Chickens are must haves because —

Chickens are considered one of the must have animals of a homestead and here are 10 reasons every homestead should have at least 8.

• 1. Fresh Eggs Chickens provide a steady supply of fresh, nutritious eggs. Homegrown eggs are richer in flavor and often contain more nutrients than store-bought ones. There is nothing like a farm fresh egg and if you get extras there is always someone local that will buy them from you to help offset the cost of feed.

• 2. Natural Pest Control Chickens are excellent at controlling pests like ticks, beetles, and other insects in your garden. They help keep the bug population down naturally. Some people let them free range, but just realize chickens can not defend themselves and are at the bottom of the food chain. I personally keep mine in a chicken coop that has a yard attached so they can’t escape and get eaten by anything.

• 3. Organic Fertilizer Chicken manure is a powerful organic fertilizer that enriches the soil with essential nutrients. Composting chicken waste creates a nutrient-rich additive for gardens. Just note that a little bit of chicken manure goes a long way. It is one of the strongest fertilizer and needs to be used sparingly or it will burn your plants.

• 4. Self-Sufficiency Raising chickens contributes to a more self-sufficient lifestyle by providing a reliable source of food and reducing dependency on grocery stores. Since chickens produce eggs as well as meat they are a great dual purpose animal of any homestead.

• 5. Educational Value Chickens offer a hands-on learning experience for children and adults alike, teaching responsibility, animal care, and the basics of sustainable living. They can be quite the pets, easy to keep, and if you have a rooster then you can incubate the eggs and raise your own young.

• 6. Cost-Effective Chickens can help reduce household waste by eating kitchen scraps, and their eggs provide a cost-effective source of protein for your family. I keep all my kitchen scraps from cooking, canning and even when I clean out my fridge and give it to my chickens. They will eat anything. I also give them lawn cuttings, things out of the garden when I’m cleaning it out for the season. I haven’t found anything that they won’t eat.

• 7. Companionship Chickens can be surprisingly affectionate and fun to watch. Many homesteaders enjoy the companionship and entertainment chickens provide. Just spending some time and watching them when you go to collect eggs or feed them is very relaxing.

• 8. Sustainable Meat Source For those interested in raising chickens for meat, they provide a sustainable and ethical source of poultry. You control their diet and living conditions, ensuring healthy, high-quality meat. It is easy to purchase cornish game hen cross chicks, feed them for 6 to 8 weeks then process them and have your chicken supply in the freezer or pressure canned for the year.

• 9. Weed Control Chickens help control weeds in the garden by scratching at the soil and eating weed seeds. This reduces the need for chemical herbicides and promotes healthier plant growth. One negative thing of chickens is they will tear up your garden or flower beds if left in that area very long. They naturally peck and dig looking for food which will tear up especially new plants so be aware of where you put them.

• 10. Economic Benefits Excess eggs, chicks, or even adult chickens can be sold or traded with neighbors, providing an additional source of income or bartering goods on your homestead. By bringing in some egg money it helps offset the cost feed.

• 11. Fun fact about Chickens – They will start laying at about 10 months old and lay very consistently year around for their first two years. After that they stop laying in the winter months when the photoperiod (length of day) gets short and the temperature drops. They can live up to 8 years but from year 5 on there egg laying becomes sporadic, so that’s why it’s good practice to just plan on raising a few new chicks every year.

This article just scratches the surface of keeping chickens. There will be many more posts to help guide you in your chicken journey.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions please email me at luron@homesteadingwithgrandma.com. Hope to visit with you soon.