Whether you are an animal lover or like eating organic food, you have probably thought about keeping chickens. Loads of people with suitable backyards and a passion for animals resort to keeping chickens in their backyard for fun, but they might not always think it through. Are chickens good pets, and what are the pros and cons of keeping backyard chickens?
Chickens have personalities and will supply you with eggs. You’ll have the perfect additives for compost while becoming educated and reducing food waste. However, their eggs don’t last forever. They are noisy and dirty. You need to protect them, costs pile up, and they are sensitive to pesticides.
Before you prepare to welcome your new flock of chickens to your urban farmstead, you may want to take the time to consider some of the pros and cons that come along with chicken keeping. Let’s look at each to help you make the best and most educated choice!
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Keeping Backyard Chickens: The Pros And Cons
Some people might consider chickens as being only farm animals. However, this is not true as it’s common for homes in cities and suburbs to also have pet chickens!
You have loads of chicken breeds to choose from, ranging in size and coloring, and they are seen as reasonably low-maintenance but fun pets!
Chickens may need space for their housing, but their diet and maintenance are pretty straightforward.
Let’s look at both the bright and dark sides of keeping backyard chickens:
The Pros Of Keeping Backyard Chickens
There are many pros to keeping chickens, and it is up to you to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons. Let’s look at some of the things chickens have to offer:
Chickens Make Unique Pets With Lots Of Personality
Many people may think that chickens have less personality than cats and dogs. Not true!
Chickens have various personalities that differ from chicken to chicken, and they have their ways of showing love and affection just like any other pet.
One of the best things about keeping chickens is having easy and immediate access to pets who has quirky personalities and habits!
You Will Have A Steady And Constant Supply Of Eggs
The biggest pro is that if you take care of your chickens, they will supply you with eggs! Backyard chickens are considered free-range, meaning their eggs are exceptionally good.
The egg yolks are bright yellow, and let’s face it, a basket of fresh eggs on your kitchen counter is a beautiful image!
Your Chickens Will Supply You With Compost
Did you know that manure from a hen house is one of the best additives you can use in your compost? You simply cannot pay for a compost additive as rich as chicken manure.
If you compost your chicken manure correctly, it will add phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen to your garden.
Chicken manure is much better than horse or cow manure; if you’re a dedicated gardener, your garden and crops will look great year round!
Chickens Are A Great Form Of Insect Control
Although many people may consider chickens herbivores, they are actually omnivores. They love snacking on worms, insects, and any bug they can get their tiny beaks on.
Depending on how many chickens you are thinking of getting, they can do wonders for your insect problems.
Your Chickens Will Educate You
Having chickens allows you to bring yourself and your family closer to the beautiful process of growing and producing food.
You may achieve this through a vegetable garden, but chickens will allow you and your children to see the food production process.
Chickens Will Allow You To Reduce Your Food Waste
Feeding only food scraps to your chickens may not provide all their nutritional needs, but it will bring some diversity into their diet while reducing the waste in your home.
Vegetables, fruits, rice, and even pasta can all be boiled into a mash and fed to your chickens if they have cooled down.
However, you have to remember that some food types are off-limits to your chickens, such as avocado, onions, meat, and eggs. Processed food or junk food should also be avoided at all costs.
Cons Of Keeping Backyard Chickens
A chicken is still an animal and a responsibility. Unfortunately, this means there will be some bad mixed with the good, and you must be ready to face some difficulties.
Let’s have a look at the downsides of owning backyard chickens:
Chickens Won’t Lay Eggs Forever
A typical hen will usually start laying eggs around six months of age, but her egg production will lessen by age three. Most hens will stop laying eggs by the age of four.
When you start keeping chickens, you shouldn’t go into it with the idea of only receiving eggs.
They are still your pets and should be provided with the same love and care, even when they can’t give you eggs anymore.
Chickens Can Be Noisy
Every time a hen lays an egg, chickens tend to sing a song, and it could be loud and horrifying! Sometimes, when there is conflict, one chicken will squawk at another.
You can just hope your neighbors don’t mind the occasional noise. Otherwise, you could run into problems!
You Need To Clean Your Chicken Coop Regularly
Chickens will poop everywhere, and they will poop a lot! The poop can accumulate very quickly and start to smell.
You can do whatever you can to lessen the smell, such as placing straw, but it’s not a permanent fix.
You need to be prepared to clean and maintain your chicken coop and wherever your chickens walk around, as it could quickly become out of hand.
You Need To Protect Chickens From Predators
If you have other pets in your home, such as cats or dogs, it would be best not to let them come near your chickens. This is especially true for dogs, as they will jump and bard like wild animals at first glance of a chicken.
They will also not hesitate to hurt or even eat your chickens, so you must be prepared to keep them separate.
Chickens Can Become Costly
Bedding, housing, and feeding are inevitable costs when you raise chickens.
This does not include investing in a chicken coop, and all these costs can quickly add up.
Chickens Are Sensitive To Weed And Insect Control
If you spray your bugs or weeds with traditional products, it could become dangerous for your chickens.
You have to be extra careful if your chicken coop is close to your vegetable garden or crops, as it could negatively impact your chickens’ health.
Conclusion
Chickens are exceptional animals, and keeping them could become extremely rewarding if you develop a dedication and passion for them. Ultimately, it’s your choice to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons and whether you are up for the great challenge!
