In the spring I was planning on getting a small bunch of chickens. But since I've not had the day to day care of them (been around them some), the things I've read about them leave me feeling like it's difficult to care for them so they don't get too hot....too cold....too dirty....or get sick. Is it really that way or does it just seem overwhelming at the moment?
need some input...(encouragement) :-)
It is one of the easiest things to have, on a day to day basis.
They practically let themselves out in the morning (if you
had shut them in the night before), and they put themselves
to bed at night.
they go in when its raining, or too sunny or windy or when
the head chicken or rooster says its time to go in. Could be
just for a political caucus, who knows?
They are clean gals, they find a dusty spot and dig a hole
and take dusty baths, and that cleans any bugs on them
and makes their feathers all shiny. My kids just get black
and icky from dust baths...I wonder how come it doesn't
work for them?
I put out fresh water every day, and top off their feed bowl
with fresh chicken food. Sometimes, if they are very lucky,
I will go out and throw them some of our leftovers. They
special love spaghetti.
I had chickens all through terrible upstate NY winters, where
there was 3 foot of snow, and it doesn't even faze them. I
picked one up one time and her little chicken feet were HOT!
So their feet stay warm in the winter. Just make sure they
have drinkable water in the freezing time. Maybe a
insulated bucket or a electric bucket.
They keep busy all day, we could learn from them! They are
doodling around, jumping for bugs, scratching and talking
amongst themselves. They will come over and set with me
and scratch around while I sit in a chair near them. They
make nice noises. I love their chicken society.
If you are overwhelmed at the thought of all this, then don't
get any animals. Its better to not have any than to have to
give them away (stressful for all) because their needs are
more than you can provide, and everyone is different in
being able to provide support and care for others. You
know yourself the best.
Its fun getting the eggs. Before you know it, you will be
knee deep in eggs.
Hope this helped a little
sheri
mmistyrose:
Might I suggest a book: Storey's Guide To Raising Chickens. It costs about $19 and is packed with info about raising chickens. It might make for some interesting reading this winter and then have you psyched up to buy chicks in the spring.
Virginian
Oh I agree with WigglyPaw too; chickens practically take care of themselves as long as they have access to food and clean water. They need a dry place to roost at night, too.
Virginian
mmistyrose,
I second Wiggly Paw and Virginian's posts. I've NEVER been around chickens until I got my first two chicks this past spring. Chickens are so easy to keep and give you hours and hours of enjoyment and entertainment. You'll be surprised at how much of a colorful personality they have.
Next to my grandbabies... My chickens are my "babies", so being the "mother hen" that I am, I would add one more thing to your chickens' list of needs...
- They need a safe/fortified chicken coop that predators cannot easily climb into, squeeze into, or dig their way into, for a little chicken snack. The extra work and precaution is well worth the effort.
I agree with Virginian - you NEED to get Storey's Guide To Raising Chickens. If you can't find it locally, you can order it online from McMurray Hatchery for $24.10 (they have lots of books on chickens) -or- at Amazon.com for $12.89.
Other than that - you're good to go and you'll be fine. Believe me, if I can raise chickens, you can raise chickens. ...You'll have a blast! Just get yourselve a lawn chair, a glass of sweet tea, and set back and watch "the show"!
Oh my goodness, chickens are so worth the relatively small hassle and cost. They are charming and fun. You will love them.
THat being said, they are living creatures, so if you don't think you want them, don't get them. They do have needs. I think you will like spoiling them. I do! It is amazing how much they love little things like apples.
THe feed is way cheaper than dog and cat food, they eat your kitchen scraps, they lay you pretty eggs every day and run around your yard being halarious.
They are very forgiving and low maintanance as long as they have water and food. I agree. get a book, remember that a lot of the stuff in the book is best/worst case scenario and you probably won't have to worry about most of it. If you can care for a dog, you can definitely care for chickens, they are easier.
Plus, we'll be here to enjoy your successes and give lots of advice! We love to give advice!
