Is Keeping Chickens Even Worth It
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Date: 2025-09-28
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Comments and reviews: 20
jeaniedeveau
I had them as a kid, old style. They gave eggs until they didn't and then they were dinner so I grew up with the waste not mentality. I had a chlorine allergy my whole life so when I moved out and couldn't find fresh eggs I tried store eggs. Nope, definitely had allergies because they are washed in a chlorine solution so I was getting micro amounts in the egg. I decided after too many years of not eating eggs of getting my own hens again. 4 years in and I've only lost 3 of 15. 1 egg bound and couldn't save her, 1 got spooked and flew right into the roosting bar and busted her crop from inside and 1 fell off a roosting bar while sleeping and because she has the corner spot she broke her neck on the way down. I only know the 2 because I have cameras in the coop.
7 months ago I got some new day old girls because I knew the day was coming they would stop laying and that day is here. Some might disagree but the old girls all but 1 are hitting the dinner table. I'm keeping my Australorp because she is my little friend. She would rather be pet and sit on my lap than eat yummy treats and is a truly sweet bird. She also won't let anyone peck at my tattoos. Yes chicken's do that when they see color thinking it's food or something. She is going to be the little girls older guild.
All of this is the reason I have never names my chickens. I also chose the new breed by temperament and it's held true. Lavender orpingtons and definitely family friendly and docile. Best Chicken I've ever had. My Australorp is very much like them and I think it's because they are in they are both in the orpington family.
My absolute favorite eggs though are duck. If I could get away with a noisy duck in the city I'd totally have a few.
And my city slicker husband had never had a fresh egg before I got mine and he refuses to eat a store egg. He says he can taste the difference. He also can taste if they eat a lot of herbs the few days before In the told. He will randomly ask me if I fed them something different.
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I had them as a kid, old style. They gave eggs until they didn't and then they were dinner so I grew up with the waste not mentality. I had a chlorine allergy my whole life so when I moved out and couldn't find fresh eggs I tried store eggs. Nope, definitely had allergies because they are washed in a chlorine solution so I was getting micro amounts in the egg. I decided after too many years of not eating eggs of getting my own hens again. 4 years in and I've only lost 3 of 15. 1 egg bound and couldn't save her, 1 got spooked and flew right into the roosting bar and busted her crop from inside and 1 fell off a roosting bar while sleeping and because she has the corner spot she broke her neck on the way down. I only know the 2 because I have cameras in the coop.
7 months ago I got some new day old girls because I knew the day was coming they would stop laying and that day is here. Some might disagree but the old girls all but 1 are hitting the dinner table. I'm keeping my Australorp because she is my little friend. She would rather be pet and sit on my lap than eat yummy treats and is a truly sweet bird. She also won't let anyone peck at my tattoos. Yes chicken's do that when they see color thinking it's food or something. She is going to be the little girls older guild.
All of this is the reason I have never names my chickens. I also chose the new breed by temperament and it's held true. Lavender orpingtons and definitely family friendly and docile. Best Chicken I've ever had. My Australorp is very much like them and I think it's because they are in they are both in the orpington family.
My absolute favorite eggs though are duck. If I could get away with a noisy duck in the city I'd totally have a few.
And my city slicker husband had never had a fresh egg before I got mine and he refuses to eat a store egg. He says he can taste the difference. He also can taste if they eat a lot of herbs the few days before In the told. He will randomly ask me if I fed them something different.
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CLUCKinAmerica
As a backyard chicken keeper, gardener, and budding content creator (pun intended, I want to thank you for everything I've learned from you! My husband and I look forward to watching your new videos together every week. We love the Garden Planner and had great success with the seed we bought from Botanical Interests and Epic Seed this year. the Homemade Pickles cucumbers were the stars of the garden and pantry! We have 12 chickens. we got eight 10-day old chicks last spring and four 1-day old chicks this spring. We've been very fortunate to have few illnesses and no losses! We had two cases of sour crop (one also had impacted crop, one case of vent gleet with bacterial infection, and one chick last year with coccidiosis, all making full recoveries knocks on wood and sends positive vibes out to the universe. Despite their daily relocation of the river rock around the deck posts, dancing in their fermented mash, and constant excavation projects around the yard, they are a the best therapy and a constant joy. They are so intelligent and each have fun, quirky personalities to match their ridiculous names like Morticia Eggams (Fibro Easter Egger, Frenchie Mohawkian (Crested Cream Legbar, Queenie Greenstein (Green Queen, and Sable Brown-Barnes (Barnevelder. Although I have been cut off from getting more chicks next spring due to chicken math errors last year, I was wondering what breed you both lost Thanks for everything you do, stay EPIC!
