What do you raise your chickens for?

[RUNuts]

Pet dinosaur.
I like it!

 

[HarringtonHomestead]

A few of those reasons:
Ours (kids' and mine) are for pets with benefits: eggs, and yard/garden work. My husband's are for meat, extra eggs and garden work before processing. They are raised together.

 

[HarringtonHomestead]

I raise my chickens for eggs of course. But also because it makes me feel a little closer to the country. And my son wanted a pet dinosaur! So it all works out.

Lol. My daughter is studying to be a paleontologist, and she named hers T-Rex.

 

[The_Miraculous_Pigmy_Owl]

my "other" reason is they are just cute and friendly!
here are my chicks!

 

[The_Miraculous_Pigmy_Owl]

there are double pics the names are Buffy, Annie BO, and Coco BR. Thay are the friendliest things ever!!!

 

[Juanita37]

It started to get eggs, we eat a lot of them, had a coop, etc. Now it's become a bit of an obsession.
There's worse hobbies right?

 

[Cryss]

Pets with benefits.
It didn't start that way.
As a kid my aunt and my grandmother both raised chickens. I chased them like any normal kid does but never really paid much attention. I watched my older cousins prepare a bird for dinner and listened aptly as they told stories of chickens refusing to die without their heads. Dinner was always yummy. So was breakfast of bacon and eggs.
Fast forward past parental divorce and moving to places without chickens, past my own marriage and children, past widowhood and grandchildren...to today with 6 grown grandkids, a new husband , and closer to 70 than 60.
What posessed me to start raising chickens now! Mostly, being sick of fake inferior food and, probably, a desire to return to a simpler time of life. So I garden (poorly), I can/freeze/dehydrate (also poorly), and now I raise chickens.
The thought was get a coop, get some dual purpose hens. Each year add new younger hens till the oldest are 3 years old. Then every year enjoy 3 year old Chicken and Dumplings.
Breakfast-eggs, dinner-chicken. Easy, right?
Brought home Orpingtons. Fluffy Butt, curious, sit on your lap Orpingtons.
Did I mention that I garden and preserve 'poorly'? Coop was a disaster. Run needs support before winter. And I'm absolutely unable to imagine eating Henneth Fowltrow or her 5 sisters.
Perhaps I need lots more chickens so I don't get so attached?
Oh. Yeah. Right. Chicken math.

 

[HarringtonHomestead]

Pets with benefits.
It didn't start that way.
As a kid my aunt and my grandmother both raised chickens. I chased them like any normal kid does but never really paid much attention. I watched my older cousins prepare a bird for dinner and listened aptly as they told stories of chickens refusing to die without their heads. Dinner was always yummy. So was breakfast of bacon and eggs.
Fast forward past parental divorce and moving to places without chickens, past my own marriage and children, past widowhood and grandchildren...to today with 6 grown grandkids, a new husband , and closer to 70 than 60.
What posessed me to start raising chickens now! Mostly, being sick of fake inferior food and, probably, a desire to return to a simpler time of life. So I garden (poorly), I can/freeze/dehydrate (also poorly), and now I raise chickens.
The thought was get a coop, get some dual purpose hens. Each year add new younger hens till the oldest are 3 years old. Then every year enjoy 3 year old Chicken and Dumplings.
Breakfast-eggs, dinner-chicken. Easy, right?
Brought home Orpingtons. Fluffy Butt, curious, sit on your lap Orpingtons.
Did I mention that I garden and preserve 'poorly'? Coop was a disaster. Run needs support before winter. And I'm absolutely unable to imagine eating Henneth Fowltrow or her 5 sisters.
Perhaps I need lots more chickens so I don't get so attached?
Oh. Yeah. Right. Chicken math.

"Henneth Fowltrow" *giggle* I love the chicken names on this site.

 

[ZHens]

I raise chickens as a hobby. They're not pets like my dogs or cats, but I love to watch and listen to them and I enjoy the distraction of their easy upkeep. When I'm stressed, I take a break and look for ways to improve their environment or read about feeding choices and the pros and cons of different treats, etc.. They provide a great break from the daily demands of work and family.

 

[Ra_]

For money. For eggs.
To make them as happy as possible.
My hens have a home for life.