Good thing this isn't allowed in the District. Our rats would have a field day, every day. And our nasty pigeons would love to meet their new chicken friends through the wires of their "protected" coops.

16:47 OP here. What visiting birds? They have a protected, wired coop for a reason. They won't be visiting anything else but other protected hens until they free range during the day in their protected run. Really, a search on Backyard chickens might clear this up for you. Somehow this has this turned into "how" I will care for them. I'm open to anyone else who can share an actual experience anywhere in the vicinity of Mo Co county preferably.

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.

And how will you keep your chicken away from visiting wild birds once they're on your hacienda? Anything visiting pigeons carry, you chickens can bring to you.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want chickens (a few hens) very much but it isn't legal in my town. The city council hearing on backyard poultry was full of the same kind of foolishness displayed here "we used to be rural and poor, but now we are well off and suburban, and chickens would make us LOOK poor." And one councilwoman saying "yuck. I don't want to know where my food comes from." At the same time the town is trying to promote itself as a hip, artsy, no-car-needed town close to DC. If you can't keep up with the trends (ie urban homesteading) you aren't going to attract the young and hip. Who, by the way, have chickens.

Then I don't want young and hip in my neighborhood. Jeez.

Seriously, I mean, we're not a developing nation, you know? I don't understand why "hip" people think it's ok to fetishize poverty. Talk about offensive.

OP here. You don't get out much, do you? In case you haven't read the last 6 pages or so of this thread (and I can't blame you if you didn't) I'm by no means a youngster, hip, or poor and it's funny to hear your descriptors for whatever you have made up in your head chicken owners to be. It sounds like your reference to a developing nation really shows me that YOU are in fact on the defensive. I hear you saying you do not approve of a well off person taking care of animals ONLY poor people do that and if they can't stay in their confined "labels" that bothers you? That's how I'm reading into that one.

And I'm not talking about "we" here I'm talking about "me" so do what you like in your backyard, ok then?

And for the chicken owners I know in Bethesda, I think they are far from "fetishizing poverty". Get a clue. I suppose it's ok to go to the store to buy and eat eggs or chicken as long as you don't have to see them. That would just be horrific. Maybe just the worst thing to happen around Montgomery County.

I get out plenty. I've seen countries where chickens are kept by impoverished people. I'm guessing you haven't had that privilege, or you wouldn't think this was so cool.

The "hip" comment was directly responsive to the pp. I know full well you're not hip.

This is all really silly. Impoverished people sometimes have dogs too, and so do rich people. Just because poor people sometimes have something doesn't mean rich people can't.

I think factory eggs are disgusting. And even the "cage free organic" eggs are still from farms where the chickens are kept in disgusting conditions. Crowded into a huge stinky barn with no access to the outdoors. I would MUCH rather have a hen or two in the backyard and know that the eggs are from healthy animals. And a small amount of chicken shit makes great fertilizer and the chickens eat undesirable bugs. Win-win.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually there are amazing pics of a gorgeous coop designed by an architect in Southern Living this month. Check it out if you are interested in raising a couple of chickens without the mess.

PPs referencing stinky, gross coops are out of touch. 2-3 chickens are not going to produce the same issues as a chicken farm. Just don't let your hens set and you'll be fine. Chickens are less work than a dog and much more useful.

Again, you are basing your opinion on something you saw in a design magazine! Not reality. All chickens produce chicken shit, which is about 10,000 times more disgusting than dog feces.

Oh, and one question- what are you going to do with those hens when they stop laying? You do know that most chickens lay for 2-3 years, but can live for 6-7, right? How "useful" will they be then? Or will you cut their heads off, clean and pluck them, and serve those stringy old gals for dinner?

No, I am basing my opinion on the fact that I have had chickens at various points in my life and thus have personal experience. Your only experience appears to be driving by a chicken farm once on vacation. I was giving OP real advice.

Hens are not loud. Avoid a rooster.
Finally, yes, you will need to replace your flock after a few years. If you get too attached put them in a dog crate and haul them to a butcher who can do the dirty work for you.

OP here, thank you for the suggestions PP.

15:50 I am ready to hear all of the many, many diseases you talk about that I must have missed.

There are lots of (diseases transmissible from animals to humans), but most people don't get ill unless they are immunologically impaired. The most common chicken-transmitted disease per the CDC is Salmonella, usually when people handle chickens and then don't wash their hands properly afterwards--but even that doesn't happen too often. So, unless you're immunologically impaired (cancer patient, HIV+, very elderly, child under 2 years old, organ transplant recipient, already battling a serious infection, etc. ) then you will probably be just fine.

