We live on an acre. Can someone tell me whether it is feasible, and what I would need to do to get started raising chickens for eggs for our own family's use. Please? Thank you!
If it is ok with the city, an acre is plenty for a few hens. There is a good book out there called Barnyard in your Backyard that would be a good resource. Where in KC do you live? I am 30 minutes south of you! Chickens are good for your mental health
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting them in a fruit salad! Farmgirl #680!
After you check the ordinances. Start with 4-5 chicks. You keep them in the garage or basement until they have feathers then you move them outdoors.The more you handle them the nicer they will be. We actually had ours in the garage for a couple months till we got the coop done we would just take them outside everyday. I have less then an acre and we had 5 little ladies they dont need much room at all they love their coop and will not go far from it. My husband and sons built our coop it can be fancy or plain. It needs nesting boxes but they will share so you only need a few. Feed dishes and water dish can be bought or made they are messy eaters so an enclosed dishes are best.we did have to get rid of our ladies because the village decided to change the ordinances after we had them and would not grandfather us in. Needless to say we are not on good terms with the board the president said if he couldnt have his pigs in his backyard we couldnt have chickens like that even makes sense so it was very hard to get rid of them You will really get attached to them. They each have their own personality and are very fun to have around. You will love having them. I have a couple chicken magazines if you want them let me know.
oh Lucy that is so sad...people can be so selfish & mean spirited....where I live we are not suppose to have chickens unless we have an acre...well when I moved here my neighbors said there had always been chickens in this area so they don't care that I have chickens...but I also live on a double dead end street that is up near the forest so its hard to find me....but whats really weird is we are allowed pot belly pigs which I did have one for a bit...I even have mini roosters who sound like wind up toys when they crow....I am not one to let someone else tell me what I can & can't do so I am sure if a battle ever happens over them I will not be the one to give in...lol....even if I have to cage them in the house they are stayin' I adore my chickens & they create a wonderful place for me mentally.....I never feel they are a burden or trouble...best animal I have ever raised....& yes you need to hold them & interact with them so they are not so scare or nervous if you are out there...plus it makes it so much easier if you have to dust them for mites or tend to minor wounds if you can catch them & hold them......Some are used to me but they still beat me to death with their wings....lol.....Michele'
Would love to raise a chicken or two...It's actually allowed in Brooklyn....But we have a lot of feral cats in the neighborhood.....I don't know....I would love to raise some though.
I (hubby is very reluctant) to get a few. I know we could have them, but I know virtually nothing about them. And I'd feel sorry for them in the winter and don't know how to keep them warm..... But best of luck to ya and I hope you can give it a go. Let us know what you decide and how it's going for ya!
"Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." George Eliot
Best book we ever read on keeping chickens was "chickens in your backyard" by Rick and Gail Luttmann. In fact, i got it from someone here in the forum! Got us throuhgh our first year of having chickens. We have 13 acres, but only about one acre is actual yard (the rest is woods) and we've had upwards of 40 birds here at a time. :) Good luck! Chickens are fabulous for the soul!!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. -Oscar Wilde
Hello, I am wondering if you have a suggestion for peeling hard boiled eggs? I love the, but hate it when the shell comes off in a zillion little chips. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you have. Janet lilaclady #999
Start raising chickens?
Posted - Feb 26 2011 : 11:34:57 AM
