It’s Good to be a Chicken Keeper

Have you seen the new Pecking Order movie?  Great story, with a human touch and sense of humour, in a documentary style.  As the title suggests it is based around chickens – show chickens to be more precise.  It premiered a couple of months ago in the UK and has had some great reviews (see here for instance).

For chicken keepers and enthusiasts it is a must see. Chicken-rearing is on the rise and this feel-good movie shows some of the reasons why. 

Did you know that keeping chickens, even if it is just one or two, is good for you and good for the environment.

Here at ChickenGuard, inspired by those chooks, we like to dig a little deeper and have undertaken our own survey.  It has revealed a few of the reasons why people like keeping chickens and why the practice is growing.

It’s the EGGS SILLY!

Our survey of chicken owners gives us a great insight into why people keep chickens.  The top reason: Keeping chickens for producing eggs

But it’s not just for any old eggs.  It’s for your own fresh, free range, nutritional, best of the best eggs.  You know you’ve put in the hard graft (well a bit of hard graft) too.

Those eggs are your reward.  And what a reward – hard boiled, poached, omelette, fried sunny side up or in a lunchtime egg and mayo sandwich – it tastes that much better for being home grown by YOU, laid by your own chooks!  Nothing beats the feeling of having picked your own eggs from the coop.

Eggs are the prime reason – but not the only reason – for keeping chickens

The survey told us that Brits prefer poached eggs (35%), while in the US scrambled is the winner (28%).

Keeping Chickens as Pets

Our survey also identified keeping chickens as pets is a major reason for owning a chicken.  Almost 70% of those surveyed confirm that they see their chickens as pets – with some great names out there too! (You’ll see a few on our Pinterest board “Best Chicken Names Ever“). We’d see that as a considerable shift. Hamsters are rapidly being caught up in the most popular pet chart…

It didn’t stop there – 33% of chicken owners then said they keep chickens for companionship, with a further 22% saying for entertaining the kids. 

Chickens are Therapeutic

You combine these ideas and see how chicken keeping really is therapeutic. It not only has a practical level of caring for an animal, but it brings in the emotional tie and entertainment of having a pet.  On top of that you have the link of providing almost daily food for the table.  The pet appeals to not only the adult but can be cared for by kids, who are delighted to nurture such quirky animals with real personality.

Keeping Chickens is Therapeutic

Chickens Provide Companionship

There is a mass of information that shows having a pet is therapeutic, providing a calming influence for individuals.  Relieving the stresses and strains of everyday modern life.  Perhaps that’s why so many urban households are picking up on the idea of chicken keeping.  Chickens provide companionship especially in an age where there is often a lack of community and a lack of connection.

Chickens are being used as part of on-going therapy for a range of issues like depression, autism and dementia.  They have been shown to help with loneliness and depression in the elderly and children.  They provide a calming effect, and the practical care often gives a focus for elderly people or even addicts.

Children love keeping chickens

And that’s why chickens are good for the soul as well as for the eggs. 

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