Considering Getting Chickens..Some questions..

[SPedigrees]

----But maybe you would feel better if you made arrangements right away with another chickenkeeper to take your birds should that ever be necessary.----

Nope, wouldn't feel at all better. That is precisely the eventuality I'm trying to avoid at all costs.

On another note though, I'm very lucky to have a reliable experienced petsitting service in my same town for vacations and weekends if we go away. As well as boarding pets in a home environment at their house, they also do house calls for both pets and farm animals, and have cared for our pony in the past. Chickens would be a piece of cake for them!

Your golden retriever sounds lovely. My sister has a golden and he's a great dog.

 

[PortageGirl]

Battery hen's beaks do NOT grow back. If they get clipped early, as in when they are small chicks, they will, but egg factories make sure this is not the case unfortunately.

If you have a chance to choose a breed or hen at all, say at an auction etc (we have one here where people sell older hens... older being 2-3 years old and up who's egg production is slowing) and you can choose some that way, either for the breeds you might like or at least good feathering and smaller combs. Anyway, you might be able to save some from the soup pot, or people who buy them to feed to their dogs that way, so check in your area for livestock auctions.

I really recommend that you go knowing you won't be able to save them all though.

By choosing the healthiest ones, it will guarantee that they will have some good life-quality to look forward to with you. It sounds like you are well qualified to decide all this yourself of course, so I hope my thoughts don't give offense.

 

[SPedigrees]

----Battery hen's beaks do NOT grow back.----

Ah, that is sad, but not unexpected.

I hadn't thought of auctions.

----I really recommend that you go knowing you won't be able to save them all though. ...so I hope my thoughts don't give offense.---

No, not at all. I asked for suggestions and thoughts and welcome them all, even those that don't necessarily fit my situation.

My purpose isn't really to rescue chickens, though, but just to find a few hens to add to our family. It would just be nice to have some living creatures in our barn after the pony (the last of our equines) is gone. How practical this will end up being is still up in the air.

 

[possumqueen]

He said, "Come to the edge."

They said, "It's too high."

"Come to the edge."

"We might fall."

"Come to the edge."

So they came, and He pushed them! And they flew.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Quote:
Beautiful.

 

[kcardella]

I have a few hens that are going on 5 years old, and they are very friendly. They seem to get better with age! Sure, they don't lay nearly as much, but they are fun to have around.

We free-range them during the day with our guineas, and lock them up securely at night. We have only lost one to a hawk, and that was in the beginning on another property with fewer bushes for them to hide in. We live in a residential area on 1.5 acres, but have many predators day and night. I am pretty paranoid about predators, but believe the benefits of free-ranging outweigh the risks. If I am not home, or it's a stormy day, I keep them in their secure run.

I have found owning fowl to be very enjoyable, and relatively easy. I would highly recommend it to anyone!