The Benefits to Raising Backyard Chickens
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Introduction
Who would of known that raising backyard chickens would of became a quick rising trend for the modern urban family back in 2020?
Covid 2019 Pandemic brought people to back track a bit in this fast moving world we live in and remember the good old farming days when families had no option but to raise their own farm animals and vegetable garden in order to provide food for their family’s table.
So, why are people going back to raising backyard chickens? Truth behold that there are many benefits for it! Let’s get into it!
Enjoy farm fresh eggs daily!
If you could have fresh eggs every day, rather than the 2 month old eggs from the grocery store, which would you choose?
Egg producers have a total of 30 days to process eggs and get them to your local grocery stores. Grocery stores also get 30 days from the time they receive the eggs to sell them to consumers like you. So the math clearly states that you are not buying the freshest eggs!
A fresher egg is plump and thick. As it ages, it starts to lose moisture through the shell and becoming runny and flat. Raising your own backyard chickens guarantees you with fresh eggs daily from your own backyard to your plate. That sounds like a fresher timeline!
Fresh eggs are healthier!
Eggs are among the most nutritious foods on the earth and can be part of a healthy diet! Fresh eggs are not just regular eggs. They provide many nutritional benefits!
- One-third less cholesterol
- Ten percent less fat
- One-fourth less saturated fat
- Two-thirds more vitamin A
- Two times more omega-3 fatty acids
- Three times more vitamin E
- Seven times more beta carotene
The difference between home grown and commercially grown is as we mentioned freshness, nutritional value and the fact that “Happy Hens Lay Happy Eggs”. Hens can lay 1 egg about every 25 hours depending on their age, diet, and daylight. For the most part, you can count on fresh eggs daily if you have a group of 4-6 laying hens in your flock.
Fresh chicken meat!
At our home, our girls are not part of the dinner menu but many families raise meat breed chickens for that very purpose, the meat. Others, like to raise dual purpose breeds that will provide fresh eggs for 2-3 years before they get sent to the chop house and stored in a deep freezer; ready for your next homemade chicken soup.
If farm fresh meat is what you seek, by all means it is one of the top reasons to raise your own flock of “rotisserie chicken”. The nutritional value compared to those sold in stores is undoubtably 100% a lot more. Raising your own birds, will guarantee that you know exactly what your hens are being fed and in turn what you will be fed as well.
Kids love chickens as pets!
Small children love to join in all the chicken fun! Collecting chicken eggs is for sure the highlight of it all!
Having children help care for animals at home is a wonderful way to teach them responsibility, accountability, patience, dedication, and compassion. Teaching them to help raise chickens will help them learn new skills while producing fresh and healthier food for the family!
Natural organic pest control!
As a gardener, I find myself encountering critters of all kinds. Some not only beautiful and beneficial, but others unfortunately the complete opposite. Pest! I always seek organic ways to manage the pest that threaten my hard work and having chickens is one way. Chickens love to free range and find themselves delightful protein packed treats. They can eat just about anything that crawls, hops or flys and is edible. They are excellent pest hunters!
Free garden fertilizer!
Where there are chickens, there will be poop! Chicken manure is very fertile and wonderful organic fertilizer for your garden. It is one of the top manure choices for fertilizing those nitrogen loving plants. Chicken manure can be purchased in pellets as a wonderful fertilizer but can easily add up depending on the size of your garden, so why not try to save some money and compost your own chicken manure?
Less waste!
Chickens love leftover kitchen scraps! They can almost eat anything, with the exception of some foods. Vegetable peels, meat scraps, stale bread, wilted lettuce, overripe fruit are all good options! They are like mini composting systems. For safety reasons, withhold scraps that are spoiled or moldy, offer certain leftovers and moderation, and do a little research on those “Do Not Feed” options to keep your hens happy and healthy!
Low maintenance farm animal!
Raising chickens doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Any animal you bring into your life deserves a portion of your time everyday but when it comes to chickens you don’t have to spend too many hours caring for them. If you can provide food, fresh water, shelter and a few other necessities, then your chickens will be happy.
Chickens are the city livestock choice for many because of the space. Chickens don’t require lots of space to be happy. Because they are livestock, some cities have ordinances with limitations or restrictions so check your county rules before adding these fluffy butts to your backyard.
Emotional support animals!
So, chickens are not your typical emotional support animal and they are definitely not considered service animals by federal law but they sure can bring a smile to us. Chickens all have different, unique personalities. They are curious, funny and quite entertaining. It’s no wonder they are so famous on post cards!
Conclusion
If you have the time to properly care for chickens then you have many good reasons to add them to your family. Very often you will find that they give you far more then you give them!
Resources & Recommended Reading
Personal Experience and Research
Books
Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens…Naturally by Lisa Steele
Living with Chickens: Everything You Need To Know To Raise Your Own Backyard Flock by Jay Rossier