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While there have always been people who were deeply interested in living a self-sufficient life, the recent economic state has seen a distinct increase in all things that have to do with living more providently. Even families that live within city limits or in a suburb have begun to lobby for more reasonable laws dealing with small livestock.

While there have always been people who were deeply interested in living a self-sufficient life, the recent economic state has seen a distinct increase in all things that have to do with living more providently. Even families that live within city limits or in a suburb have begun to lobby for more reasonable laws dealing with small livestock. Chickens are especially targeted by these grassroots groups. What are the benefits of keeping backyard poultry, and why has there been such an increase in the number of people who keep these simple barnyard birds?

Food Value

One of the main benefits of keeping pet chickens is their ability to produce a sustainable food source.

It is no secret that chickens are masters at laying eggs. Unlike many other types of self-sustaining food sources, chickens are easy to keep, simple to care for and extremely productive. During the spring and summer months, the prime laying period for chickens, it’s not uncommon to get an egg a day from each chicken in a well-maintained backyard poultry flock. This is accomplished with a simple feeding program that can include commercial feed, kitchen scraps and even foraging in a free-range environment.

If you have chickens that are unproductive or have poor temperaments, you can process these birds at home for both fryer and stewing meat. While some people become too attached to their birds to ever eat one, it’s always an option.

To counteract this emotional reaction, some chicken enthusiasts keep separate flocks if they are planning to put meat birds in the freezer. As with any dual-purpose pet, you can choose whichever method is most comfortable for you. Many chicken keepers never intend to eat their birds, and use them solely as a source of eggs.

Garden Helpers

As a providently minded individual, keeping backyard poultry in conjunction with a garden just makes sense. There are many benefits of integrating chicken keeping into your gardening efforts as chickens are experts at controlling harmful insects. A foraging chicken flock can easily keep down damaging bugs, such as grasshoppers, aphids and slugs. In addition to bugs, chickens also forage on weeds and assist in soil cultivation and fertilization.

If you do plan to run chickens in your garden, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Firstly, don’t release the chickens into the garden until the plants are well established and can withstand the digging and scratching. It is also important to protect tender plants, such as tomatoes and, pet, summer squash. Chickens have an instinctive urge to peck at anything red, and tomatoes are extremely appealing in flavor as well. You can cage plants that your chickens seem to enjoy, or section off the areas of the garden that you want your backyard poultry to have access to.

Kid Companions

When children are a part of your life, there is no end to the fun that is present when chickens are introduced.

Kids love to raise chicks and can easily handle tasks such as feeding and gathering eggs. This is a great way to teach them responsibility, as well as enabling them to develop an environmental conscience and caring attitude. Backyard poultry that are hand raised can be picked up and carried quite easily, just like any other pet.

Be cautious when you select the breed to keep if there are children involved. Some breeds, such as Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds have roosters that can be aggressive.

You can choose either to keep only hens, or select roosters with a more docile temperament, such as the Black Australorp or Buff Orpington.

Sharyn Lea writes about life experience – from her own perspective as well as observations from having lived a rich and varied life herself. A journey of life which included a 30 year marriage with 3 children, living in different cities, alternative community living in a forest and now living in a traditional farming community. Other articles on keeping pet chickens and useful links on all aspects of backyard poultry can be found at http://poultrybasics.com/blog/.

Author: Sharyn Lea | Source: ezinearticles.com