Chicken Pro's and Con's

Keeping chickens is a wonderful experience, even though there are some not so wonderful things about them. But in my experience, it's totally worth it! There are much more rewarding positives than negatives about keeping backyard chickens:

CONS:
-Loud. Whenever my girls lay an egg they are very proud and have to tell the whole world about their accomplishment. So make sure your neighbors are okay with the sounds of farm life.
-Predators. Chickens have many predators: foxes, dogs, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, hawks, sometimes cats, skunks, bobcats, etc. Make sure your chickens are safe from these critters.
-Roaming. Chickens are natural foragers and will often escape or get lost roaming. Solution: a spacious enclosed run, or a fencing system that keeps them where you want them to be.
-Flies are attracted to poop and pooping is one of the things chickens do best! Solution: fly traps, keeping the chicken area dry, frequently cleaning the run/coop.
-Money. While buying a chick costs about $4-7, taking care of chickens can cost hundreds or even thousands. A good idea, if money is an issue, is to go thrifty and buy used equipment for your hens. Growing your own veggies for the chickens is another great way to save $.
-Naughty. If you decide to let your hens roam freely in the yard, be sure to fence your lovely flowers or gardens so they don't demolish them. They also can fly/jump higher than you would think, so you may want to clip their wings. Or, a solution, you can just keep them in a spacious enclosed run. 


PROS:
-Eggs. Backyard chicken eggs are much more nutritious than commercial farm eggs, if your hens have access to veggies/fruit and seeds. You can taste the difference!
-Fun! It is so relaxing and entertaining to watch "the girls". They have a lot of personality, and can make wonderful pets for kids.
-Experience. Having chickens is such a great way to start your own urban backyard farm. It is not only a great learning experience, but a great way of therapy. 
-Eco-friendly. Having your own chickens and eggs saves lots of energy, since you aren't encouraging commercial farming, which is inhumane and wasteful. 
-Fertilizer. Chicken poop is one of the best fertilizers for your plants, garden and compost. Go organic!
-Pest control. Chickens are omnivores, so they love eating bugs, worms, spiders, snails, etc. (Mine have even eaten mice!)
-Spreading the news! Since I have gotten chickens, many people have become very interested in raising their own backyard chickens.