Stopping in to say hello from NC. I just got the OK from hubby to keep a few chickens, so I'm here reading and reading and learning. Also trying to navigate the city code permit process. It may not be likely to find another Charlottean here, but if one does stumble across this thread, please PM me with any tips on dealing with the permit/inspection process. <--- One of the down sides of living in the city limits, but I am glad to know it is possible, just want to jump thru all the right hoops, although, I have heard of some people "flying under the radar." Hmmmm....
Anyway, I've been interested in keeping laying hens for a while, but didn't think hubby would go for it. To my surprise, when I mentioned it he was totally on board. If I had known, I would have brought up the topic much sooner.
I grew up in the sticks of central Louisiana and we had chickens when I was a kid (and ducks, and pigs). Collecting those eggs is a fond childhood memory of mine. I also remember watching in awe as little chicks pecked their way out of their shells in the incubator my father had set up in our dining room. I now have a 3 year old son of my own and would love for him to be able to experience a bit of that. I feel like we have the best of both worlds here where we live, in the city of Charlotte where I can walk to Starbucks and my favorite sushi bar, but fortunate to be sitting on 2 acres of land where I still have deer come up to my back deck. While it's not exactly country living, it's a far cry from the little 0.20 acre lot we moved from. So I want to take advantage of the space we have.
What I would love to do is set up a small incubator and hatch some chicks to raise. I only want to keep about 4-6 laying hens, but would love for my son to see the whole egg turning into chicks thing.... ok, I want to see it too, relive my childhood a little. So our task right now is to learn. And to build. I'll be trying to figure out how to incubate/hatch, raise chicks in a brooder, then move them to a coop. It will be a lot of work and I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful husband who is willing to build what we need so our family can do this.
Is it ridiculous for me to invest in an incubator and brooder, when all I ultimately want is a few laying hens?
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! So glad someone turned me on to this site. I have already learned a ton from you folks just by reading thru some of the threads here.
Anyway, I've been interested in keeping laying hens for a while, but didn't think hubby would go for it. To my surprise, when I mentioned it he was totally on board. If I had known, I would have brought up the topic much sooner.
I grew up in the sticks of central Louisiana and we had chickens when I was a kid (and ducks, and pigs). Collecting those eggs is a fond childhood memory of mine. I also remember watching in awe as little chicks pecked their way out of their shells in the incubator my father had set up in our dining room. I now have a 3 year old son of my own and would love for him to be able to experience a bit of that. I feel like we have the best of both worlds here where we live, in the city of Charlotte where I can walk to Starbucks and my favorite sushi bar, but fortunate to be sitting on 2 acres of land where I still have deer come up to my back deck. While it's not exactly country living, it's a far cry from the little 0.20 acre lot we moved from. So I want to take advantage of the space we have.
What I would love to do is set up a small incubator and hatch some chicks to raise. I only want to keep about 4-6 laying hens, but would love for my son to see the whole egg turning into chicks thing.... ok, I want to see it too, relive my childhood a little. So our task right now is to learn. And to build. I'll be trying to figure out how to incubate/hatch, raise chicks in a brooder, then move them to a coop. It will be a lot of work and I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful husband who is willing to build what we need so our family can do this.
Is it ridiculous for me to invest in an incubator and brooder, when all I ultimately want is a few laying hens?
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! So glad someone turned me on to this site. I have already learned a ton from you folks just by reading thru some of the threads here.