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As a backyard chicken keeper, gardener, and budding content creator (pun intended, I want to thank you for everything I've learned from you! My husband and I look forward to watching your new videos together every week. We love the Garden Planner and had great success with the seed we bought from Botanical Interests and Epic Seed this year. the Homemade Pickles cucumbers were the stars of the garden and pantry! We have 12 chickens. we got eight 10-day old chicks last spring and four 1-day old chicks this spring. We've been very fortunate to have few illnesses and no losses! We had two cases of sour crop (one also had impacted crop, one case of vent gleet with bacterial infection, and one chick last year with coccidiosis, all making full recoveries knocks on wood and sends positive vibes out to the universe. Despite their daily relocation of the river rock around the deck posts, dancing in their fermented mash, and constant excavation projects around the yard, they are a the best therapy and a constant joy. They are so intelligent and each have fun, quirky personalities to match their ridiculous names like Morticia Eggams (Fibro Easter Egger, Frenchie Mohawkian (Crested Cream Legbar, Queenie Greenstein (Green Queen, and Sable Brown-Barnes (Barnevelder. Although I have been cut off from getting more chicks next spring due to chicken math errors last year, I was wondering what breed you both lost Thanks for everything you do, stay EPIC!
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jennilong95350
We love having chickens and even though we lost a couple this summer we will get more and we will still name them. What I will not do again is get production egg-layers from a hatchery. We got Red Stars from McMurray hatchery and they were amazing, providing us with SO many eggs. .. downside is that now at a little over 3 years later one has died (it's like she stopped laying and lost her will/purpose to live) and the other Red Star has completely stopped laying and we now have a retirement home for chickens I guess! Our two Orpingtons are still going strong, though. Their moody-broodiness drives me crazy but they are still gorgeous and still consistently giving us 3 eggs/week which is totally adequate for our household of 3.
I work for the local community college and last fall they were selling off their 90-week old hens to make room for new pullets for their poultry classes. I purchased three for $2 each (they paid for themselves in three days) - again, production breed (Lohmann Browns) and after losing one this summer the remaining two are laying super poor quality eggs, indicating they're pretty much done.
If I could make a recommendation to a small family - DON'T get production breeds - get reliable, longer-producing breeds like Orpingtons or Wyandotte's (but not the gold-laced, apparently. Crazy chicken lady signing off.
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We love having chickens and even though we lost a couple this summer we will get more and we will still name them. What I will not do again is get production egg-layers from a hatchery. We got Red Stars from McMurray hatchery and they were amazing, providing us with SO many eggs. .. downside is that now at a little over 3 years later one has died (it's like she stopped laying and lost her will/purpose to live) and the other Red Star has completely stopped laying and we now have a retirement home for chickens I guess! Our two Orpingtons are still going strong, though. Their moody-broodiness drives me crazy but they are still gorgeous and still consistently giving us 3 eggs/week which is totally adequate for our household of 3.
I work for the local community college and last fall they were selling off their 90-week old hens to make room for new pullets for their poultry classes. I purchased three for $2 each (they paid for themselves in three days) - again, production breed (Lohmann Browns) and after losing one this summer the remaining two are laying super poor quality eggs, indicating they're pretty much done.
If I could make a recommendation to a small family - DON'T get production breeds - get reliable, longer-producing breeds like Orpingtons or Wyandotte's (but not the gold-laced, apparently. Crazy chicken lady signing off.
