Have you been thinking about raising chickens? Have you sat down at the kitchen table and started a pros and cons list? Maybe the cons list is longer than the pros list. Perhaps you are wondering if its really worth the time, effort, and cost. Well here are some of my thoughts; maybe a little different perspective will help you make up your mind.
Baby chicks are cute! Irresistible almost! They do take time and energy and, of course, money. As with anything, you reap what you sow. You will get out of the experience what you put into it.
Let’s start with the chicken coop. There is a great deal of satisfaction in creating an environment that is aesthetically pleasing and functional. Chicken coops can be whatever you want them to be. They can be the
Taj Mahal or the little red barn. You can use a plastic shed, a coop kit, or build your own design. You can use first class construction or frame your coop with wood pallets. You can make it as plain or elaborate as your pocketbook will allow. It can be a one time project or a work in progress, constantly evolving in accordance with your needs or the needs and size of your flock. I am presently revamping my coop a little, adding a little addition to house my tools and feed supplies. I am continually looking for ways to make the chicken run inviting, fun, and safe for my chickens, whether it be adding a planter with chicken friendly vegetation or a stump to hop on.
Cleaning out the chicken coop can be a never ending chore. I, however, enjoy working outdoors and would much rather spend my time cleaning out a chicken coop than I would vacuuming the living room. There are certain places where the chickens congregate or roost that the manure tends to accumulate. Shoveling out those areas frequently and then a deep clean with the changing seasons works for me and my flock. Of course a benefit here is that all this waste is good for the garden, so into the compost pile it all goes. Chicken poop is considered to be a ‘hot’ fertilizer, meaning if used fresh in large quantities, it can burn your plants. I usually let it sit in my compost pile over the winter and then come spring, till it well into the ground. What a positive difference chicken poop fertilizer has made in my garden.
Chickens give back, in fertilizer, eggs and for some, even meat. The benefit here is that you know where your chicken has been, where that egg was laid, and the conditions under which that food supply was treated. I don’t ever have to wonder how my eggs were treated before they reached my refrigerator shelf, and I don’t have to worry about them being recalled.
Need some entertainment? Head out to the chicken coop with an unusual treat in hand. Watch their antics, their crazy investigatory behavior, and their playfulness. If your wear red, they will peck on you. Wear something that sparkles in the sun, they will peck on you. Painted your toenails, they will peck on you. I have a young hen who likes to fly up on my shoulder in the mornings and help me serve breakfast. When you first step into the coop they will drop what they are doing and all run to greet you! I can pretty much count on at least one chuckle a day from my chickens.
We can learn from chickens. By watching a momma hen interact with her babies, we can witness patience and devotion. A momma hen will sacrifice her life to protect her young, and listening to her teach her chick how to hunt for and eat food is precious, especially if they find a worm! Helping to take care of a flock of chickens can be a great learning experience for kids, teaching them valuable life skills. Excess eggs can be sold, creating an opportunity to start a small business, or provide kids with a means to earn money. There is a lot to be learned from a small flock of animated birds!
They are awesome recyclers, hard workers, and assist with pest control. About the only time I throw leftover food away is if it gets lost in the fridge and grows stuff. Otherwise, the chickens enjoy it! Extra garden produce goes to the chickens. The excess zucchini supply has willing takers, chickens seem to love the stuff! At the end of gardening season, the garden gate is opened and my free range chickens go in and help clean up. In return for the goodies, they fertilize a bit and maybe even engage in a bit of garden tilling. They are great bug and insect eaters. They help to keep cucumber beetles and garden slugs in check. They also help with the fly population inherent on a farm, large or small, and a mouse is fair game!
Will you save money? That all depends on you. Chickens don’t have to be expensive. If you utilize your resources wisely, and keep your flock healthy, keeping chickens won’t put your finances in the red.
Personally, I have found a lot of joy and gratification in raising chickens for all of the reasons stated above. I’m grateful that I didn’t pass up the opportunity. I don’t think you will regret it either. For those of you who are planning on getting some chickens, what chicken questions do you wish you had the answers to?
If you are interested in starting your journey with chickens, check out our friends at Easy Coops for great chicken coop designs: https://easycoops.com/ref/106/