Why do you guys choose to have backyard chickens?

[123ChickieLou]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with dogs!! My dog does not exhibit any of these behaviors because she was properly trained from the day I got her at 8 weeks old.I did a lot of reading and learned the best ways to teach dogs to behave properly in the home. Of course there are some behaviors that are a little more challenging for us but nothing like humping or peeing on the floor!! Actually every behavior that you described is extremely preventable if you know how to care/train dogs properly. She hasn't had a potty accident since her 5th and final one at 3 months old. She gets a little over zealous in protecting the property and feels the need to let our neighbors know she is outside by barking around the permimeter (this is a new behavior that I'm working on training out of her) There is nothing like going for an off-leash hike with my dog, or playing "agility" in the yard with her She also gives us so much love everyday! She is a sweet dog!

Just because I love dogs doesnt mean I'm going to hate chickens. I am purely just not knowledgable about them at all, I've never really even seen a chicken farm except for at the larger farms. I only hear what other people say about them.. the noise/the smell/and taring up of the lawn. Plus the expense. So yes I think starting with a couple chickens and a small coop would be best. I'm looking on craigslist. But I'm still figuring out some logistics in terms of where their "run" is going to be as I dont think I want them running around the whole yard taring up the grass.

I would love to be a good farmer, and not part of the system and be able to control everything that my chickens eat. I am working on being a better organic vegetable farmer. I just run into challenges.. I seem to hate weeding. I love nature and I want to "get back to basics" but I also dont want to take on "more then I can chew". I still want to be able to spend quality time with my husband, other animals, do my workouts, all the cooking, work full time and raise a family at some point. It seems that chicken farming is a lot less work then vegetable farming tho..hahaha so from these posts I think I can handle it time wise and they do seem kinda cool. I think I would love them! Actually I think that would be a problem.. as I'd like to enjoy them in the "pot" one day but dont know if I could ever get myself to do that.

I was hoping that it would save me some money on some of the food that I buy for us though. But now I understand... and all those reasons are great reasons to have them!

I just need more experience, more knowledge...once I get into the groove of doing proper gardening, chicken raising I should be good... Training the dog will be a good dog training challenge haha! I do love training her...

I want nothing to do with the industrialized food system. I eat very little food that is a product of it.. maybe some veggies here and there and a grapefruit or two, and some olive oil. No packaged foods, CAFO meat, or CAFO eggs. Mostly organic veggies/fruit.

OK Verdict is in. I'm off to hit the books this weekend at the library.

Sorry, I didn't mean to put you off like that. You do not sound like the type of owner that makes for an ill-manered dog. (I didn't know you had a dog until I read the rest of the posts) I was only making a comparison based on my personal experiences. Not that liking chickens means you can't like dogs or vice versa, just that if the thought of either conjures up unpleasant thoughts, they might not be for you. Didn't mean to offend.

As far as the dogs, like I said, I've tried them on for size as an adult and I just couldn't get over the scars left by my parent's poor management of their dogs. We still don't discuss those dogs. I do think dogs are cute and all and I'm actually really good at training them. Let's just say that I like other people's dogs

I too do not like to weed. Last summer I forgot I even had a garden

oops. This time I'm doing potted only indoor/outdoor. Nothing is going in the ground that needs maintenance. if it's in a pot, I can handle it. I'm comfortable starting with that.

Now for eating the birds; I've not gotten that far. Only two of mine are close to the age of good eatin' and I'd only do them in bc they're extra roo's. Of eight so-called pullets, three turned out to be cockerels; I'd end up with the ideal ratio of 1:5 roo to hens. I try to desensetize myself by reading in the meat birds forum and perusing you-tube's culling how-too's. Interesting stuff.
I've gotten a wealth of information from this site alone and in a very short time.

I can't wait to see your chicken adventure

 

[BarbG]

I'm a little late jumping in on this thread but in addition to all the reasons stated above why keeping chickens is rewarding, I have also discovered their eggs are great for bartering. My yard is pretty shady which means it is next to impossible to have a vegetable garden other than a few Earthboxes that can be wheeled around in an attempt to catch the sun. I've found more than a few people who will trade vegetables for eggs and in the colder months of the year, I trade eggs for fresh-baked bread, pastries, venison, etc. The chickens are also a hoot to watch.

 

[audrey02026]

I keep chickens purely because it makes me happy. Eggs are just a bonus for me. It's actually funny because my husband is the one that wanted chickens and I said no why would we keep them. I gave in a year later and he doesn't even acknowledge them and I am addicted. Funny how things work out. I love their personalities. I find myself especially in the warmer months coming home and going straight into the yard to be with the chickens before ever going into the house to see my family. When I'm stressed or down they make me happy. As far as getting eggs cheaper I say there its so exciting when you get your first egg from your own chickens....and then when you get multiples eggs a day it's just exciting for me and I value my eggs more now.

 

[dsfrango]

Theres so much to say about them I cant even put it all here. But it goes to show with most chicken lovers. Quite a few of us are skeptical at first, but we get a few to try it out. Then it becomes a never ending addiction.....LITERALLY!!!

