| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| tziporra |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 09:46:08 AM
Hey there farmgirls! I'm sure my questions are going to sounds terribly naive, but here goes:
A couple of friends and I are thinking about getting some chickens. We are allowed three each inside our city limits. We want eggs only, no meat.
I've been reading the topic about your favorite layers, so I have some ideas there. However, it's very important that we have hens that lay without blood spots. Are there breeds more likely to do this or does it depend on the individual hen? How many eggs/week could I expect from 3 hens?
Can anyone recommend a compact henhouse design suitable for the backyard?
What do feed costs run?
Best,
Robin |
| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| vintagechica |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 08:56:03 AM
Thank you all for the great info. and links. Im really looking into this. Next time hubby goes on deployment he might come back to a few "pet" chickens.
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| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 4:57:20 PM
Here's the dictionary's definition of PET. Just thought I'd throw this in...
1. any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
Hmmmm. Don't see anything about them living in the house...
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| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 4:48:14 PM
So here's what my city contact said about chickens in our city limits. Livestock and poultry are illegal to have within the city limits UNLESS they are pets. I haven't got the exact wording. I've asked for a copy of the law, and I'll know better when it comes, but that's what the gal said... Of course, SHE says that means that the chicken would have to live indoors, and not in a pen. EXCUSE ME?!? I know a lot of people who keep pets like dogs and CATS outdoors. So by my personal definition, I would assume that PET would mean you weren't raising the chicken to be eaten. Doesn't mean you couldn't eat the EGGS! On the other hand, I would also think that would mean that if Faith finds out her city has a similar law, she wouldn't be able to eat that rooster.  There are a lot of farmer's co-ops and the like, that sell chicks in the spring. You wouldn't know what you were getting, but you might be able to sell off the ones that turned out to be "noisy"! I'm seriously thinking about this one. Might have to get me a few PET chickens! hee hee
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OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Love-in-a-Mist |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 1:50:04 PM
Faith,
By the time they start crowing, you could eat them. Last year I ordered chicks from Murray McMurray about March and by August everyone was crowing and laying eggs. I decided next time I order chicks I'm going to go in with the neighbor lady or anyone else close that doesn't want so many. Even on a big farm 25 chicks was alot and they sent me 28 in case their was any casualties. Maybe you could find some other people and do the same thing. Murray McMurray has such a great variety.
Farmgirl and mother of 2 |
| tziporra |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 1:22:27 PM
Hi there,
The American Poultry Association offers information on various city regulations -- they may know yours.
http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/
Best,
Robin |
| faithymom |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 11:56:03 AM
I would try the Chamber of Commerce. If they don't know, I bet they'd have an idea of who does.
I *believe* I actually called the sheriff's office, but I can't really remember.
You could also call your local Extension Service and see if they can help.
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 11:54:50 AM
I can't find anything on my city law either, but my husband is a Police officer for the county, so I'm going to see what he knows... Also I read that these types of law are usually in a city's BYLAWS and if you can find someone to help you search those, you might be able to find something. I haven't found my city's BYLAWS on line yet... still hoping.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| vintagechica |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 11:42:00 AM
Question...how do you find out if your city has regulations re: chickens. I looked online and cant find anything. Exactly who and what office would you contact for that kind of issue?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
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www.vintagechica.typepad.com |
| faithymom |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 09:36:38 AM
I am also in the city and thinking of getting some chickens.
I checked with the authorities here and they said you can have any animals in the city as long as they don't disturb your neighbors with excessive noise...which regarding poultry means no roosters.
I am only looking to get 3-5 hens, so ordering from Murray McMurray isn't an option because they only ship day-old chicks in quantities of 25 or more....way too many for my small backyard! Although, I am trying to figure out if I get a mix of males and females, will the roosters begin to crow BEFORE butcher time comes around? If not, then I could raise them till they're 'dinner' and then scale down to how many hens I want to take care of. Anyone know the answer?
I just ran across an ad for hens and the lady wants $5 each (I could get from 3-8 from her), but I'm waiting on my husband's OK before I get them...plus I have a vacation planned for next month and figure that I should wait till I get home so hubby doesn't have to take care of them while I'm gone.
TTFN,
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 08:35:10 AM
I'll have to see what I can dig up here. I'm smack DAB in the middle of town, so there's no fudging and saying I thought I was at the outskirts! LOL
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Love-in-a-Mist |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 08:29:40 AM
MMm I'm not exactly sure. Around 30' by 15'. But if you only get a few hens it doesn't have to be very big. The side of your house is probably perfect.
Last summer I tried to find out about city regs. for chickens, but couldn't find any for Polk County. At least on the internet. I wanted to advertise my chickens for sale at the farmer's market as being great pets.(I have alot of small fancy ones) I sold some of them, to other farmers, but would have liked to known the regs so I could of made sales to the people in town.
