The best things in life have feathers and fur. Chickens are no exception. Many people think they are stupid. There aren't any laws that protect them, they are relatively new to being pets. Until you've had one step into your life, having one your plate just seems the american way.
I personally am a vegetarian I'm not the type to be push about it. To each their own. I do feel sad about the way we as a society have created mass food production in order to keep up with our needs. If we all knew what these creatures were put through during their lives and their deaths many of us would become vegetarians.
Enough of that sad stuff, I am going to say if you are considering getting backyard chickens think about these things:
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Are you allowed to have them in your neighborhood
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Are you allowed to have a rooster, if you are, get one! They protect your hens, can be just as friendly and ARE GORGEOUS, save a rooster.
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Understand that hens only lay eggs for the first couple years of their lives, what will you do with them afterwards?
Personally, I feel very strongly about the last two questions, any rooster that I hatch, or purchase accidentally, has a permanent home here, even if he has a rude personality. I pick him up and hug him daily and usually turn his mean spirited attitude around. On the issue of egg laying ending, I feel strongly after all that hard work, those girls deserve hard earned retirement. Do you know what their waste will offer your lawn? Since I've allowed a pair of chickens in my yard, I have the greenest grass around, no more fertilizing, aerating, just natural fertilizer. They eat bugs, chickens are natural bug eaters. Do you have lots of chopped up salad stuff, you'd normally throw out, or down a disposal? You're looking at two legged walking natural disposal/fertilizer dispensers. Relaxing, comical, blood pressure dropping creatures that will get your bottoms off the couch and out the door!
If you have dogs.... there are all sorts of sites which teach people how to build chicken coops, you don't have to be an expert to get into this, I wasn't and I'm building doors for goodness sakes! Get back to nature, have an egg that tastes better than anything you've ever had and have an awesome friend in the process.
Daisy a Light Brahma Hen