Comments on: Pet chickens, anyone?

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 11 May 2007 18:19:14 +0000

Ahhhhh….I just learned something. I feel kinda dumb….LOL. I grew up in the burbs. Can I use that excuse? :)

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Fri, 11 May 2007 12:44:44 +0000

Nope. You need a rooster to get FERTILE eggs. :)

By: CAthyA

CAthyA — Fri, 11 May 2007 12:02:52 +0000

No Tammy, no struttin’ cockadoodle do needed to get eggs! Without a rooster they won’t be fertile, but you’ll still have eggs

I used to live in the country around the corner from some friends of mine. Since they had chickens I used to pick up all the grasshoppers after the first cold spell, as they would be virtually imobile in the middle of the road. I’d freeze them for a winter treat for the chickens. They were in heaven!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 11 May 2007 05:48:12 +0000

I don’t know anything about chickens but don’t you have to have a rooster with the chickens in order to get eggs?

By: Boutique Owner

Boutique Owner — Fri, 11 May 2007 04:50:47 +0000

Chickens are fantastic! I’ve got a quarter acre lot in the suburbs, so I keep 5 hens. During the longer days, I’ll get about 4 eggs per day. Murray McMurray hatchery has wonderful chickens. One of my chickens is actually 4 years old. I never use my garbage disposal any more. Everything gets recycled out to the chickens. (except meat proteins, which the dogs get!) Then I use the manure in the garden. I think of this as my little victory garden.

I have to say, though, that the maggot idea is pretty gross. They do love bugs and I let them wander the yard on some days to clear out slugs and other bugs. Deliberately breeding maggots, though? Ughh.

By: TC

TC — Thu, 10 May 2007 21:46:55 +0000

Thanks you guys - and I am heading to those links.

Hey, given what I am likely eating from my pantry nowdays in terms of contaminants, no, the maggot idea doesn’t bother me as much, lol:)

By: Nancy Campbell RVT

Nancy Campbell RVT — Thu, 10 May 2007 19:31:02 +0000

It’s completely understandable that anyone would want to avoid feeding commercial chicken feed and I’m happy to say there are alternatives!

From putting together your own feed with ingredients purchased locally, to grinding and rolling your own grains. Just Google “chicken feed recipes” and “homemade chicken food”.

http://www.lionsgrip.com/recipes.html

You can also look for locally grown & mix organic chicken feed.

This year I will be putting up a maggot feeder for the extra protein. Sounds gross, but the chickens will actually cluster around the hanging bucket waiting for the maggots to drop.
http://www.themodernhomestead......ggots.html

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Thu, 10 May 2007 19:28:43 +0000

Three years ago I moved back to the country with plans to have a variety of critters. Alas, I did have to move back to the city, but along with my dogs and cats, brought along my pet Indian Runner Duck, an egg-layer. Ethel is a constant delight and very personable. While we were living in the country I had both her and her sister, Lucy. Unfortunately, Lucy died and I worried that Ethel would suffer without another of her own kind. By that time I knew I was moving back to the city and could not get another duck and I was considering whether I would have to place Ethel with another flock of ducks somewhere. But, happily, she surprised me by adjusting very well. I think she considers me part of her flock; follows me around, greets me with much happy quacking when I come home, etc. Lots of fun, having a duck (and such nice, big eggs)! So, get your chickens, Gina. You’ll really enjoy them.

By: Nancy Nielsen

Nancy Nielsen — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:36:28 +0000

Oh yes, do it, you will love chickens. First thing, don’t underestimate their intelligence and amusement value, they are extremely entertaining to watch. I’ve had several kinds but what I got the most pleasure out of was the buff cochin bantams. You might want to consider bantams, cuter, and wonderful eggs (just eat two instead of one big-chicken egg), terrific “family values” and they will do a good job of raising the next batch of chicks for you. I too live where eagles, raccoons, coyotes etc will take a chicken when possible - you make it less possible with a tight house and a well-fenced chicken yard. It’s possible to protect them 99 percent of the time. Nothing is much funnier than to see the chickens hopping up and down in excitement as they see you heading for the sweet corn patch, knowing that there are big juicy earworms in their future.

By: TC

TC — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:06:28 +0000

I was looking into raising chickens.

However, what to feed them? It was going to be commercial feed, which no longer sounds like a good idea for the moment. Any comments on other ways chickens can be fed? We live so remotely that free range chickens would not last a day (cougars, bobcats, coyotes, etc).