Farmgirl and mother of 2 |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 08:06:41 AM
Shannon,
How big is your chicken yard? I have an area at the side of my house that might work. It's protected from the wind, and the mud wouldn't be bad there. I'm thinking I'd only be getting a small amount of birds IF I got any. I really like the thought of my own eggs. We had ducks at our old house, and there was definately a smell. I like the wood shaving idea. If we end up with mud, I might try that. I need to find out about chickens in the city, though.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Love-in-a-Mist |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 07:25:35 AM
Rachel,
I have 15 chickens confined in a hen house and yard. I haven't had any problems with smell(only when I had ducks in the hot summer months). But I see you are from Oregon too and all the rain is a problem if you give them a chicken yard. But I just found a good solution to the mud. I spread 4 bags of the wood pellets you would use for animal bedding in a stall, all through the chicken yard. The pellets break down into saw dust. They love to dust themselves and scratch in it, and their feathers aren't muddy anymore.
Farmgirl and mother of 2 |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 10:12:38 PM
This totally make me want to get some birds! Thanks Eren! Love the link!
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| vintagechica |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 11:13:00 AM
Just happened on to this page from the Freedom Project on raising chickens in the city and thought I would pass it along. Im thinking of getting some chickens, but my husband would totally freak out!!! But just might have to do it anyway, LOL!
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/pathproject/simpleliving/chickens.shtml
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
Visit me anytime at my blog:
www.vintagechica.typepad.com |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - Feb 12 2007 : 9:17:27 PM
Robin,
If your chickens could roam the yard you could use a dog house or something of that size. My daughter has about 12 (hens & roosters), but only 3 are laying right now. We get more than a dozen eggs per week from those three. Plenty for the two of us and extra to sell. Keep in mind that during the shorter days hens lay fewer eggs if you don't have a light in the coop. Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns are the most productive layers. Best of luck. They are well worth it. Fun to watch too.
Ps - I buy mash and scratch at Wal-Mart for $5-6 a 50lb bag. Then they get kitchen scraps. |
| tziporra |
Posted - Feb 12 2007 : 7:57:57 PM
Thank you all so much for this great information!!!!
Re: Blood Spots -- some eggs have spots that are not the result of fertilization. Dunno why. Anyway, a friend here in the neighborhood had one chicken who consistently laid with spots (she has no rooster), and we didn't know if it was her breed or just that chicken. Sounds like maybe that hen is just stressed!
6 eggs/week is great! Thanks again,
Robin |
| nitere |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 7:03:22 PM
i live in the city limits of atlanta and we have two hens and a rooster. each of our hens lays about 6 eggs per week. we have a dominique and a buff orpington. we occasionally get an egg with a blood spot, but i think that can occur with any breed. it happens when there is stress.
we have an area that is about 16' x 10' that is fenced in and inside that area we have a small henhouse that we built from scrap wood and it is up on sawhorses with a "ramp" from the ground.
as for smell, they don't have one. i don't know if it is because there are only three, though.
http://www.buraellen.blogspot.com |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 6:39:55 PM
Keep us posted on this, please! I like the idea of my own chickens! I also have a friend who HAS chickens... I might be able to get chicks from her... Does anyone know about the smell?
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| kitchensqueen |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 1:27:09 PM
There are lots of great resources out there for city chickens. Books, you might check out "Keep Chickens" or "Backyard Chickens". For websites, check out http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/index.html and www.backyardchickens.com. Murray McMurrary Hatchery is an excellent catalog of chickens and chicken supplies.
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
| bybiddie |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 11:22:47 AM
Robin, if you Google "chicken tractors", you will find a whole array of great designs. Even "backyard chickens" will give you some good ideas. As far as blood spots, you may be referring to the "spots" on fertilized eggs. If you don't have a rooster, you won't have fertilized eggs. I have Red Stars, Black Stars, Americaunas, a Barred Rock, and a Delaware - no roosters, only hens - and I have not had a "spot" on any of my eggs. I am crazy about my Red and Black Stars - they are very sweet natured and lay early (5 mos) and often. Good luck!
Lovin' my life
http://BizzyHands.etsy.com |
| MsCwick |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 10:03:39 AM
Feed is about 7-10 dollars per 50 lb bag. For 3 that may last a few weeks. 2-4 weeks?? You could go to petsmart and look for something like a deluxe rabbit hutch. The wooden kind with chicken wire flooring, and get some ideas from that. Make sure it is up off the ground, so that any loitering raccoons or foxes can't get in easily. You would need to build nest boxes if you get the rabbit hutch, but make sure you keep it small enough that they keep eachother cozy. They don't need a lot of room for sleeping and laying eggs. You could easily build a little ramp for them to go in and out during the day and just take it down and put them up at night. |