When you have your own flock you get to know their personalities and that is so much more fun than seeing other people's chickens.
Chickens do poop a lot. But is mostly grain anyway :) Ours free range all over the yard and it isn't overwhelming. Plus my dog loves to eat it. Yuck! WE don't allow dog kisses anymore :)
If you take a few minutes with them every day, they will earn to come when you call them, and will let you pick them up ( some will) and will eat out of your hand, when they aren't too busy on urgent business somewhere.
let us know what you choose. There is nothing like a few chicks in the springtime!
I agree with everyone. I love having chickens and can't imagine my life without a few to many lol.
I truely appreciate all the input! I did get the "Story" book that gives info on chickens as well as other fowl. That's when I got the overwhelming feeling that they were fragile. I'm used to caring for cattle, lambs, dogs, cats, horses, etc. We didn't have chickens on the ranches I worked. So, while I have had some exposure to feeding them and gathering eggs....it's just not been on a long term daily basis. But ya'll just make it sound so much easier then what I was reading. I think I'll get a small bunch first :-)
Thx all!
oh my goodness. they are SOOOOOOOO much more hardy than horses, wh oare always pulling up lame, or getting thier stomach twisted, or eating something bad, or limping, or getting an infection, or too cold or too fat or whatever. You can totally handle it. Chickens are a breeze! And if they step on you, it doesn't hurt!
Yeah, that's right! And chickens don't kick either! hehehe
Awwwwww Mistyrose, Im all "ditto", with eveyone ! My only other input is, Chickens have a wonderful calming effect on other animals as well as Humans! They seem to let other "figity" animals know everything is fine!
I cannot remember how many times I have had an upset goat that would not calm down, for one reason or another, only to find the next day a quiet goat walking around with a hen or a rooster on its back calmly roosting!
Get your chicks, Hon, you wont regret it!! E.
Take it from a city girl turned country--you can do it, yes it's work at times, but well worth it!
Try visiting Backyardchickens
http://p072.ezboard.com/bbackyardchickens
great people and resources
I agree with everyone, soooo totally worth any little hassle that comes along. And you will usually be intertained. In the city, where we live, chickens are not allowed. We broke the rules and most all of our neighbors get a kick out of them. (cept when the straight run roos started crowing) While they don't step on you, or kick you, if you have any diamonds rings on,,,turn 'em inside towards your palm. Mine go nuts over my ring if I don't turn it around. Even my city-slicker hubby loves to hang out over the deck to watch them do their little dances, pecking in the grass.
There's all kinds of catalogs out there, with photos and descriptions of different breeds, etc, so you can decide early on which type fits your situation best.
Enjoy!
Chickens are easy to care for. Especially if you only get a small flock (under 20 or so) . You have to be there generally in the morning and the evening. To give them food and water in the morning and, to make sure that where they go to bed at night, is where you want them to.......LOL.
This message was edited Oct 21, 2006 9:09 PM
Hey, Misty. You've got to stop by and see our chicken set up. Effortless. We use a mobile chicken tractor type coop that's manufactured over near Hutchinson. Never any cleanup required. And with this set up it's your choice whether you let them run free in the yard, or keep them contained. Plan on stopping in and taking a look.
The most significant element of chicken care that we find is predator control. But, since you have dogs (yes, even bird dogs can run loose with the chickens), this won't likely be an issue for you. The dogs become the protectors of the chickens, even if indirectly, by keeping away other predators. Some dogs actually adopt and directly protect the chickens.
I agree that the dogs will be fine with the chickens. And since I've worked on ranches, I've seen that dogs can be VERY protective of "herds" they are living with. When we'd gather the sheep....the dogs also came along...just like they were sheep. And you could see them pacing when separated from the sheep while we worked them. Once the group being worked was released and back with the dog....each sheep was looked over carefully by the dog to make sure they were ok. lol
Dogs are pretty cool.
