why did you start keeping chickens

[Scoutmedic]

It started out as a project for my daughter and wife, but soon I found myself right in the middle of building coops and pens. Now, I think I enjoy it more than they do.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Ohhh... Loads of reasons. Top two logical reasons were that I wanted fresh eggs that I wouldn't have to worry about samenela contamination (they just had had a huge egg recall) or hormone additives and also because I liked the idea of having a naturally regenerating food source (prepped thinking). Not to mention not feeling guilty about the hen that made the eggs.

On the emotional side, I think I needed something to nurture to distract me from a loss. I had had a traumatic pregnancy, which I lost at 5 months. I have never admitted that, not even to DH, but I think he may know anyway. He certainly 'enabled' me readily enough.

At the most I had 8 girls, all layers. I am down to three layers (two from my original three chick order), two banties for the fun of broodies, and six chicks that don't count yet. Chicken math, gotta love it!

BTW, anyone need a rooster chick or two? You know you waaaaaant ooooooooone!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

I started keeping chickens for eggs, but now I have 67 chickens and I like to show them and hatch my own chicks.

I also love holding them and watching them as they eat, play, and lay eggs because the really are funny and they are such incredible birds!

MR. MKK FARMS

 

[BellaBokBok]

For my agriculture subject with homeschool!

 

[blmack]

I have always wanted chickens. I just love them! I have been collecting chicken figurines and other chicken themed things for years. I am 55 years old and finally got my first flock in March 2012. I love to seem them roaming and pecking in my backyard. It is such a pretty sight and peaceful. Whenever I go out the back door they all come running if they see me. If not, as soon as they hear me they come looking for treats. I started with 12 pullets I got from local feed store. Only one turned out to be a rooster. I thought that was pretty good. I re-homed him because I really only wanted hens. He is happy with his new family. I have 4 buff Orpingtons, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Easter-eggers and 1 white Leghorn. The other Leghorn was the rooster. I didn't want white chickens but my grandchildren were with me at the store and talked me into 2 of the little light yellow ones. I am so glad I have her now. We call her Pansey. She is my best layer, has the sweetest temperment and, you guessed it, my favorite! I am really enjoying the eggs. I give them to friends and family and never want to eat a store bought egg again! My sweet husband built a very nice and secure hen house and outside run for them. So when I tuck them in at night I know they'll be safe.

 

[Chicks on DL]

1. Healthy eggs; and
2. Teach my children food does not have to come from the store.

I am surprised that they are such good pets as well.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

1. Healthy eggs; and
2. Teach my children food does not have to come from the store.

I am surprised that they are such good pets as well.

I think this is a really good point. It is important to know where you food comes from and what you can do yourself. I think a lot of people don't think about what they eat. I am glad your children have this experience.

 

[real_redhead]

When we moved back to my hometown I wanted to move out to the country and have a big garden and some animals. But we ended up in the city! Growing up I had a pony on my grandfathers cattle farm, I had numerous family members who had chickens as well. But my husband is a city boy and had never been around anything other than a cat or dog. A few years ago I hated my job and was very miserable. We were watching the show "How It's Made" on chickens and that was it, watching how they are treated was horrible, I didn't want to support that. As I was driving around for the job I hated I was thinking chickens! Fresh eggs, it would be good for my kids to see where some of our food comes from (I have always had a small garden) and have some responsibilty, etc. So I remember calling my husband and telling him I Was going to get some chickens and he didn't say no, he said "if it makes you happy..." I found a coop on Craigslist and then went to TSC and bought 6 chicks. One was a roo and I was in denial until he started crowing and I had to find a home for him Then we lost one to a predator and I really wanted an EE so i bought one off of CL and the chicken math started. We had them for almost a year and we had a dog attack. Only one survived and I thought I might be done. But my husband (who always says he doesn't care about them) told me no...go ahead and spend the money and build what you want. So now I have a coop that looks like an exhibit at the zoo and 11 girls!! So the story goes! I love my girls!!

 

[AnotherKim]

You ROCK! I almost cried reading your story. My son has autism, too. I am so happy to see you not only raising, chickens, but on this board. It's wonderful that your program supports you in this. Big hug. You are an inspiration!

started keeping chickens because am a permenent resident of a residential care centre and we are not allowed indoor pets.
was asked by the owner of the autism/residential care organisation am under if woud like to start incubating chicks,so we coud have pet chickens here and also on our farm [a farm for people with autism to go to].

-spent just over a year in total learning the basics with support staff,they had made the information in PECS symbols so was able to understand it better-was not allowed start doing this by the owner before had learnt as much as able to.
the organisation owner bought the incubator-a brinsea mini advance,a brinsea candler,a chicube chicken house which worked out amazing as a brooder [and woud recommend it to anyone with the money that one was got second hand].
a guy that used to walk the dog for him has a farm and has a lot of chickens,he gave six eggs in return for pushing his empty wheelbarrow back to his house as he was knackered,a fair deal had thought!
didnt know at the time he had allowed inter breeding,we lost one chuck at a week old to it and one; lorna was born with a crippled toe and is a bit loopy, kanner was also born undeveloped and seriosly ill although he is the healthiest and biggest out of them all now he has alot of agression in him when he wants.

got the cochin hatching eggs from ebay,and every single one of them was born perfectly healthy and still are [though had to cut them all out due to them being acutely shrink wrapped].

chickens are more important to self than humans.
support staff are constantly going on about being fed up that they arent laying eggs yet and keep saying they will put them in the oven if they dont do any soon,they woud get a foot up their rear and a lot worse if they touched the chucks and that isnt why have the chickens.

 

[Chicks on DL]

I consider getting chickens on of the best things I ever did. We also get milk from a farm and my kids have seen the cows milked. If we lived on a farm, we would raise all our own animals so we would have control of how they are raised and fed. Children learn so much by caring for something else other than themselves. Children these days think food comes from the store, in box, in a can, etc. Not my kids, they know and I think they are better for it.