pross/cons of chickens?

[rancher hicks]

Seriously I enjoy my chickens and taking the Granddaughter to collect eggs. I pull her around in a wagon. As you can see I snow blow paths to all the (5 ) coops. The trouble for me is there are so many breeds to choose from.
I have one friend who can't eat store bought eggs. Through a sort of accident he found he can eat mine and not get sick. He even tried Egglands Best. For some reason mine don't make him sick.

Nutritionally pasture fed chickens lay healthier eggs. This is from article I give to new customers.

In 1999, Pennsylvania pastured poultry producer Barb Gorski used a grant from the USDA’s Sustainable Ag. Research and Education program to have meat and eggs from her won birds and those of two other farmers tested for a range of nutritional factors.
The pastured eggs were found to contain 10 percent less fat, 34 percent less cholesterol, 40 percent more vitamin A and four times as much omega - 3 fatty acids compared to the standard values reported by the USDA for commercial eggs.
Numerous studies suggest that diets high in omaga - 3’s can help protect against heart disease, mitigate the effect of Type II diabetes and benefit the humans body’s immune responses.)
The pastured chickens meat (with skin on) contained 21 percent less fat, 30 percent less saturated fat and 50 percent more vitamin A than the USDA standard.

This is the paths to the coops. I enjoy the snowblowing even in the evening when it's peaceful and Lord knows this world can use more peace.

 

[Cacique500]

Subhanalah: Re: BOSS: I expect that you could sprout it as fodder, but I prefer to not take my grains/BOSS to the fodder stage. I mix the seeds up and soak over night in a 1 qt. canning jar. I then drain them, and rinse twice/day, they are ready to feed some where between day 3 and 6 depending on the temperature. Don't put more than 1/2 cup of seeds in the jar, because the initial swelling and the growth will amaze you! Yes, the BOSS that I use is just plain old bird seed. You can use a canning ring with a circle of plastic needle point canvas, or a piece of window screen, or some cheese cloth over the top for an easy rinse and drain solution. After they are drained, you'll want to put the mouth of the jar down so they can drain until the next rinsing. For a single jar, a cereal bowl works well. I often keep several jars going, and use a little tray designed to go under a window box. (I like to keep some sprouts going for my salads as well)

Also make sure you drain any sprouts very well after each rinsing. They can go "off" easily if moisture is left in so you'll also want to smell the sprouts before you feed them. We do really well sprouting in winter...but we've had a few batches go off when it's hot and humid. Try Mung Beans (chinese bean sprouts) - very easy to sprout and grows quickly.

Back on topic, the pro's definitely outweigh the cons. Our only cons are you can't go on an extended vacation (we have nobody locally that can care for them) and the worry of something 'getting' them, even though we have a really strong setup. Oh, and we haven't slept in past sunrise since we got them...They get kinda angry when you don't let them out "on time"

 

[broncomax]

I had to build a coop I maybe have $50 dollars in it I had a lot of pallets and used them help to keep the cost down. We spent $65 at tsc and got everything we needed and 7 chicks. Planning on apx. 25.00 45.00 a month in expenses. Not sure but we are new at keeping chickens.

 

[KayTee]

Oh, and we haven't slept in past sunrise since we got them...They get kinda angry when you don't let them out "on time"

Too true do they get angry! I can hear them from inside their coop, even when my double glazed windows are closed!

Hence the horrendous expense of my last birthday present - an automatic coop door opener (mine was from ChickenGuard, it cost about 160$ plus postage). Yes I know it's not essential, but it does allow for the occasional lie-in, as well as keeping the coop safer from predators if I have to leave for work very early in the morning or can't get home until after dark.

Chicken-keeping doesn't have to be expensive at all, but if you want to, you can end up spending a fortune on the 'little extras'! (That's the reason that we have birthdays and Christmas

)

 

[nannie]

I have 5 girls and 1 roo.i got them about a year ago.they all have names.yes they do give me eggs,alot of them I share with family and friends.the cost to care for them is very low.my grandchildren,named them.we all went togeather to purchase them.so I guess its a memory,we all made togeather.you simply cant put a price on that.yes I am very aware that they will not give me eggs always,however when I got them,they where never intended to be on dinner table,so I have pets that give me eggs as well as memories.they will live with me until they pass.i have raised them from babies,the same as my child ,grandchildren.they are indeed a member of the family.you can not put a price on them or their care.

 

[rancher hicks]

I do hear my roosters crow but have gotten used to it. I do have to get up to let them out but that's my excuse to not laying in bed all morning since I retired. It's a peaceful time when everyone else is asleep. It's a good time for prayer or meditation or what every you will.

I do of course go to bed earlier but thanks to the DVD player, Net Flix or the internet, I don't miss my evening shows.

Now if the rest of these eggs in the incubator would hatch, it would be a better day.

 

[Falkel]

Dude, you SHOULD get chickens.

 

[stephen k]

Getting hens might not change your life but it will definitely change theres forever!

 

[Our Roost]

The pros for us are easy. Its a way of farming to be self sustainable. We raise chickens for meat, eggs and pure enjoyment. They provide us with all of that.
The cons are numerous. First off, if you plan on raising chickens for profit, think again. The best you will most likely do is break even after you subtract feed and maintenance costs. Secondly is the maintenance, especially in the winter months. Keeping a clean coop requires an ongoing effort. Things like dander, cob webs, mites and lice and of course, chicken poop wont go away by making a wish. Dont know as anyone has mentioned this yet but predators are also a concern. The worst and most concerning issue with owning chickens is that they are addictive!!!!

 

[mejsmom1]

We have 8 sex-linked chickens hatched last May. I sell about 6-7 dozen eggs a month at $3 a dozen and buy organic feed at $20 for 50lb. The last 100lbs of feed I bought were paid for with egg money. Once the grass is up and there is free range food to eat I'll make a little more than I pay for feed so I can save up for next winter when they eat more feed and lay fewer eggs.

We use deep litter method so our shaving cost is very little. I bought 2 bags for $12 a few weeks ago and that will last all summer. No smell from the coop using deep litter.

The big expense was building the coop! I figure we break even on feed and maintenance because they buy their own food and we don't have to buy eggs at the store. We eat a lot of eggs so that drops the grocery bill a little bit every week. Plus, as people have mentioned, our eggs are way healthier and tastier!!

The only downside to them is going out of town and finding people to feed/water them! The best thing about them is they are so much fun!!!
Christina