Official BYC Poll: Why Do You Have Chickens?

[Mrs. K]

They get outside each day. I love to watch them. I live 45 miles from the nearest town, and I love to cook. I love to raise the food I eat, so I have a big garden, a laying flock, and meat birds that are about a week away from the freezer.

Mrs K

 

[Maggie13]

Eggs

 

[stacysfunnyfarm]

BYC has an incredible array of members that keep chickens for many different purposes. Which of the options on the poll apply to you? Select as many as apply, and if you have reasons that aren't on the list, reply below outlining them.

I have a non-profit small pet sanctuary and I take in “used pets” that include elderly hens. I have eight right now: four are over seven years old, one is ten! One of them is being medicated for a heart murmur and she lives indoors, in fact that’s Princess in my profile photo. She pecks her meds right off my hand three times a day. I also have ducks, pigeons, doves, geese, budgies and a cockatiel in sanctuary, as well as guinea pigs, a rabbit and a couple of Shetland sheep. Oh, and some TNR feral barn kitties for pest control. And a turtle.

 

[Finnie]

Just in case anyone gets an idea that I am not nuts.....I added ducks.

When my husband saw that I had added ducks, he said “You have a disease”.

 

[Chinelomna]

It all started with ducks. And the phenomena of chicken math seems to apply to ducks also. But then I saw pictures of silkies and they are so darn cute I had to have a couple.
I had to give up my ducks because they aren't legal in my town, but chickens are.
So that is the reason for my "other" vote.

 

[mamascrazy]

Big, glorious, delicious eggs. Also chickens are like potato chips: you can't just have one. I started with six chickens four years ago and this year my flock will grow to twenty-six. And that's after rehoming several roosters. I seem to have a knack for getting late blooming roosters. I'll think I'm in the clear and a month later one of the "girls" will start to crow

 

[Chroma Critters]

My 'other' is that I just didn't feel right not having chickens. Grew up with them, didn't have any for my service time and while I lived in the city, but as soon as I had even a quarter acre I bought chicks again to start over. I love my birds!

 

[Crestcrazy2]

I have a non-profit small pet sanctuary and I take in “used pets” that include elderly hens. I have eight right now: four are over seven years old, one is ten! One of them is being medicated for a heart murmur and she lives indoors, in fact that’s Princess in my profile photo. She pecks her meds right off my hand three times a day. I also have ducks, pigeons, doves, geese, budgies and a cockatiel in sanctuary, as well as guinea pigs, a rabbit and a couple of Shetland sheep. Oh, and some TNR feral barn kitties for pest control. And a turtle.

Wow that's so nice of you so many people will just kill the old hens when all they've done is give us eggs pleasure and enjoyment , when I get my own place I want to open up a bird sanctuary !

 

[Crestcrazy2]

I have chickens for eggs pets and for garden fertilizer , we have 29 chickens on our homestead and three dogs, one parakeet, 2 quail, one cat, five horses, and we're thinking about adding ducks and red golden pheasants soon !!( It's only me thinking about the red Golden's,haha)

 

[NewBoots]

Pets, eggs, meat, fertilizer, and the fun of watching them walk around scratching, pecking, making their little comments. Oh, and the soft contented peeps that the young ones make as they settle for the night under their heat plates. Oh, and the chase game when someone has a choice treat they don't want to share. Oh, and the amazing confidence of the tiniest ones crowding around my feet as I walk among them.