When asked,"Why are you raising chickens?"

I get that question occasionally, and most folk have their own idea of how I'll answer before I say a word. Usually, the answers they expect have something to do with self-sufficiency, education, quirkiness or just plain old craziness. (many folk in my line of work have little to do with animals or the outdoors, unless it involves dogs,cats or a day hike). The truth is it's a bit of each of those, but mostly it's because I truly feel rewarded when I can care for and tend to animals, then see them thrive. I'm the kid who didn't just have a fish tank...I had 10 of them, and bred fish to sell to local pet stores. I was the kid who fell in love with tending to and managing a large group of animals and felt rewarded every time the group increased in number. I was also the kid who tried to increase the numbers of rare fish to help preserve them. Chickens aren't fish, but in many ways caring for them is the same as my childhood hobby.

None of that is easy to describe to other people, but sometimes they do "get it." If they don't that's OK. Besides, the eggs I bring to work usually help them to understand.

OMG!! Another fishhead.LOL I always was into animals when I was a kid but we lived in the city. We had a couple of cats (outdoor cats) I also was into fish breeding
(15 tanks). So now we have two newfoundland Dogs (lanseers) and 10 chickens. People really think Im nuts when I tell them I have chickens.I just tell them Its healthier,they are fun to watch and we all need to get back to raising our own food.
 
Well my answer to that question is a multi-pointed one.
a) A good number of my friends have them and urged me to get some.
b) Ate some backyard eggs at an event and was hooked.
c) My 3 kids are in 4H and wanted to get them for them (and me)
d)The next step in self sustenance as in addition to my ever expanding garden.
e)Its great knowing where they come from
f) Teach my kids there is rewards in sweat equity.
g) Needed a new hobby and a byproduct of it was a little business of egg merchant. Its nice to keep them fed,have eggs for the house and make a couple of bucks. Most my other hobbies cost me or have spent a small fortune. Its nice that it pays for itself and puts coffee money in your pocket.

Its funny when you tell people that you have chickens,I always get "really?". Now its a sport for me in telling people just to see their reaction not to mention a customer. I always tell them you will never eat another store bought egg if you try mine. They only people that say that they can't taste the difference are the tightwads er.... frugal people.
 
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I get that question occasionally, and most folk have their own idea of how I'll answer before I say a word. Usually, the answers they expect have something to do with self-sufficiency, education, quirkiness or just plain old craziness. (many folk in my line of work have little to do with animals or the outdoors, unless it involves dogs,cats or a day hike). The truth is it's a bit of each of those, but mostly it's because I truly feel rewarded when I can care for and tend to animals, then see them thrive. I'm the kid who didn't just have a fish tank...I had 10 of them, and bred fish to sell to local pet stores. I was the kid who fell in love with tending to and managing a large group of animals and felt rewarded every time the group increased in number. I was also the kid who tried to increase the numbers of rare fish to help preserve them. Chickens aren't fish, but in many ways caring for them is the same as my childhood hobby.

None of that is easy to describe to other people, but sometimes they do "get it." If they don't that's OK. Besides, the eggs I bring to work usually help them to understand.

can i say i like ur buckminsterfullerene avatar
 
ok, a confession....i am really raising chickens to find out 1)why they cross the road and 2)what types of roads are they most likely to cross, or c)what roads they wont cross. oh, and compared to distracted shoppers in crowded parking lots hunting for an empty space, which critter with a heartbeat will be more likely to reach their given destination without harming the immediate environment or cause a fuss over political environmental footprints/scratched/dented vehicles? after yesterdays shopping expedition, I am a firm believer that hens behind the wheel, or as crossing guards on most any roads are safer. I am determined to find out the secrets of their success. after all, how many chickens have been found flattened on roads compared to other traditional pets? (exception being fish).
 
For several reasons...

First off I wanted a pet with some sort of "benefit". I have cats and my beloved dog died and years later I still felt the void.

My son was 4 and old enough to have some say as to what kind of animal he would help care for.

It (new hobby) needed to be inexpensive and easily dismantled sold or otherwise ended.

My son chose chicks from the store and we were off! So far he seems to enjoy them too. He doesn't know that we eat them on occasion but that knowledge will come with time.
 
Well, at first I just wanted "a few chickens for eggs". Chicks arrived from Ideal in March 2009. I was amazed at how entertaining they were. I needed more. Chicks arrived from Meyer in June. By this time the whole family had discovered "chicken tv", lol! Once the eggs started appearing in the nest boxes, my husband informed me that I was never to bring home another store bought egg. In the summer of 2010 we butchered our first chicken. I have not bought a chicken from the store since then either. Now I have discovered the enjoyment and satisfaction of breeding and seeing the birds improve based on the decisions I made. I have built two home made incubators and developed a hatching addiction. Then, there is the fun of helping (i.e. "enabling") others learn about chickens. I have discovered a new hobby in chicken carpentry as I have learned to build nest boxes and, yes, I have even built a garden ark all by myself. Last but certainly not least, the smile I have on my face every time I look outside and see my "living lawn ornaments" enjoying themselves dust bathing in the garden or scratching in the yard. Silver and Gold Laced and White Cochins, Salmon, Blue, and Mahogany Faverolles, Black Copper and Wheaten Marans, Easter Eggers of many hues, not to mention the mind controlling aliens known as Silkies - I have a living rainbow to enjoy every day!
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I don't think I will ever not have chickens around!
 
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ok, a confession....i am really raising chickens to find out 1)why they cross the road and 2)what types of roads are they most likely to cross, or c)what roads they wont cross. oh, and compared to distracted shoppers in crowded parking lots hunting for an empty space, which critter with a heartbeat will be more likely to reach their given destination without harming the immediate environment or cause a fuss over political environmental footprints/scratched/dented vehicles? after yesterdays shopping expedition, I am a firm believer that hens behind the wheel, or as crossing guards on most any roads are safer. I am determined to find out the secrets of their success. after all, how many chickens have been found flattened on roads compared to other traditional pets? (exception being fish).

Eggxactly!
 
I got my first 8 chickens for these reasons, in this order:
1) free fertilizer I didn't have to lug in huge bags from a garden center, to amend the really crappy soil in my back yard.
2) bug reduction
3) maybe some eggs, too.

After having those few chickens for a while and before they started laying eggs, I discovered I would keep chickens even if they never laid eggs. Those are just a bonus for having chickens. What really counts is the pleasure of caring for and interacting with the individual personalities of each chicken. That was something I had never, ever expected.

My BP meds have been reduced since I became a collector of chickens. Truth. I do eat more eggs, and I sell some to co-workers, neighbors and friends. I cannot imagine NOT having chickens ever again. I've incubated eggs and hatched different breeds for my mixed flock. I've had broody hens hatch chicks. My very first GrandChick was hatched by Buffy the Vampire slaying Buff Orpington, who didn't even lay that egg; Rebecca EE and Carl EE my accidental rooster, were Samantha's biological parents.

And now I have ducks and geese, too.
 
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I reply: "It's less expensive and less stressful than raising children; I know, because I've tried both!"
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All my family thought I was crazy when I told them we were getting chickens. Now they are all bugging me for eggs!

We originally got them for eggs and self sufficiency - but now they are here for so many more reasons.
 

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