Text 19148, 80 rader
Skriven 2009-01-05 19:38:20 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
  Kommentar till text 19142 av DAVE SACERDOTE (1:123/140)
Ärende: Chickens
================
Hi Dave,

>> We have a shed right next to the house.. one of those type
>> you can store shovels and gardening tools in, it's
>> not huge but decent sized.  I was thinking.. what if I converted
>> that to a chicken coop and had maybe 4 or 5 hens..

> You can do it easily - chickens aren't that hard to take care of, and
> they're loads of fun to watch.  Our first flock was hand-raised and
> liked to be held and petted.

That's what I've been reading :)  Feed 'em every day or whatever, clean out the
hen house into the composter and collect eggs (grin) I have to call the village
to see if there are any restrictions, but I doubt there will be, we are so
rural here.. maybe no roosters - and if that's the case, I can live without
roosters waking me up at the crack of dawn (g).

> You only need an 8x8 shed for about a dozen chickens. You'll need

Ok this shed is only about 4X8 so I might do better to just build a hen house.
Pictures make that look pretty easy :)  Since my garden is in beds, the
chickens won't get into them, nor will a chicken tractor be an issue.

> somewhere for them to perch at night (put it over a muck pit, it will
> be easier to clean the henhouse) and some laying boxes because they
> like a little privacy when they're laying eggs.  If you do it,
> order 6 hens because one might turn out to be a rooster (it happens)

I can see that happening :)

> and another one or two might die before getting old enough to lay
> (that happens, too, sometimes chickens just up and die for no
> apparent reason.)

I can see how that could happen as well.  Originally I'd thought of buying
already grown hens but there wouldn't be much of a point to that if they're
close to the end of their egg-laying age.. You've convinced me to buy chicks
:)  I really would like to see them grow up :)

> I can't wait until the ground thaws, my top priority, even over
> a garden this year, is to get another henhouse built and get some
> peepers to raise into laying hens.  It's been 2 years since my last
> flock and I really want to have chickens again.

Yes, it makes so much sense to have them :)

> Also, if you decide to really get serious, and you need some advice
> or whatever, just ask, I'll be happy to help.

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it :)  Now how did I know you'd know
all about this (vbg)

> As for the dogs:  My pit bull has a huge prey drive - he chases
> birds in the yard, kills squirrels, runs after cats - but never,
> ever bothered my chickens other than rounding them up like a sheepdog

That is SO great :)

> if they got out into the yard.  I bet you can train your labs to not
> bother the hens

That's what I was hoping.. Toby, our young boy, is so scared of everything he'd
probably run at the slightest peck haha  Priscilla is older and wiser but I
think she'd be no problem to train.

> (or you can do what I did and have a protected henyard
> for them - when I was at my other house it was close to a creek and
> I had racoons and minks always trying to get my birds.)

Yes I thought of that as well... The back yard is already fenced for the dogs
so I don't think I'd have to worry about hen-swiping wildlife getting in... We
have chicken hawks around here, but I doubt they'd come around much with the
dogs in the yard... I do like the idea of the chickens coming and going as they
like :)

Take care,
Janis

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