep profit up. 1 week old male chicks being thrown into a shredder, and added to the feed for the hens. And worst of all, hens being thrown out and killed after just 12 months of laying their little hearts out, just because it's cheaper to destroy them before their egg production declines even a little.

I felt ashamed that I had participated in such a horrific system all these years by buying eggs from the store. Not even cows or pigs are treated so monstrously.

So a few days later, I borrowed a brooder from a friend, ordered my chicks, and the rest is history! I never imagined that by making effort to make a difference in just 7 creature's lives, I would find so much happiness for myself. Every evening when I drink tea on my back porch and relax while I watch my girls free-range, I can think to myself "This is the life". Not everyone can say that to themselves, and I consider myself chicken-blessed.

 

[champer]

I had a friend who kept trying to get me to take some of his hens, but I resisted because I have dogs. Eventually he wore me down and he gave me 3 bantam OEGBs and 1 big red hen. I've had them about 3 months now and I do enjoy them and I like sharing excess eggs with friends. The banties went broody pretty quick, so I gave them some chicks to raise and now I have a RIR and 2 EEs about 7 wks old. It is a huge temptation to get more and more when I see all the pretty breeds and variations, but I shall resist!

 

[kimntep]

Hubs grew up with chickens for fresh eggs..talked about it all the time, so I hammered him for long enough that he gave in and built a coop! Now I do everything to care for them AND feed him fresh eggs..actually, I really enjoy the eggs, too, but not near as much as I enjoy all of their personalities. We have 17 and they love me as much as I do them! We'll never eat any of them, but we'll enjoy the eggs and probably continue to raise chickens for a long time.

 

[Chickiemom25]

my daughter was given a chick as a present .. I then learned at the feed store we needed at least 2... then I though wow free eggs, and a year later.. we are still trying to raise a single hen to an age to produce eggs,,,We lost the first 3 to the dog. I wont tell you what I have spent on the 1 coop and 2 runs so far.. we have 5 little ones and possibility that 2 are roos so we will have to get rid of them but maybe we can get 3 to laying age. They are quite entertaining I have found so I think we will keep trying.,

 

[poseygrace]

I had chickens as a kid, and always remembered how much I enjoyed them. When I turned 40, I told my DH that's what I wanted for my birthday. He's not very handy, so I drew up some plans and hired a local contractor to build the coop. I have 9 beautiful hens/pullets, and my favorite pastime is sitting in the lawn chair, watching them peck about. Love it!

 

[flowerchild59]

Eggs, garbage disposals, fertilizer. And good clean country living.

 

[hcppam]

chickens in the garden...plus they're fun.

 

[DvanderSlik]

Humanely raised eggs! Yum.

I've always wanted chickens. Then one day it clicked; "If I'm EVER going to do it... why not NOW?" So started the research and built me a coop!