why did you start keeping chickens

[ketcham]

I needed something around to keep me busy.My dad said ,you should get chickens...Took 2 years for me to do so.Last year I 18 at RKO here in Wooster Ohio..Raised them in a double wash sink in the basement,,,them moved them to the garage...Had a moveable pen to put them in during the day till they got big.Night,back in the sink..Built a coop...They got used to it and I'd lock'em up at night...It was fun seeing the flock run around the yard...Boy did they ruin my flower beds though...Kicked out all the mulch...Dad said they needed to be in a pen,,not running around...Well I went away for a weekend and put lots of food and water in the pen...I had done this a couple of times.Locked them up.Well came home to find that raccoons got into the pen[back ventialion] and killed all of them..Raccoon hunt time..35 raccons in one year.I miss my first flock,,,great bunch!!! Learned a lot...This year I have 15[started with 18] One rooster thats was mean as you know what,And 2 girls that stayed out late...got killed..Fox got the rooster,,but he was going anyways..The 2 girls,,,not sure..Now have 1 x 2 wire around the coop...No problems so far..Get between 12 and 15 eggs a day...My main egg buyer has slowed down from 5 doz a week..She bakes breads and cakes...I hope business picks up !!!! Yes they are fun to watch !!!! When I relax sometimes I take some bread down and watch them..I gonna feel sorry for them this winter,,,Kevin

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I'm a naturalist so eating foods with chemicals, Animals that suffer, and land devistation, Are against what I beleive in, So comming from a family of farmers, I know how important it is to do my part to feed my family and friends and the local food shelves with good healthy foods. There is nothing better then to wake up to a roosters crow instead of the annoying sound of an alarm clock, to go outside and take in a lung full of country air instead of car exhaust, to run your hand through feather and fur, and to watch and hear the daily community of animals playing and forageing. Chicken's are the foundation of a farm. the beauty of all the colors and styles of chickens are breathtaking and who can resist a baby chicken?

THANK YOU!

 

[HenFriend]

My sister and I saw some in a pet store when I was about 12 years old and we persuaded mum to let us have some. Both of us still love chickens now, nearly 30 years later

 

[Whiber02]

Well, We didnt get them , inside my barn we had an empty cage, and when we were on a vacation, a friend just filled that cage with chicks!!

 

[iluvpeeps]

I got chickens because it was my last year in elementary school and me and my best friend love animals. I had always wanted chickens and we had to do a project for the science fair. So, we hatched chickens! One of my friends eggs hatched but then it died but eight out of the 9 eggs I thought were going to hatch did. I never have to buy eggs anymore. I hatched some more chickens early this year and I'm expecting more in less than two weeks thanks to my tiny hen, Fry.

 

[yankiedoodle girl]

Have been begging DH for about 4 years about getting chickens. When I was 13 my great aunt Jessie had chickens and I absolutely loved them. So after researching and several people telling me how dirty and disgusting chickens are, my Hubby said "No Way!!!" I kept at him about how great chickens were and how much fun it would be for the kids, and me. Still.....NO, NO,NO! So I changed tactics. We scrapped our lawnmowers last Christmas to have money for the kids gifts, so no lawnmower this year. Our neighbors and my dad have been helping to mow. My plan is to fence in half of our yard and get some goats to keep the grass down, and cut our yard maintenance time in half. Milk goats would be even better. So after 4 months of going on about the goats, he sneaks off one morning and comes home with an old rabbit hutch and 4 chickens. *LOVE,LOVE,LOVE* So I guess he was thinking that the chickens were the less of the two evils.....LOL One died, and we got two more, the neighbor dog ate one, so now back to 4, but thinking about getting 3 more in the spring. I still want to get a couple of goats/lambs, but I thought I would give him a little break for now. The kids love them, especially Suzy our ISA, she got a Fabulous Chicken Makeover this summer and was sporting some neon blue nailpolish......Ya know, it's not that easy to get them to cooperate when youwant to paint their toenails.....

 

[little farmer]

I paint my chickens' toenails too!! (I'm a kid) So here's my story:
So my Dad built this development (it's VERY nice) and this one guy there got four chickens. Now in the homeowners' association it says 'NO farm animals' but he got a gigantic coop and four chickens to go along with it anyway. So my Dad asks him 'Bill, you're not allowed to have chickens here.' He responded 'Well, I thought it would go with the 18th century look.' (The houses look like 18th century ones) So this guy is going on vacation so my Dad says that we'll babysit the chickens while they're away and that they'll talk it over when they get back. So the guy goes away and comes back and is REALLY pushing to have his chickens back. So my Dad is saying 'No, no, no. I've had chickens when I was growing up and they smell!' So after a while this guy doesn't want them anymore. So here we are stuck with four chickens and a huge coop. So my Dad wants to sell them. But NO WAY was I going to let four chickens go. I knew that it wasn't really gonna work, but I decided to give it a try. I wanted to convince my Dad to let me keep them for pets and eggs. So I eventually did, and voila l have four chickens!! But, the guy wanted his coop back, so we had to give it back. So, we built one (it was supposed to be make shift but ended up as permanent) and they've had it four the almost two years we've had them. But, this winter we're moving 'em into our springhouse. (it's not a real one just is storage for bikes and feed) So now I have four adorable chickens and lovely eggs from my girls.

 

[NickyPick]

I wanted fly control. I have had horses for 35 years and lately the flies have just been out of control. I tried the fly predators for 3 years, but the expense was killing me and I never did see much reduction in flies. So, I got 15 chicks about a year and a half ago. By September last year, they were laying and seemed to be old enough, so I cut a pop door in their run and started letting them out in the horse pens every afternoon. Of course, going into winter, we didn't see much change, but come spring -whoa! Used to be every horse had to wear a fly mask plus fly spray. This past summer - not a one. Oh, we still see flies, but in such a small number, it's not really a bother. The best part? The egg sales have completely paid for the chickens monthly feed and treats, making them my cheapest pets.
I've got plans now, when I get my house built and move out to my 18 acres next to the Sam Houston National Forest - more chickens. Maybe some goats or sheep. And a garden. I'm really interested in this self sufficient business.

 

[warmheart]

One day I went to make my honey an omlette. He looked down at the yolks, and said "Those are pale yolks." I'd bought organic, "free-range" supermarket eggs. I remembered the eggs from the farm when I was a kid, and realized I'd become accustomed to the pale supermarket yolks as "normal." Then we discussed the supermarket eggs' lack of FLAVOR! We've been enjoying organic produce from our garden, and decided to add "maybe 2 tiny bantam hens." Hours Googling gorgeous, adorable chicken breeds and reading about sweet, fun personalities made us both remember keeping hens as youngsters.

This past weekend, we sprang 1 Golden Comet from a production facility, and a Barred Rock and Partridge Rock from a farm. So far, only the Golden Comet lets me pet her. I'm in LOVE!!

 

[mistressangyl]

love the stories and really love my babies lol