Many of you may be wondering if you should get chickens, especially with the skyrocket in prices. Or you may be wanting more natural egg or meat options. We have owned chickens for several years now. Here are the ups and downs we have faced while owning chickens.
THE POSITIVE SIDE
We have four older chickens but have decided to expand our flock this year. We will be introducing 9 babies to the older chickens later this spring. The birds are fun to have around. However, with homeschooling, taking care of the home and the inside pets, my husband does most of the caretaking for our chickens now. Thank goodness! He is a very good chicken owner and keeps a good watch on them.
There are many positives of having chickens. In fact, in the first book of the Bible, God gave man dominion over the animals.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
It is such a blessing to be able to own chickens and have access to our own food. It really doesn’t take a whole lot of space but there are some things you should know before you get started.
- They eat bugs!
- They bring joy.
- They give the children some responsibility.
- They eat old vegetation.
- They fertilize the grass.
- They lay eggs (obviously).
- You can sell the eggs or give them as gifts.
EGGS
Eggs are actually extremely nutritious. According to the Food Network, one large egg contains about 70 calories and only a trace amount of carbs. They are packed with vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, E, B and minerals such as biotin, iron, potassium, calcium and selenium. Vitamin D is actually highly valued right now because it fights against illness and viruses, which we have seen plenty of that lately! Eggs are a complete protein. Additionally, they also have choline and folate which are two really important nutrients for cell growth, brain health and healthy pregnancies.
There are lots of ways to use the eggs such as scrambled, hard boiled (which farm eggs don’t peel the same as store bought – add a few tablespoons of vinegar in the water to help with that), over easy, egg salad, etc. But also, they are great for baking. One absolutely delicious treat you can try is chocolate mousse, which uses a bunch of egg yolks. So if you are going to make mousse, you might as well make angel food cake so you can use the egg whites. Delicious!
FOOD
Some things you should know about your chickens. They eat a lot but don’t overfeed them. Chickens love scratch. Scratch is a corn blend that you can give them as a healthy treat. Corn and oats are great to use in the winter because it causes their bodies to generate energy which helps them stay warmer. I recommend buying your food and snacks at a local feed store that is an organic brand or natural brand that does not have a bunch of filler in it.
Recently we discovered that a popular feed we were buying at Tractor Supply was not good. Our chickens stopped laying for several months until a friend of mine warned us about the brand. After looking into it, we switched brands and the birds started laying again almost immediately after the switch.
SNACKS/SCRAPS
Chickens absolutely love snacks. One of their favorite snacks are disgusting meal worms. They also love grapes and any kind of bug that comes into the coop.
FOODS TO AVOID
There are some foods you should NOT give your chickens.
THE NEGATIVES
There are a few negatives things about having chickens. They are a responsibility and you will have to check on them EVERY day. It’s important that they have access to a continual food and water supply.
SHELTER
You will need a secure place for them to dwell. I recommend getting an automatic chicken door so you do not have to physically open and close the door for them to get into their shelter. They also all like to be in the same place and you will want to put something in the coop that they can perch on, such as a long broom handle. They like to flock together.
PREDATORS
Chickens are subject to attack from other wild and domestic animals, such as hawks, foxes, stray dogs, etc. We have an Australian Shepherd and he is very protective of the chickens. He tries to herd them which can get complicated, but overall he is helpful at keeping predators out of the yard and alerting us to danger.
ILLNESS/INJURY
Chickens can get sick or injured if they do not have a safe, clean environment. There is not really a chicken doctor around (at least not in our area), so many of the health issues or injuries you will be dealing with on your own.
A few things to have on hand are Diatomaceous Earth and Apple Cider Vinegar. Diatomaceous Earth is helpful at keeping mites out of their feathers and good for their digestive system. The Apple Cider Vinegar is good to put in their water once in a while to keep their digestive system healthy and deter parasites.
CLEANING
Chickens can be dirty. They need their coop cleaned regularly and it’s not super fun. When they are babies you also will need to clean their backside because they can get blocked up if you don’t and it can be deadly for them.
SUMMARY
I hope this gave you a little insight on having chickens. They are such a joy to have around. Definitely, do research before committing to owning any animal but I hope this answered a few questions. Blessings be upon your family and animals.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
Leave a Reply