There are also warnings from CDC that chickens can be reservoirs for West Nile Virus, but quite frankly even if you personally didn't keep animal carriers for West Nile, any critter within a mile or so of you could carry it anyway--any songbird, any horse, there are lots of carriers for West Nile.

I plan on wearing a dust mask or put on a respirator for cleaning the chicken pen, just because getting particles of anything in your lungs--even non-infectious particles like bits of hay chaff or pine bedding--is not good for you either. And the thought of inhaling powdered chicken poo is just, well, icky to me.

People who have close contact with chickens certainly are at risk for diseases! Birds carry many, many nasty sicknesses that can be transmitted to people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually there are amazing pics of a gorgeous coop designed by an architect in Southern Living this month. Check it out if you are interested in raising a couple of chickens without the mess.

PPs referencing stinky, gross coops are out of touch. 2-3 chickens are not going to produce the same issues as a chicken farm. Just don't let your hens set and you'll be fine. Chickens are less work than a dog and much more useful.

Again, you are basing your opinion on something you saw in a design magazine! Not reality. All chickens produce chicken shit, which is about 10,000 times more disgusting than dog feces.

Oh, and one question- what are you going to do with those hens when they stop laying? You do know that most chickens lay for 2-3 years, but can live for 6-7, right? How "useful" will they be then? Or will you cut their heads off, clean and pluck them, and serve those stringy old gals for dinner?

No, I am basing my opinion on the fact that I have had chickens at various points in my life and thus have personal experience. Your only experience appears to be driving by a chicken farm once on vacation. I was giving OP real advice.

Hens are not loud. Avoid a rooster.
Finally, yes, you will need to replace your flock after a few years. If you get too attached put them in a dog crate and haul them to a butcher who can do the dirty work for you.

OP here and 14:48 too. I'm fairly certain you were the same poster in most, if not all of those responses. Sometimes we cannot accept what we don't understand. Multiple posters can call me a fool all day long if they like but that does not make it so. I do appreciate those who have been forthcoming in their experiences though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want chickens (a few hens) very much but it isn't legal in my town. The city council hearing on backyard poultry was full of the same kind of foolishness displayed here "we used to be rural and poor, but now we are well off and suburban, and chickens would make us LOOK poor." And one councilwoman saying "yuck. I don't want to know where my food comes from." At the same time the town is trying to promote itself as a hip, artsy, no-car-needed town close to DC. If you can't keep up with the trends (ie urban homesteading) you aren't going to attract the young and hip. Who, by the way, have chickens.

Then I don't want young and hip in my neighborhood. Jeez.

Seriously, I mean, we're not a developing nation, you know? I don't understand why "hip" people think it's ok to fetishize poverty. Talk about offensive.

OP here. You don't get out much, do you? In case you haven't read the last 6 pages or so of this thread (and I can't blame you if you didn't) I'm by no means a youngster, hip, or poor and it's funny to hear your descriptors for whatever you have made up in your head chicken owners to be. It sounds like your reference to a developing nation really shows me that YOU are in fact on the defensive. I hear you saying you do not approve of a well off person taking care of animals ONLY poor people do that and if they can't stay in their confined "labels" that bothers you? That's how I'm reading into that one.

And I'm not talking about "we" here I'm talking about "me" so do what you like in your backyard, ok then?

And for the chicken owners I know in Bethesda, I think they are far from "fetishizing poverty". Get a clue. I suppose it's ok to go to the store to buy and eat eggs or chicken as long as you don't have to see them. That would just be horrific. Maybe just the worst thing to happen around Montgomery County.

I get out plenty. I've seen countries where chickens are kept by impoverished people. I'm guessing you haven't had that privilege, or you wouldn't think this was so cool.

The "hip" comment was directly responsive to the pp. I know full well you're not hip.

OP here. Then it's even more ridiculous you could compare the two.

You are assuming you know what I think and you would be wrong.

Judging by the way your answering on this thread I'm feeling more "hip" every second.

Yeah, I could see you doing that. You seem very impressed with yourself.

BTW, there are multiple posters saying you're a fool. I'm not the only one.

But, you know, clearly you have all the answer. You don't strike me as the kind of person who doesn't know what she doesn't know.

Ignorance is bliss

Anonymous wrote:To add, what would you do if you hens got sick?

Would you give them antibiotics?

People willing to raise 'organic' animals may not be willing to give proper care to the animals, which makes the situation much worse.

OP here. It really depends on what the problem is and there are plenty of sources around this area that have a vet who will check out your animal for things of that nature such as feed stores with vet days, ect. I would take them to the vet just as you would any other animal.