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brittnystone
Ive had them for a year and a half and I feel like we r always having problems this year. We had 6 starting out and my husband roped me in to 3 more this spring. 1 ended up being a rooster and he insisted it would be fine and we should keep him (he never does the research, I do) he now regrets it but is too attached to get rid of him but he's also a very good rooster but he traumatized hubby lol. The big issue a as one of the other hens of that same batch had a genetic issue and it was the one hubby picked out. She is beautiful but has severe bone issues. Shes been to the vet and always has a zest for lift but has 2 wonky legs and a sideways spine (kinda like chicken scoliosis) and so i had to pretty much build a whole extra area for her and make sure shes ok. She is now living it up in her own apartment but now the last hen of the batch is NOT integrating into the flock. She is being bullied big time so has been by herself. Now we r trying to make a bigger area for the one with the issues and hope the get along well. If not I have ALOT more building to do. Hasn't been a fun season for us but I do enjoy watching them
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Ive had them for a year and a half and I feel like we r always having problems this year. We had 6 starting out and my husband roped me in to 3 more this spring. 1 ended up being a rooster and he insisted it would be fine and we should keep him (he never does the research, I do) he now regrets it but is too attached to get rid of him but he's also a very good rooster but he traumatized hubby lol. The big issue a as one of the other hens of that same batch had a genetic issue and it was the one hubby picked out. She is beautiful but has severe bone issues. Shes been to the vet and always has a zest for lift but has 2 wonky legs and a sideways spine (kinda like chicken scoliosis) and so i had to pretty much build a whole extra area for her and make sure shes ok. She is now living it up in her own apartment but now the last hen of the batch is NOT integrating into the flock. She is being bullied big time so has been by herself. Now we r trying to make a bigger area for the one with the issues and hope the get along well. If not I have ALOT more building to do. Hasn't been a fun season for us but I do enjoy watching them
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DebraGorsline
I have had my first four hens almost 7 years. Barred Rock, Australorp, Wyandotte and Rhode Island. I added 11 more these past few years. First to die was Ginger the RIR. She had heat stroke at 3. I cried. The next hen I lost was a 6-month-old Olive egger that had started laying. She slammed her body into the coop while trying to fly. The third a Black Star swallowed a yellow jacket and swelled up her crop and throat. I only found out when I tipped her after she had been acting sick for a few hours. Water and a wasp came out of her crop. She died that day. In July the Barred Rock passed. I think she had a tumor. One side of her bum was really swollen and she started to waddle. Each time they die, it's very sad. Name or no name, you still love them. Pecking order and integrating new chicks with the old hens is the worst. The Midnight call was a warning of a bird flying over or something moving. Mine will do that every time a crow or pigeon flies over. Thank you for sharing your feelings about your hens. It's nice to hear your perspectives.
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I have had my first four hens almost 7 years. Barred Rock, Australorp, Wyandotte and Rhode Island. I added 11 more these past few years. First to die was Ginger the RIR. She had heat stroke at 3. I cried. The next hen I lost was a 6-month-old Olive egger that had started laying. She slammed her body into the coop while trying to fly. The third a Black Star swallowed a yellow jacket and swelled up her crop and throat. I only found out when I tipped her after she had been acting sick for a few hours. Water and a wasp came out of her crop. She died that day. In July the Barred Rock passed. I think she had a tumor. One side of her bum was really swollen and she started to waddle. Each time they die, it's very sad. Name or no name, you still love them. Pecking order and integrating new chicks with the old hens is the worst. The Midnight call was a warning of a bird flying over or something moving. Mine will do that every time a crow or pigeon flies over. Thank you for sharing your feelings about your hens. It's nice to hear your perspectives.
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marybeam96
I’m on my third batch of 6 chickens. I bought the last batch as a political statement. I keep them until they stop laying, then harvest. Predators and rats were a really big problem here in the swamps of south east Florida. Over time, I’ve learned to overcome them. The predators are still bad enough that I can’t let them free range, but they have a 10x20 roofed run, so they do ok. I named one batch Fried, Stewed, Baked, Potpie, Noodles, and Fricasse. They were all Rhode Island Reds and I couldn’t tell them apart, anyway. This last batch, I put different colored bands on their ankles. When one gets broodie, I can tell her apart to catch her and put her in the broodie cage. I like to watch them. I put an ear of sweet corn on a string tied to a rafter. They play chicken tetherball. Entertained hens don’t peck each other. It also helps if they were raised together. So long as I can care for them, I’ll have chickens.
