Topic of the Week - What is the purpose of your flock?

[2 chiks n a roo]

Growing up we had lambs, some we ate, and some grew up to be sheep which we rode around the backyard, then they became Yummy mutton roasts.. we were never allowed chickens unless it was from the supermarket and we scoffed it down.. I've always wanted chickens, love them alive or roasted, but when I finally bought 3 lovely chickens July 2023, I thought yay, I don't have to buy eggs again..
Well, one of those lovely girls kept growing and growing and crowing.. hmm.. yup, It's A Boy.. an I love him, he's such a beautiful, cuddly, stroppy, bashful, toe rag that makes me laugh when I need to and even though he wears a collar since we're in town, he tries to belt out a full throttle crow but sounds like his exhaust pipe has a slow leak and makes him sound like he's letting out a long gassy burp..
After one of the lovely hens died, he clung to his sweet little mate and I bought an incubator.. the rest is history..
I love animals, but I've come to the conclusion, if I Only had chickens, I'd be quiet happy.. they may answer back and climb all over me for cuddles before bedtime, and eat twice as mutas they should.. they're a hell of a lot easier than the cats an dogs..

I am So addicted to my 7 girls an 1 mumma an their daddy..
As time consuming and expensive it gets, the tedious trudging through mud, adjusting their feed daily, trying to fit my normal life stuff and cats/dogs around them..
I can't imagine my life without them anymore..

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Most of my birds are bred for show. My wyandotte bantams produce many eggs, so when it is not hatching season, I have those to eat. My call ducks are entertaining, but their main purpose is showing. I don't eat their eggs as they are too valuable lol. I have a cochin that I use as a natural incubator and a OEGB that I kept after I got rid of the rest. He just hangs out in the barn, freeranging.

Does your cochin hatch calls too?

 

[Sinadrea]

Mine are pets/lawn ornaments plus egg providers but we are planning on using some of the offspring for meat in the future. When the time comes, I'm not sure if I will have it in me to kill a chicken. I wouldn't mind using one bird for show sometime!

 

[Azhtann]

Pets. My chickens are just pets to me. Something that brings me joy just looking at. My parents appreciate the eggs, as do various neighbors when I have had them to share. Right now, I only have two chickens laying out of about 14 (five of which are roosters), and it doesn't matter to me that some are not laying yet, and others are too young. I do have a sort of crazy idea for a kind of art therapy using chickens, but that idea is still in the very early planning stages, if it ever comes to fruition.

 

[Cryss]

The reasons for our chooks has been a succession of stages as we experience them.
For several years we have tried gardening with varying degrees of success. In the late summer '17 we began spreading wood chips for Back To Eden style gardening after becoming excited by the Paul Gautchi YouTube videos. I soon became aware that chickens were an integral part of Paul's system. The family has talked for years about raising chickens for eggs and meat but never seemed to have time to get serious. I was serious about starting my BTE garden and bit the bullet. I convinced the family we should get some pullets so they would be of egg laying age by spring, and buy a small coop from tractor supply just as a start. In spring we can build bigger. (DEFINITELY gotta build that bigger coop. Live n learn) The plan was to add new pullets every year and every 3 years enjoy chicken and dumplings. (Already adding 4 more after only half a year!) So it started with wanting fertilizer. The bonus of eggs became the second reason. Meat became the third.
BOOM! We have 4 chickens. Now reality hits. TS Coop? Lesson learned. Can't wait to build. Predators! I spent 3 months freezing my fingers working with wire. Water? Trudged out every 1-2hours in 4 separate Nor'easter storms to swap frozen waterers out. Health. I've learned how to take care of crop issues.
And then my son in law asks when will these be ready for him to cull. Not sure that is going to be possible unless for humane reasons.
We've discovered what we call Chicken Therapy. After a frustrating work day sit with the flock with a bit of scratch. When anxiety issues arise go talk to the gals. When you're angry just go sit and watch. Plus, nothing will make you smile quicker than discovering a freshly laid egg. And now these gals are our friends. Nope. Can't eat em. Maybe some future flock will be easier. Who am I kidding.
So to summarize, my chooks are for fertilizer, eggs, and Chicken Therapy.

My oh my how things change!!
As I’m approaching the end of my seventh year of chicken raising I look back and see how much I have learned but more importantly how much I still have to learn!
I but that larger coop, 8X12, and enlarged the run to 305sqft. I had a mean rooster that scared the daylights out of me. When he passed I was “gifted” two cockerels (that’s a whole story in itself!). Fortunately these two were perfect gentlemen. I love them so very much! Along the way I added a few purchased pullets every season or so. My goal was a colorful egg basket. I wasn’t going to do any hatching but with encouragement from a member here, and lots of mentoring I ventured into it quite successfully. I built a small coop and run inside the main run for broodys to brood. I had to quickly learn that my hesitation at processing any of my birds had to be overcome. I hatched cockerels which forced the issue. (I still can’t bring myself to do this with my old hens). As strong as my run is I have learned to battle rodents although I need to learn more about that. Persistent buggers. I’ve had some illnesses take a couple of my gals. I have a new neighbor who is raising chickens and has raised them for many years before moving next door. He has been of great help with illness, teaching me various methods and even supplying me with medication. I have in turn supplied him with fertilized eggs as he increases his flock. Now I have 21 hens. I tried selling eggs but lots of people around me sell. My neighbor works in NYC and sells his eggs when he goes to work. He has offered to include mine. I sell mine to him at my price, he takes them and makes his own profit on them. It’s a win win situation for me. I almost break even .

So, I went from wanting chicken for fertilizer, eggs, and meat, to raising for fertilizer, colorful eggs, and therapy, to fertilizer, eggs (I still like colorful but starting to consider size and volume), therapy, and meat. I’m considering trying my hand at more purposeful breeding rather than just letting my boys make the decisions . My neighbor does this so he’s very encouraging and a good mentor.
Life changes because we grow. Even at 73 I’m still growing! I’m about to enter a new phase that I’ve avoided, but I’ll save that story for another part of this forum