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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much for the "urban" in DCUM. WTF....

Au contraire. You are hopelessly behind the times. So typical of "urban" D.C., sigh. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5900

For those of you arguing about whether raising backyard chickens bears the horrible stigma of poverty, check out PP's link above. It may have been something done by the poors in a bygone era, but now it's part of the crunchy organic eat local blah blah blah conceit that "urban" types love to blather on about.

[Anonymous]

I had chicken growing up and I recommend that you do a lot of research before moving forward. Chickens can be mean and messy -- they kick up a lot of dust that gets all over you. I don't think 4-5 will be bad for your space. But they are more work than say a dog.

[Anonymous]

I actually know two people who have chickens. One is a friends from college who wanted fresh organic eggs. She has loved the experience. She does not live in DC though. The other person lives in Howard County where the lots are an acre or larger. I would actually consider it but our yard isn't large enough. I feel like there are a lot of people commenting on here that don't realize that this has become quite "in vogue" for wealthy people. Definitely do some research but both people I know have really enjoyed it and the children have as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually know two people who have chickens. One is a friends from college who wanted fresh organic eggs. She has loved the experience. She does not live in DC though. The other person lives in Howard County where the lots are an acre or larger. I would actually consider it but our yard isn't large enough. I feel like there are a lot of people commenting on here that don't realize that this has become quite "in vogue" for wealthy people. Definitely do some research but both people I know have really enjoyed it and the children have as well.

I didn't know it was in vogue, but if Williams-Sonoma sells chicken coops, that's a pretty good indication I would think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually know two people who have chickens. One is a friends from college who wanted fresh organic eggs. She has loved the experience. She does not live in DC though. The other person lives in Howard County where the lots are an acre or larger. I would actually consider it but our yard isn't large enough. I feel like there are a lot of people commenting on here that don't realize that this has become quite "in vogue" for wealthy people. Definitely do some research but both people I know have really enjoyed it and the children have as well.

I love it. People won't give their children names because they're too popular. But they'll raise chickens in their yard because it's in vogue.

Stunning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had neighbors with chickens growing up. As a kid, I thought it was cool. Of course my parents & neighbors were livid. They outcasted that family until they finally moved.

OP here. Was this in a rural setting where chickens are acceptable or a suburban area very close to neighbors? I would not be very close to mine. 200ft or more probably

Suburbs, 1 acre lot. 'Farm animals' were prohibited by covenance, but short of taking them to court (which no one wanted to waste money on) the only recourse was to make them feel unwelcome. They choose to move to a more rural setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had neighbors with chickens growing up. As a kid, I thought it was cool. Of course my parents & neighbors were livid. They outcasted that family until they finally moved.

OP here. Was this in a rural setting where chickens are acceptable or a suburban area very close to neighbors? I would not be very close to mine. 200ft or more probably

Suburbs, 1 acre lot. 'Farm animals' were prohibited by covenance, but short of taking them to court (which no one wanted to waste money on) the only recourse was to make them feel unwelcome. They choose to move to a more rural setting.

OP here, your situation makes me think of this article. They did go to court and the chickens owners won in Kensington.

[Anonymous]

helps to attach the article.. http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/12152010/kensnew212241_32535.php

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had chicken growing up and I recommend that you do a lot of research before moving forward. Chickens can be mean and messy -- they kick up a lot of dust that gets all over you. I don't think 4-5 will be bad for your space. But they are more work than say a dog.

OP here. Ive done the research but thanks for sharing that. I read that the demeanor of a bird is very much based upon what breed you're talking about. My hens wouldn't be kicking up dust while hanging out in green grass and wood shavings. I don't want 4-5 chickens. I actually think that would be too many. I just want a couple for the fun of collecting eggs, watching them peck around the garden and using coop composting for veggies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You really miss the point. Raising chickens is an activity for the poors. It's the last step before total destitution. It says, "I cannot afford to buy eggs at the grocery store, so I'm going to try to collect my own and sell the extras." So, the appearance of chickens in any established neighborhood immediately downgrades the neighborhood quality. There is a STIGMA attached to this activity. You might as well put your beater up on cinder blocks in the front yard or something.

Now, don't get me wrong. Maybe you ARE having some difficulty with your finances. I'm sympathetic if you are. But, if that's the case, maybe you are stretching too far to buy the house and maybe you cannot afford the neighborhood? Something to think about.

Omg, you sound like a hillbilly pretending to be posh. Growing your own food is the hip thing to do these days.

I just visited a friend in the San Fransisco bay area. She lives in a gated community, and keeps chicken, ducks and geese in their backyard. They eat the eggs and treat the birds as pets. Everything is picturesque and no bad smell.

[Anonymous]

I think the OP has an idealized view of what chicken farming will be like. Only willing to imagine the quaint and cute without facing up to some of the inevitable nasty parts.

If the chickens were 200 ft away from my house and not visible from the street or my house, I probably would not care. I would, however, think you were a nut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had chicken growing up and I recommend that you do a lot of research before moving forward. Chickens can be mean and messy -- they kick up a lot of dust that gets all over you. I don't think 4-5 will be bad for your space. But they are more work than say a dog.

OP here. Ive done the research but thanks for sharing that. I read that the demeanor of a bird is very much based upon what breed you're talking about. My hens wouldn't be kicking up dust while hanging out in green grass and wood shavings. I don't want 4-5 chickens. I actually think that would be too many. I just want a couple for the fun of collecting eggs, watching them peck around the garden and using coop composting for veggies.

You do realize the amount of work with raising chickens is much greater than growing a few vegetables. Try visiting a farm and spending an evening in a chicken coup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually know two people who have chickens. One is a friends from college who wanted fresh organic eggs. She has loved the experience. She does not live in DC though. The other person lives in Howard County where the lots are an acre or larger. I would actually consider it but our yard isn't large enough. I feel like there are a lot of people commenting on here that don't realize that this has become quite "in vogue" for wealthy people. Definitely do some research but both people I know have really enjoyed it and the children have as well.

"In vogue" doesn't mean it's a smart thing to do.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a semi-rural part of MA, and we had chickens. I agree with 5:24 & 5:56- I think you have an unrealistic, romanticized notion of what it's like to raise fowl. It's not going to be like a Pottery Barn catalog or an article in Martha Stewart Living. Chickens are kind of gross!

[Anonymous]

I would have no problem with the fact that my neighbor had hens so long as they didn't bother me. I also would have no problem reporting them if they didn't take care of them.

Apparently we need to start a new forum: Does X make me look poor? The comments on this thread are idiotic and likely from the same people who scream MYOB when somebody thinks they've witnessed child abuse. Nothing says lack of class than obsession with it.