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I’m on my third batch of 6 chickens. I bought the last batch as a political statement. I keep them until they stop laying, then harvest. Predators and rats were a really big problem here in the swamps of south east Florida. Over time, I’ve learned to overcome them. The predators are still bad enough that I can’t let them free range, but they have a 10x20 roofed run, so they do ok. I named one batch Fried, Stewed, Baked, Potpie, Noodles, and Fricasse. They were all Rhode Island Reds and I couldn’t tell them apart, anyway. This last batch, I put different colored bands on their ankles. When one gets broodie, I can tell her apart to catch her and put her in the broodie cage. I like to watch them. I put an ear of sweet corn on a string tied to a rafter. They play chicken tetherball. Entertained hens don’t peck each other. It also helps if they were raised together. So long as I can care for them, I’ll have chickens.
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necrokittie2291
i think quail are better, you don't get quite as attached because you need so many of them to lay eggs that there are too many of them to get attached to any one of them. plus they are pretty quiet, the males crow isn't loud enough to wake anyone up and doesn't sound like a chicken. having males means you can incubate the eggs and produce as much quail meat as you want even in the suburbs. they aren't banned from any cities and most hoas don't even have rules on them. far more people can get quail then chickens. you don't have to deal witha run either. you just got check them daily to top of their feed and water and collect eggs and every couple of months to a year if you have a single story hutch style cage, you don't have to remove their poop from under their cage until you need to. i suggest 6 months before spring planting season so the droppings have time to compost.
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i think quail are better, you don't get quite as attached because you need so many of them to lay eggs that there are too many of them to get attached to any one of them. plus they are pretty quiet, the males crow isn't loud enough to wake anyone up and doesn't sound like a chicken. having males means you can incubate the eggs and produce as much quail meat as you want even in the suburbs. they aren't banned from any cities and most hoas don't even have rules on them. far more people can get quail then chickens. you don't have to deal witha run either. you just got check them daily to top of their feed and water and collect eggs and every couple of months to a year if you have a single story hutch style cage, you don't have to remove their poop from under their cage until you need to. i suggest 6 months before spring planting season so the droppings have time to compost.
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PossumIsland
That's weird. are you sure it was an opossum I love them and they are NOT known for being predators. Farmers have stigmatized them beyond their actual impact. They almost exclusively forage and may have wanted scraps in the pen, gotten attacked by Rufio and it didn't go well. unless other rodents are a problem, leave a few melon rinds for your friendly local possums and enjoy a tick free yard! Maybe read up on the little guys, my farmer grandpa 100% taught me a ton of incorrect stuff about them. They can certainly defend themselves and make some very threatening displays, but that's all it is 99% of the time. They are not violent animals and only hunt if they're starving. And they go for mice, rats, and bugs first.
Love the video, though. We kept chickens when I was little and it's a life goal to have them again. Just gotta get out of the apartment life!
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That's weird. are you sure it was an opossum I love them and they are NOT known for being predators. Farmers have stigmatized them beyond their actual impact. They almost exclusively forage and may have wanted scraps in the pen, gotten attacked by Rufio and it didn't go well. unless other rodents are a problem, leave a few melon rinds for your friendly local possums and enjoy a tick free yard! Maybe read up on the little guys, my farmer grandpa 100% taught me a ton of incorrect stuff about them. They can certainly defend themselves and make some very threatening displays, but that's all it is 99% of the time. They are not violent animals and only hunt if they're starving. And they go for mice, rats, and bugs first.
Love the video, though. We kept chickens when I was little and it's a life goal to have them again. Just gotta get out of the apartment life!
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renenay4390
I want chickens but decided on housing quail first bc they are a bit easier, smaller foot print, but still could get some of the not so fun things like chickens. I did have to deal with poppy butt. One a few months in, couldn't hold her head up and I tried everything to help her and then decided to cull her bc she was just getting worse. Unfortunately we found out when they started laying that my oldest daughter was allergic to the eggs. that was no fun the way we found out. But we loved those little girls so I just gave the eggs away, used their bedding (organic soil) for the garden and kept them until they started dying off of old age. We started burying (literally typed out planting them lol like the were seeds) around our loquat tree and that tree never fruited for us in the many years we had it but it exploded with HUGE loquats this year.
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I want chickens but decided on housing quail first bc they are a bit easier, smaller foot print, but still could get some of the not so fun things like chickens. I did have to deal with poppy butt. One a few months in, couldn't hold her head up and I tried everything to help her and then decided to cull her bc she was just getting worse. Unfortunately we found out when they started laying that my oldest daughter was allergic to the eggs. that was no fun the way we found out. But we loved those little girls so I just gave the eggs away, used their bedding (organic soil) for the garden and kept them until they started dying off of old age. We started burying (literally typed out planting them lol like the were seeds) around our loquat tree and that tree never fruited for us in the many years we had it but it exploded with HUGE loquats this year.
