I need your pros and cons of owning your backyard flock!

[Dar]

pros:

eggs
cheep therapy
pest control
neighbor deterrent (you`ll see why in cons

)
conversation topic
eating locally
great education for children and grandchildren

cons:
poop on the front porch keeps neighbors and sales men away

roosters crowing waking neighbors
worrying about predators

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Pro: fresh, healthy eggs
bug patrol
lawn mowers
entertainment
blood pressure reducers..

Cons--the cost: building/buying a SECURE coop and run

 

[hikerchick]

pros -

having an army of birds chasing me everywhere I go in my yard
watching chicken TV
their kindly egg donations
hearing them
watching them
compost fodder


cons-

always wanting more chickens

 

[StupidBird]

Con: getting up at the crack of dawn to open the pop door
cleaning the coop, fixing the coop
nagging others to move the coop/tractor because its too heavy
going out after sunset to close the pop door
Pro: getting up at the crack of dawn to open the pop door
eggs
cheep therapy, as stated elsewhere
finally meeting some neighbors (after 20 yrs...)
free fertilizer
going out after sunset to close the pop door
there are so many more pros...

 

[AK Michelle]

Pro:
watching my kids watch the eggs turn into chickens that give more eggs.
watching my kids deal with the reality that not everyone comes out alive.
learning new things I didn't know before
they're sweet
soft
forgiving
they have the cats trained

the bug population is way down this year
free fertilizer
they come when called (unlike my kids)
They win really big ribbons at the fair
Friends trade me fresh vegies and flowers for chicken litter
I can share eggs with friends and family
It soothes me to care for them
No one comes to bug me while I'm cleaning the coop
So many varied personalitites
a full freezer
nothing better than fresh eggs for breakfast and fresh chicken for dinner

Cons:
HHMMM
I'm thinking

um, I got nothin

 

[happytxchick]

Quote:

My husband calls me the crazy chicken lady. I told him I prefer PASSIONATE chicken lady...thank ya very much!

Glad to know I'm not the only one!

 

[happytxchick]

I can't think of any cons -- I even like cleaning the coop because it's pretty easy and gives me a really good reason to clean something besides the kitchen...does anyone else ever get tired of cleaning the kitchen?!

Pros:
reason to sit outside in the evenings - "Come on kids, let's go sit with the chickens!" Of course the kids never really "sit."
eggs & meat (both of which taste better than store-bought)
A GREAT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT - does anyone else feel this way?
a relatively inexpensive hobby that has tangible rewards
hearing the morning crow just makes me feel "real" and less a part of the rat-race

 

[hikerchick]

Quote:
You're supposed to clean the kitchen????

 

[mom'sfolly]

When it is time to clean the oven you move....the rest of the kitchen needs to be cleaned.

sorry for the hijack

 

[foweler]

Pros:
Watching chickens
Every day is Easter
Chicken parties in the living room just before bedtime


Cons:
Poop everywhere
worrying about them getting eaten by something
worrying about the neighbors having had enough noise and flys
Finding someone who will come over at the crack of dawn and let them out and then lock them up again at dusk when you want to leave town.
Getting yelled at by my wife when they eat or dig up her plants
poop everywhere