Homesteading is in. More people are trying to be as self-sufficient on their property as they can when it comes to food, and chickens—and their eggs—are no exception. For your consideration, here are a few of the pros and cons of keeping your own chickens.
Pro: Back-to-the-Land Satisfaction
Something about cooking with produce you grew yourself feels great. The same goes for the breakfasts and desserts you’ll make with your homegrown eggs. You’ll feel a sense of pride and self-reliance with these ingredients. Just make sure to take pride in your coop, too, for reasons we’ll explore later.
Con: High Upfront Expenses
It’s hard to do the math to determine whether you’ll come out ahead by keeping your own chickens rather than buying them from the grocery store or the farmers market. Whatever the costs or benefits in the long run, know that the upfront expenses will be high either way. If you would struggle to shoulder those costs right now, it’s best to wait.
Pro: Compost Products
In addition to laying eggs, chickens have another way of giving back. We’ll warn you right now that chicken manure is going to be a very plentiful “resource.” However, this waste product is more than mere waste—its nitrogen and mineral content make it an ideal fertilizer, one that can add a great deal to your compost heap. With time to further decompose, chicken manure will supplement your compost and help your garden grow. Cracked eggshells, another organic material, can also provide more minerals to your heap.
Con: Potential Salmonellosis Cases
Having eggs close at hand would seem like a healthy alternative to grabbing cartons from the grocery store. However, the quality of homegrown eggs isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be. You don’t have the quality-control measures in place that major egg producers do, and if you don’t enforce stringent sanitation practices around your coop, it’s possible for Salmonella bacteria to infiltrate your eggs, causing dangerous or even deadly cases of food poisoning. Indeed, salmonellosis outbreaks because of tainted backyard chicken eggs have been on the rise lately, with well-meaning poultry hobbyists coming down with nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Pro and Con: No Need for Alarm Clocks
Clichés are rooted in truth. Your rooster is indeed going to let out a “cock-a-doodle-doo” at the crack of dawn. Even your hens can get in on the action, making a great deal of noise as they rise and shine each morning. The pros and cons of keeping your own chickens overlap with this noise. Some keepers of chickens may relish the sounds of their birds, especially if they, like their chickens, need to be early risers. Neighbors in proximity to your coop, however, may disagree. Your municipality may have reservations about residents keeping chickens due to the noise. Make sure you’re complying with local ordinances before you throw out your alarm clock—and be ready for strongly worded letters from the neighbors.
