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Eggs anyone? Eggs are in alot of our dishes that we prepare. In my household eggs are used almost everyday, this month has seen them in pancakes, various cakes, muffins, baked suppers, scrambled, fried, steamed, well you get the picture. Unless you have been living under a rock, eggs come from chickens, so why not consider keep chickens in your backyard?
The chickens you are likely to raise will eat good food, that you provide, and be generally better off than those in the industrial sector. There is organic feeds available for your hens as well, and just think they can eat your scraps and left overs too! Not to mention those bugs in the garden.
We currently have 6 chickens, 2 roosters and 4 hens, we were aiming just for hens but when we purchased them they were still very young so I guess 2 out of 6 isn’t too bad! In a city environment I think it best to just get hens as I’m sure you recall, roosters crow! Our flock is now 6 months old, and the roosters are finding their voices, at 5am! The hens are a delight, a few peeps here and there, nothing that will upset your neighbors and call down the wrath of animal control.
Our chickens enjoy our kitchen scraps and left overs like rice, my 3 year old loves his chickens, and is the primary feeder via kitchen scraps! There’s just something really country about watching them pick insects off leaves and the ground. I have even seen them jump into the air going after a mosquito! (This scores big points with me!) They are especially funny when taking a sand bath!
Why raise chickens?
- Easy and inexpensive to maintain (compared to other pets).
- Eggs that are fresh, great tasting and nutritious.
- Chemical free bug and weed controllers.
- Provide you with the worlds best fertilizer.
- Fun and friendly pets, most kids love them!
Of course, before you start:
- Do some research into your zoning rules and regulations,
- Learn how to care for the chickens before purchasing them.
- Budget accordingly. Space wise, chickens require minimal space, so a small backyard or even a rooftop garden would be suitable. Cost wise, you’ll need a predator proof coop, special water/feed containers, wire mesh for the run and chickens. Estimated investment $500.
Great resources if you are considering getting some chickens:
If you have the space, would you consider having a flock of chicken?
Cara says
We love our little flock of chickens too – so lovely to watch them keeping busy in the backyard.