Yes, I would give them antibiotics if they needed them just like you would give your pet medicine if it were necessary. Again, I'm prepared for this and yes the feed they will eat is organic which most chickens do anyway. Good thing I'm not one of those "people" whoever they are. I've actually given this some thought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want chickens (a few hens) very much but it isn't legal in my town. The city council hearing on backyard poultry was full of the same kind of foolishness displayed here "we used to be rural and poor, but now we are well off and suburban, and chickens would make us LOOK poor." And one councilwoman saying "yuck. I don't want to know where my food comes from." At the same time the town is trying to promote itself as a hip, artsy, no-car-needed town close to DC. If you can't keep up with the trends (ie urban homesteading) you aren't going to attract the young and hip. Who, by the way, have chickens.

Then I don't want young and hip in my neighborhood. Jeez.

Seriously, I mean, we're not a developing nation, you know? I don't understand why "hip" people think it's ok to fetishize poverty. Talk about offensive.

OP here. You don't get out much, do you? In case you haven't read the last 6 pages or so of this thread (and I can't blame you if you didn't) I'm by no means a youngster, hip, or poor and it's funny to hear your descriptors for whatever you have made up in your head chicken owners to be. It sounds like your reference to a developing nation really shows me that YOU are in fact on the defensive. I hear you saying you do not approve of a well off person taking care of animals ONLY poor people do that and if they can't stay in their confined "labels" that bothers you? That's how I'm reading into that one.

And I'm not talking about "we" here I'm talking about "me" so do what you like in your backyard, ok then?

And for the chicken owners I know in Bethesda, I think they are far from "fetishizing poverty". Get a clue. I suppose it's ok to go to the store to buy and eat eggs or chicken as long as you don't have to see them. That would just be horrific. Maybe just the worst thing to happen around Montgomery County.

I get out plenty. I've seen countries where chickens are kept by impoverished people. I'm guessing you haven't had that privilege, or you wouldn't think this was so cool.

The "hip" comment was directly responsive to the pp. I know full well you're not hip.

OP here. Then it's even more ridiculous you could compare the two.

You are assuming you know what I think and you would be wrong.

Judging by the way your answering on this thread I'm feeling more "hip" every second.

Yeah, I could see you doing that. You seem very impressed with yourself.

BTW, there are multiple posters saying you're a fool. I'm not the only one.

But, you know, clearly you have all the answer. You don't strike me as the kind of person who doesn't know what she doesn't know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want chickens (a few hens) very much but it isn't legal in my town. The city council hearing on backyard poultry was full of the same kind of foolishness displayed here "we used to be rural and poor, but now we are well off and suburban, and chickens would make us LOOK poor." And one councilwoman saying "yuck. I don't want to know where my food comes from." At the same time the town is trying to promote itself as a hip, artsy, no-car-needed town close to DC. If you can't keep up with the trends (ie urban homesteading) you aren't going to attract the young and hip. Who, by the way, have chickens.

Then I don't want young and hip in my neighborhood. Jeez.

Seriously, I mean, we're not a developing nation, you know? I don't understand why "hip" people think it's ok to fetishize poverty. Talk about offensive.

OP here. You don't get out much, do you? In case you haven't read the last 6 pages or so of this thread (and I can't blame you if you didn't) I'm by no means a youngster, hip, or poor and it's funny to hear your descriptors for whatever you have made up in your head chicken owners to be. It sounds like your reference to a developing nation really shows me that YOU are in fact on the defensive. I hear you saying you do not approve of a well off person taking care of animals ONLY poor people do that and if they can't stay in their confined "labels" that bothers you? That's how I'm reading into that one.

And I'm not talking about "we" here I'm talking about "me" so do what you like in your backyard, ok then?

And for the chicken owners I know in Bethesda, I think they are far from "fetishizing poverty". Get a clue. I suppose it's ok to go to the store to buy and eat eggs or chicken as long as you don't have to see them. That would just be horrific. Maybe just the worst thing to happen around Montgomery County.

I get out plenty. I've seen countries where chickens are kept by impoverished people. I'm guessing you haven't had that privilege, or you wouldn't think this was so cool.

The "hip" comment was directly responsive to the pp. I know full well you're not hip.

OP here. Then it's even more ridiculous you could compare the two.

You are assuming you know what I think and you would be wrong.

Judging by the way your answering on this thread I'm feeling more "hip" every second.

In general, I think urban agriculture (wrt. plants and maybe even bees) is a very cool idea.

But I don't see how raising livestock in close proximity to people is anything other than unsanitary. A PP gave the full list: disease, vermin, smells, noise.