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

[chicknmania]

Love your Chief Seattle quote

Me too!

 

[Farmer Doc]

Our's are dual purpose with a big bonus in entertainment value!

Kids love them but also know and appreciate them for the purpose they serve on our farm. Life lessons that can only be learned from being responsible for your own food. And who needs TV and tech games with chickens and new chicks a-hatching?!

 

[shadowfox]

I got chickens because it sounded fun! What's better than a pet that gives you eggs!? I am loving the eggs! 7 hens supply my family of 5, my in-laws, and the remaining eggs will be sold to a friend. I'm hoping the 4 dozen or so sold each month will pay for most of the feed.

Eventually I want to raise chickens for meat... Not too sure what my hubby will say to that one... He already thinks I'm crazy for wanting the chickens in the first place, and let's not mention that I told him I want goats! Haha! He does love having the chickens though.

Edited to add: I'm also looking forward to using the free compost. And they eat my weeds!

 

[AquaDuck]

My first thought when I saw this topic was "for mental health". So it's good to read that others have the same reason. Having several physical and mental issues, chickens and ducks to me are a comfort, a reason to get out, a purpose in life. They eat into my low income (literally), but their part in my life quality and well being superseeds that by miles.

I hatch chicks yearly "as meat", but honestly, it's mostly because I love wathing them grow. It's so rewarding. I sell the pullets, and cull the cockerels.
The chicken eggs I don't incubate or eat, I boil and give back to the chickens. There's no market for selling them here.

The ducks has turned out to be pets, they're so tame and friendly. They're also a source of income, as their eggs sell to a nice price, and I'm going to sell ducklings this year. Already have two orders down!

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Because!
Chickens=Eggs=Money=More Chickens=Amazing Pets=Happiness

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Or current flock is kept for eggs first, pets second. Prior flocks have been eggs, pet, meat.

 

[SueT]

Chickens are an adventure!

 

[aart]

Chickens are an adventure!
View attachment 1325743

FanTAStic Photo!

 

[RUNuts]

Life is an adventure!
--Peter Pan.

 

[Teila]

OK, so I thought I would address the possible reasons mentioned ….

Egg Laying?

Now that is funny! I buy eggs from the supermarket to scramble and feed to my freeloaders

A big X on that one!

Exhibition?

I guess if I could peel their broody butts out of a nest box long enough to pretty up, plonk in a crate and drive the at least 4 hour round trip to what may possibly pass as a breed show in our neck of the woods, that could be a possibility but I am going to have to lean towards a X on this one also.

Dual Purpose (meat and eggs)?

Eggs: See above! Meat: Definitely not; see below

Lawn ornaments/Pets?

Sadly, while they would make adorable lawn ornaments, they would also make a great lunch for the multitude of Hawks we have circling on a daily basis.

In summary, I have 5 x freeloading, adorable bantams who are part of the family. When we moved, our gals moved with us and got to fly on a plane. With what we spent to get them here [with the cats] we could have bought 42 new bantams but they would not have been our babies!

So, it looks like I am putting a √ on Pets!

Oh yeah and on the meat question .. that is one awfully expensive chicken dinner and a small one at that