I have a related question. One of the reasons I keep delaying getting my little flock is I am out of town sometimes for 2 -3 days at a time. If they have water and food set out, would they generally be all right? I don't want them to feel neglected. These will be my first chickens, too.
Chickens will never "feel" neglected. The only birds that really develop a real bond with people are the parrots, and maybe the budgies. Otherwise, birds just learn to tolerate people and use us for being food buckets! --grins (Some, like turkeys and chickens, will develop a fixation on people--even try to breed their person--so I'm sure there will be those who see this as a bond and disagree with me.)
Do you plan to let them run freely through the yard? If so, they'll find their own natural food for that length of time, even if their primary food dish you leave them gets disturbed. Leaving them alone shouldn't be a problem. Available water would be the most critical issue.
Are you in a country area? Dogs around to keep oppossums, skunks, raccoons, etc., away from their coop? These critters will find a coop and look for a way in. That's why after sunset, when the chickens have put themselves up, you go out and lock the door. If you're away for two or three days, there's a potential for this disaster. But the risk is relatively low. Raccoons, in particular, develop a standard food route that they follow every night. If your coop is not on their route when you are at home, they won't likely seek it out within that two or three-day period.
This message was edited Nov 27, 2006 2:19 PM
Good advice, KS. Thanks. They'll be in a fairly large chicken tractor -- I only plan on letting them out of it in the evening an hour or so before they go to roost. I imagine I can rig feeding and watering troughs they can't disturb, and move them to "new ground" before I leave each time. I'm in a fairly new neighborhood, which the builders deforested in order to build houses, so I don't really think predators will be a problem, though I do plan to make the tractor predator-proof (too heavy, latches you have to have STRONG opposable thumbs to operate, 1/2 inch wire mesh, that sort of thing). And no roosters, so I won't have to worry about chicks.
I just have to tell you how much I have enjoyed this thread! Your descriptions of the chicken personalities and activities are so entertaining. I must explain that I am a city person, never lived on a farm, and have always wanted to have chickens. I guess that explains why I "lurk" in this Forum and vicariously enjoy all the pictures and stories.
Thanks for allowing me to share.
Pati
P.S. I also "lurk on the Equine Forum too.....guess I just missed my calling. LOL
well, we're glad you could join us! :-) And who knows...maybe someday....
Patischell, are you aware of how easy it is to have chickens fully contained in a chicken tractor *within* a city? If you are truly interested, let us know and we'll help you discover.
If you like eggs, you'd *really* like to see the reports of the nutritional differences between your own raised eggs and store eggs.
Take a look at "Keep Chickens" by Barbara Kilarski, patischell. You'll be surprised! I live in a neighborhood in a small town, and I'm getting some as soon as I get the tractor finished. I spent a lot of time years ago on my uncle's farm, but he never had them, so they're new to me, as well. But I'm going to do it!
How very kind and thoughtful all of you are!! Alas, I've passed the time that I might have tried my hand at "city chickens". I gave up my home of 50 years in Miami (where my neighbors had a rooster) and moved into a delightful mother-in-law apartment at my son's house. We have a fenced acre which is wonderfull for all the various family dogs and cats, but when I suggested that a chicken or two would round out the group nicely, I got the eyes rolled back and the "Oh mother!" tone that all kids use when they KNOW their parent has gone over the edge! I might mention that my baby boy is 54 and STILL uses that tone. LOL
Sooooooo, if you don't mind, I'll just share your most interesting chickens and count my blessings that I have DG and all the wonderful adventures I find here.
((hugs))
Pati
Pati, you can happily be our vicarious chicken owner. When I get mine, I'll let you know! You can be their chicken godmother.
And, yes, I KNOW THAT TONE, AND THAT ROLL OF THE EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"You can be their chicken godmother."
Just wait 'till I tell him that!! LOL
Pati
Oh Pati, don't let him scold you for loving chickens ! :) You can be the fairy godchicken to my gals too!
there ya go....and I'm sure you'd make a "great" Aunt! hehehehe ;-)