How have your chickens changed you?

[magikchick]

Before chickens: Drag out of bed at 6:45, go to work. Come home plop down on the couch for an hour or two. Cook supper watch tv go to bed.

After chickens: Spring up at 6am check the chicks, see how much they have grown. Feed and water them. Go out side feed and water the bantams and love on my sweet litte hen. Drag myself away to go to work.

Rush home from work. Take the chicks outside for a couple of hours. Work in my garden I have started so they can have somewhere to scratch around in. Play with my dogs, they love the chicks. Make myself go inside to cook supper. Check them one more time before I go to bed.

These little guys have really changed my life and I love it.

Marsha

 

[hencackle]

Before chickens: walking through yard without looking down; immaculately landscaped backyard; unfenced garden area; wearing nice clothes in the backyard; invitations say "come as you are"....

After: watching every step; holes in lawn & uprooted plants & flowerpots; fenced garden; wear old clothes & "outdoor shoes"; invitations say "wear OLD clothes and shoes"...and fresh eggs and hugs from chickens.
Stephanie

 

[Poison Ivy]

I didn't start out wanting chickens. My mom went on vacation to her brothers house and he had chickens. My daughter who was 3 at the time fell in love with them. My uncle tried to give her one but mom said no can do.
So after they got home all Sierra talked about was she wanted a chicken. So a dear old friend talked to Santa and one showed up at Christmas. Well let me tell you that was all it took. We didn't stop at one and have had as many as 45 at one time. We still have the original hen from Santa.
I love them and can't imagine not having them.
I love my dog and the horse but I would give them up before I would my chickens. I have 10 more babies coming in on the 22nd and I can't wait.

 

[Sport]

I find myself saying things that I never thought I would say. "Close the door or the chickens will come in!"

 

[SpottedCrow]

When you go through the drive through you get extra fries because you know the girls like them.
I time my errands around when the girls come in, so that they can stay out as long as they want.
I look forward to seeing Obelisk on the windowsill BIK BIK BIK'ing so that I know she wants something.
I unwind from work by sitting in the backyard with a cup of coffee and sometimes treats and watch them graze on the lawn.

 

[Wolf]

I actually eat eggs now! I used to hate eggs when I was a kid! (They were all store-bought, and nasty tasting!)

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
No kidding. As a matter of fact, just as I was reading this post, I had to get up and chase the chickens back out the door. The kids had left the door ajar when they went out to play with the chickens and two of them found their way in to the kitchen to partake of their favorite treat - the cat's bowl of food!

Chickens are awesome! First of all, I live in an area where it isn't common to have chickens at all. I live in a regular neighborhood, not on a farm or acreage. So, that in and of itself is a novelty in this area. Kids love to come over just to play with the chickens and we're influencing people into raising them as well.

The kids love them and are eager to care for them. They come home from school and instead of turning on the TV, they run out to the yard to play with chickens instead. I love spending time out there with them and find it relaxing and soothing to watch them scratch and peck.

They make great compost and my gardens are looking better than ever. They've begun a process in me to be greener, healthier, and more aware of my impact on this world. I'm slowing down more and stepping out of the rat race. All that "stuff" just doesn't matter to me anymore. Who knew that three little hens could do all that?

 

[michellerene]

They are making me think more & more about where my food comes from, the conditions that factory raised animals suffer & the quality of the meat I buy at the grocery store. These 6 little puffballs I brought home have no idea how lucky they are-- millions of their kind are used up and discarded like they are so much waste without a thought to the fact that they are feeling creatures-- it's so horrible. I was telling my DH last night that I wanted to find a source of locally raised beef and buy a half a steer for the freezer & also find a source for locally raised chickens that are treated humanely. 6 feed store chickens = new awareness. Whodda thunk it?

It is so much easier not to think about it when you don't have daily contact with animals that are used as a source of food.