Why do you raise a Chook?

[ElizabethH]

I got into chickens on a whim. I had chickens as a child, but it had been 20some years since then. A neighbor down the road was ordering some chicks, and told me that if I wanted some we could split the order. Tada.... 6 Buff Orpinton pullets. That was a lot of fun. Three years later... one of the hens had been killed by a possum, and the girls were getting a little older, so I thought I needed a roo and maybe some babies. Oh my! The babies are really sweet! I got a free Splash Laced Red Wyandotte rooster from a friend who had about 20 roosters and no desire to eat them. He is the handsomest, sweetest rooster ever! He is my avatar if you want to see a picture. We have 6 babies from him now. Also 4 mystery tractor supply white chicks - to keep them company of course, and 24 more eggs under 2 hens right now. 12 Buff Orpington eggs, and 12 black and white silkie eggs. I really hope they hatch! I wanted a Buff O rooster, I love the Buffs so much. They are kid friendly pets. I also wanted silkies b/c they are just so darn cute. We have gone from one coop to 2 coops and runs now. If my eggs hatch we'll have to build another one, I'm sure. We love the eggs - have plenty to share when my hens aren't broody. They lay all winter long too. I am contemplating letting my husband butcher any young roos we get, except of course a Buff Orpington if we are lucky enough to get one from this hatch. I couldn't do it myself, but no one really needs a bunch of roosters running around. They fight, don't they? And the poor hens. They get enough attention as it is with one rooster.

Did someone say that Chickens are addictive?