So tell me... What got you into chickens?

[Othercat]

Until 3 months ago, I had never once even thought about raising chicks. Then in March my husband asked me what we were going to do for Easter. In an effort to get a rise out of him, I told him I was going to get some chicks to raise. To my surprise, he didn't laugh or give me "the look" or roll his eyes or anything like that. He just asked how many I wanted. Since I'm always asking for different animals and he's always saying no, I jumped on this unexpected chance to expand our family. We spent the next month (bypassing Easter) building the chicken coop and then found some Rhode Island Reds. We were going to go buy them the week after Memorial day but then on May 30 we went to the cattle sale and saw 10 of the cutest chicks ever. So of course, I had to buy them instead.

 

[ginger c.]

here's our sad little tale.... we had toyed with the idea for years about how great it would be to have chickens, but never moved forward. so last year after 2 unsuccessful and expensive rounds of IVF we came to terms that it's just going to be the 2 of us and our furry children. so what now? we're not tied down we don't and won't have the same issues that our friends with kids have. so.... let's get chickens, and we're loving every second of it!

 

[ILuvMyPetChickens]

My cousin got me into them because he got them for eggs and I fell in love with them. I got 5 for my birthday last year. I love holding them and Fluffy fell asleep in my arms a couple times it was so cute!

 

[sheaviance1]

Well, this is an interesting question, with a variety of interesting answers given so far. My reasons are a little multi-faceted.

We garden, hunt and fish for the majority of our food. Not because we have to financially, but because it is a life we enjoy, i don't have to worry about e. coli or other such nonsense, and game is much healthier for you. My hubby has some major heart issues on his side of the family. I want to keep him healthy. We have been eating game for so long that eating beef makes us ill because of the amount of grease in it.

So part of raising chickens has to do with expanding upon feeding our family.

Toss in this mix the fact that my children (with the exception of my youngest) are grown and gone. I have been a parent for my entire adult life, so the empty nest left me seriously not knowing what to do with myself. I am not a person who has a lot of friends. I have tons of acquaintances, but not many people who I am truly close to. The ones that I am, are all busy with their own lives and really do not have any free time for getting together and doing things. My Mom passed away in 2009, so I lost the absolute closest person to me at the same time that my children were spreading their wings and flying. My hubby and I are extremely close, but he wasn't ready to have ALL of my attention. I expanded gardening to include composting, and it is so "passive" that I still had too much time on my hands. You can only do so much quilting, crocheting, gardening, canning, etc. until you get a little tired of spending your time that way... I was BORED!

I have always been one who is fascinated by the way people lived without all the amenities we have at our disposal today. I have used a washboard to do my laundry at the creek, hung my clothes on the line, baked our bread, used some of the tools that Native Americans used to hoe my garden, etc.

Raising chickens just seemed like a good fit. I love them. They are each unique, have their own "personality", provide me with food, and give me something to take care of. A side benefit that I never expected was BYC. I haven't made any specific friends on here that I talk to all the time, but I have met a variety of helpful people, and have read some very interesting conversations.

 

[jhaley]

Been reading about them for a while, found 2 people at school who raise chickens, learned details from them.

 

[Dybael]

I've always wanted a pet, and my parents have never agreed. I'm the youngest of four children, and the next-youngest is ten years my elder - by the time I came around, my mom - never much of an animal fan to begin with - was thoroughly fed up with pets. It's been a running gag in our family, I've asked for basically every animal that can conceivably be domesticated. Dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, snakes, turtles, hedgehogs, anything. (Mom was willing to concede on fish, but I'm ichthyophobic. No thanks!)

Eventually I went off to college... and then came back home two months later with a bad relapse of Lyme Disease, hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism, a bunch of autoimmune problems, seizures, the works. It was a really rough time. Now it's four years later, and I'm still on medical leave trying to get my health sorted out. I'm cranky and depressed because all my friends are graduating and venturing out into the real world and I'm still sitting around at home with my life on hold. So I decided to pester the parental units for a pet again - maybe if I billed it as a "My friends are getting awesome graduation presents, don't I deserve a 'congratulations for not dying' present" thing the guilt trip would work or something. If nothing else it would annoy my mom, and annoying mom is my favorite pastime!

Well, it worked! I didn't really have any logic behind picking chickens this time - they were really just what seemed interesting at the moment. I love all animals; if I tried the gambit a week later it would have been ferrets, or a week earlier it'd have been Russian domesticated foxes (and wow that never would have worked). My chicks are four weeks old now, and providing endless entertainment with their games of chicken keep-away and the strange places they'll find to roost. Even my mom thinks they're adorable... as long as she doesn't have to touch them.

 

[theoldchick]

What got me into chickens? I like their eyes. I love those tiny little faces turning sideways to see me. I especially like the way they scratch the dirt and look for food. And they are a hoot to watch when dust bathing. I find chicken behavior fascinating and rather watch them than TV.

 

[cafarmgirl]

When I was very small my favorite book was a beautifully illustrated story book called "The Little Red Hen" which followed her thru brooding her eggs and hatching her chicks. I was hooked! When I was a little older I was thrilled to visit my great aunt who lived in a very remote area and she let me feed her flock and gather eggs each morning.

So of course once I finally lived someplace that I could have chickens I finally got my very own Little Red Hens. That was many years ago and I will always have a few of those beautiful red hens.

 

[Miyashi]

M.sue :

Wow, this a great story and you sound like a fantastic person. Sounds like you've had some major life changes. Animals are truly mans best friends. There is something tranqual about being on the back of a horse or just sitting and watching the chickens peck & forge their way about the yard. Some of the simplest things in life bring the most pleasure!!
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I find myself laughing at myself often while I'm out staring at my birds for hours. It really is relaxing....and they can be somewhat crazy....I don't really get it....but the chickens have kept me from a lot of housework since I've moved here. >_<​

 

[Miyashi]

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I agree! My tv watching time only occurs after the birds go to bed...and that's only after I've checked to make sure everyone is there and made sure everyone got a hug goodnight. xD