Ten reasons why everyone should owns chickens - I do

Well my hubby talked me into chickens this past spring and dont regret do it. We had 4 chickens - 3 white long horns and 1 - Rhode Island Red, a couple months back we lost one of our long horns. It was bad - but I can assure you now that our babies will not become stew, we have grown so attached to them. Our ladies are now getting ready for the winter (molting). It may be awhile before we get fresh eggs again. But believe me - its worth every penny!!!

1 -You get eggs

2 - They're no trouble. You top up their food and water occasionally, clean out their house occasionally, collect the eggs and that's about it

3 - Honestly, they're no trouble at all. A lot less effort than having a dog or even a cat. About the same as having a guinea pig or a rabbit, I'd say

4 - The eggs are cheaper than buying them because the food costs, well, chickenfeed

5 - The eggs are much, much nicer than shop-bought eggs, even free-range organic ones

6 - When they stop laying you can eat them if you like, as long as you haven't got sentimental about them

7 - They eat garden pests such as slugs, snails, leatherjackets etc.

8 - You can put their bedding plus the manure on the compost heap. It's excellent activator and will improve your garden or veg plot no end

9 - Even free-range eggs are often produced in conditions you might not expect. The hens must have theoretical access to an outdoor run but in practice they might never get there. They're less crowded than battery hens it's true, but still their living conditions won't be a patch on your own pampered hens, and that's why your own hens' eggs taste better (see point 5)

10 - You really feel you're living the good life when you have chickens in your back garden