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shanteltice1541
I had chickens as a kid. I wanted to own some but didn't have the space. Moved and bought a place. The previous owners had chickens and guineas. They grabbed as many of the chickens they could catch, but a hen, roaster and 3 guineas were left behind. We ran to the store and grabbed food the day we moved in. They were free ranged but it was March. Not much to eat. We lossed 2 guineas and the roaster. The hen had 3 babies. So we needed to keep them safe. Made a coop fast. Then my husband bought me 9 more hen chicks 3 each different breeds. And a baby guinea. I didn't know he was getting them. He wanted them to be the same age as the other chicks so they would kinda grow up and hopefully get along better. We've had own ups and downs with them. The hen that had chicks. They turned out to be a hen and 2 roasters
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I had chickens as a kid. I wanted to own some but didn't have the space. Moved and bought a place. The previous owners had chickens and guineas. They grabbed as many of the chickens they could catch, but a hen, roaster and 3 guineas were left behind. We ran to the store and grabbed food the day we moved in. They were free ranged but it was March. Not much to eat. We lossed 2 guineas and the roaster. The hen had 3 babies. So we needed to keep them safe. Made a coop fast. Then my husband bought me 9 more hen chicks 3 each different breeds. And a baby guinea. I didn't know he was getting them. He wanted them to be the same age as the other chicks so they would kinda grow up and hopefully get along better. We've had own ups and downs with them. The hen that had chicks. They turned out to be a hen and 2 roasters
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garfieldnate
Having chickens was one of the defining experiences of my childhood, looking back. We lived in the suburbs and they were pets. In my grandparents' neighborhood in Sacramento, chickens and ducks were left to roam the neighborhood and you could see them roosting in the trees at night. We got chickens as pets and named them after our grandmas and then book characters we liked. We buried them under the apple tree out back, which probably helped the harvests! When the first one died, its face was crawling with lice, which as I kid I didn't know to avoid. I ended up getting chicken lice I know lice is common enough, but I haven't heard of anyone else getting chicken lice, which is a different species. My older sister collected one for her required insect collection for biology class.
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Having chickens was one of the defining experiences of my childhood, looking back. We lived in the suburbs and they were pets. In my grandparents' neighborhood in Sacramento, chickens and ducks were left to roam the neighborhood and you could see them roosting in the trees at night. We got chickens as pets and named them after our grandmas and then book characters we liked. We buried them under the apple tree out back, which probably helped the harvests! When the first one died, its face was crawling with lice, which as I kid I didn't know to avoid. I ended up getting chicken lice I know lice is common enough, but I haven't heard of anyone else getting chicken lice, which is a different species. My older sister collected one for her required insect collection for biology class.
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sharontahir9694
The downside I didn't hear you mention was rats. My neighbor has chickens and after a year or so, the rate started moving in. They dug tunnels under and into the run and started a colony. The next thing you know I had rats in my garden eating my veggies, then all of the other neighbors started complaining about how many rats were in the neighborhood. I looked over in the run one morning and there were about a dozen rats running around in the run with the chickens. He actually was as affected by it as the rest of us because the chickens were closer to our houses and yards than They were to his house. He did finally watch to a mobile check corn tractor which meant the rate couldn't dig permanent homes in their run. We v happy got rid of them.
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The downside I didn't hear you mention was rats. My neighbor has chickens and after a year or so, the rate started moving in. They dug tunnels under and into the run and started a colony. The next thing you know I had rats in my garden eating my veggies, then all of the other neighbors started complaining about how many rats were in the neighborhood. I looked over in the run one morning and there were about a dozen rats running around in the run with the chickens. He actually was as affected by it as the rest of us because the chickens were closer to our houses and yards than They were to his house. He did finally watch to a mobile check corn tractor which meant the rate couldn't dig permanent homes in their run. We v happy got rid of them.
