Did you always want chickens? Why did you get them?

[TheFugitivePen]

To be honest, I had ZERO interest in chickens until my husband said he wanted to buy some so we could have fresh eggs and become food independent.

Until he said that, I was only interested in ducks. I'm still interesting in ducks ... but now I also have a chicken obsession

Once he announced that he was buying 7 Black Australorp chicks, I went into research mode. I love research. I think it's a required nerd trait.
Like a thing? RESEARCH IT.
Don't like a thing? RESEARCH IT.
Discover you're going to encounter a thing? FREAKN RESEARCH IT.

And then 8 tiny fluffballs on legs arrived and I was gone. Love at first sight, whatever you want to call it. I adored these things. I couldn't get enough of them. They made me laugh. They warmed my heart. They pooped all over my shirt and my floor and I didn't freakn care. They were too cute and funny to stay mad at. Seriously. Yellow and black cotton came to life and wanted treats and snuggles. Who could dislike that?

During my research period, I learned about this thing chicken people call "chicken math." You buy one chicken, it makes you happy, so you buy more chickens to increase happiness. "How silly," pre-chicken me said. "I will never fall prey to such thinking. I will be perfectly content with single-digit chicken numbers."

Peeps.
Guess who's begging her husband for more chicken babies this spring because she wants to collect more pretty birds and pretty eggs?
I am the chicken math.

 

[Percheron chick]

My only reason to start with chickens was to control grasshoppers without chemicals. Got tired of losing my garden every Sept to those buggers.

 

[Brooks_]

My wife wanted them. I did not. They grew on me........quickly.

 

[AntiqueB]

I always loved birds, and always wished I could pet them. My parakeets and other pet birds nixed that idea, but chickens. . .

So Covid came, and I was home, and had the time to devote to raising chicks. I absolutely love them, and can't imagine life without them. They have so many benefits: eggs, yes, but also lap-sitting, petting, following like a puppy, coming when called.

They got me through that time with their calming presence and stability, and I'm grateful for that, but I'm also so glad I got the time to finally get myself some chickens!

 

[Iluveggers]

I had never seen a chicken in real life until I was over 40. Chicken babysat for some neighbors. Fell in love. I cannot get enough. Luckily DH liked them (mainly the fresh eggs) enough to be ok w having some. We have 10. Will get a handful more next year. Deal was I will do all the caring for them since they were my project. He does the other outside work so I think that’s a fair trade!

Eventually I want a full homestead with ducks, goats, quail & a cow. Can’t do that with our current house. Maybe when I retire..:

Ducks are my true dream. But I love, love, love my chickens.

 

[DickMidnight]

My wife wanted them. I did not. They grew on me........quickly.

exactly this.

did i write this?

 

[WIchickMama]

Have always wanted them, begged DH for 3 years and he finally gave in

 

[CoopBoots]

1. Self owned food source
2. Childhood dream
3. No longer directly patronizing the commercial egg industry

 

[azurbanclucker]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...i-didnt-want-chickens-and-got-hooked.1175251/

 

[Brooks_]

begged DH for 3 years and he finally gave in

My wife eventually just ordered them and said "Well, they're ordered - figure it out.".