Chickens are not just petting zoo animals. They are smart, beautiful, and loving animals. Some of the best chickens are more loyal than some dogs I’ve known! Getting chickens means more than just fresh eggs and meat, it means loyal pets and companions. Getting chickens also means work. All and all though investing even in a small flock of chickens can be rewarding and profitable.
Pros of Getting Chickens
One of the main reasons people get chickens are for the fresh eggs. Fresh eggs and fresh meat. These are both excellent reasons to get chickens, but they are not the only reasons. Chickens also make excellent pets. Chickens are smart, loyal, and beautiful animals. Chickens will be companions and friends. Chickens will listen to anything you have to say. Chickens understand the difference between crying and smiling the same way a dog does. Chickens are wonderful pets but they are not without a few downsides.
Cons of Getting Chickens
Chickens require work. Chickens that are kept in confinement need to have there coop mucked out once or twice every two weeks depending on the size of the coop and number of chickens. Chickens need extra feed in winter and lots of water in the summer. Chickens need to get certain amounts of vitamins and minerals that can’t be found in most “free range” pastures. Most of these vitamins and minerals will come from commercial or homegrown feeds, but neither one is cheap. Chickens can’t be left alone when going on vacation. Predators can also become a problem. It would be almost impossible to count all the chickens I have lost to hawks alone. We have never had a problem with coyotes after we rescued our lab pit-bull mix. He always stayed up at night to bark at coyotes and trained our puppy to do the same. Probably the best defense against coyotes is a good dog but even good dogs might discreetly kill chickens them selves. I’ll talk more about predator control later. All and all chickens are wonderful animals