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coldspring624
I think when all is said and done the most important aspect of chickens as with any animal is dedication to caring for them without quitting. Animals are not inanimate objects. My birds free range and without question can be a pain. Every morning letting them out and every evening locking them in. Every day providing fresh water and feed be it a warm summer day or blizzard with numbing cold and 4 ft of snow. They will get into anything and everything given a chance and leave calling cards along the way. My birds free ranging opens them up to predation something I and they live with. In the end I watch my birds feed and forage along fence rows and in pastures. my birds have a good life. And that is what having birds is really all about.
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I think when all is said and done the most important aspect of chickens as with any animal is dedication to caring for them without quitting. Animals are not inanimate objects. My birds free range and without question can be a pain. Every morning letting them out and every evening locking them in. Every day providing fresh water and feed be it a warm summer day or blizzard with numbing cold and 4 ft of snow. They will get into anything and everything given a chance and leave calling cards along the way. My birds free ranging opens them up to predation something I and they live with. In the end I watch my birds feed and forage along fence rows and in pastures. my birds have a good life. And that is what having birds is really all about.
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Powerfamilygarden
I got my chickens in February. I just started getting eggs last week of July. I don’t find myself as attached to them as I do my dogs. I think having in the back of my mind that they are a functioning part of my garden helps detach myself. I did name them. In the future I probably won’t as I go forward in this journey. I wanted the food security part as well as the quicker composting part of having chickens. I don’t want to use synthetic fertilizer in my garden so having the compost and chicken poop fits the needs I have. I’m trying to decide what I will do when they no longer lay eggs. The second function is still there however space is limited. I have a couple of years before I need to settle on that plan.
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I got my chickens in February. I just started getting eggs last week of July. I don’t find myself as attached to them as I do my dogs. I think having in the back of my mind that they are a functioning part of my garden helps detach myself. I did name them. In the future I probably won’t as I go forward in this journey. I wanted the food security part as well as the quicker composting part of having chickens. I don’t want to use synthetic fertilizer in my garden so having the compost and chicken poop fits the needs I have. I’m trying to decide what I will do when they no longer lay eggs. The second function is still there however space is limited. I have a couple of years before I need to settle on that plan.
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squashit339
I can't even tell you how many times I've sobbed over my chickens. In the 9 years I've had them I've lost probably 70-80. We had one year that was bad and I had a necropsy done. I have MG and Merek's in my flock. It probably came from a wild bird or possibly from a juvenile chicken I brought into the flock. I have a closed flock and never give them away. We don't really have any problems from it anymore. I try to keep them healthy. We had probably 40 chickens at one time so losing 70-80 in 9 years isn't that much. This includes tiny chicks that randomly die. I still have one single OG girl. She's 9 and still trucking along. I love her so much. It will be a sad day when she goes
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I can't even tell you how many times I've sobbed over my chickens. In the 9 years I've had them I've lost probably 70-80. We had one year that was bad and I had a necropsy done. I have MG and Merek's in my flock. It probably came from a wild bird or possibly from a juvenile chicken I brought into the flock. I have a closed flock and never give them away. We don't really have any problems from it anymore. I try to keep them healthy. We had probably 40 chickens at one time so losing 70-80 in 9 years isn't that much. This includes tiny chicks that randomly die. I still have one single OG girl. She's 9 and still trucking along. I love her so much. It will be a sad day when she goes
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DS-mw8yu
I grew up on a farm, so there were always 50 laying hens, then raised about 2000 butchering chickens, so watching you guys, it's like watching two kids playing!
The city I live in now allows up to 5 hens by application only! They have a quota on how many homes have birds! So with 5, I wouldn't bother, too time-consuming, plus winter here is 7 months with long stretches of -30C Temps, to cold to mess with chickens. Heat lamps and everything, no thanks!
Eggs are 4. 00dz here, I'll buy them!
If I lived in the country and was going to have chickens again, it would have to be 30 layers and raise about another 30 slaughter ones, then it makes sense!
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I grew up on a farm, so there were always 50 laying hens, then raised about 2000 butchering chickens, so watching you guys, it's like watching two kids playing!
The city I live in now allows up to 5 hens by application only! They have a quota on how many homes have birds! So with 5, I wouldn't bother, too time-consuming, plus winter here is 7 months with long stretches of -30C Temps, to cold to mess with chickens. Heat lamps and everything, no thanks!
Eggs are 4. 00dz here, I'll buy them!
