Woodster

We are going to be moving to a new home in about a year, and I'm seriously thinking about raising a few chickens for eggs. We'll be in the county, so they'll be permissible. Has anyone done this, and other than having fresh eggs (bonus) is it worth the time/expense? Other than knowing about a few different breeds, I know nothing about the care and upkeep of said hens! When I was a kid, my grandparents had a neighbor whose chicken laid multi-colored eggs - the Aracauna (sp?)or Americana. Thanks for any personal input!

Nammie to 7

I don't know that it is cost effective to have several chickens for the fresh eggs but it probably would be fun (and a lot of work)

Crqltr

Not sure about how hard it is..mom had chickens and enjoyed the eggs and such. But it has to have heat and don't forget time away from home is limited unless you have very good friends.

Annaquilts

Yes to both posts above. That said having chickens is way easier then having milk goats, which we do. Another point is chickens seem to bring a lot of flies and their poo is mushy. They will also get at everything in your yard. You also do not need a rooster in order for them to lay eggs. This is nice to know because rooters can be mean and loud. I really like keeping chickens, both for eggs and meat.

MDQuilter

If you're going to have a few chickens, it's really not that cost effective unless you plan to sell the eggs, so you would need more than a few chickens. Each chicken will lay an egg a day (depends on age and type of chicken though) and not all year round. Our chickens (ISA browns) laid in the spring through the fall and only after their first year. They are fun to raise and not all that hard. Get a good coop and, preferably, a fenced in area for 'free-ranging' and you're good to go. There are other issues involved, but it's really not bad at all. Ours were hand raised, so they were comfortable with us and when we sat outside or walked around, they would follow us around. I'm using past tense because a fox (or something) got into our coop a few months back...sad time. My daughter still isn't over it. But we plan on starting again in the spring.

Tartan

If you want to raise chickens, go for it. If you only want them for the eggs, think twice. Eggs are not that expensive and by the time you make a coop, buy the birds and equipment it might not be cost effective.

buslady

My DD decided to raise chickens. Started out for food. One batch of 40, then a second batch was joined by 6 hens. Which turned out to be 5 hens and a rooster. LOL The meat is delicious, and after 6 months they are getting eggs. They free range through the day, then go in the pens at night. When they started laying, they were all over the place, so DSIL built boxes for them in the hen house. The kids love them, and DD and SIL do, too. They did get into the garden and ate 2 cabbage plants, and one day DD was looking for a rouge bird when SIL pointed above her head. The Chicken was sitting on the top of the door she was standing in!! All she thought was, "thank goodness it didn't poop". I was talking to her on the phone the other day. She was sitting on the steps in the garage, and one of her chickens came up and sat on her shoulder. I was amazed they would get that friendly! Dirty little creatures they are! We raised them one time and had one that just wouldn't be caught. I am sure he knew what was in store for him. He would corner me in the house and not let me out. Mean little thing pecked at your legs. I called a neighbor and asked him to come kill it for me. He wouldn't do it, but DH finally did after he chased our daughter all the way to the neighbors pecking at the back of her legs. Have fun. Do it cause you want to, I don't think you will find it cost effective. They eat more than you might think.

IreneAdler

I like having a few chickens around..3or 4. You will need a fenced in,over-the- top wired outside pen...preferably with 18. Inches of chicken wire flat on the ground,outside the edge of the pen..to prevent varments from digging in. The wire over the top should keep the hawks and raccoons out. You will need a home for the chickens with nesting boxes and a roost inside. You can't beat the flavor of really fresh eggs. In the country,you'll likely have a septic tank. My chickens eat all the fruit or vegetable scraps( they don't like orange peels). They eat all my weeds a,corn cobs etc.
I put straw under neath the roosts where most of the poop lands...then have some kid clean the chicken house 2 wice a year,putting all the stuff in a pile to compost. I pay a kid $ 100 an hour...it takes 20 minutes! The roosters are abusive,so I eat them. The hens are very fun to have as farm pets. PM me more more info

Kitsie

I love my hens! No, probably not cost effective but those eggs with the deep yellow yolks - soooo good! Not very expensive really. I have between 2 and 4 at any given time and a bag of layer feed lasts me more than a month. Mine have the run of the backyard during the day so get to eat lots of weeds, bugs, worms and what-have-you. Flies are NOT a problem even tho I live on a horse farm. I love the look of the brown eggs and wouldn't want to be without my chooks.

We have coyotes and hawks around but even tho my wire is only 36" tall and not buried in the ground I've had no losses. Probably just lucky. Neighbors do cover their pens.

orangeroom

Hi, dh has chickens. I've heard about others who have them too. They can be as time consuming as you let them be. Dh spends a lot of time and money on his birds. He's built two mobile coops; one on running gear and the other on a trailer. Both can be hooked up to the hitch and moved with the van. The running gear one can be moved by 2 strong people if desired. That way the hens get fresh green grassy area every week. If you want to pick his brain, pm me and I'll get you in touch with him. Good luck!