Why is it good to have chickens in your backyard?

As the Gidneys have learned, keeping a small flock of chickens in your backyard has many benefits, from supplying you with fresh, healthy eggs from well-cared-for animals, to giving you great fertilizer for gardening, to providing lively pets—as well as being part of the drive to local, sustainable food systems.

Is it worth it to have backyard chickens?

If you spend $7 weekly for a dozen farmers market eggs, then yes, raising chickens probably will save you money, says Sarah Cook, founder of Sustainable Cooks. Cook estimates that it costs her $3.50 per dozen eggs to feed and care for her admittedly “spoiled” chickens.

What are 3 disadvantages of raising backyard chickens?

The cons of raising chickens

• Construction or purchase of coop, run, and fencing This requires time, thought, and money.
• Smelly Droppings Chickens poop often and indiscriminately.
• Noise Both hens and roosters are noisy, and if that doesn’t bother you, it might bother your neighbors.

Is owning chickens cheaper than buying eggs?

Summary. While the cost of raising chickens for eggs is slightly more expensive, most backyard chicken owners would agree that it is worth it. Owning chickens for eggs allows one to produce and harvest eggs from their own backyard.

How big should a coop be for chickens?

A good rule of thumb is that regular-sized chickens benefit from at least three to five square feet of coop space per chicken if they have access to the outdoors. Preferably, you’ll provide space on the larger end of this size range.

Are chickens noisy?

Hens make a lot of sounds, but most of them are quiet and gentle. The only time they get really loud are when they have laid an egg. Hens will sometimes call in the same way when no egg has been laid. It’s nothing to worry about, and is not a sign of illness or distress.