Urban Chickens

[FCollinsBuckeye]

So, the wife and I decided we'd embark on an urban chicken-keeping adventure this year. We had talked about getting a backyard flock for years, but when the FC city council decided to allow small backyard flocks of laying hens in the fall of '08, we decided to go for it.

So, this spring we got 5 chicks and I built a coop and secure run. As the chicks grew, two of them turned out to be roosters, so we got rid of them. I wanted to eat them, but Mrs. FCB wasn't into that, so we gave them back to the feed store. They either resold them, or ate them themselves.

Our 3 hens have been laying pretty well since around labor day and the fresh eggs have been great. Our daughter really enjoys the chickens too.

I think I'll be expanding their secure run in the spring and getting a few more hens. I think a flock of 5 would be about perfect.

Anyone else on BP have chickens?

 

[Bleed S & G]

So, the wife and I decided we'd embark on an urban chicken-keeping adventure this year. We had talked about getting a backyard flock for years, but when the FC city council decided to allow small backyard flocks of laying hens in the fall of '08, we decided to go for it.

So, this spring we got 5 chicks and I built a coop and secure run. As the chicks grew, two of them turned out to be roosters, so we got rid of them. I wanted to eat them, but Mrs. FCB wasn't into that, so we gave them back to the feed store. They either resold them, or ate them themselves.

Our 3 hens have been laying pretty well since around labor day and the fresh eggs have been great. Our daughter really enjoys the chickens too.

I think I'll be expanding their secure run in the spring and getting a few more hens. I think a flock of 5 would be about perfect.

Anyone else on BP have chickens?

I don't have any hens but that's very cool - any pictures?

 

[sepia5]

So, the wife and I decided we'd embark on an urban chicken-keeping adventure this year. We had talked about getting a backyard flock for years, but when the FC city council decided to allow small backyard flocks of laying hens in the fall of '08, we decided to go for it.

So, this spring we got 5 chicks and I built a coop and secure run. As the chicks grew, two of them turned out to be roosters, so we got rid of them. I wanted to eat them, but Mrs. FCB wasn't into that, so we gave them back to the feed store. They either resold them, or ate them themselves.

Our 3 hens have been laying pretty well since around labor day and the fresh eggs have been great. Our daughter really enjoys the chickens too.

I think I'll be expanding their secure run in the spring and getting a few more hens. I think a flock of 5 would be about perfect.

Anyone else on BP have chickens?

My girlfriend has been clamoring about the possibility of getting a couple because the city we live in just passed an ordinance allowing chickens within city limits. It's my understanding that the hens lay an egg every day? Is this correct?

You totally should have done some coq a vin with those roosters, my man.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Here are a few pics - coop/secure run, further out showing the coop and chicken 'yard', and a shot of the coop after our first big snow of the year a month or so ago.

 

[Deety]

Sounds like a good idea.

Teach them any tricks?

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

It's my understanding that the hens lay an egg every day? Is this correct?

One of ours, a 'red sex link', lays an extra large brown egg every day. Our other two, a California White and Barred Plymouth Rock, lay about 5 eggs a week each, but those two have slowed down now that the days are very short.

Deety: our chickens aren't all that bright, so I'm not too hopeful about tricks, though there may be some lolchickens in their future... :p

 

[cincibuck]

We have a good friend who lives in a densely populated section of town, average frontages 50 feet and lots usually no deeper than 150. Her neighbor, whose lot is at the end of the street and empties into a vacant lot and a huge manor home, got chickens and claims not to have a rooster, but something is crowing at the crack of dawn each day and Peg's about to be shopping for a shootin' iron.

Still, it sure beats the asshole who lived behind us a few years back and kept 19 pit bulls "for protection."

 

[DubCoffman62]

We have a good friend who lives in a densely populated section of town, average frontages 50 feet and lots usually no deeper than 150. Her neighbor, whose lot is at the end of the street and empties into a vacant lot and a huge manor home, got chickens and claims not to have a rooster, but something is crowing at the crack of dawn each day and Peg's about to be shopping for a shootin' iron.

Still, it sure beats the asshole who lived behind us a few years back and kept 19 pit bulls "for protection."

My father has a rooster and a pack of dogs that bark at the slightest provocation. The houses around him have emptied over the years, part of his plan I suppose. I do feel sorry for the elderly couple that lived across the street from him who thought they'd spend their twilight years in a nice quiet desert community only to have my father show up a year later.

 

[DubCoffman62]

Back on topic though, I'd love to have some chickens in my backyard, you can't beat fresh eggs.

 

[MolGenBuckeye]

We keep buying eggs, but not a single one has hatched into a chicken. :(

 

[BUCKYLE]

Fucking hillbillies.

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[MightbeaBuck]

Oops
I thought this thread was gonna be about the cowardliness of Florida's football coach. Guess I should have known it wouldn't be under "Open Discussion (Work-safe.)...

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

[censored]ing locavores.

fix'd

:p

 

[Muck]

Growing up cleaning chicken coops & dealing with the nasty critters I have only one thing to say...

Fuck Chickens!

On a more useful note if you also have a garden, building a portable coop that you use as mobile fertilizing machine isn't a bad idea.