Why I got chickens!

[ValerieJ]

Eggs and pets. I was introduced to chickens when I rented a room from a lady who at the time had 1 (one) silkie hen, and a lamb; B.B, for Betty Boop. We got some more hens, and eventually ducks and geese, and I have been hooked ever since.

When I don't have laying hens I'll even pay the $4+ for free range eggs (yeah, I'm spoiled - big time)!

I'm with you on the free range eggs. I won't buy any except The Happy Egg Company's eggs. Seriously, if this is important to you, visit their web page, happyegg.co . They will educate you on store bought eggs. Their eggs look and taste like my own.

 

[ValerieJ]

I have chickens for eggs and entertainment and because they get me outside even on the coldest and hottest days.

 

[mowgli]

I love the bug eating.They spread mulch and pine needles better then a professional landscaper, leave fertilizer and make sure I never over sleep for work.They also eat weed seeds and pull out the weed seedlings from my flower beds while leaving the established plants alone. There in my mind is absolutely nothing not to love about chickens and turkeys. Thye have removed all of the clover that was invading my creeping phlox.They also are companions when I am gardening and comment on everything I do.They inspect any new plant or tree while appearing to discuss among themselves. I cleaned the huge coop last night and put in fresh straw and they acted offended,.They at first didn't want to go in.Has anyone else had this problem after coop cleaning? They eventually went in but they didn't like the change.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Family tradition.
Every generation of my family has had chickens.
They've served different purposes over the years. I've had them for showing, to sell for profit, for eggs for us and to sell/give away. For pure entertainment, etc etc.
Right now I'm breeding for project patterns/colors so I guess for education on genetics and entertainment.
Also to pass on the passion to the next generation. My son loves just about all aspects of them and so far has had chickens every day of his life.

 

[ValerieJ]

I cleaned the huge coop last night and put in fresh straw and they acted offended,.They at first didn't want to go in.Has anyone else had this problem after coop cleaning? They eventually went in but they didn't like the change.

Every week when I'm cleaning the coops I have a little red hen in there complaining the whole time. When I'm finished she goes around and rearranges the straw. I've learned that if I spread it too evenly, she will have it in piles. If I leave it somewhat in piles, she will do the spreading for me.

 

[Fatimetta]

I love hearing how everyone's journey began! I hope you and your husband feel better soon.

I originally begged my mom for chickens as a kid. I fell in love with them when I saw them at my dad's house and wanted a flock of my own soooo bad. She finally gave in and let me get four birds. They were just my pets with an added bonus of eggs (although at the time I didn't even like/eat eggs, but I was able to sell them to family members).

When I went to college I had to sell my birds, but now that I am graduated I couldn't take it anymore and had to get back into the chicken business! I mostly wanted them this time because I see sustainable farming in my future and of course they make the best pets.

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

I got chickens the end of July 2019.

It started with our friend offering us his coop for $100.
It is made really well. And we tweaked it some - added new doors and next year I will add bump out nest boxes with outside access.

We didn’t get them for the farm fresh eggs. Although that will be a bonus when it happens. (Still waiting)
We bought them to eat the bugs.
To forge in the woods and hopefully eat some ticks.

If your from Wisconsin you know lymes disease from ticks is all time high occurrence.

Shortly after getting the chickens just chicks then my husband got very ill.
High fevers, night sweats, aches and this went on for 4 weeks.
Even thought he was tested for lymes right away it came back negative. The right lymes conservative test was give at 3 weeks and it was positive for lymes and Anaplasmosis tick illness.
So we got the chickens to reduce tick population.

I heard we should get a different kind of chicken but all really eat bugs. I believe the Guinee hen is know for big control. Not sure if I could handle this breed with their intense sound... we got 7 chicks.

Husband got better with treatment.
My family and friends helped finish the run.

And so this is why we bought chicks.

Why did you get your chickens and when?

I'm so glad your husband is better and what a happy chicken story!
I also got my chickens this past July! I always wanted Bantams since I took care of them at neighbors' houses as a kid. I've had some challenging times these last few years and been without dogs for the first time in my life! My wonderful Australian Cattle Dogs passed after living very healthy lives up to 17 and 19 years. I decided I wasn't ready for another dog but I knew my cats and I both would enjoy chickens. And they would help me spend more time at home since I tend to work too much. So far all is going great! Mine also love bugs and I'm hoping they help me create rich compost for my garden. I also hope since they are Bantams, that I can use them to teach children a variety of things. The hardest part was rehoming my cockerels since I live in a city where they are illegal. I have terrific neighbors so I am trying to keep two boys!! Looking forward to enjoying my birds as pets (oh and maybe some eggs, too!!). We don't have ticks in downtown Portland where I live, but they are common within an hour's drive. Where I grew up it was much drier and we had lots of ticks including deer ticks that carry Lyme disease. I'm so glad to know chickens can help with ticks!

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

Exercise?! Are you trying to catch chickens? Curious here

 

[Duck_life]

Congrats, I too got guineas and chickens for the tick reason, PA is also high in numbers for Lymes and I was one of the percentage of people who got it this summer, chickens solved half of the tick problem

 

[FlyWheel]

I'm with you on the free range eggs. I won't buy any except The Happy Egg Company's eggs. Seriously, if this is important to you, visit their web page, happyegg.co . They will educate you on store bought eggs. Their eggs look and taste like my own.

I don't think we have Happy Egg here in SC, at least I've never seen them. I buy Nellie's https://www.nelliesfreerange.com/

I know about "factory" eggs. Even those that are advertised as "cage free" can still be in deplorable conditions; all crammed into a huge barn like New York commuters on a rush hour subway car.