Billionaire Bill Gates says people should have chickens

[Chickerdoodle13]

This is actually a wonderful thing, and works quite well in places like Africa.

Raising chickens in these countries is often seen as a woman's and so by giving these families chickens, they are not only getting increased income and a source of food, but the women are being empowered.

People in these countries do not necessarily build coops. Instead they build little teepees or "hutches" on stilts. Some of the more affluent farmers may build brick houses. The materials are often local materials from the forests or surrounding areas.

Giving chickens to the poor has many benefits. One is the "teach a man to fish" thing. These people now own animals that produce eggs which is such a great source of protein. It's even self storing! They can breed the chickens to get more chickens and they can even eat the chickens. Having this source of meat really helps the bush meat industry. Right now, the poor go out and hunt whatever they find, including endangered species. This has been so detrimental for some many animals. The third benefit is increased social status. People in these countries with animals hold a higher social status than those without.

The way these eggs are often sold is at markets or coops. Sometimes it is to more wealthy individuals. In fact, occasionally chickens can be sold for so much more at market that the owners won't even eat them themselves. They'll sell the chickens and eggs to purchase cheaper protein options.

Also, remember that the necessary protein amount is so little compared to what we eat per day in the US.

Raising chickens is quite different in other countries than it is here.

 

[write2caroline]

I realized that and changed my post. It is hard to read when you hear people make statements about "filthy rich" and how they don't do anything to help. I know, in his case, it isn't true. I went back and changed my posting as a result. Unfortunately, you quoted me before the change went through.

Bill's a good guy and Everyone should raise chickens, plant gardens and commit random acts of kindness.
Caroline

 

[ejcrist]

I realized that and changed my post. It is hard to read when you hear people make statements about "filthy rich" and how they don't do anything to help. I know, in his case, it isn't true. I went back and changed my posting as a result. Unfortunately, you quoted me before the change went through.

Bill's a good guy and Everyone should raise chickens, plant gardens and commit random acts of kindness.
Caroline

Hi Caroline. I was involved in the thread from the beginning and I didn't get the impression anyone was criticizing Bill, just the idea of the chicken project. I thought it was an excellent idea and I still think it is. There's obviously some tweaks that would have to be made depending on the country he's donating to but I've been pushing chickens and gardening on people both local and abroad since as long as I can remember and I'll continue to do so. I think you're right about these things and personally I think it benefits both rich and poor but I truly believe it benefits those less fortunate substantially more of course. Chickens and other livestock have helped my extended family overseas live much better than if I gave money alone, so I know for a fact it works.

That was an interesting tidbit you gave about Bill and his father/grandfather in the early days. I didn't know that but oftentimes we find out people that excel had similar beginnings (farming, chickens, etc.). That's good to know.

 

[ejcrist]

I lived in San Jose and watched the orchards disapear.
I do think it would be better if people still had gardens.
Did you know food stamps can be used for seeds? When I worked for the Department of Children and Families in Florida that was part of our training. Food stamp funding comes from the department of agriculture budget.
I told a few people this and often got a mixed reaction.
My family comes from the Pacific North West / South East Alaska and Gardens - canning - that's how you survived.
Raising live stock, chickens, and gardening - is smart on many levels.
I suck at gardening. I keep trying. One Day I shall figure it out.
Caroline

Gosh I didn't know you could buy seeds with food stamps. That's good to know. I'd be curious to know how many people do that. I remember when I lived in MD and took my Father in Law to a local government office to get checked because he had a TB scar from exposure a long time ago, I saw a lot of posters on the various benefits available but never anything about growing your own vegetables or anything. I was disappointed because it seemed like they were peddling dependency without mentioning self sufficiency at all. It would be nice if you saw more government advertisements for things like the victory gardens back during WWII. In my opinion they're needed just as much if not more today than they were back then.

 

[Rod-T]

I realized that and changed my post.  It is hard to read when you hear people make statements about "filthy rich" and how they don't do anything to help. I know, in his case, it isn't true.  I went back and changed my posting as a result. Unfortunately, you quoted me before the change went through.  

Bill's a good guy and Everyone should raise chickens, plant gardens and commit random acts of kindness.
Caroline

Any input on his plan?

 

[Beer can]

I personally think it's a great plan. Similar has been done with goats in poor countries, milk and meat.
I'm personally not a fan of Bill Gates either for political reasons we do not need to get into. If a rich man wants to help out the worlds poorest people I'm all for it, good.
It was brought up the people won't be able to afford to feed them. What do you think people feed their chickens 50, a 100 yrs ago? Certainly not expensive grain they needed for bread. There was no layer mash/pellet, no starter/grower.
Mangle fodder beets were often fed to livestock in the winter back then, even to chickens. They foraged during the summer months.
I grew up pretty poor when I was a kid, my parents always had chickens, usually many of them.
I wouldn't recommend feeding them the way my parent's did but you do what you have to to survive.
Dad only feed them a limited amount of cracked corn, the rest of what they ate they rustled up on their own. They didn't starve or die, we always had meat and eggs, hens hatched out chicks just fine.

