Why We Love Raising Chickens!

Choosing New Baby Chicks

On one of my recent, routine visits to a local agricultural chain store, I couldn’t help but notice the big sign posted at the entrance door: “Chicks are in.”

It’s an exciting time for consumers when live chicks of assorted breeds and varieties arrive to be sold to would-be backyard chicken enthusiasts and farmers alike.

And did I mention that the chicks are, undeniably, S-O-O-O cute?

So (of course), I intentionally detoured from my original shopping mission to acquire only dog food and wild birdseed and followed, instead, the loud chirping sounds coming from dozens of baby chicks located strategically near the middle of the store.

As I peered down into a large container on the floor designed to hold these lovable creatures, I spotted the first “fuzzy-wuzzies” running at a frenzied pace to and from the feeders and water supply.

Other adorable “chickies” had already settled underneath heat lamps into small fluffy heaps contentedly sleeping.

“They are so cute,” I mused, when my eyes met those of one of the store employees watching me and other would-be customers.

I imagine it’s a reaction they see a lot.

We all smiled.

“Can I interest you in some baby chicks?” he asked the customer just to the left of me. They struck up a conversation that allowed me to peruse the other bins showcasing various varieties of chicks and one container with baby ducklings.

Why We love Raising Chickens

Our “love affair” with chickens didn’t begin until my hubby and I bought our own farm after about two years of marriage.

Having been reared exclusively on a cattle farm, I was completely unfamiliar with chickens and how to raise them. To say I was a “novice” is an understatement.

But we had two things going for us: passion for this new adventure and a desire to raise heirloom breeds in a humane manner that provided us with healthy, farm fresh eggs.

If you check out my home page, you’ll see in our slide show several types represented from varieties of chickens we’ve raised: Buff and Black Orpingtons, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rock, Sex Link, Turken Naked Necks, Wyandottes, and one Golden Polish…just to name a few.

This year, we’re replenishing our flock with some new rare breeds and standard brown egg layers.

Purely from personal preference alone, I’m not a white egg fan.

We’re planning to add Cuckoo Marans because they produce these gorgeous dark chocolate eggs. We’re also acquiring several Dominiques, which although listed as a rare breed, are distinctly American and one of the favorite breeds of my great-grandparents for both eggs and meat production.

If you’ve ever thought that raising chickens might be right for you too, this post is to encourage you to just do it! 

Here’s our “short” list of why we love raising chickens:

• The quality and taste of fresh eggs — Free range eggs are unbeatable in taste, color and quality! Science supports the fact that eggs produced from truly free-range chickens are lower in cholesterol and higher in omega-3 fatty acids. In a nutshell, they’re healthier for you!We know exactly what the chickens have been fed, how the eggs have been handled, and how the girls were treated who produced the eggs (lovingly and kindly even by our Great Pyrs!).Although initially, we were only interested in raising free-range chickens primarily for the farm fresh eggs, we are also planning to raise “meat birds” for our consumption on the farm this year.

• Chickens eat bugs, insects and other critters you don’t want in your garden.  They will also eat your table scraps. Chickens naturally turn over the soil with their scratching and dusting habits to keep themselves “mite free.” Their droppings are also a good source of nitrogen.  You do have to keep a vigilant eye to make sure they don’t go crazy and start pecking into your vegetables.

• Teach your kids or grandkids the importance of taking good care of God’s creatures. It concerns me that so many children spends hours on end in front of the TV or on the latest electronic gadgets. Children need to spend time in the great outdoors and be responsible for taking care of  live animals to teach them responsibility and discipline.We also want our grandchildren to learn to be kind to all animals and learn where at least some of their food source comes from.

• Chickens are relatively easy to take care of.  Providing access to clean water and food is a must.  Granted, predators are a big menace, but once we acquired our Great Pyrs, most of our birds’ problems were solved.  The few who flew “over the fence” did meet their demise, but clipping wings is always an option if this becomes a big problem for your flock.

• Chickens are silly, quirky, beautiful, and fun! One particular hen we raised, a Rhode Island Red, I named “Chuckles” because well…she made me laugh. 
  

She was not content to be just a chicken. She wanted to be my pet.

When I went outside, Chuckles followed me around like a magnet. When I sat down in a chair, she wanted to sit on my shoulder. When I walked in the yard, she would come and peck at my bootstrings until I picked her up.

She wanted to be special. And she was…I still have a feather that belonged to her as a keepsake after she passed away.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping one or more chickens as a pet.

You may find yourself falling in love with one or more of them.

And as to those chicks I saw at the store, I haven’t purchased any…yet. 🙂