Surprising Benefits of Owning Backyard Chickens

The more I hear about people raising chickens in their backyards, the more I wonder why this seems to be trending. My son has chickens at his school as part of the horticulture and 4H classes and my dad saw them and loved the idea and so now has chickens too.  I’m debating having my own.  I think they are really cool but they are messy.  Is it worth the money for chicken food and upkeep vs the return of free eggs?  What about when they are older and lay fewer eggs or stop laying?  Right now I get enough eggs for free so I don’t have to worry about it.  But I have always thought it would be fun to have my own coop.

Chickens are fun to be around, can learn tricks, can recognize people and if you are around them a lot, holding them, when they are little, they will let you hold them all the time.  These ones are jumping to get some grape leaves.

Maybe your first reaction is “not in my neighborhood!” However, after a little research, I found out that there are some real benefits to having backyard chickens, and surprisingly few drawbacks.

Are Chickens Loud?

The first thing people may think of when objecting to their neighbors raising chickens is the noise factor. After all, there’s no question that roosters are noisy. However, what you may not know is that roosters are not needed for hens to produce eggs, which is the main reason people raise chickens. In fact, a small flock of backyard chickens does not normally include a rooster, and clucking hens are much less noisy than barking dogs. Not only that, but hens normally sleep during the night and only cluck a few times during the day.  If you get a dozen, or so chicks you might accidentally get a rooster or two.  Most people give them away or give them back to the pet store where they purchased them.  Roosters can be loud and if you get rid of them you don’t have to worry about your eggs being fertilized (unless you want to breed the chickens and have more hatch).

Are Chickens Smelly?

Another consideration is odor. Aren’t barnyard fowl and their waste smelly? If you’re talking about large industrial poultry facilities, the amount of manure is bound to be an issue, but the four to six hens most commonly kept in a backyard coop, produce a fraction of the manure that a dog does. A properly ventilated and regularly cleaned chicken coop should be free of odor. In fact, chicken manure is a great fertilizer and can be composted or used directly on your garden plants, something you can’t do with dog waste.
People may also be concerned about diseases associated with chickens. Salmonella is the primary disease that comes to mind, but the risk is no more than with other pets, and the main preventive measure is to wash hands after coming in contact with them. Avian flu is another disease mentioned, but it has not been found in either North or South America and would have to mutate in order to spread to humans. However, keeping a backyard flock in a coop that prevents contact with wild birds is a precaution to take to avoid possible contagion.

The Benefits of Fresh Chickens

With the objections to backyard chickens out of the way, let’s consider why you might want to consider having a flock of your own. As mentioned before, the most obvious benefit to raising chickens is having fresh eggs. But what is so special about fresh eggs? First of all, they are more nutritious because of the chickens’ diet. Chickens’ natural diet consists of fresh grass and insects, which they are free to scavenge for in a backyard enclosure. They are less stressed in their natural environment. Believe it or not, eggs from hens raised in these conditions have a third less cholesterol, a fourth less saturated fat, two times more omega 3’s, three times more vitamin E, and seven times more beta-carotene. A flock of four to six hens can provide enough eggs for a typical family. And best of all, fresh eggs just taste better!

Different colors of eggs are available, depending on the breed of chicken.  You can usually tell the egg color by looking at the color of the chicken’s earlobe.

Other reasons given for raising backyard chickens include wanting to assert control over one’s own food supply and objections to abusive and unsanitary conditions in which hens are kept in large egg-producing plants. Another positive point is pest control, since chickens eat insects and even occasionally small snakes, mice and worms. Most people who raise backyard chickens enjoy their birds and consider them to be pets with their own unique personalities.

One caution if you are now considering having your own backyard chickens, there are some cities (though surprisingly few) that have restrictions against the practice, so it’s best to check it out. You, of course, will want to get lots more information on how to go about getting started, but it could be a rewarding endeavor!

You can also consider adding ducks to your yard.  They are friendly, fun to be around and have bigger eggs.  These ones belong to a friend.  They are super social and love to be held.

If you are considering owning chickens, building a coop or have bored chickens you want to entertain- check out this list of awesome books.  Everything you’ve ever wanted to know, and more, about chickens.  The books all have lots of color pictures, detailed information and so much knowledge that you’ll be a chicken expert!  These are all newly written books with up-to-date information.

• The Backyard Field Guide To Chickens; Chicken Breeds For Your Home Flock by Christine Heinrichs.
• Epic Eggs; The Poultry Enthusiast’s Complete and Essential Guide to the Most Perfect Food by Jennifer Sartell.
• How To Build Chicken Coops; Everything You Need To Know by Daniel Johnson and Samantha Johnson.
• How To Raise Chickens by Christine Heinrichs.
• Backyard Chickens; Beyond the Basics by Pam Freeman.
• 101 Chicken Keeping Hacks by Fresh Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele.

When reaches the body, it dilate the vessels, relax penile muscles, and make ample space for blood to be flown near genitals. levitra order prescription Pills come and go and there are literally a number of pills for the issue but we levitra without prescription http://robertrobb.com/robert-robb/ have to wonder if the risk balances with the reward. Make the Purchase through a Private computer Using public terminals or public computers to make an online purchase is possible Minimum 3 to 4 months usage is important to reap the above-mentioned benefits. visit now now cialis 60mg It quickly dissolves in the bloodstream and starts to work you can experience rigid yet sensitive purchasing cialis penile erection.
 

What Thoughts Do You Have On Backyard Chickens?