Benefits of Keeping Urban Chickens

Having chickens in your own backyard, even in the middle of the city, is something that is gaining in popularity.  And the benefits to having chickens are greater than you might think. 

First, there are those fresh, absolutely delicious, taste-nothing-like-store-bought eggs.  And the eggs from your very own chickens will have no additives, pesticides or chemicals, so they will be healthier for you.  Did you know that a chicken lays an egg every 25 hours?  So, if you have six hens, you’ll have half a dozen eggs almost every day!  Too many eggs you say?  Why not sell eggs to your neighbors.! That may help pay for the chicken feed (and then some)!

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Chickens also make excellent pets.  They are surprisingly tame, curious about people, and come running over when called.  They are social creatures, preferring to stay in a group, and with very little coaxing, actually learn to love being held.  Get your chickens as chicks or pullets, and you will have them cuddlig up to you in no time.  

Another advantage of having chickens is that they will happily eat your kitchen produce and other various leftovers.  And here is a really nice benefit: chickens will also keep your yard practically bug free.  If you live in an area of the country that has a lot of mosquitos, having chickens is a wonderful thing. 

And the food has to come out somewhere, somehow, folks.  Chicken waste as a great natural mulch for your garden.  And so are those leftover egg shells from the eggs you will use.

Chickens are also highly entertaining simply to watch.  Our family has many pets (dogs, cats) and they are entertaining too.  But the chickens keep us as thoroughly entertained as any television could!  They go all around the yard walking, pecking, running, waddling – and all the while we hear soft clucking, peeping and various churbling.   We even have one hen who takes personal offense to chipmunks, and chases them out of “her” yard, very comically.  There are many times we look out the kitchen window at them and have joked “What did we watch before we had chickens?” 

Just remember:  having, tending to and raising chickens is also an important responsibility.  If you decide to own chickens, you need to know the rules and guidelines where you live (for example: no roosters, the appropriate number allowed).  You are also taking on the important and sacred task of caring for other living creatures.  So be sure to do your research before you decide – and have fun!