Reasons I don't mess with chickens, yet:
*don't want to go check for eggs and find rattlesnakes
*don't want to check for eggs in a chicken coop and find wasp nests (I have a wasp-phobia)
*don't want to have to check for eggs in a sand-storm
*don't want to fight with coyotes right up by the house
*don't want to mess with finding someone else to have to come take care of them and check for eggs when we go away somewhere.
*Don't want to mess with my cats and dog killing them (yeah, you say fence. my dog says "What's a fence?")

Why I raise horses and cows instead: You put them in a pasture, they eat when they want, crap where they want, and as long as the wind is blowing the windmills keep them watered. Except for branding time, they are LOW maintence.

I am thinking of getting some goats. Only to help me with the mowing. DH leaves so much baling wire and tools around, I'm afraid to use my riding mower out there by the barns and stuff. We need some goats to mow it down, and again, low upkeep.