Am I doing this again?

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My general thoughts/questions for you to consider are:

1. if you can afford to buy/build a coop?
2. what kind of predator pressure do you have in your new place?
3. will you free-range or do you need to have a run built?
4. Do you have a neighbor/friend/family member who would help you build the needed infrastructure?
5. Can you afford feed?
6. Are you physically able to care for the birds and clean the coop?
7. If not, is there a young person who would be interested in partnering with you on this project? Or a young person who you could pay to clean the coop?

(I don't need you to answer these to me, just things to think about)

I am concerned about food security in the coming years, and having a few egg chickens is not a bad thing, in my opinion. Especially in New Orleans, where you could free-range your hens year-round and not have a huge feed bill.
 
Thanks for all of your responses. You give me a lot to think about.

thecatumbrella, you are right, it would not be hard to get someone to adopt my girls if it does not work out for me. I have a raised bed planter box and everything I need to get it up and going, so I do expect to grow some plants and mealworms for my girls... if/when I get them.

N F C, thanks for the link regarding Herbs for Chickens and the tip to look up Louisiana. I will look into both. Love your little kitty!

Snowbelt, that is a great idea. I think i'm going to buy that coop and a run to make sure I am ready. I am also going to crank up my mealworm operation. I still have most of my gear for them. Oh geez, I know me... if I am set up, I WILL get chickens, lol.

Thanks for the idea about Bantams, fldiver97. Is that what you have?

Tahai, I appreciate the questions to help me to think this through. As I went through them, I sure do sound like I'm getting maybe 3 chickens. Yeah, food insecurity is a scary prospect. I'm retired, but working part time now. Things could get tight if I were not working.

Thank you for the greetings pennyJo1960, chrissynemetz, DobieLover, fldiver97, janiedoe, Bsmac, 007Sean & muddy75. It's nice to feel welcomed!
 
Hi BigBlueHen53, and yes, I understand that they will need a balanced diet that meets their needs. I have raised chickens before. They are omnivores and scavengers. There are ways of meeting their dietary needs without buying layer pellets. They can benefit from a variety of plants, grains, lentils and insects - like they did before commercial feeds. I used to raise mealworms as a treat and supplement and they loved them. I will try different things, like growing different plants for them like comfrey, duckweed, amaranth, sunflowers, marigolds, and give them some oats, lentils and other grains and maybe black fly larvae as well as whatever insects in my yard. I am researching different ideas now
 
Good luck to you! It would be way too complicated and difficult for me now due to age and health, but more power to you if you are able. Someone here whose brains you should pick are @U_Stormcrow and @Perris, I believe both of these Educators have done a boatload of research on nutritional needs for chickens
 
Nola_Chick said:
Thanks for the idea about Bantams, fldiver97. Is that what you have?
Click to expand...
:welcome Bantams are much easier to keep and care for than large fowl. All the fun. Small eggs. Small poop. And a prefab coop in your climate is probably a possibility if you can create shadow and add a lot of ventilation.

I have mainly tiny Dutch bantams, and much larger bantam RIR and bantam rocks. Not sure what breeds are available for you. My Dutch are the best company to have around.

In the run I have a Portuguese laurel where my flock takes cover underneath when its warm. Its easy to trim and gives a deep shade.
 

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