Introduction
While
growing up in my local town, an elderly woman gave me a chicken as a gift for a
kind deed. I kept this chicken for many years because it was a source of many
things to me, this ranges from money, foods and as pets, because I loved it so
much.
Likewise
many people who live in local areas do have what I call ecofriendly lifestyle,
they eat healthier because they naturally grow their foods, including chicken
rearing.
However,
people keep chickens for many reasons. So I will be sharing with you, the
various advantages you can enjoy when you own a backyard chicken farm.
ADVANTAGE OF OWNING BACKYARD CHICKENS
Keeping Chicken as Pets.
Everyone
loves pet but, we love different pets. Considering the children in this
category, you will discovered that children loves chicks. There is this
affection that sparks up between children and chicks if you are very observant,
especially when you bring chicks home.
My
children always want to feed the chicks in our backyard and clean the coop.
These has help them to be more responsible and caring. They handle the chicks
with care and affection that can only be felt if you are in their shoes. I am
not disputing the elderly ones that also fall into this category.
Many
elders in my local area have chickens which they rear and frown at any one that
attempt to hurt them. Chickens are good pets, lively, lovely and it is fun to
be around one.
Eggs Production
A
hen can lay approximately 250 eggs in a year and sometimes more, if they are
well fed and properly taking care of. If a hen gives you an egg per day, the nutritional
value is fresh and trusted because you are getting the natural production of
egg from your backyard, you also know what your chicken eats to produce that
egg.
Having
more than 5 of such would be awesome, because, you will have quiet some number
of eggs in your fridge amounting to many per week, which you may decide to sell
and make some few bulks for the family upkeep.
Fresh
eggs are good and a quality one coming from your backyard would be a lovely
experience and feeling.
Your
family can also have a constant supply of fresh eggs with just a few chickens
if you can own one today.
Composting Fertilizer.
Considering
my backyard farm with 6 boilers of about 5 weeks old, it amazes me when I
consider the quantity of litters they drop from every day from the few quantity
of feed they take.
This
litters can be converted to fertilizer for a substantial farming or our
gardens. This would save us the cost of buy compost manure which your backyard
chickens are already given you for free.
In
one of my future post, I will be explaining in details how to make a compost
manure from your chicken farm for your gardens and farms.
Chickens naturally helps to control insects.
Various
types of insect find there habitations in the soil. Most times during the wet
season, these insects tries to find their way into the living apartment. Well,
with your chickens having a walk around your compound, they feeds on these
insects, preventing them from getting into your apartment.
I
guess you know that some insect stings terribly and can be very painful. Having
your chicken around can help in reducing insect infection to an appreciable
limit.
Although,
some of these insect may cause them harm the first time, they are very sensible
birds and learn to keep away from such in future.
Having them for educational purposes
I
started to know more about chickens’ behavior after my early relationship with
the one the elderly woman gave me.
I
was happy seeing the chicken multiply and usually feels bad when any of them
dies or sick with exception to the ones I sent to the slaughter. My rearing
them gave me the opportunity to study about them, learning how to take care of
them organically, cross breeding my local with foreign breeds and getting good
results.
Having
a poultry farm enlightening you and makes you want to know more about chickens,
thereby giving you the opportunity to possibly be a consultant to other poultry
farm owners from your humble backyard farm.
Another Advantage is Meat Production.
Though
Chicken can be used for different purpose but the expected end of every chicken
is to be eating either as chicken soup, kfc Chicken, grilled, roasted or in any other form
with good recipe, fried rice and chicken.
Moreso,
this has nothing to do with age, gender, geographical location, race, ethnicity,
status or religion, we all love to eat chicken meat because it’s usually very
tasty when well prepared. Look out for my 101 chicken recipe that you would
love.
Great Waste Disposers
Do
you know that chickens can eat much of your kitchen leftovers? In fact, they
can drastically reduce the amount of garbage you set out on the dustbin each
week, if your household frequently has leftovers that would otherwise spoil.
While
some foods are better than others for these chickens, they can eat many things
including garden waste.
Just
make sure you remove uneaten leftovers from the pen so mold and bacteria do not
make the chicken sick or attract unwanted rodents or predators.
Chicken Can Entertain You.
I
read somewhere that chickens are entertainers. I was like WOW!!! But believe it
or not, they are very entertaining- maybe even therapeutic. Chickens really do
have individual personalities. Some are friendly and come sit on your lap while
you pet them, others loves to bask in the sun while they cover their body with
dirt.
Some
others scratch the dirt until they find prize worm or bug and then run around
the yard fending off the rest of the flock who want to still the tasty catch.
Have you watch chicken fight?
Have
you heart of chicken fight, though I would not like that, but I watch it in a
movie and was not really happy about it.
Chickens
are unique animals that bring families, neighbors and communities together just
for the sake of talking about chickens.
Important Points
1.
Chicken can be kept for pets.
2.
They produce fresh and tasty eggs for the family
3.
Chickens' droppings can be used for fertilizer
4.
They can be used for insect control
5.
You can learn a lot from them and become a consultant to other poultry farmers
6.
Chicken meat
7.
They are great waste disposal
8.
Entertainment
9.
Brings together the family and community with a common goal.