I keep chickens so I can have chores! I know, sounds crazy. But I was born and raised on a farm. We had horses, cows, chickens and at one point ducks. Since I could walk I was always doing something outside - carrying water in the dead of winter, cleaning stalls, collecting eggs, etc. After college and starting a business I settled down and got married and bought a beautiful 12 acre farm. I got back in to showing horses, but after a few years I realized my body just couldn't do it anymore. I sold my show horse and kept a large pony and a donkey to entertain me. Even though I was just down to cleaning stalls and slinging hay my aging body gave up on that, too. Four years ago I got a divorce and ended up buying an 18 acre property along a river with mostly river bottom woods - not enough cleared land to keep horses. My life did not feel complete without some kind of chores to do. So I bought a small flock of chickens and they have been one of the most enjoyable pets I've ever owned! Nothing about raising chickens hurts my body or wears me out, thank god! I have found a chore I can handle!
Its also therapeutic to come home from a long day of work and sit in the chicken run and have my girls jump up on my lap and "tell me about their day". And is there anything more relaxing then watching them scratch around and listen to their cute little noises?! I do sell my eggs, simply because one person cannot eat that many, and I've designated my egg money as my lottery money!