Thanks to all for helping make me a chicken/pigeon/dove-aholic. I can't have chickens in my neighborhood, but I ordered the Murray McMurray catalog. It arrived yesterday. I spent HOURS reading that danged catalog last night--it was like receiving the BlueStone Perennials catalog!!
So while I can't have chickens, I sure did enjoy that catalog. And I learned about it on this forum.
Just a quick Thanks to this forum!
I have to thank everyone as well for the wealth of information and the good friends I've made on this forum.
plantRN, could you apply for a variance in order to get, say 3 hens? Not that I'm trying to do Claire's job! lol!
double post :-)
This message was edited Feb 19, 2009 11:26 AM
LOL!!! Wellll....I do have a fairly large backyard and if I put a privacy fence around my backyard (want to do that anyway), I might could swing a couple hens--just want the eggs after all. Maybe I could look into breeds who aren't loud.........And then I really want a couple pigeons...
Enablers?? Nah!! LOL
HeeHee my work is done!
no one would ever know if you had hens! I had hens in the city limits for years and no one ever said a thing. I don't think they even knew. As long as you don't have a roo, life is good!
RN - easy solution - MOVE! LOL!
I know you all get tired of me rambling on about my Seramas - but - they are friendly, trainable, easy, small and very quiet. They can even live in the house, which is where many Serama lovers (myself NOT included) keep them. The roos have a crow about 1/3 as loud as a standard sized roo. If you do a search on youtube, there are many videos of Serama roos crowing.
InnB--seems like my frail memory offers up images of some hens cackling with glee (or was it pain?) when they laid eggs. ? I'm thinking back to those good old days when my Granddad had a large flock of chickens. Are there breeds with hens that just drop those eggs like dropping poo and couldn't care less? I have room for 2 or 3 hens. My neighbors won't like a privacy fence, but they've enjoyed my yard, backyard birdfeeders, bridge, and arbor for WAY too long anyway!
Oh my goodness! I'd move back to the hills of Tennessee in a heartbeat, but I recently remodeled my house and wouldn't get near what's it worth. Plus, in my area of NE Atlanta, there is a flux of new construction sitting empty and older homes for sale, too. Maybe one day....
Some breeds are noisier than others during the egg laying process. This thread might help in finding a quieter breed as you'll see frans and I have very vocal Buff Orpingtons!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/949779/
And there is the stealth coop to be considered! Ideal for a couple of hens in a no-hens-allowed area!
http://www.mypetchicken.com/Wooden_Chicken_Coops-The_Stealth_Coop-P493.aspx
(Sue, I welcome anyone helping me to do my barnyard fairy job!)
It's very contagious! heehee! I'm trying to spread it locally as well-BIL may be getting some fluffy butts!
I'm so glad you are gonna get a couple of hens.. Really.. it is so theraputic, it will heal any damage complaining neighbors do. LOL
I have an Easter Egger (blue eggs) and I can hardly hear her lay! Unlike some others that you can hear a mile away. :) Even then, it's not as irritating as a crow.. wonder if that's cause I'm a mom?
Claire--that stealth coop is fantastic, albeit a little pricey. I am very much considering getting a couple of hens though. A family a couple of streets over from me has some birds--at least some ducks--I can see them somewhat when I drive by. Hard to tell if they've had any complaints or not. I have three neighbors who think I'm the most interesting soul they know. It amazes me because I'm really VERY boring--but they watch every single little thing I do. I feel like I'm on display when I'm gardening. For a farm girl, it is a weird feeling and it drives me nuts! Would be ok if they were helping watch over the house and neighborhood, but no, they are just watching what I'm doing. I don't like it! That's why I'm considering the privacy fence, but that is expensive too. I'm making a lot of excuses, aren't I?
LOL! Yes, you are making a lot of excuses, but I can tell you have certainly been dusted by the barnyard fairy! I think the neighbors would love some free eggs....
Ok--I'm reading up on the breeds that are quiet and looking at coops.
Good grief! Cats and Chickens--what next??!!! :)
A goat.
Oh ZZ, don't be silly, it's not a goat, it's a llama! Duhhhh... ;-)
Hmmmm, well, I was particularly blinded by those cute bunnies on the other thread! And I do still really want some lovely pigeons....
plantRN, wait! I'm here at work and I have Bluestone Perenials open on one tab, Dave's Garden open on another tab, and Ideal Poultry open on a third tab! Dave's is my happy enabler =)!
Oh, rescued bunnies are the BEST! Those two will be coming home from the shelter in the next few days, after they get their little operations. I can't wait! I hope they will get along with Butterscotch.