 

[ejcrist]

I personally think it's a great plan. Similar has been done with goats in poor countries, milk and meat.
I'm personally not a fan of Bill Gates either for political reasons we do not need to get into. If a rich man wants to help out the worlds poorest people I'm all for it, good.
It was brought up the people won't be able to afford to feed them. What do you think people feed their chickens 50, a 100 yrs ago? Certainly not expensive grain they needed for bread. There was no layer mash/pellet, no starter/grower.
Mangle fodder beets were often fed to livestock in the winter back then, even to chickens. They foraged during the summer months.
I grew up pretty poor when I was a kid, my parents always had chickens, usually many of them.
I wouldn't recommend feeding them the way my parent's did but you do what you have to to survive.
Dad only feed them a limited amount of cracked corn, the rest of what they ate they rustled up on their own. They didn't starve or die, we always had meat and eggs, hens hatched out chicks just fine.

Totally agree with ya Beer Can. Like you I don't agree with a lot of celebrity or wealthy people's politics but I say the same thing - if they want to donate to help people by all means let 'em do it. This is especially true if their donation is purely altruistic like I believe this is. I know some others probably disagree but if he was only seeking publicity there's a lot of other things he could do that would be simpler and give him much more positive publicity than this, like simply giving money to a couple of destitute individuals and then walking away. When I first read the story though it reminded me of my own philosophy of the best way to help people - I'm a firm believer in teaching people to fish and I only give fish to people that are not able to catch them on their own like senior citizens, seriously disabled people I know, etc. Everyone else I think it's better to teach to fish. There's no better reward than seeing someone's spirits lifted because they're better able to support themselves and their family. Some of my happiest memories are when I was a kid and brought fish and crabs home to my Mom that I caught myself in the creek. And if I can help someone else have that same good feeling I'll do it in a heartbeat.

I also agree that people raised chickens for many, many years before we had the high quality feeds and other things we have today. Heck, people all around the world are raising birds very successfully without these thing all around the world right now. And like I said in an earlier post, whenever you see people on TV living in undeveloped countries what's the one thing you always hear in the background - chickens. So if they were a liability why would everyone always be raising them? I think it's easy to forget just how resourceful people (and chickens) can be when they have to be. My only recommendation to Bill would be as you said to add goats and maybe pigs to the donation, but I'd stay away from cows because they're pretty resource intensive.

 

[Rod-T]

I don't think I'm being clear..
I have no problem with Mr gates..I'm sure his heart is in it. I think he just doesnt know..I think it's a good thing that he is teaching them about chickens and giving them some to start..
I just don't agree with putting false hope on a people that has so little.
He is a self made billionare.. his words are powerful.
Telling someone that only makes 1000 a year.. that they are gonna double there income. .1000 a year..off 5 hens.. without a incubator it's impossible.
Giving people a false hope like that is not fair..
Those 5 hens may never go broody.
I just think these people shouldn't be mislead.
Give them 5 hens. . But be honest they may never mutiply. . Should give you eggs to eat.. but there not gonna make you a 1000 a year

 

[ChickenChaser9]

I don't think I'm being clear..
I have no problem with Mr gates..I'm sure his heart is in it. I think he just doesnt know..I think it's a good thing that he is teaching them about chickens and giving them some to start..
I just don't agree with putting false hope on a people that has so little.
He is a self made billionare.. his words are powerful.
Telling someone that only makes 1000 a year.. that they are gonna double there income. .1000 a year..off 5 hens.. without a incubator it's impossible.
Giving people a false hope like that is not fair..
Those 5 hens may never go broody.
I just think these people shouldn't be mislead.
Give them 5 hens. . But be honest they may never mutiply. . Should give you eggs to eat.. but there not gonna make you a 1000 a year

Hope is in and of itself a purely intangible thing and so it cannot be 'given'. Sure you can try and deceive someone but it really just seems like you want to find a way to cast shade on a charitable act and are now having to start walking back your previous statements. There are other variables than purely profit in this equation. Now these individuals will have another source of food which previously why would have had to pay for. They instead no longer need to spend that money on eggs. I doubt anyone in Africa knew who Bill Gates was before this so saying somehow that his words are more powerful than anyone else's is just projecting your own experiences and American culture into a discussion where it just doesn't apply.

 

[kafernator]

I don't think I'm being clear..
I have no problem with Mr gates..I'm sure his heart is in it. I think he just doesnt know..I think it's a good thing that he is teaching them about chickens and giving them some to start..
I just don't agree with putting false hope on a people that has so little.
He is a self made billionare.. his words are powerful.
Telling someone that only makes 1000 a year.. that they are gonna double there income. .1000 a year..off 5 hens.. without a incubator it's impossible.
Giving people a false hope like that is not fair..
Those 5 hens may never go broody.
I just think these people shouldn't be mislead.
Give them 5 hens. . But be honest they may never mutiply. . Should give you eggs to eat.. but there not gonna make you a 1000 a year

The idea behind the Gates foundation is to focus on the top 5 world problems (if I recall correctly). He is very smart, and actually compiled the data to see what and where the worst world problems were. He "retired" and uses his wealth to try and solve world problems. One of the top problems was world hunger. indont believe the foundation gives cash handouts, instead they teach people how to become sufficient. So, they may give seeds, but they teach how to farm. I doubt they are going to ship chicks worldwide without teaching how they are to be used, and how to take care of them. That is the "investment" in the future of these people.