What do you raise your chickens for?

[BlackHackle]

What do you raise your chickens for? I'm just curious to see. If you want to, comment below why you raise them that way.

I raise mine for multiple purposes. Some flocks are sheer pets, some flocks are for eggs, some are for meat, and all are for breeding. I also exhibit most of my breeds as well

 

[PNW_Chicks]

I'm just getting started with chickens, so the "official" answer around here is Eggs. But I'm also hoping they become the gateway animal to convincing my husband we can also raise our own bacon and lamb. We are both finding the very entertaining.

 

[Mrs. K]

I took this, as what do I grow for chickens? haha - swiss chard, rotten tomatoes, peelings of most food except potatoes. Pumpkins, and squash.

haha

Exercise, gets me out of the house into the fresh air. Good for my mental health too.

I like the eggs. I live a long ways from a grocery store - 45 miles, having eggs delivered every day is wonderful!

Tried the cornish cross birds for meat this spring, and I don't think I will buy a store bird again.

Mrs K

 

[Lesjr883]

I originally got them for eggs (still have not gotten an egg), but my kids have turned them into pets.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Pets with benefits (eggs)

 

[MissChick@dee]

They are my Pet’s. My garden partners. My compost queen’s
( best poop ever) they are my food recyclers. They are my entertainment. They are my motivators to get active stay active. They are my breakfast, lunch or dinner quick fix (just the eggs y’all)
They are my T-REX faced love lumps. I’m hooked!!!

 

[KathieMc]

I wanted chickens because of the memories I had as a child at my great grandma's house. I loved seeing them scratching at the ground and chasing bugs or coming over to us looking for a handout...I didn't love the fact that she butchered them (I could never do this).
So, with this love as an adult I began raising my own beauties. My chickens/guineas all have names and are treated as pets with the added benefits given to us in eggs and relaxation as we watch them forage.
I enjoy chickens so much so, I collect vintage ceramic chickens and have them displayed in our home.

 

[happyfrenchman]

Some people dig bunkers in their backyard and store supplies for whatever it is they think will happen to society.... I keep my chickens.

 

[Jemma Rider]

They are purely my pets.
It started a year and a half ago when I visited some family friends and met their four sweet pullers. I fell in love with them, especially a small barred rock named General Tso. For almost a year I read everything I could find on chickens, and finally a friend with chickens announced that they were moving and had to sell their birds, and then I became the proud caregiver to a flock of three year old hens and a four month old cockerel. I keep them purely as pets, the eggs are nice for my baking but ultimately I don't care if they let eggs or not.

 

[Deblett]

Pets!! Just love their quirky ways, I even catch my husband being vaguely amused by them sometimes and he's even decided to build me a palace of a chicken coop this summer so I can grow my flock, currently 3, think he's becoming smitten. We don't have any other pets (other than grown up children who still seem to need us thankfully) so chickens it is, also love the eggs!