I started out with 4 bantams then got some guineas for ticks and now, 9months later I have 18 chickens and no guineas. Who would have thought. I started with bantams and got one EE chicken and that was the new addiction, I added 3 more standard size for the eggs. Im a 24yr old college graduate, manager of a hotel and no one knows that my pets are not cats or dogs(Wish I had a dog) but CHICKENS!! I have spent roughly 5-600$ on wood, chickens, and feed. I am slowly making that back but thats not even a concern. I enjoy them thoroughly because of their individual personalities and goofy curiosities, I have shared my stories with people and some actually go get their own. Thats always a great feeling especially when Im thanked for convincing them that owning chicken is not crazy

Eggs are delicious and fresh
Stress relieving
Great fertilizer
A bit of side profit
Hobby-something to do when your bored

 

[centrarchid]

I grew up in a setting where we had a very diversified production setting. Nearly half of our land was tied up in pasture and feilds of hay, 1/4 was used for row crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and milo and the remainder was managed for timber. The core of the operation had the barn, outbuildings and feedlots used for cattle, hogs, sheep and a production flock of hens for hatching eggs sold the local chicken hatchery. We also had a lot of game chickens that ran about our farm and those of our neighbors plus cockyards at two locations. I learned a great deal from that setup and after growing up learned those free-ranging games, especially those around the barnyard my grandfather considered culls, provided an invaluable service of cleaning up grain / feed spills and suppressed insect and rodent populations. It was those free-ranging games that provided most of the cool observations I now use at work. They were and are fun to watch and many a Saturday night was spent catching juveniles for making fried chicken for Sunday dinner. The free-rangers cost almost nothing unless they took interest in the gardens. Now that I am all grown up, it is very important for me to have my kids get to grow up in a similarly enriched environment. I can also do with the culls as I deem fit without elders jumping my boat for engaging in silliness. Also, then and now, the keeping of the free-ranging game chickens we had would not have been possible without all the hound dogs and irish setters (bird dogs to best of my knowledge) that kept the varmints and stray dogs out. It was and and simply is fun. If the birds are free ranged and you have a little acreage like I have, then you can raise meat and eggs relatively cheaply with confidence they are not get loaded down with antibiotics of typically lower cost store bought poultry. I also enjoy the worry as it keeps you on your toes.

 

[red hen in the rain]

I don't have my own chickens yet, (chicks ordered for April!) but have chicken-sat for other people. I love birds, all birds. I find chickens fascinating to watch and interact with, especially when i am working in the yard. I like the sounds they make, I like petting and holding them and gathering eggs, even though i don't actually like EATING eggs! I will not be killing any of my birds for food. I have no near neighbors, and plenty of land. Still visioning my coop and yard structures, will start building soon. Lots of predators to be aware of, lots of things to take care of. I don't leave my land very often, so letting them out and locking them up every night will not be a problem, I like routines. I like cleaning and caring for critters.

 

[chickenfever11]

where did you find the movie fresh at?
thank you!

 

[chickchicks]

i started chickens as i justwanted some

yes the start up costs are expensive and i have learnt that the cost of keepingthemis not low yet buying in bulk ish doescut down cost.

i have 5 chickens 4 hens and 1 roo ( who will be leaving soon)

i live in a normal street with neighbours all around .

the noise is fine the girls done make much noise at all unless they lay an egg and the only one is wilma who screems the others dont fuss at all - the neighbours love them and have never complained and any noise is investigated with a nock onthe doorto check the girls are ok which is very very rare i am always asking if everythign is ok and no one hassaid a bad word yet.

the smell is very minimal as long as you clean out he coop. i clean every weekend and have no problems . only worry is mice and rats i had my first one this winter and its gone in less than a month . no one inthe street minded and noone blamed the chickens they all said its cold weather and things happen .

as long as you dont slack and forget about cleaning nothing bad happens .

i find looking afterthem isless of a trouble than my dog buddy , they get let out intot he run in the moring and they put themselves to bed everynight .

the dog is finewith the chickens i have a staff lab mix who is to be honest , very nasty with any animal it comes across and will attack to kill (rescue fighting dog) but with the chickens he runs around the garden with no barriers with thim and protects and loves them- touch wood - had no problems at all he even shares his food an water bowl if he had to with no fuss .

the positives do outway the negatives as the pleasure of owning them is large and most people are fasinated by the idea and want to do it them selves or even buy a few eggs which can be very gratifying

and they will destroy your evil pricker bushes.

jope that long rant helps a little in your choice .

 

[duckinnut]

Well let me start with my chickens aren't backyards they are front yards. My house is set way back off the street and the back is way too wooded and on a slope,so front yard it is. But for me it is personal rewards based in sweat equity. There is nothing more rewarding than to look at something and say "I did that myself". Chickens were just another step in self-sustenance, I grow a garden,hunt,fish,cut and split my firewood and many other things. Basically I am part redneck from my fathers side and living in New England part Yankee and ingenuity that comes with it, also part rural old world Italian from my mothers side. So doing for myself is ingrained in my DNA. Its also a great teaching tool for my kids in as you work hard there are rewards,so far so good!

There are different reasons for everyone,some I share and some I don't. Not saying they are wrong but its whats right for you and that's all that matters. If it were up to me I would have more chickens and a couple of milk goats and maybe a steer,but that's a work in progress.(convincing DW).

 

[cloucks24]

I myself keep chickens for several different reasons. Once you have your own fresh eggs to eat and bake with you will never buy store bought eggs, there is no comparison. I am teaching my children where our food comes from and how to take care of the things that feed and nurture us by taking care of them. To take care of the cost of feed I sell some of my eggs to family and neighbors and they are amazed by seeing the chickens and watching them scratch around outside it is very entertaining to alot of people, I live on a lake where alot of city people have cottages and some never have the opportunity to see "farm animals" loving life, my girls are very happy chickens they have a huge run outside and get fresh air and sunshine everyday. Sure to get going in the beginning it is a bit costly, I believe our coop cost about $1200 to build but it is all worth it in the end the PROS by far are greater than the CONS.