Just wondering

[doglover]

Does anyone raise their own chickens? I am thinking about trying it.
Jenn

[Scootergirl]

We had 2 chickens - Thelma and Louise. They had their own little coop my husband made from a converted rabbit hutch. They have to have something to perch on and something to make a nest out of. They were a riot! Thelma thought she was a parrot and would fly up and perch on my husbands shoulder! They loved bread! And, the best thing about having them was they took care of all the fire ants in the backyard!!

Chickens are great! The neighbors complained about the smell, though. Stupid neighbors.

[doglover]

I live on an acre of land and the only neighbor I really have is a great friend of ours. I have a road on the other side. We were want to raise them for eggs and meat.

[brandon]

Your neighborhood doesn't have a covenant does it? Might be something to check out.  Mel wants a couple of hens too , but I think our covenant prohibits it.

[Scootergirl]

We got them for the eggs, too. Funny thing, though. My stomach turned when I thought about eating those eggs. I love eggs, but I knew exactly where these came from so they were less appetizing somehow.

Of course, I'm really weird. And, I could never have eaten Thelma and Louise!!!

[doglover]

we don't live in a neighborhood.

[Anakalia]

I'm like that too.  Somehow I think if meat comes in a wrapper it's not REALLY a cute little animal....at least I try to think that way.

I've always wanted to raise a baby chick for a pet but I probably won't get a chance to do that.  Good luck though I think that is a great idea!

Andi

[doglover]

my husband has been trying to get me to do this for years, now that I have to kids I'm concerned with what they put in thise packaged meat. We also hope to someday have a farm. I don't know if it will ever happen, but it is a dream. plus the eggs would be so much cheaper.

[doglover]

my hubby is a hunter so he would be doing the killing. I'm reaaly starting to get interested in organic foods but they are expensive. I have already switched to organic milk and a half a gallon cost the same as a gallon of regular milk.

[Anky]

I HATE chickens!  HATE HATE HATE THEM!  I used to work on my aunts farm.  Part of it was feeding her chickens.  The little buggers attacked me all the time, (I was neutral about chickens before this point) even the babies.  They smell they make a God awful mess.  Ick.  I hate them!

[ZooCrew]

I'm amazed that some people don't know that unless there's a rooster, chickens lay unfertilized eggs.  I've actually gotten into arguements with people trying to explain what goes on.  (mostly this happened after pet birds layed eggs, and people were shocked an amazed they could do that w/o a mate)

My grandparents used to have chickens.  Me and my sister raised some chicks one summer (stole them from the mothers....... ......we were mean  ) in their old pigeon coop.  By Christmas, they had all been butchered, which made me kind of sad, but that's how it goes on a farm.

When my mom was young her and her siblings would have to kill the chickens, and after you cut off their heads, the bodies go flying around for a bit before they die.  One time the body went and roosted in the rafters of the barn.  I think they had to throw something at it to get it to fall down.   

[2dobies]

We used to live on 6 acres (now we're in the 'burbs!) but when we were out in the sticks, we had dogs, horses,chickens, ducks, geese, guinneas, the whole bird thing! Kids were in 4-H at the time, so we had some really rare breeds, too---the kind that lay colored eggs, the kind that look like heavy-metal rock star heads, it was fun.  But, they ARE quite messy, and smelly, and if you have dogs, you gotta keep those durn birds penned up with a roof over them, or they will get out, tantalize the dogs, and then it could get nasty! There are so many chicken breeds to choose from if you decide to do that.  Meat chickens, 'production' chickens (for the best eggs) bantam chickens, etc.  It was a chapter in my life I am glad happened, but now I'm glad it's over.  Didn't care much for that 6 am feeding of the livestock when the weather got down below zero.

[chaosndestruction]

We used to raise Americaunas (an aracauna mix) and they always had orange yolks:( But they were free range and were cooped up at night, so we didn't have to worry about the coyotes eating them...and YES they do stink!

[greek4]

I think I would be scared of them.  I do happen to have some spare geese hanging around that if you catch, I will let you have for free.

[NoDogNow]

Oh, god.  Chickens.  Really? Are you sure?

Fowl are hard.  Because...well, because they're dinner. 

And the chicks are cute and cuddly.  And you could get attached to them, if you don't really, really watch out.  And what's the point of a dinner that you can't stand to eat?  That instead of eating, you actually have to keep feeding?

It happened to me when I was about 7.  My gran raised chickens for eggs/meat, and rabbits for pelts/meat, and I happened, that summer, to get attached to one of the bunnies. 

I will just say that I know what it feels like to throw up your toenails, and leave the traumatizing event at that.

I learned my lesson about DINNER, though, believe me. 

If you're going to get them, you totally have to go in knowing that these chickens are NOT friends, they're NOT pets, and you can't spend time going, "oh, look what cute things the chicken is doing" and giving them names, or you're going to have trouble when it comes time to give them the chop.  You have to just stuff them in the pen, throw food at them, steal their eggs, and ignore them.

PS: they don't run around if you tie their feet with twine before you chop them.