Joey Norsen: A Hopeful Homestead

Last post I discussed a few of the reasons we choose to raise chickens: nutrition, cost savings, and how it was an easy first step in our homesteading journey.  Here are a few more of the reasons we keep chickens.

4.  Raising chickens really is easy! – People are always surprised when I tell them how EASY it is to raise chickens!  Our daily routine is simple.  We collect eggs and check water and food supply twice a day.  We don’t spend more than 15-20 minutes total on an average day caring for the chickens.  Once a month (more or less depending on need), we spend a little extra time to clean out the coop well, change the bedding, etc.  It’s really that easy!

5.  Food security – We live in a very unstable world these days.  If you pay attention to the news, even a little, you know that our economy is shaky (at best), there are threats and violence throughout the world, and it’s debatable whether our government has our best interest in mind.  Add to these concerns that the majority of our food supply is shipped in from far-away places, rather than produced locally, and one interruption in the supply chain could devastate us.  Given these worries, and others that I don’t have the space to detail in this one post, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.  There are lots of ways to be prepared for an emergency situation, and one of those ways is to raise chickens.  Yes, in chickens you have a continual food supply (both eggs and meat).  Not to mention, eggs provide nutrients like omega-3’s that can be difficult to find elsewhere if a crisis strikes.

6.  Chickens are fun! – I can’t write a post on raising chickens without mentioning how entertaining they are!  It’s a blast (especially for our two-year-old) to watch them peck around the yard, scurrying from here to there.  And I just LOVE that my son gets to see where his food comes from!

So there you have it!  Six great reasons to raise chickens.  Are you ready to take the plunge and get chickens yourself?  I’d highly recommend it!