Backyard chickens-who has them and do your neighbors care?

[Anonymous]

Good thing we don't have worry about your nasty pigeons. You can keep them in DC with your umm, non-existent rat problem...



http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Warm-Weather-Means-More-Rats-in-DC-144985965.html


http://lonelyconservative.com/2012/01/dc-rat-law-crazier-then-fiction-requires-rats-to-be-relocated-with-families/

[Anonymous]

OP, do you plan to sell your eggs? Or just keep them for yourself? I wish I had the space....

[Anonymous]

OP here. I plan to use what I can for breakfast, baking recipes, and our children like to eat scrambled eggs. Whatever is left over, if any, I will give to the neighbors if they would like them.
If there are extras then, I would boil a few and feed them back to the hens. The shells are great sources of calcium- I read that eggs shells and oyster shell are given too boost a hens calcium if they lay an egg without a shell or some missing, ect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I plan to use what I can for breakfast, baking recipes, and our children like to eat scrambled eggs. Whatever is left over, if any, I will give to the neighbors if they would like them.
If there are extras then, I would boil a few and feed them back to the hens. The shells are great sources of calcium- I read that eggs shells and oyster shell are given too boost a hens calcium if they lay an egg without a shell or some missing, ect.

This sounds so exciting! My cousin keep chickens in her backyard in France, but they are lot more tolerant of neighbors there.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue isn't any "critter" within a mile, but a "critter" with which you're in close contact.

Human bird flu cases usually begin with people raising poultry.

OP here. I thought you might like that word! I'm dealing with the same person

That's why you buy from a hatchery that has vaccinated from day 1 and they have not come in contact with other contaminated or non-domesticated birds. Its commonly passed bird-to-bird and I'm not those "people" you speak of. They should do their homework. Check out CDC site.

No, you're not. It might shock you to learn that there are a multitude of people responding to you in a negative fashion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue isn't any "critter" within a mile, but a "critter" with which you're in close contact.

Human bird flu cases usually begin with people raising poultry.

OP here. I thought you might like that word! I'm dealing with the same person

That's why you buy from a hatchery that has vaccinated from day 1 and they have not come in contact with other contaminated or non-domesticated birds. Its commonly passed bird-to-bird and I'm not those "people" you speak of. They should do their homework. Check out CDC site.

No, you're not. It might shock you to learn that there are a multitude of people responding to you in a negative fashion.

Oh loook she's back

[Anonymous]

Seems like chicken lady needs something besides DCUM to occupy her time.

[Anonymous]

...says someone who spends their time posting about chicken lady

[Anonymous]

or chicken MAN?

[Anonymous]

Ah haha. Our "hipster" friends tried the chicken and egg thing for awhile. Tiny green eggs, ruined the grass lawn, feces everywhere the children played in the back yard. Oh and tons of money in feed. More money to feed the chickens than to buy big white organic eggs at whole food each week..
Also, they loved to peck at your glistening eyes. Nothing beats the trip to urgimed on sunday morning and your kid needing stitches in his face for trying to pet a chicken.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah haha. Our "hipster" friends tried the chicken and egg thing for awhile. Tiny green eggs, ruined the grass lawn, feces everywhere the children played in the back yard. Oh and tons of money in feed. More money to feed the chickens than to buy big white organic eggs at whole food each week..
Also, they loved to peck at your glistening eyes. Nothing beats the trip to urgimed on sunday morning and your kid needing stitches in his face for trying to pet a chicken.

Good luck!

OP here. I don't actually believe a word you just wrote. Tiny green eggs? What breed of chicken does that. Aggressive hens? Maybe a rooster. Feed is less than $20 to last months. That's gross they let feces everywhere and didn't have enough room for them if there kids had to "play in it." Your story is ridiculous. Where are you getting this information, a neighbor account? If so, it sounds like he/she REALLY doesn't know what their doing. And I'm not concerned about the money. But am worried I may be feeding the trolls.

[Anonymous]

Anhahha. You really blew your credibility with your last post.

Chickens are so aggressive they sometimes need red contact lenses or eye guards to keep from fighting!

Hen egg shells, you need to get out and talk to ppl. Shells are the color of whatever your hens are eating, including yr grass or veggies.

Also, run the numbers, cost of the hens, coop, fencing to protect the rest of your yard, feed.

And again, good luck with your experiment. You seem to be quite committed and brainwashed to the whole idea. I would have been happy to take you over to a couple of friends places who are trying the whole "fresh eggs" thing if I didn't think you were so btchy and naive.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Whatever, man. I didn't know this was a thread for "credibility." Credibility for what? This is an exciting backyard adventure! Have you done this for a living? It doesn't sound like it- you must be such the expert if you have to "take me to your buddies" house to show me how its done. Umm, no thanks. And I think you confusing aggressiveness in all chickens with what BREED. Yes, some are raised as fighting chickens, some for meat, some for egg producers, ect. Anyone can look that up. I don't need to "talk to people" to realize you have no idea what you're talking about. Egg shell comment is ignorant. Some lay brown, white and shades of the two. There is Amercauna "easter eggers" that lays colors, but tiny green? Bantams/easter egger chicken? Yeah, never heard of that one. I don't care what the numbers are, I have the $$.
BUT I'm learning as I go and I'll have to make real sure I don't accidentally mail order me up of some of those tiny, green-egged, man-eating, devil chickens, ok? Thanks for the heads up.
Now, please bug off.

[Anonymous]

But I do not care for green eggs and ham, Sam I Am.

OP, I don't think you'll ever convince that PP. Don't sweat it. Reminds me of another chicken debate that is getting old...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want chickens?

Eeewww. Chickenshit everywhere. Screams, "I am poor."

What are you going to do when they stop laying eggs in a few years? Stew 'em?

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. Keeping chickens a great hobby, doesn't have to be messy and is great fun for children. Suburban chicken coops are architecturally interesting and safe from foxes and very easy to maintain.

You are so ironic. And romantic. I don't think you have the first clue.

I associate chickens living in close proximity with humans with rural America, poverty and developing nations. I'm not sure why you are striving for that. During the Great Depression the biggest stigma you could have was chickens -- meant you were almost foreclosed upon.

Why do you care so much what other people think? If you enjoy raising chickens and can get some benefits from it (fresh, healthy, free-range eggs from animals that haven't been suffering their entire short lives), why should your primary concern be that other people might think you're poor? That's the most ridiculous, vain reason I've ever heard.

My mother keeps chickens in her backyard and loves it. The eggs are delicious, healthy, and cruelty-free. She composts the chicken hay for her chemical-free garden. The coop is kept away from the house, but it really doesn't smell as long as she changes the hay frequently. I would also say it's best to make a nice, deep coop with a good run. When the chickens stop producing, you can either eat them or keep them just as pets. They are fun to watch in the yard, and they eat lots of bugs. They really aren't loud as long as you don't get a rooster. I don't even think most of her neighbors realize she has them. Good luck with your new project, and have fun!