Official BYC Poll: Why Do You Have Chickens?

[Ashellis]

My family is trying to be more self sufficient. After doing a garden, chickens seemed like the next step. Little did I know they would be such entertainment!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I actually don't eat eggs so I get over run constantly with them

 

[Shahnaz13]

For the fun - 6 chickens (free running) and 20 pheasants (golden, Lady Amherst and a mixture of both) are now our pets - the eggs are very welcome too

 

[Shahnaz13]

I actually don't eat eggs so I get over run constantly with them

Make the neighbours happy

 

[21hens-incharge]

My other vote.....

Well they ARE very entertaining to watch.
They are pretty good company in the yard too. They are always willing to dig a few holes to help in the garden as well.

 

[Jeddice]

My other. . .started with 1 chicken that showed up in my yard. After 3 mos she was gone. So got them as a hobby, we missed chatting with her. Got 6, 2 had to be rehomed, boys. Now 21 ladies later, and lots of rehomers. They are definitely our therapy pets.

 

[Ladies of the Forest]

At first, I fooled myself into thinking that I got three chickens to help control the out-of -control tic tuition in my area. From day one, the soft sounds coming from these three chickens made me an ardent fan. My husband of course thinks that I’m just a little bit off my rocker, but he just doesn’t understand the intricate relationship between a woman and her chickens. My two hens we’re given guinea hen eggs to hatch, and sweeter moms could not be found. They would pass the eggs back-and-forth to each other, and if one had more eggs than the other, she’d just reach under her sister and roll an egg or two to put under herself. What a world of entertainment these girls are! And how sweet and loving and family oriented, also. One morning two weeks ago I heard the soft singing of one of my hens in the coop, at a time when everyone was normally out in their pen. I looked in the door to see one of my mother hens singing softly to her guinea baby from last year, as she laid her first egg. It was like watching a birth coach, keeping her little girl safe. Don’t try to tell me that these are “just birds“ each one of them has a personality and each one of them has a soul that enriches mine.

 

[Vicker]

I ask myself this all the time. I don't even know anymore. I think it started years ago with wanting eggs and meat. I think about giving it up and then I bring home some more.

 

[gwenniet]

eggs, eggs, and more eggs! however, now we'll be raising chicks for falcon food. just got a professional grade incubator and are hoping to cut down on buying quail as falcon food.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I forgot to mention.....

The more chickens you have the crazier people think you are and the less likely they are to hang around.



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


Does that count as pest control?