I love this thread. I've wanted chickens since I was 7 years old. I finally bought my own home about 10 years ago and started thinking it a possibility to actually have a few two years ago. When I started talking about it, all the "chicken haters" were "trying to kill my buzz." People told me I was crazy. My 12 year old was adamant he didn't want chickens in "his" backyard - he stated he hated chickens, and would never be happy about having them, and made sure I knew he wanted nothing to do with them... I was told by various people (some with chicken experience, some without) that chickens are smelly, filthy, loud, high maintenance. I live in a residential neighborhood...my family told me the neighbors would be mad, etc.
On my 43rd birthday this past may, I told myself I have this one life to live, and maybe God won't let me keep chickens in heaven, so if I wanted to ever have chickens, I better get moving on it. I figured that if chicken-keeping turned out to be as much a hassle as I was being warned, then I would just not keep chickens anymore. The only thing holding me back was the money to buy or build a coop. I finally lucked out this spring by finding a HUGE rabbit hutch that I've converted into a nice little coop for my four bantams. They don't smell, they aren't filthy, loud or high maintenance. My neighbors couldn't care less, as everyone respects their privacy and property-owners' rights. (Especially the neighbor with the beagle who barks and howls day and night from his back yard - what's he going to say, really?).
And the sweetest thing of all? My 12 year old is IN LOVE with his "girls." He helped me name them and is so protective of them, and so proud of having chickens in his back yard!
