We have had chickens on our farm for almost 5 years. The longer we have them the more amazing we realize they truly are. Below are 7 reasons why every farm or homestead needs to have chickens.
Chickens are a relatively inexpensive investment. You can go to most any farm supply store and pick up some chicks for $1 or $2. With a 50lb bag of feed and some feeders and waters you can have a dozen chickens and enough supplies to get them to egg laying age for around $6 a chicken total investment.
Chickens make a great activity for younger children. We have three young children and the chickens are their responsibility. Our kids feed, water, and collect the eggs from them. It is a wonderful way to teach them responsibility and because the investment is very low, if things go terribly wrong you are not out a bunch of money.
Chickens convert all of our leftovers into delicious eggs. We feed our chickens all our table scraps from bread to old fruit. They love it all.
Chickens are amusing to watch. If you have ever just sat down on your front porch and watched chickens you will be amazed at how entertaining they truly are.
Chickens keep the bug population in check. If you let your chickens roam your yard, you will quickly notice that there are not as many bugs around. Chickens are amazing bug hunters.
Chicken eggs are great for bartering. We trade eggs for fruit and vegetables, we have even traded eggs for work on the farm before. You never know what an egg might get you!
Chicken eggs are easy to sell. Almost everyone uses eggs in one way or another. People will want to buy your eggs, if they are cage free, free range, no hormones, non GMO fed, ect… and to be honest, I think local farm raised eggs even taste better. I might be biased though.
I hope this will encourage anyone who has been thinking about chickens to make the leap and get some amazing chickens of your very own.
Love your farm, your chickens, and your posts! Keep them Coming.
Thank you for the encouragement!
Good article! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! upvoted, following
I agree, chickens are pretty awesome!!
There is a reason they are the basic starter livestock for beginning farmers. :D
Nope, you aren’t biased. They taste better!
Another great thing about them is that they can be kept in most cities and towns. We live at the edge of town, so we can’t have much livestock, but we can have chickens. They really step the suburban homesteading game up. Like you said, they provide us with food, insect control and they make good fertilizer for the garden!
Great points.
Chickens will be on my homestead when I get it. Great tips thanks; didn't know about the bugs! 💯🐒
Glad you enjoyed it.
I would love to keep some chickens but my 2 dogs wouldn't be happy :)
Yes dogs and chickens don't mix to well;)
Maybe one day :)
nice! seems like a great experience for the kiddos
By the looks of this post you don't eat the chickens themselves :) Very nice!!
The best farm animal in my opinion!! Resteemed!
Thank you for the resteem
i just got today my first rooster!!! so reading this post cam exactly on time! It is a tiny 5 months rooster who is called Paco.
We are in a dilemma - to kill it or not. I think roosters can not live a free range life because they are useless for the chicken society if somebody loves eggs... So you can not have the eggs with too many roosters around. So it is a matter of choice - either become vegan either kill the rooster. :))
Please tell me your opinion on what do you do with the male chickens as we are in a moral dilemma what to do with our Paco :))
ps: I love eggs :)
That is an awesome comment. You made me laugh. :) You could always try to sell him on Craigslist.
hahaha. I think on wednesday I will cut his throat! :)))
I couldn't live without our chickens and the omelettes they provide!
we have chickens also and we do breed and sell the roasters for derby :)
CHICKENS ARE THE BEST!!!! Seriously, I think I like them too much. They are frikin hoelarious with their fluffy butts and chicken antics. They are my favorite pets haha, especially because they are low maintnence and yummy pets >.<