I have thought about acquiring chickens for a long time, so that we could have fresh organic eggs. In addition, they are good pooping machines, providing fertilizer for the garden. Moreover, wherever chickens haunt, they clear the land of vegetation, eating weed seeds, bugs and slugs. It became readily apparent they are multi purpose birds.
Originally, I asked for two pullets, was talked into taking three, but wound up with four. I’ve had them for three days now and they are growing and changing each day. One of them is a Barred Plymouth Rock named Roxy, while the other three are Rhode Island Reds, which I haven’t named thus far. The reds look very much alike; I am trying to familiarize myself with their individual features. One is starting to stand out as smaller, with darker red feathers than the other two; only time will tell if she will remain this way.
A friend in Portland raised them from little chicks to pullet size, when I purchased the extra girls. My husband and I built a two-foot by four-foot nesting house, where they are locked up tight at night. We have a chain-link dog kennel that serves as their patio by day. The whole pen is moveable; we plan to position it around the garden wherever we want them to scratch and fertilize. We topped it with black grids and some leftover pieces of plywood to provide some shade by day. We will fine-tune it as time passes.
I now officially feel countrified. Although keeping chickens in the city is feasible, keeping a flock has always felt like something you do when you live in rural areas, as we do. With my office window open, I can hear them peeping outside while I write. Sometimes I hear them in a power struggle, squabbling over their pecking order.
Maintaining a small flock will be worth it, when we savor our first fresh eggs in the next few months. In the meantime, they are scratching and fertilizing a neglected area of the garden, which by fall should be ready to plant.
I envy you! I so want some chickens, but I'm just a little too.. chicken. One of these days. Can't wait to read about all the work they do for you.
Posted by: Compostings | June 18, 2008 at 04:45 PM
LOL! Okey! Why chicken? I do understand. It took me awhile to decide to go for it. After a few good books, a story about chicken tractors and the little space you have to give them, plus all the bennies, changed my mind. All in good time.
The hardest part is building their abode to keep them safe from predators. Keeping them, so far, is a piece of cake.
Posted by: Debbie | June 18, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Great post! I think you will love having chickens. Look what a little company in CA is doing!
http://ranchhaghens.com/
It's "Try Before You Buy!"
Posted by: Bonnie Story | June 19, 2008 at 07:45 AM
What a great idea, thanks for posting the link.
Posted by: Debbie | June 19, 2008 at 08:27 AM
I am very interested in chicken keeping. (herding?) Do you have a fenced yard? Is it possible to keep them safe from wandering dogs? Please do continue this posting. You are giving me the courage to try my hand at chicken wrangling.
Posted by: Sharon Mc | June 21, 2008 at 11:47 PM
They are in a fenced pen that we move around the garden. It wouldn't be safe for them outside their confined space, except when I am out there with them. They are locked up inside a nesting box at night in case the marauders make it past the 1st safe zone their is no way into the second. They are fun to keep. I love how they greet me every morning, of course they know they are going to get a hand out!
Posted by: | June 22, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I've kept chickens for almost 20 years in suburban, unincorporated Snohomish County. As long as you have a secure fence at least 4' tall, avoid the lighter weight (better fliers) breeds, and put the chickens in at night (raccoons are deluxe night-time chicken coop raiders!), it's pretty easy. I just moved to a new location in Clearview, and had 4 1/2' chain link around the entire back yard (~ quarter acre). I put in a Cedargrove cedar shed with a dowel roost, nesting boxes and a secure door, put a chain link dog run around the shed, and let them out to free-range within the fenced yard during the day once they got used to the new location (about 1 week kept within the chain link run area). Over the years I've learned which breeds get along with others well, lay well and are hardy. My favorites are light Brahmas, buff orpingtons, barred rocks, and black sex-links. My absolute best layers have been light Brahma x barred rock hens. I've found Rhode Is. reds to be too aggressive, especially when adding new birds to the flock. I have a few Americanas as well but they are not the best layers. I just rescued a light Brahma rooster from Country Village (contact: Art & Soul Gallery). Over the years, I've had coyote and raccoon incidents, but learned how to secure the animals to minimize that risk. If you have youngsters free ranging, Cooper's hawks are efficient predators of the smaller birds. I have geese (toulouse & embden) as well. I have 2 more quarter acre 'compartments' that I can cycle the birds through during the day and avoid mowing and weeding! I just have to be very careful with gates to keep my dogs and poultry from being in the same compartment!
Posted by: Betty G. | October 23, 2008 at 08:45 AM