We got ours in an effort to be more self sufficient. The plan was to get some pullets, raise 'me until they produced eggs, eat the fresh eggs & then eat the birds when their egg production declined. Took less than a week of knowing them before I knew that our sound, logical, well thought out plan wasn't going to happen. Took me another week to work up the courage to tell the Mr that we were "running an old age home for hens now." So now we do it for chicken cuddles, companionship, pure entertainment, the joy of taking care of animals who enjoy having us around, and eggs. Oh and I'm crazy about their beautiful feathers! They groom and pull 'me out, I pick 'em up. And those fuzzy, feathers from their fluffy egg butts are just the best, aren't they? Can't imagine life without 'em!