How + Why Do You Keep Your Chickens/Poultry? ~ OPEN POLL~

[SulkyBantam]

So, how do you keep your poultry?
Why?

I'm curious to hear your opinions, there are so many aspects of poultry keeping, we all have our different ways...
I hope this will be an ongoing poll + discussion forum to talk about how you manage your flocks.

Have fun!

(I think this is the right section but BYT managers, please feel free to move it if necessary.)

 

[aart]

Eggs and meat.
Hatch replacement layers every year,
and also responsibly slaughter extra cockerels and older hens every year for meat.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I keep mine for Meat, Eggs, pets, & for breeding . I keep my birds happy before butchering.

The secret for winter eggs, is a good diet, & lots of love.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Meat/eggs, silly chicken antics (my layers are my pets), breeding, and the joy of raising chicks.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I originally bought my original 12 for selling eggs. (Now up to 67, was 78 earlier this year) I still sell lots of eggs, Praise the Lord, but I also love my girls and like to snuggle with chickens.

 

[drinkoj]

Wife is a pet-a-holic and for eggs.

My neighbor and I opened our big mouths talking about getting chickens for eggs. She jumped on the chance and just showed up with them at home one day, and used our words against me, so I became a chicken farmer of 11 pullets and my neighbor gets free eggs when he wants them.

 

[Sally PB]

My "other" is for getting poop for the garden.

I had no idea chickens would be so much fun. Very nice surprise.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I originally got chickens for eggs, but now many of them are pets. And I let a couple special ones live out their lives in my yard, such as 6-year-old Dana who was part of my original flock. I plan on raising and and turkeys for meat soon. I also enter some in shows. Most importantly, they are my therapy and pride.

 

[JedJackson]

I just enjoy having them around, and breeding them to make new baby chicks. And fresh, yummy eggs don't hurt a bit.

 

[oldhen2345]

I have always loved chickens- I tried having some when I was in my 20's but it didn't work out so well. I always looked forward to retirement, so I could get me some yard candy. After many changes (my husband's death, downsizing to a house in the city I work in), my brother came to live with me. He had been in prison since he was 18 and was now 58. The parole officer said he needed projects to keep him busy. Even though I was a couple of years from retirement, one of the projects was a chicken coop and chickens. He built the coop and cared for the chickens. He loved it and now lives out on a ranch and keeps lots of chickens, deer and cows and I have kept hens ever since.