Just wondering--what got you started into raising chickens?

[stormylady]

Ive been thinking about raising my own food, gardens, chickens anything really that would help me be more self sufficient for a couple of years now,its getting bad out there, and groceries are so high to buy, so this was a good solution for me. The fact that Im having a blast doing it and knowing that my animals and plants are chemical free and well cared for and happy is a big bonus.
Sandy
Plus since Ive had Chickens, Ive made more friends here in the neighbor hood, than I have in 20 years. Everyone whos walking by and sees them comes over to talk to me and wants to buy eggs, They like the idea of having farm fresh eggs too apparently, especially the older folks that miss having that downhome feeling again. And the nieghbor lady (older) loves to hear the roosters in the morning, she says it takes her back to her childhood and alot of good memories. And all the kids in the neighbor hood love to come and pick grass and stuff to feed the chickens! Its really funny because the roosters watch the neighbors across the street for the kids to come out and when they see them they all start crowing, and all of the chickens rush and pile up in the corner waiting for the kids to come over! LOL I always know when the kids are headed over! Also I have a big variety of chickens like , brahmas, leghorns, all colors and shapes of EEs, cochins, BOs, speckled sussex's, golden and black sexlinks, Australorpes anyway so many different colors and shapes and most of the people have never seen a cochin or EEs and they can't even believe that they are chickens especially my little Bailey (Salmon Fav.) girl, They all say the same thing "What kind of a bird it That!" along with she is sooo cute everyone wants her and my black cochin Betty Boop! Anyway the self suffiency thing makes me feel so much better, but the added bonus of getting to know people through my chickens is the best! Sorry so long, guess i got alittle crazy for a min. LOL Sandy

 

[farmin'chick]

I retired to the country and decided to fulfill my lifelong desire for chickens. I ordered a "heavy meat special", which brought me 100 baby chicks -- and before they could arrive, I rushed FARTHER out in the country and bought 16 chicks so I could make sure I wasn't going to accidentally kill the baby chicks when they came -- and then, well....I went last weekend and picked up 33 mutt pullets and next week I'm planning to bring home some breeding trios of a couple of other breeds....

 

[Sequin]

I admit it. My initial start in chickens was a spur of the moment decision. The chicks were cute, reminded me of when I was a kid at school, the idea of our own eggs sounded great, etc etc etc. 5 came home with us that day, and now we are smitten with having them. If I can help it at all, we will never be without them now. Their eggs are the BEST. And I really do adore my birds. While this scenario worked out fine for me and my family, it is not a course I go about recommending to others.

 

[desertcat]

My addiction began when we thought the world would end in Y2K. I lived on a ranch, so we knew we were set for good stuff like beef and other assorted things like milk, although milking an Angus is an interesting experience.

But I really like my eggs. So I got my first batch of BOs and EEs in the spring of 1999.

World didn't end, neighbors at ranch HQ weren't easy to deal with where my birds were concerened, so they were rehomed. I missed my chickie birds.

Ranch sold, moved to town, sort of. Still missed chickie birds, but didn't know where to put them. When 2 of my horses went over the bridge this spring, I converted one of their stalls into a coop and now am the proud mama of 1 BO, 2 BR, 1 Partridge Rock, a little brown bantam hen and one glorious black bantam roo. DH says I can have more, but I can't make up my mind what kind I really want next!

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I have been raised with livestock my whole life so naturally I love chickens. There are a few of our chickens that we grow fond of and end up naming. We have a saying here to our chickens: "If your sweet, you don't get eat"

When my DH and I got chickens it was because we wanted to raise/hunt our own food. We have been feeding ourselves for 7 years now.

As soon as we get some more of our property cleaned off we are getting cows! And I abosutly can not wait!!!!!!!!!! Not only will we have our own beef to eat but I can cut cows all day long to my little hearts content!

Seriously, I think I dream about it every night LOL

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
Oh gosh, we thought the world as we know it was going to end then also!

Catherine

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

2000 - the world did not end because computer geeks like me worked our butts off and fixed the year related bugs. You are welcome.

Hubby and I moved to the country in 1995. I wanted chickens. He said no. This spring I talked the eldest son into taking Poultry as a 4-H project. The DH is resigned to coop work, and the boy and I do the daily tasks.

Start up costs have been high, as we went with the premier electronet fencing (I've waited a long time for these birds...not going to let anything get them but me).

So far we are all very happy and the boys are growing up a lot.

Even the hubby walks out to the pasture in the morning to see that they are happy and running around. "Good Morning Chickens!"

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
Yup, that is what my husband says about y2k also. You are thanked.

Catherine

 

[AnnesChicks]

My maternal great grandfather was a farmer. One of my earliest memories (age 3ish) is trying to get an egg from under a hen who tried to peck me. My mom tells me anytime we visited he and I would go out to gather eggs.

My maternal grandparents always had a few chickens free range in her yard, I would throw scratch to them and hunt for their eggs.

So needless to say I have always been interested...for years I found myself lingering over them every year at the fair ~ our kids showed dogs.Thanks to this site I spent a lot of time reading up on them. We built a fairly inexpensive coop, bought 8 pullets from a local guy and am so enjoying my chickens. This is their first full month of laying and we had 104 eggs, oh my!

 

[tplummer]

My daughter's friend's father has a dairy farm. The friend's mother brought home some chicks that were hatched at school. One of the broiler chicks had it's leg broken by a neighbor boy who dropped it. The friend felt sorry for it and asked us if we would take it along with a sibling for friendship. We did. I decided that if we had to feed them we should have some laying hens to make it worth our while. Well, the story continues. We keep adding more and more unique breeds. Those two are now dead as that is what happens to broilers who are not going to be dinner.