Harmony has the loveliest pigeons ever. I like her owl pigeons. My pigeons are not as exciting, but they are still nice too.
Then of course, there are always those cute little call ducks...
Ah Bluestone, seems we all have similar addictions! I love their catalogue too.
Them bunnies are awesome! Harmony does have awesome pigeons! And the ducks are cute, and gee, I really need some hardy geraniums, and need some mater seeds, and don't forget the daylily fix....
Ok--off to take care of some little sick folks! Back later...I'll be thinking about them chickens! :)
PlantRN the swap is March the 28th and i have confirmation that 2 breeders of pigeons will be there and have pigeons for sale. There will also be chickens of all kinds and i hope Ducks it will be a good time to get to know some breeders. I can introduce you to the ones i know and I hope you are coming i would love to meet you.
It would be nice to meet a fellow Dave's friend in person.
It is great to have you here PlantRN. You are hooked now and that was the plan all along. (muahhhhh! evil laughter) We intend to infect everyone with the chicken, pigeon, bunny, llama, donkey.....bug! I cant wait to see the pictures of your new coop and chickens. ;)
Harmony--I'm there on the 28th (unless I have to work at the hospital). Can you tell me where I can get more information (where, etc.)? You rock!
I spent all weekend looking at my backyard and at coop ideas. I found the CUTEST little house locally--it's a child's playhouse but it would be DARLING for chickens! The guy had 2 but I didn't stop to inquire. I'm going to try to get a photo and will post it here so you all can tell me what you think. It's small and would be way expensive but at least my neighbors can't complain! I think I might consider 3 or 4 RIR hens first--they seem to be hardy and great egg layers. Good idea?
RIR are very good layers, now mine if I go to get an egg from under her she gets a little bent about it but not to bad.
There are so many breeds of chickens--it is hard to decide the best ones!
Yea tell me about it. at one time I probably had 20 or 30 different breeds. Is there that many.
Granddad kept chickens when I was a kid--mostly white, but I have no idea what breeds they may have been. He got white eggs and brown ones. Of course, this was back when dirt was young....
LOL when dirt was young. I like that. my papa had chickens also and they were all white to. And so did my great grand ma. She had them till the day she died, at 100 yrs 8 months old.
Wow! Go Grandma!! 100 years old!
Granddad kept his chickens for eggs and the table. My cousin and I would sit on the truck when it was "roasting" day while things were happening--I believe we both cried a lot. I don't think I could do that, so my chickens would just get to lay eggs and then be pets.
Oh I know I can I just have to learn how, got a friend coming out soon to show us. This way I know I am eating 1 something I know has not been given anything not natural 2 they lived a great life here were not kept in a 2 by 2 cell to never get to see the light of day. But that is just me.
Hey Plant I've been around chickens all my life my dad had them when we were little and we had a turkey too. We would let daddy kill the turkey so we just ate her eggs instead LOL
I had me a flock when i was teen and sold the eggs to pay for the feed my favorite chicken was a big barred hen i called tweetle cause thats the sound she made.
I am pretty confident I remember how to do the deed, but I just don't think I could do it. Granddad had a LOT and we were allowed to play with the young pullets. He also had the meanest rooster I think I've ever met. He'd wait until we were on the swing and then attack. Too bad they didn't have personal video cams back then--those videos would be a hoot!
OMG when we (mom and dad and my siblings) 1st moved to the country back in 79 we did the farm thing. Got chickens, well dogs killed most off except this one rooster. He was mean. He would beat up the Dobbie dog and eat the dog food. It was a race to get outside so we could go catch the school bus. If that rooster seen us he came after me every time. He met the end of an ax handle and went to rooster heaven. Daddy had had enough. I dont deal well with mean roosters at all.
Oh my goodness! I think your rooster was Granddad's rooster's brother! We wouldn't go out to play until that rooster was in the pen! He chased me up the pear tree more times than I can remember! Granddad didn't believe us because the rooster was so sweet and docile with him--finally one day he heard me and my cousin screaming--the rooster was loose. After that, it was a done deal--rooster was for the pot. My Grandma made THE best chicken and dumplins I've ever tasted. LOL
LOl we didnt even eat that rooster. But was so glad when we came home from school that day and didnt have to fight him to get into the house.
I don't think I want any roosters, and I'm afraid they'd be too loud for our neighborhood and our noisy neighbors.
I have about 17 roosters, I know I need to downsize on them, just gotta decide, and NONE are mean if they are I still have my daddy's ax handle and I know how to use it.