If I lived in the country and was going to have chickens again, it would have to be 30 layers and raise about another 30 slaughter ones, then it makes sense!
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valsptsd814
I have had hens for five years. I have had as many as 20, and as few as 5. I went through several roosters, five in one clutch. My first loss was to one of my dogs. That was hard. I didn’t want to be mad at a dog for doing a dog thing. I didn’t have a top on their aviary. Which is now pretty solid.
Don’t think eggs are cheaper. Feeding them is expensive. Especially when you go through different equipment to keep them safe and healthy. If you think about it in terms of what you want for your land, it can be cost effective. I live on sand, which helps to keep them clean. And I need the fertilizer. That is where I find them cost effective.
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I have had hens for five years. I have had as many as 20, and as few as 5. I went through several roosters, five in one clutch. My first loss was to one of my dogs. That was hard. I didn’t want to be mad at a dog for doing a dog thing. I didn’t have a top on their aviary. Which is now pretty solid.
Don’t think eggs are cheaper. Feeding them is expensive. Especially when you go through different equipment to keep them safe and healthy. If you think about it in terms of what you want for your land, it can be cost effective. I live on sand, which helps to keep them clean. And I need the fertilizer. That is where I find them cost effective.
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cattlebreeder-l7m
i had a flock of 20 chickens which i had raised from chicks. there were not many issues at first and my chickens free range all over my property. Two years ago my flock was attacked by a predator and I think it was a wild cat as they are pretty common in my area. I lost half of my flock to the attack. One of my relatives suggested me about a guardian dog for my farm. My partner helped me finding a dog but the breeder suggested having two as the they are outdoor dogs, having a partner keeps them happy. This way we ended up with two happy guard dogs and a happy flock of chickens who can still free range without the fear of getting hunted.
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i had a flock of 20 chickens which i had raised from chicks. there were not many issues at first and my chickens free range all over my property. Two years ago my flock was attacked by a predator and I think it was a wild cat as they are pretty common in my area. I lost half of my flock to the attack. One of my relatives suggested me about a guardian dog for my farm. My partner helped me finding a dog but the breeder suggested having two as the they are outdoor dogs, having a partner keeps them happy. This way we ended up with two happy guard dogs and a happy flock of chickens who can still free range without the fear of getting hunted.
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justmare111
Our family had a couple black and white bantam hens when I was a kid in the 60s - Baac Baac and Henny Penny. Something got one of them, which was heartbreaking. Then someone gave us a couple Rhode Island Reds. They must've been older because I don't remember them being around for very long.
I would LOVE to have chickens. I always loved their chatter. However, I feed the wildlife that comes to my backyard (opossums, raccoons, skunks, squirrels - and birds, of course) and there are stray cats around, so I know it's not a good situation for chickens and won't put them at risk. I'm probably too old at this point anyway.
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Our family had a couple black and white bantam hens when I was a kid in the 60s - Baac Baac and Henny Penny. Something got one of them, which was heartbreaking. Then someone gave us a couple Rhode Island Reds. They must've been older because I don't remember them being around for very long.
I would LOVE to have chickens. I always loved their chatter. However, I feed the wildlife that comes to my backyard (opossums, raccoons, skunks, squirrels - and birds, of course) and there are stray cats around, so I know it's not a good situation for chickens and won't put them at risk. I'm probably too old at this point anyway.
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dortemadsen2166
I got hens 15 years ago. The first batch consisted of 4 hens but we lost one as a chick. We then added 3 more that we got as day old chicks that we added under a broody hen. She raised them wonderfully but they were for obvious reasons never as pet like as the first ones. They died over the next decade like yours for a variety of reasons but the last surviving hen was a Black Australorp that was part of the first batch. Such a sweet girl and she kept laying like a trooper well into her teens.
Now I am building a better coop (slowly) and I am looking forward to having silly birds again.
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I got hens 15 years ago. The first batch consisted of 4 hens but we lost one as a chick. We then added 3 more that we got as day old chicks that we added under a broody hen. She raised them wonderfully but they were for obvious reasons never as pet like as the first ones. They died over the next decade like yours for a variety of reasons but the last surviving hen was a Black Australorp that was part of the first batch. Such a sweet girl and she kept laying like a trooper well into her teens.
Now I am building a better coop (slowly) and I am looking forward to having silly birds again.
reply
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